posted
Hey Judith! Warmest regards to you. I don't have a certain question right now, but I would like to just say 'hello' and that I truly adore your books.
posted
Woohoo! Hi Judith! I have a couple of questions. I hope they haven't ever been asked before!
First, are you ever going to come to Utah for a signing?
Second, When do you plan to have Water's Edge finished? I read the first chapter in the back of one of your books and was totally intrigued! It looks and sounds fabulous! I am a time travel freak and am really looking forward to it.
Also, I wanted to say that it is really great of you to always be here on this board and to interact with your fans! You truly are great! Thanks!
Thanks... *TAMI*
[This message has been edited by Tamera (edited 02-27-2003).]
posted
Hi Judith. I am sure that the other ladies here will have questions much more in depth than mine, but I wanted to know what inspiered you to use a Broadway setting? By the way, I abolutely loved the book!
posted
Hi Judith. I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful time we had at the Long Island book signing. I'm not going to stay on because I still haven't finished my book. Everyone will probably think there is something wrong with me because its taking me so long to finish it. But I can't rush. No matter how I try it seems like I have to eat, chew, swallow and digest each and every prescious word of this book. It's wonderful.
posted
This is exciting! I can't wait to see everyone's comments/questions!
I think I asked all of my own questions during the round table you had with the winners of the advance copies, so I'll just sit back and enjoy the fun!
I have one quick question. On page 65 Leigh tells Brenna that she has hundreds of aquaintences & a few true friends. Two are on the other side of the globe. Would those two friends be Matt & Mer Farrell?
I was wondering if Pocket is able to determine how many "non-romance" readers are buying STWOM. I think it will appeal to many audiences. I was at my local library today, talking to one of the librarians about STWOM, and she said they've been checking that book out like crazy. I told her how wonderful I think it is, and she told me that she would share that with those checking it out.
Lynda
[This message has been edited by Lynda Maitland (edited 02-27-2003).]
Posts: 2136 | From: The Bluegrass State | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
Do you mind if we call you by your first name? I've done it several times but I've always felt awfully impertinent while doing so!
I'm only 1/3 of the way through STWOM, so I won't be sticking around tonight, don't want to risk any spoilers - and I can't wait to find out what happens next, so I have to get back to reading!
-ShannonH
Posts: 1431 | From: Nordstrom's Shoe Department | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Am I ever going to come to Utah for a signing? Probably sooner than you know...One of my dearest friends recently moved to Salt Lake to take over as administrator of a large hospital there.
Posts: 1030 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
hey i just want to know if u plan on writing more historical book or more westmoreland series .... i just want to say u are a great writer
Posts: 11 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hello Ms. McNaught! I would like to congratulate you on STWOM.
IMHO - Perfect is still the best. I have never read any book and put me into such an emotional roller coaster.
Can I expect or dream that you will continue the time travel story that you started on Waters Edge? If so, how soon do you think till we have the utmost pleasure to read your next book? (LOL)
I apologize for being so optimist, but I can't help it Ms. McNaught. I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to chat with you.
LaLi - The "PERFECT" addict! P/S - I vote 100% that Zack is the best hero ever created by you.
[This message has been edited by Lady Lion (edited 02-27-2003).]
Thanks so much for the fabulous time at the New York signing. I'm still reliving the moments.
I noticed that with both NW and STWOM, the heroines and heros are noticeably older. I know with historicals, there are limitations as to how old a heroine can/should be when she gets married. Therefore, a realistic heroine must be relatively young.
But in contemporaries, there are no constraits when it comes to age. Are your future heroines going to stay in their thirties? If you do decide to write Courtney's story, how old will she be?
Personally, I enjoy heroines who have lived long enough to have had significant life experience. But I was wondering your take on age/love/experience, etc.
I also was curious to see whom else you had considered for the villain of STWOM. Like most others, I thought Sheila would've also been a perfect candidate.
Shirley
P.S. Congratulations on making the NY Times Bestseller List!! You deserve it.
[This message has been edited by Shirley (edited 02-27-2003).]
I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY SINCERE THANKS AND BEST WISHES TO EVERYBODY SAING THAT IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING YOU IN NEW YORK YOU BEING SUCH A GRACIOUS AND WONDERFUL TO US.
I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF WE CAN DISCUSS THE STWOM HERE OR NOT?
posted
Hi Judith Just a couple questions. I might of missed it but how did she know the Farrell's and also the time frame at the cabin bothered me. If Jane was in the show how did she beat Leigh there and how was Sheila going to squeeze in there also?? Thanks Jackie
Posts: 136 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
My question is are you going to rerelease all of your books in hardcover? With maybe a little added like you did with Whitney, My Love? I know everyone would love it. I, also wanted to add that I loved Someone to Watch Over Me it was so worth the wait.
Thanks for being such a great writer. Lyndee
Posts: 627 | From: The Round Up listening to Ash Farrell | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Judith , so glad you could be here I will try to remember to post *SPOILERS* on posts when I am using names and events from STWOM. How have the tours been ? We know that some of our Dreadnaughts from NY had a blast , and we know that your book is going to be 3rd on the NY Bestsellers list -wooohoo , so how have the signing been ? Thank you Lady Shannon
Posts: 2140 | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Water's Edge *will* be fabulous...when I finish it, which may be in the nearer future.
I chose the Broadway setting because I wanted Leigh Kendall to be "a star" who seemed to have it all--on the surface. That way, I could juxtaposition the harsher reality of her real life. I didn't want her to be a "Hollywood" type though, because that calls to mind an element of phoniness and hype in our minds. I wanted her to be "real" and warm and honorable. A Broadway star suited me perfectly for that reason...and so did New York as a setting.
posted
GREAT! I am glad to hear you are coming here soon! And especially excited because I live right close to Salt Lake City! Will that book signing be posted? If not, how would I go about finding out about it? *TAMI*
Posts: 3386 | From: Utah | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
First off, I just want to say that I LOVED STWOM! It was wonderful. Second, I can't wait to meet you next week. I plan on being at 2 of the Kentucky signings
My question: In another post, you said that Leigh was the hardest herione you ever wrote about. You said you would say why after the book was released. So, why is that?
I just wanted to tell you I saw some of the pictures at the NY signing and you looked fabulous.
I still haven't read STWOM yet so I have no questions about that (its apparently still stuck somewhere in the postal service LOL)...and I haven't been peeking at any spoilers at all
But my question is: Besides Courtney, are any of your previous characters going to make appearances in your later novels or have you not planned that far ahead yet?
STWOM was great. Loved the characters. Here are some questions (WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!)
- did Logan ever love Leigh? They got married against his mother's wishes, when both were struggling for money, stayed married for 13 years ... why stay married if he was just going to cheat on Leigh? Was it a social appearance thing? Why have affairs with her friends? Is he just simply a jerk? I don't put much stock in Sheila's explanations considering she was blackmailing her patients ...
- How was Sheila blackmailing her patients? Why the need to have Logan as a partner? Did she love him? Were they really having an affair? Couldn't the patients file malpractice suits?
- loved Sam and Mack ... In some ways they stole the show (they were so adorable together!)
Thanks, Cassie
[This message has been edited by Kitten (edited 02-27-2003).]
posted
Hi Judith, I am afraid of spoilers too because I am only on page 386. (I love it so far!)
At the end of Something Wonderful, Jordan gave Alex three necklaces. And I think I understand why the ruby and emerald were shaped like hearts (to make up for the tin one she got from her father) but why was the diamond shaped like a tear?
I just wanted to say that I loved STWOM. I loved it so much that I've started recycling (rereading) all of your other books. Congratulations on the successful release. By the way, I saw a Kroger best-seller list...STWOM was number 2.
quote:I was wondering if Pocket is able to determine how many "non-romance" readers are buying STWOM. I think it will appeal to many audiences. I was at my local library today, talking to one of the librarians about STWOM, and she said they've been checking that book out like crazy. I told her how wonderful I think it is, and she told me that she would share that with those checking it out.
Yes, we're able to logically "track" the non-romance buyers of STWOM, and our information becomes more reliable as the weeks progress. Here's how "logic" works: By the time I finished PERFECT, I'd already gone to #1 on the NYT bestseller list, therefore it's logical to assume that I'd already reached the entire romance reader market and acquired all the readers among them who were going to like my books and style.
We know how many copies of PERFECT were sold, therefore when REMEMBER WHEN sold to an even larger audience, we have to assume those new readers were non-romance readers. With each successive book, my sales numbers have continued to escalate, and this reflects the volume of added non-romance readers. Now, along the way, I would also have lost some hard-core romance readers who didn't want anything but romance in their books. Those lost "sales" were also filled in with new non-romance readers.
And to answer the rest of your wonderful question---STWOM is not only reaching a huge new number of non-romance readers, they're truly "crazy about" the book AND the romance element in it. I love that. It means we're introducing something we love to an entire new audience whose learning to love it too, when it's done well.
posted
Hi Judith, I have not had a chance to read STWOM yet, but was wondering if your latest book is always your own personal favorite or if you hold special place for any of your earlier books/characters? I bought DS as a brand new Temptation and have been a huge fan ever since. Hope to see you in Dayton.
posted
I don't have plans for Courtney with a modern day Westmoreland...but I'm thinking seriously of letting her star in WATER'S EDGE (the unfinished Time Travel) and introduce her to a medieval Westmoreland.
AND YES--Leigh's two "friends on the other side of the glove" were intended to refer to Matt and Meredith. I needed Joe O'Hara in STWOM, but I didn't have room for Matt and Meredith to reappear, so I let them be "out of reach."
posted
I've noticed several people asking questions about the time travel you are working on, and I'm waiting with baited breath to hear answers...but I also have another question about it: Do you find it *different* somehow to be working on a book that includes an element of the fantastic? All of your other wonderful books have been grounded in the material world, so I'm wondering whether working with time travel presents a new challenge or a different approach.
quote:I noticed that with both NW and STWOM, the heroines and heros are noticeably older. I know with historicals, there are limitations as to how old a heroine can/should be when she gets married. Therefore, a realistic heroine must be relatively young.
But in contemporaries, there are no constraits when it comes to age. Are your future heroines going to stay in their thirties? If you do decide to write Courtney's story, how old will she be?
Personally, I enjoy heroines who have lived long enough to have had significant life experience. But I was wondering your take on age/love/experience, etc.
If I use Courtney in a time travel, I wouldn't want her to be more than 18 or 19, because after that age, we wouldn't like or appreciate a lot of her flippancy and the characteristics we've enjoyed in her as a youth.
In other words, she's "darling" as a 14-17 year old, but she wouldn't be a likeable or admirable heroine as a 22 year old unless she matured and changed.
posted
Judith- This is so terrific to be able to participate in something like this! How do you ever find the time? My first question is: is it really (YOU)- JM - on the JMBB or one of your staff? Please don't be insulted, but how can someone as great and as busy as you donate so much time to your fans? Second question: Does Coors Brewing Company still sponsor "Literacy. Pass It On"? I know the joy and satisfaction of teaching/enabling someone to read as I've taught first grade for nearly thirty years and I thought in my retirement I might help others to find the joy, power, and knowledge to be found in reading. Thank you Judith for all you do? Barb
Posts: 2342 | From: Michigan | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
It would be really cool to see Courtney in a time travel in her late teens...and she'd need some of that flippancy if she was going up against a macho warlord (at least at first)!
posted
Re: The ages of my heroines in contemporaries.
I find myself (as I grow *older* ) wanting to add a couple of years to my heroine's ages. With PARADISE, written more than 10 years ago, I was actually worried about making Meredith 30, because at that time in the romance genre, heroines were always younger. You can see how gingerly I circumvented the problem--I made Meredith 29 when we meet her as an executive, BUT she is about to have her 30th birthday.
I really felt that in order for her to be a skilled exectutive, believably ready to take over as CEO of Bancroft, she HAD to be 30.
In Leigh's case, she had not only accomplished a great deal, she was about to suffer a great deal and do it with dignity and grace. I thought she needed to be about 35 in order to make all that creditable to readers.
And--well--the other thing is that 30 seems much younger to me now than it did ten years ago.
This portion of Simon & Schuster's SimonSays.com is dedicated to providing an opportunity for users to exchange ideas and opinions. As such, the information, facts, or opinions appearing at this site do not necessarily reflect the views of Simon & Schuster, and Simon & Schuster does not assume responsibility or liability for the materials found here, nor for any claims, damages or losses resulting from any use of this service or the materials contained herein. By communication with this site, you hereby represent that you have all necessary rights in the materials, communications, or other information that you have provided, transmitted or sent to this site, and you hereby authorize Simon & Schuster to use, and/or authorize others to use, any such materials, communications or information in any manner Simon & Schuster sees fit, in any medium for no compensation. IN OTHER WORDS, WE MAY WANT TO USE WHAT YOU SAY (IF IT'S ANY GOOD) AND BY PUTTING IT HERE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO LET US USE IT ANY WAY WE WANT FOR NO COMPENSATION.
SimonSays.com
Printer-friendly view of this topic
