Farewell Jo Bourne

Anne here with the other Word Wenches, farewelling Joanna Bourne, who has been such a beloved member of our community for more than ten years.

I first "met" Jo through her writing. It was 2008. I was in New York for a conference, and meeting with my editor. I was in her office, about to leave, when I said, "Is there anyone you think I should be reading? She pulled The Spymaster's Lady from her shelf and handed it to me. It hadn't yet been published — Jo and I shared the same editor.  I read The Spymaster's Lady on the plane on the way home and wow! It blew me away. 

I met her in person in 2009, the night she won her first RITA for the Spymaster's Lady. It was a thrilling night all around. Wench Jo Beverley presented her with it — seems Joanna was almost fated to become a Word Wench.

I interviewed her here, and the following month Joanna joined us as a word wench. This was her first post. And since then she's become a valued member of the word wench family. You can catch up with her previous posts here — there's a wealth of Jo-reading. And now, over to the other wenches . . .

From Pat:  Jo, I totally wish you well in your retirement but secretly hope the imps of creativity crawl out of their holes and start chewing on your fingers. Your brilliant, funny, creative mind needs a good outlet, and I need my Job fix of humor on a regular basis. I’ll miss you so much!

For those of you who have only read Jo’s books, dig around on the Wench blog and look for her epistles. Humor lurks under every word and insight. Behind the scenes, when the wenches are talking, she’s even funnier and pithier. And if you haven’t read Jo’s books, do so now! As you can see by her pictures, she looks like a mischievous imp, not an evil mind who grips you by the throat and won’t let go!

From Mary Jo:  As you may have noticed, it's impossible to write about Joanna Bourne without mentioning her amazing humor.  Sly, witty, and deeply subversive, it is not what one expects from someone who looks like a a cat loving cookie grandmother. <G>  She has the ability to write about any topic on earth and make it hilarious and fascinating. (I'd love to see what she could do with turnips . . .)  Her books are uniquely in her voice and speak for themselves.  Nor shall I forget that at the Wench retreat in Connecticut, she conjured a Bent Thomas which was most valuable in the book I was struggling with!  Please don't disappear entirely, Jo—we need you! 

Andrea: On reading my first Jo Bourne novel, The Spymaster’s Lady, I was blown away by the powerful use of language—a terse style where every word felt so carefully chosen (I tend to blather on, so that really impressed me!) There's also a gritty emotional depth to her characters, and the plots can draw a readers through some dark moments. This, I remember thinking to myself, is a very serious writer. And then I joined the Word Wenches and met Jo . . .

The first thing you notice when you meet Jo is the delightful twinkle in her eyes and her impish smile. And then you quickly discover how scathingly funny she is—in a wonderfully dry, understated, laconic way. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve nearly fallen off my chair in laughter on reading one of her emails on our private Wench loop describing some little everyday incident that has gone awry. She sees things in a marvelously unique way. I’m sure everyone who reads her blogs knows what I mean. 

The Wenches have become a sisterhood over the years, sharing ups and downs, and we will miss her kindness and warmth as well as her humor on our daily e-mails, and on the blog . . . So hugs, Jo—and enjoy taking time to slow down and smell the roses. But we’re making you promise to stop by often and say hi. (And you know, never say never . . .)

From Nicola:  I’ve always been excited when I see that Joanna is writing a blog post. Firstly, you don’t know what sort of topic she’ll go for: Chickens! Dog collars! Regency Lightning! It’s unpredictable and you wonder what on earth she’s going to say. Then you start reading and it’s always fascinating stuff. I learn so much. “The Regency imagined electricity as if it were something you could keep in a jar and pour out.” Who knew? Not only were Joanna’s blog posts always funny, perceptive and informative, they would be written in her signature quirky style, just like her marvellous books. People talk about authors having a distinctive “voice” and Joanna’s writing has this in spades. I’ve never read anything quite like Joanna Bourne’s writing and it’s been a wonderful addition to the Wenches over the years, just as it has been a pleasure to have been “wenching” alongside her!

Wishing you joy on the next phase of writing and life, Jo, and we will miss you very much!

Christina said: As the new kid on the block, I haven’t known Jo all that long, but I already know that I absolutely love her writing and always looked forward to her blog posts. She never disappoints with her quirky choice of topics and erudite way of handling them, and she has a very unique way of looking at things which I really appreciate. I very much hope she’ll be popping in from time to time so we can enjoy more of those lovely posts. In the meantime, I wish her lots of rest and relaxation with her dog and cat, joy in everything she does, and every happiness! I’m sure the muse will soon find his/her way back to Jo soon because muses are sneaky that way and they never quite leave authors alone. Take care Jo, I will miss you!

Susan adds: All good things reach an end, and so we bid a fond adieu to one of our own. Wench Jo has been with us for years, bringing spice and humor to the mix, contributing a lovely whimsy and balance in the Word Wench group. She's funny, she's incredibly smart and quick — and her books are just as spicy, clever, and wonderful too. Jo leaves us for greener pastures (spring and summer are on their way, after all!), some well-deserved relaxation, and a break from having to think up a blog at the last minute (oh wait, is that just me who does that?) ... We hope she's only taking a short break from writing her books — Jo will always have stories bubbling and simmering that need to be written. We also hope Jo knows she is welcome on the blog anytime, if she gets a little bored with all the peace and quiet and freedom. We will miss her terribly, behind the scenes as well as on the blog, we wish her every happiness, and we hope she will be back soon!

Anne again: The last time Jo played with the wenches in person was in July 2019 when she, Mary Jo, Pat and I joined Andrea at her home in Connecticut for a writing retreat. We talked, ate, told stories, brainstormed and laughed a great deal. An enduring memory for me will be Jo's version of "cutlery as characters" — manipulating cutlery and salt and pepper shakers around the table as she explained her plot. Naturally the fork became the character she called "Bent Thomas." I'm sorry we'll never get to see her version of him in one of her stories, but, as others have said, "never say never." And, I've forgotten what we were toasting on this occasion, but here we are again, wishing the wonderful Jo Bourne all the very best in her new life.

As we all know, Jo has a most distinctive and unique writing "voice". Which is your favorite Joanna Bourne book — it's hard to choose, I know. I waver between Spymaster's Lady and The Black Hawk — or your favorite Joanna blog post?

Comments

[theo]

I know I said this on the group's previous blog, but Jo, you will be greatly missed. I've enjoyed every post whether I commented or not, and all of your books. Enjoy your 'retirement' but don't stray too far from here. An occasional blog post would be so welcome. *hug*

[Quantum]

With the rise of electronic books you authors have effectively achieved immortality .... you no longer need the elixir of life!

Back in the day before my reading vision deteriorated I read a couple of Jo's books following glowing recommendations. 'Spy Master's Lady' I think. I seem to remember the heroine as a prisoner of the British was in a warm bath waiting interrogation. Great innovation from the Brits ... and Jo! I dream of audio versions materializing when I will be able to enjoy more.

Enjoy your well earned retirement Jo

[Sue McCormick]

Thank you Wenches for your warm depictions of Jo, even though they serve to make me miss her more.

Enjoy your retirement, Jo and please visit as often as you feel up to it.

[Linnea J Priest]

you guys.....she's not DEAD!!!! I hope there will be more of her writing.

[Kate]

I have some audible credits I’m never going to use, and they’ll expire soon. I’d be happy to gift you any of her audiobooks you want, if you email me at katrorplay @ gmail . com

I’m pretty cut up about this news. My Lord and Spymaster was the first Bourne book I read, and I was afraid nothing could ever top it ... and then I read all the rest and I was so delighted to be wrong.

[Patricia Rice]

Jo swears she's retiring, which is why I hope the imps of creativity start gnawing on her fingers. I can't believe there will be no more Jo words for me to read.

[Jayne]

I love Joanna Bourne...Love all the Spymasters! Had the pleasure of meeting her back in 2010 or 2011 when there was an "Outlander dinner with Diana Gabaldon at St. Andrews restaurant in NYC. A real privilege. Enjoy your retirement, Jo.❤️

[Kareni]

Thanks for a lovely post. Jo, I wish you all the best in your retirement. I will definitely miss your witty posts and remarks.

My favorite Joanna Bourne books (i.e., the most reread) are THE SPYMASTER'S LADY and THE BLACK HAWK.

[Jeanne Behnke]

I'm so sorry to see you go Jo. I love the humor in your blog posts. Hugs! This blog post is a wonderful tribute to you!

[Malvina]

Enjoy your retirement Joanna, well deserved. I hope you get to relax and read some books as wonderful as your own.

[Anne Gracie]

Theo, the wenches have stressed to Jo that she will always be welcome to drop in and blog with us. And some of us are none-too-subtly hoping (hinting?) that the writing bug will strike her again.

[Anne Gracie]

Quantum, I'm very surprised that Jo's books aren't available on audio in the UK. It might be worth writing to Berkley and Tantor to request it. I'm sure there would be a huge market for them.

[Anne Gracie]

LOL we know that, Linnea. But we didn't want her to just slip away without us all saying something. So we did.

We're also hoping there will be more Jo writing. Some of us were in on the brainstorming of an idea for a new book, when we were on retreat. But we don't want to nag.

[Anne Gracie]

That must have been a wonderful occasion, Jayne. It's the kind of gathering we almost never get to have in Australia.

[Anne Gracie]

My favorites too, Kareni.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Jeanne. Yes, we didn't want to let Jo just slip quietly away.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Malvina. Yes, retirement that consists of no deadlines, and just reading whatever books take your fancy sounds wonderful.

[Anita Shelburne]

Jo Bourne is one of my all-time favorites. She deserves a happy retirement, and I'm trying not to be selfish by wishing she's produce just one more book...and then another...and....

Favorite book? The Black Hawk, with The Spymaster's Lady a close second. It was my introduction to the series and was such a joy to find!

[theo]

Yes, I was rather hoping along those lines as well. Short stories wouldn't be out of order if the full length novel doesn't strike her fancy anymore ;)

[Louisa Cornell]

My favorite Joanna Bourne book? ALL OF THEM! Each one is a brilliant gem and a full course in how to write a romance novel. As for her blogposts - I have all of her writing advice posts from her website printed and in a notebook and to that notebook I have added print outs of NUMEROUS of her blogs from the Wenches blog.I have been able to meet Joanna through the Wenches blog and also through what was The Beau Monde Chapter of RWA and is now Regency Fiction Writers. I have been privileged to spend time with her at numerous conferences, but my favorite conference story is the one where I introduced my dear friend and conference roommate Andrea Stein to Joanna and Grace Burrowes at the hotel bar. Andrea was and remains a HUGE fangirl of Joanna. She was gobsmacked to meet her. Our conversation with Jo and Grace was cut short because Andrea and I were meeting a group for dinner. We rushed off and STIFFED JO FOR OUR DRINKS !! We didn't remember until we returned to the hotel and it hit us that we had not paid for our drinks. We were MORTIFIED!! Fortunately, I saw Jo at the Beau Monde Mini Conference breakfast the next morning, apologized profusely, and paid her for our drinks. Best of all, Andrea has a book Jo signed with, of course, a wickedly witty reference to the incident.

I wish you peace and joy and rest in your retirement, Jo. And like so many others, I hope after a period of time the characters you so wonderfully bring to life will insist you tell their stories!

[Amanda]

As I read this post, I imagine Annique and Grey (my favourite characters from Jo's books) many years after the last page, retiring from their lives as secret agents. Their children are grown and they are packing their saddle bags to go exploring together. Our blessings to Jo, Annique and Grey in their new adventures.

[Thuy Pisone]

I hope you will have a wonderful retirement. Thank you for writing. I enjoyed reading all of your books, especially The Spymaster's Lady.

[Patricia Franzino]

I hope your retirement is filled with loving experiences with family and pets. I loved reading "The Forbidden Rose" and "The Spymaster's Lady."

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Sue.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Anita. It's a fabulous series, isn't it?

[Anne Gracie]

What a great story, Louisa. And of course Jo made a fun reference to the incident when she signed the book. What a treasure for your friend.

[Anne Gracie]

That's a lovely thought, Amanda. It's been fun reading through the series watching them age and mellow a bit, but I hadn't got as far as grown children.

[Quantum]

Anne, The first three spymaster audio books are now on Audible UK and Audible US but I will need to be proficient in German to listen ... the publisher is ' Audible Studios'. I don't understand the economics of funding German audio books and not English. Not sure who to try and contact. Audible customer support is not very responsive unless the questions fit predefined categories ... they might as well use robots!

[Anne Gracie]

Good grief! That makes so little sense to me, it has got to be an accidental mix-up. I hate the way companies now turn their "help" sections over to robotic technology with pre-set questions and automatic responses. Not helpful at all.

[Annette N]

Well, y'all have made me feel like I actually got Ms Bourne and her wit and humor. Each of you have mentioned how she can see the humor in life...and that may be the thing I have enjoyed most.

Thanks so much for these memories. I can hear that music...Bob Hope anyone?

Take care and stay well, all of you.

[Anne H]

I first read 'Intrigue and Mistletoe' in Mischief and Mistletoe and enjoyed it so much that I searched for all her other works that had already been published and bought the new ones as they came out. I have all of them in paperback form and audiobook format, though I see I still haven't got them all on Kobo or Kindle. My favorite is The Black Hawk but I like all of them.
I've also enjoyed her blog posts.
I hope she enjoys her retirement!

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks Annette, and the same to you.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Anne. One of the delights of anthology collections is to introduce readers to a "new" author. Glad you discovered Jo through Mischief and Mistletoe.

[Michelle H]

I feel the same about all of the Wenches, but don't let that make you think I'm ready for any of you other ladies retire...but... It's been privilege to enjoy your posts and wonderful oeuvre of books, Joanna. It's very hard to let someone step away and go do other lovely things they haven't been able to do while they worked and played hard at their job. There ARE those lovely things though, and you deserve them as much as anybody. And I heard what you were saying regarding the writing craft being hard on your body. So getting out of that chair more often has to be a very desirable reward.

Just like everyone has been saying, I'll miss that voice of yours, especially the tongue-in-cheek posts. Perhaps bring us a humorous post of an aspect of being retired after a year. And may your first year of retirement(all of them) be a lot lot lot better than 2020 was.

A very happy and very long retirement.

[Karin]

Reading my first Jo Bourne book, "The Spymaster's Lady" was an amazing experience. So great and so unique. But I think my favorite, and the one I reread most, is "The Forbidden Rose".
I have such a crush on Doyle, I'm not even joking! But I don't stand a chance since he's found his perfect match in Marguerite/Maggie.

[Vicki L]

As I said before, Happy Retirement. Enjoy the flowers. Spring is such a lovely time of year to step back and just enjoy life.

[Glenda M]

It's impossible for me to choose a favorite Jo Bourne book or blog post! I've enjoyed every one and will miss reading blog posts as well as new books! Enjoy your retirement Jo!

[Quantum]

A copy of my email to Audible:

I notice that 3 books by Joanna Bourne are now available but in German. Why are the English versions not available? This seems a very strange marketing ploy!

Even more weird are the 24 books by Lisa Kleypas which are in Italian or Danish. Kleypas is a leading author in the romance genre and surely deserves to be represented in English!

Hoping for some improvement soon.

[Joanne Bourne]

Hi Theo --

I won't forget the old place. Even while I'm involved in important activities like planting roses and considering bits of the house that would really, really like to fall to bits I won't shut off any new possibilites.

[Joanne Bourne]

I've been puzzled by British Audible for some years now.

It may be a muddle with the publisher. Under contract, they own the audio rights and it is very odd of them not to sell them in the UK.

I think it's possible to buy all the audiobooks as CDs from Book Depository.

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=joanna+bourne&search=Find+book

But they are quite expensive.

[Joanne Bourne]

Hi Sue -

I have, as it were, jumped off the merry-go-round, rolled a few times in the nifty playground mulch, and am now sitting up and blinking.

We will see what comes next.

[Joanne Bourne]

The reports have been greatly exaggerated ...

[Joanne Bourne]

I remember that. It was completely delightful.

I tried haggis for the first time.
I have not, as it happens, had it again but I will keep that option open for the future.

[Joanne Bourne]

My most "historical" of all the books is Forbidden Rose. I mean, I knew the historical weather hour-by-hour for a lot of that and all the minutia of who was patrolling the Paris streets.

So, in some ways, all the others were easier to write.

[Joanne Bourne]

They were most kind. (jo blushes and tries to find someplace inconspicuous to stand.)

I've written a good bit of nonfiction over the years, though much of it doesn't have my name attached to it. I've always figured it doesn't HAVE to be boring.

[Joanne Bourne]

My To Be Read pile has been asking for an entire room of its own. I'm going to have to start reading them ...

[Joanne Bourne]

Hi Anita -

I'm already feel more relaxed. I'm convinced this is the right move.

[Joanne Bourne]

(jo waves madly)

Always something interesting going on at a Writers Conference. I'm surprised there aren't more books with that setting.

[Joanne Bourne]

That sounds exactly like Grey and Annique. Always something interesting down the road.

Maybe they'll take off with the Gypsies.

[Joanne Bourne]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the books. I certainly enjoyed writing them.

[Joanne Bourne]

I think I'm already getting the benefits of ratcheting back the responsibilities and distractions. It's good to just sit still and think, y'know.

[Joanne Bourne]

I'm glad I had a chance to write Hawker's whole story, even if it did give The Black Hawk a complicated plot.
I worried about that, so I'm always glad when folks say the book worked for them.

[Joanne Bourne]

It's one of the things writers talk about a lot behind the scenes. Writing is both sedentary and exhausting. Not good for health.

Wise writers take long walks and go to the gym. Some of them (jo says doubtfully) may even jog.
I am not a wise writer.

I have made all kinds of resolutions.
We will see what comes of that.

[Joanne Bourne]

It's hard for folks to connect to the Romance aspects of a character
if they first meet him when he's older and "thoroughly married". And if he's presented again and again as in a completely non-sexy way.

It's an argument for reading a series in order.

I'm very, very fond of Doyle myself.

[Joanne Bourne]

Thank you so much. I'm being reminded of that good advice every day now.

[Joanne Bourne]

I'm glad you enjoyed the blog posts.
Mostly they came out of research I was doing on a manuscript.

I got multiple use out of them.

I freed myself of the insidious, "I've done the research and now you, the reader, are going to durn well read it!"

All the little bits and pieces that didn't fit in the story found a home. They were not wasted.

And I hope folks found them fun. I had fun writing them.

[Dorothea]

My favorite is “My Lord and Spymaster” (despite the mad irrelevancy of the title). The opening chapters of that book are perfection in prose. Happy well-earned retirement, Jo, and thank you for all the wonderful characters and trenchant wit.