Occasionally, someone who starts out as a fan crosses over that line and becomes a friend. That’s what happened with me and Loretta Tucker.
We met years ago over the internet. Loretta, who had worked as a victim advocate/lay chaplain, had given up her job to be an at-home caregiver for her husband, Randy. Randy, a true-blue Marine from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, was a Vietnam Vet and former motorcycle cop who was losing a long battle with a form of brain cancer caused by on the job Haz-Mat exposure.
Somewhere along the way, in a hospital waiting room, Loretta had picked up one of my J.P. Beaumont books. She read that one and was soon devouring the others as well. Loretta and Randy lived in a small town in the mountain canyons east of Salem, Oregon–a place with no cable TV and satellite doesn’t work.
By this time in the game, Randy required round the clock care, and Loretta’s helpmate in that loving duty was a local firefighter named Adam Wilson. On those long wakeful nights, as Randy’s dementia worsened, Loretta would often while away the hours by reading my books aloud to him because the stories seemed to help him settle. Then, once he did fall asleep, and she still needed to stay awake to keep watch, she would write me long e-mails about what was going on, about Randy’s reactions to the various stories, about whatever. My family knows first hand about the impact of cancer on all the people involved–the patient as well as the people whose lives are entwined with the patient. As a consequence, I read every word she sent and responded with as much encouragement as I could muster. When Randy requested an autographed photo, I sent one, and Loretta promptly had it framed and hung in Randy’s room. Eventually Randy lost his battle. I was off on a book tour and couldn’t attend the funeral in Portland, but I sent a red, white, and blue bouquet.
As I said earlier, Loretta had spent years being a victim advocate, but her goal had always been to become a police or fire chaplain. She had a degree in Theology, but she had put all those ambitions on hold during the time she stayed home caring for her husband. Then, only weeks after Randy’s death, several things happened. Through a series of seeming coincidences a place opened up for her in a chaplaincy program/residency at the Oregon State Hospital. Bill and I, with Bella in tow, attended Loretta’s graduation ceremony. A year later, she was able to attend the police and fire chaplaincy program offered here in Seattle.
I knew she was attending the program, and I also knew she was struggling. What she said in an e-mail to me was that it was breaking her heart that Randy couldn’t be there to see that she was finally fulfilling her dream. Since Adam was still at home tending to Loretta’s livestock back in Oregon, I wrote to him and asked him if he could please send me a photograph of Randy. What Adam sent was Randy’s official Marine Corps. photograph. I took the photo to Michael Reagan of the Fallen Heroes Project. On the day Loretta graduated from her second chaplaincy school, Michael Reagan’s framed portrait of Randy was there with us, sitting in the pew between Bill and me. In a very real way, the magic of Michael’s drawing skills meant that Randy was there to see Loretta graduate.
Loretta is vertically challenged which is to say, she is SHORT. She is a mixture of Norwegian and German. If you need a friend, she’s there. If you’re being stupid, she’ll give you a swift kick in the butt or an attention-getting slap upside the head. She calls herself a “tuff cookie,” and she’s certainly that. And we still stay in touch, mostly by e-mail
So this week, while I was in New York meeting with editors and publishers, it wasn’t the least bit surprising that I would receive an e-mail from her. By the time I finished reading her note, entitled “Hello,Troublemaker,” I was literally laughing out loud. (I know the short cut for that is LOL, but that’s hard for writers to write.) In the end, I decided that what she had written was too good not to share, and so, for the first time ever, I give you a guest blogger–Loretta Tucker.
Hello from Portland and congrats. This is a first for me. I’m writing you regarding the spirit and loyalty of JA Jance fans. You nearly started a fight in downtown Portland today at a Seattle’s Best Coffee.
(JAJance, sitting peacefully in her hotel room in NYC, thinks, “How is this possible? I’m in New York City not Portland.”)
There I was, innocent me, sipping on a White Chocolate Raspberry double shot Mocha, minding my own business and waiting to cross the street. Suddenly my ears perked up when I heard the name of JA Jance used in vain. A clerk from a near by bookstore was taking a coffee break outside and smoking a cigarette. A group of four bookstore customers, each carrying a bag of books purchased in her shop, paused long enough to tell her that they had enjoyed attending one of your tour shows/signings in Seattle just a few weeks ago. One of the customers asked if the clerk was aware of who you are?
And what was the clerk’s response as she sipped her Salted Carmel? “Well, yes, I used to read her novels back when she first came out. All her books were in paperback then. Now, since she’s gone all uppity, NYC on us. Her new books are WAYYYY too expensive for me in hardback, and you have to wait nearly a year to have chance to buy them in paperback. I mean, she’s good, but let’s get real. Who can afford books are that expensive? Who does she think she is, Jackie Collins? Really?”
At that point, those fans of yours–four sweet looking elderly ladies, late 70’s or early 80’s–went ballistic. They turned on that coffee-sipping clerk as one. “Wadda ya mean, she’s gone all uppity NY city!?,” one of them demanded. “Have you met her!? She is the nicest person, and her novels are worth every GD dime. All of us” (she waved her hand at her other three companions) “have her complete set….mostly in hardback I might add. We are serious readers and proud to have that collection in our homes and on display! Why, those books are treasures!”
Then the next sweet little old lady added, “Yes, we try to see her every time she comes to Portland. It’s a wonderful thing. And let me tell you something, sister, coffee used to be ten cents a cup with refills when I was a young girl like you! Now, coffee like yours from Seattle’s Best Coffee is $8 per frigging cup! Catch up! Things cost more in this lousy economy. If you want something cheap to read, go buy a used Jackie Collins rag, read it in paperback, and keep that damn filth in your bathroom. Myself? I will stick to black coffee and a classy hardback novel by JA Jance. You damn kids now days, wouldn’t know a good author if they ran over you!”
With that the little group of clucking hens with their feathers sticking out moved away from the dazed clerk, crossed the street and went on their merry way. When they were gone, I burst out laughing. Looking at the clerk I said “Wow, that sucked! Anyone ever explain to you that the customer is always right? If I were you, I’d get back into your bookstore, pull down the shades, and hide under the counter because they might come back, especially if they get themselves really pissed.” Then I laughed like a horse thief. That clerk turned eight shades of many colors, as she ducked away back into her shop. By then, the nervous bystanders were laughing, too.
As I left to go back to my car, I said to a few of them in passing ‘Woo Hoo! Just another day of excitement with JA Jance.” And we all had a giggle of comic relief.
Geez girl, you don’t even have to be in town, and you cause trouble! Because of her accent, I think that first old gal was originally from NYC. Wow, she could she ever kick butt. I was thinking about you just meeting with your publisher. You should hire those four old hostiles to go there and sing your praises. THEY were listened to, ja betcha they were!
Yes my dear heart, you always attract quite the crowd. Never a dull moment in regard to JAJ!
Love,
Loretta
Thank you for writing and sending this Loretta. If those feisty little old ladies hadn’t beaten the poor woman up, I’m pretty sure you would willingly have tackled her on your own. That is indeed what friends are for!
God loves little ladies from Portland and so do I. How lucky you and Loretta are to have found this wonderful friendship. Your writing has helped so many you don’t even know.
What a great blog today. Friends, no matter how they come into your life, are to be treasured. You have a wonderful friend in Loretta and you are also a good friend to her. How thoughtful you were to have the portrait of her husband done and then bring it to her ceremony. We all need to treasure friends. I loved the old ladies, too. We all have priorities where we spend our money – old or young. For someone in the book business her priorities are way off! Much of my entertainment money is spent on books. I would have thought the woman would know she can download a book for a lot less than buying a hardcover. Even us “old” ladies know that!
Great story. ..I would love to meet those 4 women, I think we could be friends! !
My Mother, sisters, and I have been reading J.A. Jance books for years, and have loved the characters in all the series.
Mom, an avid reader, and writer, herself, has lost most of her vision in the past several years, and cannot read anymore. We sisters read aloud to her, and among the favorite, are J.A. Jance’s wonderful stories. Since Mom’s memory is sketchy, we can re-read stories, and she enjoys them as if they are new!
Thank you, J. A. Jance for the wonderful places you take us, the loveable characters you bring to life, and their adventures.
Your fans in north Idaho!
Kudos to the “Ladies” for speaking up. What they said is so true.
What a great way to start the day…reading this gave me a smile.
🙂
She is a very lucky woman to have you as a friend Judy! From another re-located PUMA. You may remember some of my family: Bennnie, Shirley or my sister June.
We can call ourselves the fans of J A JANICE and watch for any disrespectful fans. We can call on our trusty e-readers to fight the fight. Truly do not blame the Ladies for sticking up for you, you truly write a wonderful book.
Did you hear about Elizabeth Doles support of the wives, friends and family who cares for the disabled? The group she is forming to support the caregivers of Veterans. To bad this was not thought of and started years ago.
Have a BEAUTIFUL day down in Tucson. We are getting a bit of rain in Northern Calif. Cannot complain as this is almost the first rain we’ve had. Jan O.
I love that story! I am a lady of a certain age in CT. I love Judy’s books because she tells it like it is (or was). Her stories are always entertaining and turn out like I hoped they would. Some endings are happier than others—if that makes sense.
I think the idea that she has become an uppity New York writer is so funny. They would never write a blog like this or interact with her readers like she does.
Happy to share. I agree wholeheartedly!
Well, I’m an Oregonian, too, and proud to be in the vicinity of those fine women; and I certainly am “of a certain age.” Thanks very much for sharing your fan-turned-friend’s tale. We seniors can turn on attackers at any time; maybe it’s because we have fewer years ahead to have regrets. I applaud your friend and that group of JA Jance supporters! I just finished _Moving Target_…. another great work, Ms. Jance!
J A Jance sure makes my day.
As Kathy Howell wrote, e-books. Mostly cheaper than HC’s
And they are released at the same time!
+ e-books do not take any place.
Almost midnight, so time for some sleep.
Those four little old ladies definitely sound like they are from Oregon, as I am. I want you to know that I have followed your work for years and since I am a little old lady myself, that is quite a few years. Two years ago I got sick and test after test they cold not find what was going on. I was teaching upper level math at our local middle school before this started. Over the next few months I went from 135 lbs down to 95 lbs, and still no answer, but the real loss was I stopped reading, and I was an avid reader, going through 6-10 books a week, even during school sessions (during the summer, all bets were off on counting). I was forced for health reasons to retire. It was your books that brought me back to reading, I realized that in the past few years, you had written books that I have not read. So now I am in the process of catching up with the families and action of your characters I miss my kids (students), I was a great teacher (according to my kids) but at least I have rediscovered the joy of reading a DARN GOOD BOOK, thanks to you and your writing ability. Keep it up! Thank You!~~~
PS anyone who not only taught middle school students but loves it, might be a little OFF, know what I mean? All of the hormones running rapid! By the way, posting a comment on a blog for an outstanding author makes me nervous, I mean I taught math not writing~~
That was such a great post! We all need a special friend who has our back, and you definitely know who yours is Mrs. Jance. Mine was my mother and she passed away two years ago. Seems friends come and go, and even family members come and go, but my mom, whether we were disagreeing or agreeing, she had my best interests at heart, even if I didn’t understand it at the time.
I am your forever fan. I have loved each and every book of yours. They just completely fit my needs, and if I’m having a hard day, or even a good day, Joanna Brady is someone who I would want as my friend. I’m not crazy, I just truly admire your talent for story-telling. My invitation for dinner will always be available to you. I hope one day you can accept my invitation. I promise I’m nothing like Kathy Bates in Misery! haha! Keep on keepin’ on. Best wishes…
Bravo! They said it perfectly. How I miss the Northwest! I never miss one of your books and I suppose I could be a little old lady! I started reading your books only after I met you in person in Seattle. My husband was in Rotary or one of the downtown business associations and knew you so we had to read the first book. I was hooked from then on. I would stand with those ladies any day!
Lots of places to get hard cover books at cheap prices. Guess that book store lady has never read much about you. Lots of writers for her to keep up on. I brought your latest title as a e-book and hardcover also to add to the collection of all your books, mostly hardcover. Looking forward to your next book and enjoy your weekly visit with your fans via this BLOG.
While I have enjoyed the Ali Reynolds tales, I’m hoping you will return to the Brady series.
Well you can’t keep good books a secret, the message is bound (no pun intended) to get out. That quarter you made on a paperback book had to improve one day! My friend that clued me in to your books, told me you had mentioned how much you made from from the sale of one book. This happened when she met you at a signing in Oregon, early on. Such tenacity, I would have thrown my hands up in the air from the get go at that rate. To others who are fans, please tell your friends what you are reading. My friend didn’t tell me about these books until she had 7 of them squirreled away! I didn’t know whether to be irritated or happy with her.
Just a quick note. You are one of my favorite authors. I am lucky that I have several favorites that I am in contact with and now I only invest in their books. You are one of them. I hate it when I finish a new book because I have to wait for the next one. Every one of my “favs” writes in a slightly different genre so I get to bounce from one to another of you. Loretta is an awesome woman in that she read your books to her husband. I always run out of air. My husband underwent surgery last October for what we thought was a pitutiary adenoma that turned out to be a meninglomia (Probably spelled it wrong) so he had back to back surgeries to remove the tumor that was attached to his optic nerve. He is now blind in one eve, is still a voracious reader and so enjoys your books. We have two authors that we keep their books in our home libray. Yours are one of them and Sandra Hill is the other. Her romance novels keep us in stitches. We are lucky to have found your books and hope you keep writing for a long time. And we thank you for developing the talent that Heavenly Father gave you.
I think we have an author who has never given up. She decided she was going to be a writer and she is. She may have taken awhile to get there, but she stuck with it. I was reading a blog where the writer said people say others have luck in getting published. She said it also takes a lot of work. Being in the right place at the right time may seem lucky, but I think most things happen for a reason. God must have decided He had enough insurance sales persons and needed another mystery writer .
Really enjoyed Lorettas email!! I feel the same way as the “old ladies”. If i can’t find a new JA Jance book to read…..I read an old one again!! I am hooked!!
I buy hard cover books of only the authors that I fully enjoy and cannot wait to read their material. You are first on that list. I also learned never to argue with older women who have strong opinions. Now it is great to know that I read books written by a rabble rouser haha. Keep up the good works. Hope to meet you again some day.