Dear Friends,

Happy December, everybody! I personally love December for a few reasons. I always love these cooler temperatures and the winter of 2015 seems to have arrived early in Arizona. And of course I love the holidays and celebrating Christmas with my daughters. I love all the beautiful Christmas decorations, songs, stories, and movies. Two of my all-time favorites will always be “It’s a Wonderful Life” (which I have already watched twice this year) and A Christmas Story (I love the marathon – even though I own the movie. I admit to watching the marathon).

This year is particularly special for me. I am finally back in Arizona from promoting my book in Alabama and I’m looking forward to sharing the holidays with my kids and important friends.

I participated in NanoWriMo this year and am proud to announce I am one of the winners. The working title of the book is “The Buddy Pass” however, I can already feel that changing. I’m just not sure when or what it will change to. So much about my books surprise me along the way it’s the best part of the part of the adventure for me! I completed the 30 days with about 62,000 lines, but I’m nowhere near done writing the story. What I will tell you for now is that it is more of an adult story with love and romance and a little bit of a mystery.

Whatever you’re doing this December I hope that you’re winter is everything you’re dreaming of!

​No matter where you reside on this big blue marble of ours I hope that this December finds you safe, feeling joy, and surrounded by love!
 
All my love!
Juliet

Dear Friends,
I can’t believe it is already November! Where has this year gone? October was such a whirlwind for me I never even had the opportunity to write a note to you, for that I do apologize. 2015 has, hands down, been the most eventful year of my life. I published my first novel, experienced my first book signing, and took “The Secret They Kept” on the road to Alabama, where it is getting quite a bit of attention and interest. For those of you who are wondering about the second book in the series, yes I am working on it; however, I have reached a bit of “writer’s block” with it and have decided to participate with NanoWriMo 2015 and am starting a new novel tentatively titled “The Buddy Pass” which is inspired by an experience I had in October trying to get home to Phoenix to spend some time with my family. Wish me luck – it means writing 50,000 words in 30 days!

The month of November has always been one of my favorite months. The weather is cooler and Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. This years’ Thanksgiving will be a different and interesting experience for me and I will tell you all about it in my December newsletter. I am loving watching the leaves on the trees change to brilliant colors, something we really don’t see in most areas of Arizona.

I wish each and every one of you, in the United States, a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and hope that you truly are able to count many blessings to be thankful for this year!

​No matter where you reside on this big blue marble of ours I hope that this November finds you safe, feeling joy, and surrounded by love!
 
All my love!
Juliet

Dear Friends,

September is finally here, or should I say I can’t believe September is already here? Time truly does pass quickly. School is in full swing and marching band season is upon us! I am enjoying cooler temperatures and the fact that I actually need to wear a light jacket in the evening when I take my beloved dog, Bear, for a neighborhood walk. I am enjoying crisp mornings and evenings which truly feel like fall and this is invigorating for me and am looking forward to the leaves that change color truly indicating that fall is upon us!

I am continuing to query agents as I diligently work on book 2 in The Tacet Septenary Series. I am excited about book sales which I promote heavily through my website by offering a lower price. The reason? Because I absolutely love being able to send an autographed copy to my readers! I have made some minor edits and adjustments to Book One “The Secret They Kept” and find it to be quite exciting to already be publishing my book as a 2nd edition. I continue to hear the question "When is book 2 going to be released?" and my favorite statement "This would make an awesome movie!" (I couldn't agree more and humbly thank you all)

Whatever you’re doing this September, whether it is getting your kids ready for school, going back to school yourself, or maybe even planning a fall vacation I hope that your fall is off to a great start and continues on!

No matter where you reside on this big blue marble of ours I hope that this September finds you safe, feeling joy, and surrounded by love!

All my love!

Juliet

Dear Friends,

August is upon us…FINALLY! This means that cooler temperatures are right around the corner and that is something which always excites me! The summer of 2015 will go down in my personal history as a very interesting and remarkable summer. As you all know I experienced my very first book signing in June; July found me celebrating America’s independence and freedom with dear friends, having a rocking good time supporting my dear friend Stephen Christian as his Sammy Hagar / Van Halen era tribute band (AKA Sam Halen) blew the roof off a club called LiveWire in Old Town Scottsdale, and the discovery that I probably am too old to actually enjoy the nightlife of Old Town Scottsdale…who’d have thought THAT would ever happen? Two rock magazines have reached out to me with an interest in interviewing me for upcoming editions – one of which is an International rock magazine! I will definitely let you all know when these interviews occur, when they are published, and where you can pick up a copy! Additionally, having already been interviewed by a journalist for the Apollo High School newspaper, the Editor for the Glendale High School newspaper has also reached out to me for an interview which we have completed and she is currently working on writing…and school hasn’t even started yet!

July also brought about another new adventure in my journey which I am extremely excited to share with all of you! After much feedback from MANY amazing people, I am in the process of putting together a non-profit foundation.  The Juliet D. Jones Foundation for Performing Arts in Education is in the very early stages of being put together and I am already receiving support beyond my wildest dreams and expectations. My Foundation will exist for the sole purpose of funding programs already in existence to keep them available to the kids (who ARE our future) and maybe even eventually reach the point of returning these programs to schools which felt forced to remove them. Stay tuned for more details! It’s an exciting time and we are going to do a lot of good things!!!

I know in many places the new school year will not start again until September; however, here in Arizona some schools are already back in session and the rest will follow over the course of the coming weeks. My baby will start her senior year of high school on August 10th and I will be crying in my Cheerios. Although a mother’s job is never truly finished, the fact is when you raise your children to become strong, independent, responsible adults…at some point you must recognize that portion of your job and your journey together is through. I am looking forward to my final year as an official Bandmom / Guard Mommy, walking my baby girl across the field on Senior Night, and watching her shine at her high school graduation.

“The Secret They Kept" is still finding new fans who are all asking the same question – “When will book 2 be out?” and my answer is the same… “I’m nearly done with the first draft manuscript which means I’m nearly ready for first round edits”. My hope is to have the book ready in time for Christmas; however, that depends on many things – including help! I will be submitting query letters to agents to see if we can land a good publishing deal…a deal which will make a massive difference, not just in my career but more so in the lives of student performers from music, to theater, to dance, to choir, and so forth.

No matter where you reside on this big blue marble of ours I hope that this August finds you safe, feeling joy, and surrounded by love!

All my love!

Juliet

Dear Friends,
Is it possible that summer is technically almost over? Didn't we just get started with summer break? June was such a whirlwind for me that it seems to have arrived and departed too quickly.

As a band mom, July also brings the official start of band camp season and a fabulous reason to lower the price of "The Secret They Kept". I find it to be quite fitting since the story does occur during band camp - if only our Apollo Marching Hawks truly had a fabulous camp in Northern Arizona like Camp La Rosa to attend! 

When I think of July, especially in Arizona, I think of high heat, our annual walls of dust which blow through the valley, and the sights and sounds of freedom we experience here in the United States on July 4th. This year I am excited to be spending the holiday with dear friends for a BBQ (they have swimming pool and that is where I will be found), beautiful fireworks, and an opportunity to visit with old friends I've not seen in far too long!

No matter where you reside on this big blue marble of ours I hope that this July finds you safe, feeling joy and surrounded by love! 

All my love!
Juliet