HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Remember - it's not too late to order the Fiona children's series for a gift from Santa (proceeds go to my sister's scholarship fund) or, for Santa's helper, the first of the Oyster Point mysteries... She's Not You, which by the way is receiving 5 star reviews!  My new historic time travel, The Looking Glass Labyrinth, has also been a hit... a little romance and a handsome sea captain fill out the story.  A good read for a stay-at-home January day.

Amazon has them all:
https://www.amazon.com/Judi-Getch-Brodman/e/B0745KVKFT

Enjoy and a happy holiday/Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and productive 2019!!

I have finished my next novel's first draft!!  I'll tell you more about this one after the New Year!
Till,
Judi

Busy Book Update!!

Borrowed this photo from a friend!  I love it... 

Second Book Club was awesome and I then was invited to do a cable TV interview... all very exciting.  Also had a book signing... things are going great!

More next week! Meanwhile - do a little holiday shopping at Amazon :-)

Till,
Judi
FB: Judi Getch Brodman
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Judi-Getch-Brodman/e/B0745KVKFT

Book Clubs and Signing Events...

Well, my first book club meeting with readers was so much fun!  They had read "She's Not You" and had really enjoyed it.  I was very pleased with the feedback. One member was an English teacher who had taught writing.  She said that she was very surprised at how well written the book was.  One item she picked up on was the use of all the senses - smell, touch, hearing, sight and taste.  I had to agree with her that most writers have a favorite sense that they use all the time.  You have to work hard not to depend on that favorite sense -- usually sight or touch.  Anyway, the feedback from this group was terrific.

My next book club is in two weeks and I'm looking forward to meeting this new group of readers.  Since they are meeting before the holidays, there will be a "Yankee Swap."  I'm bringing a copy of "The Looking Glass Labyrinth" as my swap.

Right before the upcoming book club, I have a book signing during a Christmas Stroll.  I did this a number of times for this Gallery... when my children's books (Fiona - the Lighthouse Firefly and Fiona the Lighthouse Firefly - LOST!) came out and again when "She's Not You" was released.  There will be music and refreshments -- a wonderful holiday event.

The books make wonderful gifts... go to Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Judi-Getch-Brodman/e/B0745KVKFT and pick up a copy!

I'm almost finished with the first draft of my next novel.  Still searching for a title!  Any ideas?

Will check in after my next book event.  This is a busy and exciting time for me!

Keep working on your writing.
Till,
Judi

"The Looking Glass Labyrinth" is OUT!!

I'm so pleased to let you know that after weeks of editing and proofreading, "The Looking Glass Labyrinth" is now available on Amazon:  

Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JFYGHRW

Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625268483

It's a historical novel that takes you back to 1804.  Rachael doesn't heed warnings from her best friend and attends an estate sale at a “haunted” crumbling Victorian where a painted woman's sparkling blue eyes follow her every move.  Moving to the bedroom, she picks up a cracked discolored hand mirror that reflects another woman's face.  Words mysterious appear in a diary.  All these events create a vortex through which Rachael Corbet is sucked back to 1804 and into Lady Rachael Johnston’s body. 

I loved writing this book... it takes you to another time and place where sea captains and their women live and love.

Invitations have arrived from Book Clubs inviting me to attend their meetings.  They will be reading "She's Not You."  I'm looking forward to meeting more readers, discussing the story and my writing process and answering their questions!  

I'm still working on my Paris/Boston manuscript.  It sat for a few weeks while I worked with the publisher to release "The Looking Glass Labyrinth."  Now it's time to resume writing my draft.  I still haven't found a title that fits the story but there's still time.   I have about 90% of the draft complete and then the real work begins for me.  I'll go through it over and over refining and rewriting.  Not a chore but a labor of love!

More when all calms down,  Order your books early for the Holidays!!

Till,

Judi

It's weeks away...

3-D version copyrighted 2018

I've been busy working with the editor on "The Looking Glass Labyrinth" and we are currently on our second edit.  I'm thrilled that there hasn't been a lot of rewriting - a few nits here and there.  I'm still looking forward to an October release.

Looking back on the journey with my debut novel, "She's Not You," the real hard work wasn't writing the manuscript or editing it, but marketing it.   How do you put it out there so readers can find it?  Yes, the publisher distributes it to all the outlets, but how do reader's find you as an author?  How does your book stand out among the hundreds and hundreds of new ones available?  Sounds daunting , doesn't it... and it is. Even with great reviews, it is next to impossible to be recognized.

But, saying all that, word of mouth is important. Take for example the article that was published on me and my debut novel in a local newspaper - it helped immensely spawning two speaking engagements and two book club appearances.  I know, that seems like tiny steps but that's how you begin to become known as an author.

This weekend, I met with a group of published authors and those wanting to be published for a 'meet and greet' where we discussed how hard it was to set your book apart from all others.  We all know that we will probably not make the Best Seller list or make a fortune on our books... but saying all that, one of us might have that gem that could possibly make it.

Work hard... write a fantastic book, put it out there and give it wings!

Off to continue my second edit... remember, it's coming soon!!  Let's boost it to the Best Seller list... LOL!

Till,
Judi

Sneak Peek...

Well, since I'm still awaiting an editor to be assigned by my publisher, I thought I would give you a sneak peek of the cover for the soon to be published novel, "The Looking Glass Labyrinth."

While I'm waiting, I'm working hard on my Paris mystery.  One interesting fact about this one is that I have no title yet.  I'm usually pretty good coming up with a title, but this one hasn't shown up yet.  I have a list of possibilities written on the cover page, but so far, nothing seems to be the one.  Other authors tell me that they usually don't have a title until they finish the draft.  Sometimes it's a line that pops out or a scene or ... but so far, I have nothing.  I'm a good two-thirds of the way through the draft already and hoping that something hits my fancy soon.

In my last blog, I told you that I'm also working on the sequel to "She's Not You."  I really liked those two characters and felt they worked well together.  Both had baggage, but somehow it was endearing.  This book brings Jack's ex-girlfriend Lizz back into his life.  How does this sit with Jamie?  What do you think?  But wait - is that Jamie's ex Mike appearing as well?  Looks like it might be a full house.  In between explaining who's who, they're trying to solve a number of cold cases that seem to be linked to a serial killer, maybe?  And Jamie's working a case where a three year old girl was taken from her carriage over thirty years ago.

Phew... needless to say, they all manage to keep me up at night figuring out what trouble they're going to get themselves into next.

Well, back to my characters... they await my words moving them forward!

When I have more to tell, I'll be back.  Keep writing!
Till,
Judi

Doing your homework!

Photo by Judi Getch

I awoke to this incredibly beautiful view.  It's like being by the ocean... every morning, the mountain takes on a very different  look.  Today, the top of the mountain was wrapped in a soft pure white gauze scarf.   Minutes later, the entire view had changed.  I try to feed off these views... to capture my words and make my story more dramatic and dynamic because, truthfully, a minute later those explosive lovely words are gone.  :-) . 

Right now, I'm doing my homework -- research on a case that I'm introducing into the sequel of "She's Not You."  Jack and Jamie have found an intriguing unsolved murder that peaks their interest.  This cold case will eventually become linked to other cases and possibly to another serial killer.   Jamie better be careful!! 

I'm also working on my Paris based mystery which is coming along nicely.  I had to do a lot of homework here as well... describing what an inherited old French apartment might look like, finding out what updates can be made that will maintain the look and the history of the flat, and looking up what kind of records (marriage, death, license plates, etc.) can be found where.  Since I know Paris a bit, I can place my characters in some unique spots.  Brielle, the editor-in-chief for a Boston based fashion magazine, finds herself being shadowed by a man during a fashion shoot.  Is he someone that her ex hired?  Or someone else?  We don't know yet, but she and Jacques are about to find out.  And, will she eventually solve the disappearance of her mother?

And then, I'm so excited.  I just received the cover for my next novel which will hopefully be published in October,  As soon as I have an assigned editor, I'll post the cover and talk a bit about the story.  It's so exciting to have a second novel coming out in the same year as my debut novel, "She's Not You."

Other exciting things happening... I have two readings and book signings scheduled for September!  A busy month for sure, but so much fun!

Well, back to my research.  Keep on writing and do your homework!! 
Till,
Judi