This blog is due to post on March 28. That means the next Ali book, Overkill will go on sale next Tuesday, April 1. So happy April Fool’s Day everybody.
The sole Seattle area Overkill event will be at Third Place Books at 3 PM on April 6. J.A. Jance at Third Place Books. Seating is free, but must be reserved. Also here is the link to the Poisoned Pen event earlier this month: Overkill at Poisoned Pen.
Please remember that when I did the Poisoned Pen appearance, I was fresh off that hair-raising, three-hour drive through a raging dust storm, so I wasn’t exactly at the top of my form.
Now, on to the real topic of this blog.
You’re probably thinking, “ID Discovery? I thought she didn’t use real cases to write her books.” The truth is, I don’t and I’m not. However, one of the side benefits of my career as a writer has been the unexpected and enduring friendships I’ve made over the years. For example, someone named Loretta once plucked a tattered copy of Until Proven Guilty off a “free to good home” bookshelf in the waiting room of a VA hospital where her husband was being treated for Agent-orange-related brain cancer. She’s read everything I’m written since and was my intermediary with James, the guy who inspired Blessing of the Lost Girls.
Teresa is a fan from Yuma who drove all the way from there to Surprise, near Phoenix, to see one of my talks. Since she had come farther than anyone else, we ended up having lunch. Gerri is a fan from Willcox whose cousin turned out to be the now-deceased real-life serial killer whose death was mentioned in last week’s blog. It turns out that Teresa and Gerri were college roommates long ago, while Teresa’s husband, Eric, was a high school quarterback who once played a football game at the Warren Ballpark in Bisbee. That was long before the athletic field’s aging lighting system was replaced. He said it was so dark that night that, he could barely see his receivers. Years later ballpark’s lights were replaced in part by monies raised by my parents collecting aluminum cans.
The above paragraph is designed to prove, once and for all, that Walt Disney was right and it really is a “small, small world.” My apologies if I’ve just infected you with a persistent and very annoying ear-worm.
Two other friendships of note I need to mention are the one with my At Seventeen singing idol, Janis Ian, and the other with everyone’s favorite Homicide Hunter—Joe Kenda. Yes, I’m a television true crime buff, and both Homicide Hunter and American Detective are among my favorites. Joe’s off-the-cuff and oft-quoted comment, “My, my, my,” is an iconic piece of dialogue that’s burned into my memory. I met Joe and his wife, Kathy—my fan—when she dragged him to one of my speaking engagements a number of years ago. Since then they’ve become friends with Bill and me.
I’ve learned a lot by following Joe Kenda on ID Discovery, and that gave me a big boost this week. Please be assured that our friendship isn’t completely one-sided. When Joe and Kathy moved into a new house that was really dark in places, we suggested that they solve their lighting issue by installing Solatube skylights. Ever since, said Solatubes have been doing their jobs and brightening the corners where Joe and Kathy live.
One of the things I’ve learned from watching Joe Kenda on TV is that once an investigation stalls out, the thing detectives have to do is go back to the very beginning of the case and start over. Months ago, I told you that I was starting work on the next Ali book, Smoke and Mirrors. It charged out of the gate like gangbusters, but several chapters in the story stalled out. I mean it came to an absolute stop, and no number of sleepless nights spent tossing and turning fixed it. The story simply would not move forward.
As a result, yesterday, I did what Joe Kenda would do—I went back to the very beginning of the manuscript, the Prologue, and started over. Then a miracle happened. When I got to the last sentence of the prologue, I gave a middle name to a character who hadn’t had one before, and suddenly the way forward became clear.
Once I’m done writing this blog, that’s what I’m going to do. Go back to Smoke and Mirrors. I’ll have to change some of what I’ve already written, and I’ll be able use other bits and pieces of it later on in the story, but this time I’m pretty sure it’ll work because now I have a character who will be in jeopardy as well as someone for readers to root for.
At the end of each episode of his new series, Joe says, “And that’s what it takes to be an American detective.” To that I might add that changing my mind is often what it takes to be an American mystery writer.
Now I’m looking forward even more to the next Ali book!
Ceci
I met you at Annabells in Tucson where it was satisfying to meet and talk to you. I am a fan and collector of your work but find through the Friday Blogs I feel we are friends. Thank you for sharing your life with your readers.
Funny how writer’s block works, and how such a simple task can help flip the switch and get the writing going again.
JA I lock fotward to seeing your blogs pop up on my every Friday morning feeds. They keep me in touch with your “life of the writer” until the next release of the next book -Ali Reynolds, Joanna Brady or J P Beaumont, love them all! But your blog this morning seemed more disjointed and slightly off track than usual.(I’m sure Evie would have had a phase for that). But I will continue to looking forward to all futute blogs and books. Please don’t take me off your email list!
Brilliant blog, Judy! Especially liked the link to the Poisoned Pen talk. Kudos!
Prayers for Bill and you!
I love when you detail some of your writing processes. I reflect on reading your finished products and how involved I get in the story. Thanks to your dedication to making the story work. The story plays out so “loudly” that when I take a break I’m surprised at how quiet the room is. If that makes any sense.
Thank you so much.
You have such a good time fitting pieces into the puzzle (read: new adventure). I love how your mind works.
Best to you and Bill. <3
Everybody loves you, everyone loves your books, once they’ve read one! That must make you feel pretty good, I hope!
I read all your books and then a week ago, I picked up “Blessing of the Lost Girls”
Being 81,I tend to get upset easier then I used to. I know it’s a story but, somewhere in my gene make-up, it sometimes doesn’t understand that. Sometimes to the point of “if she kills off that person, I will never read another book of hers!” It’s really nothing personal, it’s just me. I love the Native American, can I say Indian?, stories at the beginnings of some of the chapters. I read the beginnings to a lady that works with Phoenix (organization that helps care givers get free time because a spouse has dementia or Alzheimer’s) I am just waiting to see if I’m right and the brother is either a tornado or an earthquake, which I’m betting on the latter. Thanks for your stories and I will keep reading the books, even if I do get mad at what’s going on!
I always love receiving your Friday blog.
You are doing a good job. Rereading the Brady series. Looking forward to your new book
Yes, it’s a small world. In the 1980’s I used to go to a theater in the Los Angeles area that had mostly old movies. Sometimes I’d see the projectionist coming & going from the booth. Fast forward to the late 1990s. I moved to Louisiana & went to a theater that showed old movies. While waiting in line for popcorn, I saw a familiar face leaving the projectionist’s booth. It was the same guy. When I told him I remembered him, he looked at me like I’d just outed him from a witness protection program. Oops.
Re: ear worms. I have an old Cameo cigarette commercial in my head. “How mild, how mild, how mild can a cigarette be? Smoke Camel cigarettes & you’ll see.”
Thank you for everything. Books, comments etc. Please forgive misplaced commas & apostrophes.
When that in-progress book hits the shelves, someone needs to remind us all that the middle name of that character is significant, so we can all puzzle out how and why. Thank you for the insight into your writing process!
Sounds like some twists and turns for Ali are afoot.
I am always amazed as to how writers work. I couldn’t do it.
Finally caught up with all the Brady books to date and have started the Ali series. Don’t know why I was reluctant to start, but after the first book, I found I absolutely love Ali. About to start Hand of Evil.
Thanks for putting in the link to Poisoned Pen. I tried to watch it before, but couldn’t hear it, but from the link I found the Caption and was able to see the whole thing.
Blessing to you and Bill.
I’m always slightly taken aback when I open my email on Fridays and see your post. I think, “Oh! Another week has passed, and it’s J.A. Jance time already?!?” How can that be?
But it’s another week closer to reading the next Ali Reynolds book, so that’s OK!
Jackie
I want to thank you for the timing of this book. I usually get your books on publication day and finish them that day. I am lucky that I love re-reading and savoring them again and again. But, for this one, I will be at my favorite resort on the shores of Lake Superior listening to the waves and reading. As much as I’d rather get it from a real bookstore, I’m still grateful that Amazon delivers to out of the way places. Can’t wait.
I listened to your Poisoned Pen visit, JA. I am amazed at how well you comported yourself after such a harrowing journey to arrive there!
You are sure resilient and tough—and lucky us that you’re a great story teller, too 🙂
I have been a Joe Kenda fan for years. I used to live in Colo. Spgs. and always look for familiar landmarks. Love all your books. Keep up the good work.
Janis Ian has a new documentary : Janis Ian: Breaking Silence’
Sorry I missed your appearance at the UOFA a couple weeks ago. Love your books.
I watched your Poison Pen event and thought you looked and did amazing. Thank you for sharing. I am also a big Janis Ian fan. and of course a HUGE JA Jance fan. Thank you for all the reading joy you continue to bring to us all.
I love all your books and love all the characters but I like Joanna Brady the best. I look forward to your book tomorrow, April l, with Ali Reynolds though.
I don’t seem to automatically get your weekly blog, I remember on the weekend that I missed your Friday blog so look it up, don’t know why.