 Getting
Into Hot Water with Katheryn Jordan,
By Diana J. Ewing
As the organizer of The Orange County
Writers Meetup Group, Russell Traughber knows that there's
nothing like the story of one writer's long road to publication
to entertain, enthrall and fire up other writers. Especially
when that published writer is as talented and personable as
Kathryn Jordan, who recently shared her experiences in the
writing, publication and promotion of Hot Water with an enthusiastic
Meetup crowd.
“Kathryn is the real deal,” said Russell,
who not only moderates the Meetup Group's twice-a-month critique
sessions and special events, but frequently emails members
regarding resources for writers, including thoughts about
his own writer's journey.
“If there is such a thing as paying your
dues, Kathryn has done it,” he said. “That is why
the evening was so special. We were able to celebrate with
her and feel the joy she felt in being published by a royalty
publisher.”
Read on... (for direct link click
here, for pdf version, download
here)
Posted at Two Lips Review
(click
here for direct link)
Hot Water is a gloriously poetic novel
that begins in the style of Contemporary Chick Lit but rapidly
branches out into philosophy and metaphysics, and into allegory
and metaphor. Hot Water truly has the capacity to melt the
most jaded, cynical, ice-block heart. Hot Water is a glorious
precious gem of a story, one which transforms ugly routine
reality into a faceted diamond catching the light. No reader,
male nor female, is going to resist this one; it fully deserves
best-seller status.
A tired, invisible, empty-nest
housewife from Minnesota and a lover of books in all their
aspects and fantasy in its most imaginative, treats herself
to a weekend away, alone. And why not? Her loving hubby, owner
of a heavy-equipment fleet, has just recently purchased a
half-million dollar hunting lodge in the upstate Minnesota
woods; a fact which he has kept completely concealed. With
the collaboration of her sister, Lucile, she books a weekend
getaway at a luxurious, magical, health spa in the upper California
desert, hidden away and very expensive, and she, who's never
driven a sports car in her life, leases a red Lamborghini
for the weekend. She plans this to the be the weekend to build
memories to last her a lifetime, so she also selects a male
escort on the Internet, and chooses to identify herself as
Julia, and him as William.
William is at the end of three years in his
field and wants desperately to enter graduate school to begin
work on his Ph.D. He just needs a little more in his savings,
just a few more jobs, and a weekend with Julia from Minnesota
will pay for most of the remainder needed. Neither Julia nor
William could possibly entertain the notion that the weekend
getaway will change them both, and those close to them, in
ways they could not have conceived of, even in fantasy.
Hot Wateris the kind of story one reads
the first time for the sheer joy and pleasure of it; but it
is also a novel that finds its way immediately to the keeper
shelf. It will be reread over and over again, each time the
reader is in need of a dose of Hope. There is not one factor
at fault in this book. The plot, the characters, the gorgeous
setting, the philosophy and metaphor: every aspect of this
book shines, and the reader comes away looking at herself
or himself for traces of faery dust glow. This book is that
good.Kathryn Jordanis a debut novelist, but I hope this is
only the first in a long line of outstanding stories from
this gifted author.
Two Lips Reviews Recommended
Read
WNBC.com
Romance:
B(u)y the Book - Old Flames
A disillusioned Midwestern housewife desperately
needs respite from her aggressive husband and stifled existence.
She indulges in a secret weekend at a spa in the California
hills, where she engages the services of a handsome young
male escort.
"William" sells his body to many women
in unhappy marriages, but his new client encourages him to
share more than just his sensual expertise. As she invites
him to know intimacy in what should have been just another
business transaction, William starts to remember what it was
like to be a man who craved more from life than just limited
subsistence.
"Hot Water" is a rare treat for body,
mind, and soul -- a kind of literary vision quest, rich in
spiritual imagery, romantic eroticism, and philosophical themes
and dialogue.
Michelle Buonfiglio,
Romance Columnist, wnbc.com
www.WNBC.com/romance
- www.ibsys.com
 Here's
what Romance Columnist, Michelle Buonfiglio, had to say in
her June 28th blog:
While you're there, Bellas -- Oh, please do
listen to me on this one -- check out this week's Old Flame,
"Hot Water," by Kathryn Jordan.
If you buy one book this summer for the sheer
pleasure of it, I recommend "Hot Water." It is unbelievable.
After she checked us out here last week, Kathryn
wrote to tell me she was amazed. She'd never seen him before,
but Eduardo Verastegui is William, the hero of the novel.
Michelle Buonfiglio,
Romance Columnist, wnbc.co
In praise
of Hot Water
The January, 2006 issue of a German magazine,
LoveLetter (www.loveletter.magazin.de)
gave HOT WATER their highest possible rating, indicated by
the heart symbol. Click
here for original and translation
SouthernCalifornia- Present Day
Julia Reeves (not her real name) has decided
she needs a break from her regular, unhappy life. She meticulously
plans a weekend getaway in California, far, far from her home
and marriage. Her marriage is a total disaster; she has been
unhappy for years. The getaway is a ritzy, secluded and very
private spa inCalifornia, and Julia has planned it so well,
it even comes with a rented sports car and a rented man. A
rented man? Yep, Julia has hired the services of a man, William
(not his real name) who will fulfill her ultimate fantasies.
William is in for a surprise when he meets Julia.
She is so... natural, quite unlike most of hisBeverly Hillsand
Madison Avenue clients. William finds himself liking Julia
and viewing the weekend as more than just a job. Julia soon
begins to realize that her time at the spa is more than just
a sexual fantasy come true. The happier she becomes, the more
she realizes that she
may not be able to return to her previous, unhappy
life. This time with William is filled with much more than
satisfying sex. She and William connect in ways she has never
felt before.
HOT WATER is an interesting tale of a middle-aged
woman (is 46 middle-aged these days?) who is trying to find
some happiness in her life now that her children are grown
and gone from the family home. She is miserable in her marriage
and with her life in general, and she is taking positive steps
to reclaim her life. William is a definite bonus. He is much
more than just an escort; he is a deep thinker and Julia feels
a bond between them that extends far beyond a physical attraction.
HOT WATER is entertainment plus. The sensuous
love scenes are just right; they are neither crass nor over
the top. I enjoyed the dialogue between the two main protagonists
more than any other part, because there are some interesting
discussions about philosophy as well as the connection between
spiritual enlightenment and physical and sexual discovery.
The fact that Julia is married while engaging in this physical
healing did not bother me, probably because Julia’s spouse
is portrayed as a total cad. Hence, the decisions that Julia
makes throughout this story appear justified.
HOT WATER should appeal to readers of several
genres, and its depth makes it a surprisingly satisfying read.
Astrid Kinn
Romance Reviews Today
"Hot Water speaks to every woman's dream
of reclaiming the sensual joys of life."
Susan Johnson, best selling
author of erotic fiction
"Compelling, sensually provocative entertainment."
Lynn Isenberg, author of
The Funeral Planner
“Sex in the desert. Julia takes respite
from a midwestern town and an unhappy marriage for a date
with a stranger in Palm Springs and discovers love. Fine writing.
Erotic images.”
Les Rogers, author of Off
To Alaska
“HOT WATER takes all our fantasies and
wraps them in a delicious story about a woman who lives out
hers in a desert paradise. Artfully written by Kathryn Jordan,
this novel has taken sex to a new literary high.”
Sherry Halperin,
author of Rescue Me, He’s Wearing A Moose Hat, 40 Dates
After 50, Avalon
“At an exotic desert spa resort 2000 miles
from her empty life, Julia hires a male ‘escort.’
She enjoys the frolicking, sex-filled romp of her dreams but
soon comes to know William as an intelligent, disillusioned
young man who has given up on his own dreams. Kathryn Jordan
skillfully keeps the fun going full tilt while allowing her
characters quiet insights along the way. They rediscover joy,
maybe even love, and together try to take back their lives
and get out of HOT WATER.
Joanne Hardy, author of
Boom and Misbegotten
“Lyrically sensuous, rhapsodic, an
intellectual romp for mind and body. The thinking woman’s
next step.”
Marcie Stillerman,
author of Nine Spoons -
A Chanukah Story and Dixie Summer
“HOT WATER is a page turner that makes
the reader long for a dip in the life expanding waters of
its magic spa.”
Dr. Jack Stillerman, author
of Yankee Doodle Boychik
“It’s like candy.”
Margaret Seeley, author
of Know Me Again
Reader Reviews
Book Review For
THE DESERT WOMAN
Publication January, 2006
ANOTHER STORY…Books and Movies by Nancy
Smith
After years of writing while holding down a
full time teaching job, desert resident Kathryn Jordan has
managed to do the near impossible: secure a major publishing
deal for her debut novel, ‘Hot Water’.
I first met Kathryn before her book was published,
and came away feeling she was smart, engaging and even brave.
I hoped her novel would be, too.
The artwork on the cover of ‘Hot Water’
sets the tone for the story inside. It shows a couple locked
in a passionate embrace, in water as deep and blue as a desert
sky. The book is billed as a fantasy and a love story, and
at first I admit I struggled with this. It felt a little too
much like a ‘romance’ novel for my taste. As I turned
the pages I kept changing my mind about the book, and soon
I was caught up in the story. Kathryn is a fine writer, and
her well crafted work is as seductive as the cover photograph.
‘Hot Water’ is sensual and character
driven. Place is important to the story, and you will easily
recognize real locations featured in the book such as Two
Bunch Palms Spa, Joshua Tree Park, the Cabot’s Old Indian
Museum and Thousand Palms Oasis.
When I asked Kathryn to describe her novel,
she smiled and said it is "a story about a Midwestern
housewife who escapes her stifling life, comes out to an exotic
spa resort in the California desert, rents a red Lamborghini,
hires a male escort, and changes her life forever."
Kathryn says she’s proud of ‘Hot Water’
and believes: "It is more than a simple love story. It
is about a woman breaking rules and getting away with it.
We admire these women, but usually expect them to pay dearly,
like Marilyn Monroe or Thelma and Louise…"
‘Hot Water’ is Kathryn’s fourth
novel but her first to be published. For years she would get
up at 3:00 or 4:00 am to write, and then teach all day. "I
knew I had to sell something because I couldn’t go on
forever like that." She says that despite several rejections:
"I didn’t give up. I had to write. I had a vision
that it could happen. I retired from teaching to be a full
time writer".
After publishers rejected a previous novel as
too literary, Kathryn did what she had to do: "I decided
to write a book so sexy and fun and short that nobody would
turn it down, and it sold in three weeks." Kathryn says
‘Hot Water’ is wrapped in a form of disguise to
sell: "It is a sexy, fun, woman’s fantasy, but I
didn’t compromise the deeper levels I wanted to get in
there".
When Kathryn heard her book was going to be
published she says: "I was numb, elated. I still have
the voicemail".
In addition to the traditional bookstore distribution,
Kathryn decided to market the book to spas and at house parties,
and the response has been amazing. She says "there’s
a sense that ‘Hot Water’ could be big. The publisher
ran out of galleys and had to make up bound manuscripts for
all the requests. There’s some talk of a film based on
the story, and the launch party will be held at Two Bunch
Palms January 18th."
‘Hot Water’ is available in bookstores
and at select spas January 3rd. Buy a copy, support a local
writer, and enjoy a well written book.
I enjoyed reading Hot Water
by Kathryn Jordan tremendously. I thought it was the most
perfect combination of sensuality and intelligence. The erotica
is wonderful; it is refined and sophisticated as are the characters.
The ending is a wonderful surprise and I think the author
takes us on a whirlwind of emotional challenges, with a true
understanding of the female psyche and the complications that
brings in terms of finding freedom. Freedom for both characters
is ultimately what this book meant to me. It is a fascinating,
delicious, intelligent read, and the author is definitely
one of the best in sharing her characters’ sensuality
without becoming salacious in any way. Quite a feat!
A Reader Review
Johanna Angelos
La Quinta, California
I read HOT WATER while visiting
my family in VA over Christmas and was mesmerized. My husband
and I stayed in a hotel that week (1st time EVER while visiting
my family---new boundaries) so I immersed myself in HOT WATER,
literally and figuratively. Every night, I would fill the
big Jacuzzi tub all the way to the top and read about Julia.
I could barely stand the sensual bliss and excitement. Derek
could tell something was up---I think he’s going to read
it now!
Morgaine Beck
Retreat Coach, Falmouth, MA
Just wanted to send a quick note to tell you
how much I enjoyed HOT WATER. It was so much fun I stayed
up late and finished it in one evening.
I hope your publisher is making sure bookstores
put this on the regular fiction shelves as well as the romance
shelves, as this is deep and complex and quirky enough to
appeal to a much wider crowd than genre readers. Thanks again
for giving me the chance to preview something new and interesting,
and broaden my horizons!
Oh, just so you know, my best friend who is
45 and into cars, Latin guys and lakeside living, thinks this
is about the best book ever written.
Cindi Hogarth
Austin, TX
I just received my copy of HOT WATER today.
I read from eight o'clock last night until now. (2:39 A.M.)
I could not put it down.
It is wonderful! I have been reading romance
novels of some sort since high school, so with some knowledge
I can tell you that you definitely, Got IT! I am sure it will
be a huge success and there are many more books for you to
write. In fact, your fans will demand it.
Tomorrow I am going out to purchase more HOT
WATER and sending a copy to each of my reader friends and
film making friends. I wish you the very best in your success.
Enjoy every hour! You are a fantastic writer.
Susan Crosby
Palm Desert, CA
I enjoyed reading Hot Water by Kathryn Jordan
tremendously. I thought it was the most perfect combination
of sensuality and intelligence. The erotica is wonderful;
it is refined and sophisticated as are the characters. The
ending is a wonderful surprise, and the author takes us on
a whirlwind of emotional challenges, with a true understanding
of the female psyche and the complications that brings in
terms of finding freedom.
Freedom for both characters is ultimately what
this book meant to me. It is a fascinating, delicious, intelligent
read, and the author is definitely one of the best in sharing
her characters’ sensuality without becoming salacious
in any way. Quite a feat!
Johanna Angelos
La Quinta, California
|
Published
in THE PEN WOMAN, June 2007
Reviewed
by Zona Gale