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A former prostitute who unsuccessfully sought $10,000 in compensation last year after being fired as a the madam of a Tauranga brothel has published a book on the industry.
Rachel Francis - described as "New Zealand's most famous madam" by her former hometown newspaper, the Croydon Guardian in London - said she has called her memoirs Laid Bare.
She has written about clients, including a multi-millionaire dairy farmer, and a TV personality with a penchant for young girls who looked like young boys.
Francis wrote the book because there was a lack of literature on the subject from women who went into prostitution through choice, rather than because of drugs, addictions, bills, gangs or some other form of compulsion.
"Like most people wanted to be a nurse or own a cafe, I always wanted to be a prostitute and work in a brothel. The feather boas, the make-up, the stilettos, the hidden world - absolutely," she said.
She always had the support of her parents, sister and grandparents.
But, as she describes in Laid Bare, by the age of seven she became aware of her sexuality and the power her body held over men.
At 13 she lost her virginity to a boy who went to the same school, an experience she says was fabulous.
A few years later she started out life as a prostitute, including time as a dominatrix, when her clients included the strange, sometimes sadistic and sad. There was Worm Man, Dr Death, Mr Moo, Mr Cleopatra, Mr Balloon and Mr Baby.
She would dote on Mr Baby, changing his nappy and feeding him his bottle, lead Mr Moo around the house while he was on all fours, like a cow, eating alfalfa sprouts and drinking from a plastic bowl.
She would plaster her body in white paint, and lie at odd angles while Dr Death pretended to be having his way with a dead woman.
But she has not named any of her clients: "I haven't written the book to destroy the sex industry," she said.
"I don't want to name and shame. But I wanted people to know it's not just working class guys that go to working ladies.
"It's businessmen, chief executives, celebrities and even (people from) government agencies that come to brothels."
Francis told the British newspaper she was concerned that impending law changes in the UK will push prostitution underground, raising the risk from men prone to rape and murder.
"The media need to respect us as we cater to men that your female members of your family wouldn't like to handle at 3am so it is best we do in our quiet and efficient manner."
Francis was managing the Tender Touch in Tauranga last year when she was dismissed by business owner Patricia Shoemark, and went to the Employment Relations Authority seeking an apology, wages and holiday pay, and $10,000 in compensation for hurt, humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings .
But authority member Janet Scott ruled against Ms Francis' claim of unjustified dismissal and said none of her evidence could be trusted.
The book is published by Steele Roberts.
- NZPA
