The Renaissance Faire is on the move, and Lulu and Dex are along for the ride, in Well Traveled, the next utterly charming rom-com from Jen DeLuca! Read on to learn more about Well Traveled, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Jen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I grew up in the Richmond, Virginia area and graduated from Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!). After spending more than two decades in Florida, I now live in Tucson, Arizona with my husband and almost too many cats. I’ve been a wardrobe master, an ice show dresser, a fountain pen seller, and a paralegal, but “author” is the best job I’ve ever had. When I’m not writing I’m reading, knitting, hiking, or refereeing a disagreement between the cats.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My mother taught me to read when I was very young, and writing stories was a natural next step. As soon as I could make words with a pencil I was writing stories about girls who took naps and played with their dogs. (I didn’t have a lot of life experience to draw from at that point!) I also wrote a fanfic of The Wizard of Oz wherein Dorothy makes it to the cellar in time, the end. Not very compelling!
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Busy, Busy World by Richard Scarry was an early favorite! Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie made me want to write fun flirty banter. I think about The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern at least once a day; I want to live in that world.
Your new novel, Well Traveled, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
“Find yourself by running away.”
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect to spend a lot of time in the Renaissance Faire setting—we go to three of them!—with a slow-build friends to lovers relationship. They can also expect to spend long days selling turkey legs, manning the tip basket at shows, and being accosted by a pub crawl. Eventually we will end up back in Willow Creek, where we will check in with the characters of the first three books and see how they’re doing.
Where did the inspiration for Well Traveled come from?
When I was sick with Covid and endlessly scrolling Tiktok, I came across tarot and witchy Tiktok, which reminded me that I hadn’t explored that part of the Renaissance Faire: the fortune tellers with their tarot cards and runes. I thought using that angle as a way to help Lulu learn to trust her heart and not just her head would make for a fun story! Dex—a character who’s led by his heart and not known to use his head—seemed like a perfect pairing for her.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I’m so attached to this cast of characters I’ve gotten to know over the past four books, so I love writing those little scenes where they all gather for a night out of pizza and bad karaoke. I love looking around that imaginary table and seeing this group of friends, and thinking about what they’ve been through together.
Do you have any advice for those who may have set some writing resolutions for the new year?
Be both kind to yourself and realistic with your goals. Writing a certain number of words every day, for example, isn’t realistic—you’re setting yourself up for failure before you even begin, and may be more apt to get frustrated and give up. And never forget to find the joy in writing—that’s the best part!
What’s next for you?
I have some exciting things in the works that I’m hoping I can announce in early 2023!
Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
I’m so excited for Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn to be out in the world! Kate words are magic words, and it’s such a wonderful book.
