Reissue of the Novels of Judith Merkle Riley

Judith Merkle Riley, 1992

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Today I'm delighted to introduce Shana Drehs, Editorial Director of Sourcebooks & Sourcebooks Landmark, who's talking about the late (and beloved) novelist Judith Merkle Riley — and the reissue of two of her novels, THE ORACLE GLASS and MASTER OF ALL DESIRES. Judith's books are historical fiction, with strong woman protagonists, wicked wit, and a supernatural twist. 

The original cover of THE ORACLE GLASS

I was lucky to be able to work with Judith in 1992, when I was but a lowly editorial assistant for Pamela Dorman at Viking/Penguin. I clearly remember my first telephone conversation with Judith, going over the contact sheet of her author photos for THE ORACLE GLASS (there was no email then). I was liking more of the smiley pictures, but Judith said, "No, I like the one with the half-smile—that's the right one for the author of a book with witches." And that's the one you see above. 

The original cover of THE MASTER OF DESIRES

Judith made my dorky twenty-two-year-old self feel like a real publishing professional. She took me seriously. I guided her books through the editorial process, yes, as I did with many books — but she always was so kind, so funny, so gracious — I felt (for the first time) like a colleague.

The original cover of THE SERPENT GARDEN

I worked with Judith on the books, THE ORACLE GLASS and THE SERPENT GARDEN. When I left Viking/Penguin, we stayed in touch. She introduced me to her lovely daughter (Elizabeth Riley, now a superstar book publicist) and Elizabeth and I became fast friends.

Judith was a colleague, who also became a friend and a mentor. She was one of the first people I showed a draft of MR. CHURCHILL'S SECRETARY to. And to her credit, she didn't laugh or make paper airplanes out of it, but instead send me constructive criticism, as well as love and support.

There's a lot of Judith in my work. I named Maggie Hope after her character Margaret in her first novel, VISON OF LIGHT. As a good luck charm, I gave my Maggie red hair after her Margaret's red hair — who was a redhead inspired by Judith's daughter and my eventual friend Elizabeth. And Maggie definitely has Judith's sense of humor.

Later, when I got an agent, and then a publisher, Judith guided me through a number of tricky situations, older novelist to debut novelist, mentor to novice, friend to friend.  

Alas, she died before MR. CHURCHILL'S SECRETARY was published, but I dedicated PRINCESS ELIZABETH'S SPY to her. And I still think of her often. So often.

The first cover of Judith's A VISION OF LIGHT

Can you see the family resemblance? (Actually, this is the first time I put it together....)

Alas, her novels went out of print, too, and I was sad — sad and angry she died so relatively young and also sad that her books were gone, too.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I opened up a package last month and saw her books, AN ORACLE GLASS and THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES, all shiny and new, with gorgeous new covers!

Shana Drehs from Sourcebooks was kind enough to send them to me, and for that I shall be eternally grateful. 

And since they're now back in print, I'm delighted to share them with all of you, Reds and lovely readers. I hope you love them as much as I do.

Now, please welcome Shana, with the story of how she came to (re)publish Judith Merkle Riley's books!

SHANA DREHS: As a reader and an editor, I’ve always been drawn to historical fiction featuring strong female characters who thrive in unusual circumstances or triumph over overwhelming challenges.  Therefore, when I first learned of Judith Merkle Riley and her books shortly after she passed away in 2010, I suspected that I had been missing out on something truly special. 

The new Sourcebook cover of THE ORACLE GLASS

After reading The Oracle Glassfor the first time, my suspicions were confirmed. Judith is beloved by her fans and readers for her lively writing and unforgettable characters, and it immediately became clear to me that her books deserved a wider audience. 

Luckily, I was in a position to help make that happen—and that fact that I work for the largest woman-owned publisher in North America seemed extra fitting, as Judith’s work focuses on extraordinary women whose skills and ambitions often transcend the limitations of their times. Paired with a strong historical fiction program and a history of successfully republishing classic authors and books, Sourcebooks and Judith Merkle Riley’s work seemed like the perfect match.

The rights to two of Judith’s books, The Oracle Glassand The Master of all Desires, were available, and I snapped them up. In The Oracle Glass, the protagonist, Genevieve, escapes her abusive uncle to pursue a lucrative position as a fortune teller, eventually becoming entrapped in the political intrigue of the court of Louis XIV. 

The new Sourcebook cover of THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES

The Master of All Desires is my particular favorite of Judith’s novels, as it tackles the unlikely premise of a genie-like creature living inside a small, ornately decorated box to show the destructive powers of human desire—while also being, at times, side-splittingly funny. 

We had an incredible response to Judith’s work in-house, and many people commented on not only how well-written the books were, but also how much they enjoyed the humor Judith so skillfully weaves through her writing. Historical fiction is not necessarily a category known for humor, but Judith had a particular gift for telling arresting, historically accurate stories with all the humor, drama, and tragedy that real lives encapsulate.

Of course, having connected so strongly with Judith’s work, my only regret is that I never had the chance to know her personally and to build the kind of author/editor relationship that makes my job so rewarding. Judith is spoken of lovingly throughout the publishing and academic circles in which she was known, and it is clear that she was not only an extremely accomplished writer but also a wonderful person, and I wish I had been lucky enough to be among those who called her a friend and colleague. 

I am so glad, however, that I have had the opportunity to republish two of her wonderful novels and bring new readers to what should truly be known as classics within the historical fiction category. I am confident that just like Menander, the devious genie figure in The Master of All Desires, Judith’s work will live on for generations (although, naturally, in a less disruptive manner!). 

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Thank you so much, Shana! 

Reds and gentle readers, if you could wave a magic wand (Judith would approve!) and bring any book back into print, what would it be and why? 

The Treasure in Grunt Work

"This is not just a murder mystery - it is also a poignant story about the complexity of family relationships, the search for closure and the importance of forgiveness . . . Once you start this book, it will be hard to put down. Not only will you be surprised at the ending, you will be filled with admiration at how every piece has fallen into its perfect spot.”-
Bonnie Adams, freelance reporter, The Worcester Telegram and Gazette, and the Town Crier Publications


JAN: We are pleased to welcome to Jungle Red, Stacy Juba, the author of the mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today. (Mainly Murder Press)



A freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter with more than a dozen writing awards to her credit, including three New England Press Association awards, she'll be discussing what might be considered a grunt task for a young reporter can lead to some great storytelling.



Twenty-Five Years Ago Today is Stacy's first adult mystery, but her young adult novel Face-Off was published under her maiden name, Stacy Drumtra, when she was 18 years old.



STACY: I don’t know how many afternoons I once spent scouring the microfilm, combing old newspaper headlines for something, anything, to rehash in my “25 and 50 Years Ago Today” column. As the newsroom editorial assistant, my first job out of college, I must’ve slaved over that task 200 times. My eyes glazed over as I read about class reunions, anniversary parties and spelling bees.

My assignment? To compile short snippets recalling local newsworthy events. This wasn’t easy, since the scrolling of the typeface across the brightly lit viewing screen made me dizzy. I confess – once in awhile I fudged the exact date. A slow news day is a slow news day. Eventually, I got promoted to reporter and passed the historical column to my replacement, but my time slaving over these issues left a deeper impression than I’d anticipated.

Over the next couple years, questions kept popping into my mind. What if an editorial assistant discovered an unsolved murder on the microfilm? What if she obsessed over it and conducted an investigation? All that speculation inspired my first mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, which chronicles Kris Langley, a rookie obit writer and editorial assistant for a small town daily newspaper.

While researching her “25 Years Ago Today” column, Kris grows fascinated with the cold case of a young cocktail waitress. Driven by a tragedy from her own past, Kris immerses herself in the investigation of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology.

While I was writing the novel, I pored over my published “25 Years Ago Today” clips, which inspired me to open each chapter with a similar news note. I even figured out a way to insert clues into a couple of blurbs. As I created these fictional historical snippets, a wave of nostalgia rolled over me.

I remembered how neat it was to read wire reports about U.S. presidents long gone and wars long over, and how it once awed me that the babies in those birth announcements twenty-five years ago were now out of college, and the newlyweds in those black and white society page photos fifty years ago were now grandparents in their seventies.

Someday, perhaps a young editorial assistant will write a one-line sentence about how fifty years ago, a former local newspaper reporter published her first mystery novel.

Time is fleeting. Maybe we should all enjoy the present moment … and snuggle up with a good book.

To download an excerpt of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, visit Stacy's web site at http://www.stacyjuba.com/