News from Jude about A Forgotten Murder, a reissue and her upcoming cruise!
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Fall-ing with Jude
Dear Readers,
I have been working nonstop for months. Summer passed me by as I worked. Didn’t go anywhere or do anything, just wrote. The problem has been that when I went on my yearly long cruise, I didn’t write much. I had massive trouble with the book and Africa was outside (pictures included below!) so I gave over to the country. Could NOT figure out my book.
As soon as I got home, I started on "A Forgotten Murder". This will be the third book in the Medlar series and was a difficult book. I set it in England and that caused me some problems.
I finally finished the book and sent it off — and started on the next one. (By the way, I went to a kinesiologist about my painful knees and he did a stress test on me. My stress level was, in his words, “through the roof.” Made me laugh. I went to a Barnes and Noble, had a hot matcha latte, bought some
camera magazines, then went home to write.)
Pre-Order A Forgotten Murder
A Forgotten Murder will be released March 10, 2020 and is available for pre-order from these retailers.
After many, many years of no agent, I have one, Robert Gottlieb of Trident. Earlier in the year, Robert said my publisher wanted a pure romance from me, no mystery, and could I please send him an outline for a trilogy. I was still in Africa when he asked and I didn’t sleep that night but thought hard.
About 3 a.m. I started writing an outline for 3 books called The Cattleman’s Daughters. I sent it off to him about 8 a.m. then went off to take photos.
He reported back to me that Mira liked the book but could I put the 3 stories into one book, not three. Wow! That was hard to do. Ha ha. I wrote back, Okay. All in one book. Done!
I didn’t look at the outline or think about it again for months. But the minute I finished Forgotten, I printed it out and read it. I liked it except for one character. She was so nasty that I threw her out. Then I rewrote the whole outline. That took an intense week.
When I started the book, I found out that I didn’t like my hero, Adam. Not in a good romance way, where he’s the leader of armies but oblivious to the heroine. Adam had no passion. Vera is mad about saving the world, Kelly loves animals, and Paul is into heritage fruit. But Adam, meh. Nothing, really.
I was ready to
throw out the 3,000 words I’d written until I realized, Hey! Adam discovers his passion! Well, duh, Jude. So that’s where I am now. I have over 15,000 words done and it’s working out
well. It starts in a section named Expectations. Everyone involved is doing what is expected of them. No surprises. But then Paul goes away for the summer and Miguel arrives. They mix everything up. It’s getting to be fun. Robbie, at 18, thinks he’s in love with Kelly. I think it’s going to take work on my part to keep him from slamming Paul with a right cross into his uncaring face. I love when my characters do unexpected things. Like when Kelly was so happy that she forgot to toss the manure. I was going to rewrite the scene, but I followed them — and used the manure. Kelly has some spunk in her!
Embrace the reissue this Holly-day season..
Holly has recently been re-jacketed in mass paperback and is available NOW! Read in time to enjoy the Christmas Spirit! Holly will also be the Jude Deveraux Book Club pick for the month of December. For more information, keep reading!
When Hollander Latham’s parents purchase Spring Hill—a beautiful North Carolina plantation—she’s thrilled that she can finally return to the gorgeous estate where she spent a memorable thirteenth summer.
Now a successful architect, she fantasizes about reuniting with Spring Hill’s neighbor, the wealthy heir Laurence Beaumont, whom she fell in love with during that long-ago summer.
Enter to WIN One of Five Copies of Holly NOW!
Want a chance to win one of five (5) autographed copies of Holly? Enter by Friday, November 15th at 11:59pm EST to get yours in time for Christmas and the December pick of month for the Jude Deveraux Book Club.
I am trying to get as much done as possible before I leave on my 7th World Cruise. This year we’re going down South America all the way to Antarctica. Cold weather. Not used to that!!! I went to an outfitter store and said, “Dress me.” Came away with wool underwear and big rubber-coated boots. I dragged the whole lot of it to a nearby gelato store. I needed fuel!
It’s Sunday and I’m using the day to sort out my camera gear for the coming trip. I changed to a full frame camera and the lenses are heavy. For you photographers, I wish they’d make all lenses with one filter size. Filters and step rings are a great nuisance to pack! I’m taking my 100-400 in the hope of seeing polar bears. And also, I’m going back to Pompeii. That should make for some good photos!
The first leg of our World Cruise this year.
Photo courtesy of silversea.com
Recent Photos From Jude
Here are some photos I have taken while I research for Cattleman's Daughter. I am always adding more on Facebook, so be sure to follow me there.
So that’s it. Nothing new to report, just writing 6 mornings a week, then typing and editing all afternoon. I have the TV on while I type so I go through series quickly. Mindhunter. Loved it! Any obscure TV series you’d recommend?
Best always,
Jude
Interested in reading a Jude novel every month? Do you like to discuss your thoughts on the novels you are reading? The Jude Deveraux Book Club is going strong and we would love for you to join us!
Holly is the December pick of the month! Dust off your copy, grab a hot cocoa and warm blanket and let's curl up by the fire for this month's read!
