Special Guest Post by Jude McLean, Author of United: The O'Brians, Book Three

New from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Her heart was shattered the day he was taken.

Now a widow, Nan O’Brian’s time for love is a thing of the past. She no longer thinks about herself, but instead, lives for her nephews, doting on them as if they were her own. But surviving is not living, and when an unexpected encounter sparks something she thought long buried, she wonders if a heart can get a second chance.

When Tony invited me to write for his blog, I was honoured, but I scratched my head. First, I wondered what on earth he wanted with me when his blog is peppered with words like “bestseller” and authors with credentials the length of their arms. I don’t fit into either of those categories. I’ve sold many books, but I’m no best seller and my credentials are the length of my finger.

 
Anyway, I looked through his list of prompting questions. The first: What’s your writing process? I can answer that in one word: messy. Anyone who has ever tried to analyze my writing process has walked away sorely disappointed. If you want to talk about story arcs, structure, and plot, you’re not going to get anything out of me. I write about what comes in my head and that’s that. No outline and notes everywhere—literally. For me, it works. 

Next question … Nope, moving on. Hmmm, I could talk about doing accidental acrobatics off a surfboard. Nah. Or nearly getting arrested at Graceland? Perhaps not. Or having an affair with chocolate cake? No. Who doesn’t? Attempting to be original and interesting is exhausting. So, I’m not. I’m writing a romantic suspense series, The O’Brians. The third book will be released on May 30, 2023. I began writing the series shortly after my first trip to Ireland. What a trip that was! I was alone in a foreign country. 

I’m from America, and what did I do? Hop on a tour bus? Nope. I climbed into a rental car, wiped my sweaty brow, said a prayer, and took off. You want to talk about a holy s#@! moment … I was in Ireland for three weeks, but all of three days were pre-planned. So, there I was, driving in the dark, through the rain, to the charming town of Ennis in County Clare, where my hotel was. Thank the good Lord, the roads were mostly empty. Once I checked in, took a shower—I wasn’t kidding about that sweat—and drank a pot of tea, I set out on foot. 

Thanks to the one-way street I drove down, trying to get to my hotel, I knew that Ennis was not meant for cars. I was about five blocks from the hotel, about to cross that same one-way street, when a cab pulled up. Locals do that too, huh? Vindication is mine! The driver rolled down his window and called out to me, asking for directions. Yep. Me. The American who had been in the country for approximately two hours. I snorted a laugh and spoke. The guy’s mouth dropped open. It was priceless. 

My wandering paid off, so there I was, an American giving an Irishman directions. He apologised for his reaction and said I looked local. I guess it’s my auburn hair, blue eyes, and that I wasn’t walking around with a map or phone in front of my face, all in an effort to find a charger for my cellphone. Instead, I was mingling with the town. It’s people, it’s commerce, it’s history. 

That is how I spent the entire trip: mingling and meandering. I met wonderful people, visited some of the most magnificent places I’d ever seen—some deliberately, some not so deliberately—and when my trip was through, I had a whole new family. That’s what my series, The O’Brians, is really about: family. Sure, there’s lust, redemption, revenge, humor, and true love, but the heart of it is family. And it all takes place in the gorgeous, unparalleled beauty of Ireland. If that appeals to you, by all means, check me out. 

Jude McLean

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About the Author

Jude McLean is an American of Irish descent who holds a deep-rooted affinity to Ireland. She can’t be there as much as she would like. With her writing, she can be there as often as she wishes and brings her readers along for the ride. When Jude isn’t writing, you can find her in the kitchen creating lavish desserts and meals, all the while happily singing as she waves a wooden spoon. She laughs too loud, swears too often, and has been known to indulge in eating an entire cake all by herself. But she promises her readers will never go without a laugh, a gasp, a tear or two, and a smile. Find out more at Jude's website http://www.judemclean.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter @readjudemclean