Meet J.A. Jance on Meet the Thriller Author
Few authors have had a career as remarkable—and as enduring—as J.A. Jance. With nearly 70 novels published and millions of copies sold, she is one of the most successful thriller writers of the last forty years. Her series featuring J.P. Beaumont, Joanna Brady, Ali Reynolds, and the Walker family have captivated generations of readers with their mix of suspense, humanity, and unforgettable characters.
But Jance’s path to becoming a bestselling author was anything but easy. Growing up in Bisbee, Arizona, she dreamed of being a writer from an early age. Yet when she applied to the University of Arizona’s creative writing program in 1964, she was told that “girls ought to be teachers or nurses” rather than writers. Later, her first husband—who had been admitted to the program—declared there would be only one writer in their family, and it wouldn’t be her.
Undeterred, Jance carved her own path. As a divorced single mother raising two children and selling life insurance full-time, she woke at 4 a.m. to write. Her persistence paid off when Until Proven Guilty, the first J.P. Beaumont novel, was published in 1985. Decades later, her work continues to resonate with readers around the world.
In this episode of Meet the Thriller Author, J.A. Jance joins me to talk about her upcoming novel, The Girl from Devil’s Lake (out September 30, 2025). It’s the 21st Joanna Brady mystery, and perhaps her most ambitious yet: a chilling case that spans decades and even crosses international borders. We also dive into her writing process, how she balances multiple series, her reflections on a long career in publishing, and the resilience it took to overcome the obstacles she faced at the start.
It’s an inspiring conversation with a true master of the thriller genre.
Connect with the author…
Facebook
X
YouTube
Amazon
Goodreads
Link
Latest Book
Other Books by J.A. Jance
Show Notes & Transcript
In this episode of
Meet the Thriller Author, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance to talk about her incredible career and her latest novel, The Girl from Devil’s Lake (Joanna Brady #21).
Highlights include:
* The inspiration and scope behind The Girl from Devil’s Lake — Joanna Brady’s most complex case yet
* How J.A. Jance develops characters who grow and change over time
* Why she considers herself a storyteller rather than just a novelist
* Her daily writing routine and surprising choice of software
* Overcoming early career roadblocks to build a legendary writing career
Video
