McNaught, Judith

In school years, due to the dynamic work of her father, the girl had to change many houses. By the age of 14, she had already visited 14 states and eagerly dreamed of only one thing: a calm, settled life and a cozy house.

The career of the author of the sentimental genre has never been part of her plans. In 1966, Judith graduated from college with a degree in business administration and was about to become a personnel manager at one of the major airlines. However, instead, the girl was offered a flight attendant position, which, according to Judith herself, was not a good idea, since she suffered from aerophobia .

In 1968, Judith married, two children were born in this marriage . However, the union was unhappy and soon disintegrated. Children stayed with their mother. She named them Clayton and Whitney - iconic names in her future writing career.

In search of work, Judith came to the CBS radio station and became secretary. Subsequently, she became an administrative assistant, and a year later - a producer of broadcasting programs. However, the active work schedule did not give the young mother the opportunity to engage in children and therefore, after 3 years, she quit and began searching for a new job. This time, Judith got the job of an HR interviewer, where she worked for 6 months. Later, these moments of her life formed the basis of Judith’s novel “The Battle of Desires” ( English Double Standards ).

She married Michael Maknot, one of the clients of the company in which she worked as an assistant director. For two, Michael and Judith had 7 children: 2 of her and 5 from his previous marriage. Having been married for 5 years, Judith first began to think about writing. In the same period, her husband had a new business, and in an effort to occupy herself, Judith began to write. A new hobby brought satisfaction. Judith longed to write novels filled with humor and tenderness, novels that would make the reader smile and laugh out loud, and then feel the bitterness of tears from the true joy of history. In 1983 , as a result of an accident, her husband Judith Macknot died. The next months she spent traveling, trying to reorganize her life. It was then that she began to write again.

In the following years, Judith McNaught married again, but in 2003 she divorced her third husband, professional golfer Don Smith. After the divorce, Smith and McNaught maintained a peaceful and friendly relationship. In recent years, Judith lives in Texas , is actively involved in charity work . Her activity lies in the fight against breast cancer . She also supports the literacy movement. The latter direction has become very relevant for Judith herself, since she began to deal with this problem from the time she wrote the novel “Perfectly Perfect” ( English Perfect ).

The beginning of the writing activity of Judith was due to a change in the activities of her husband. Seeking to occupy herself during his frequent absences, she began to write. The first literary failures did not break her. Michael always supported Judith in her endeavors, when the publishers rejected the manuscripts one by one. The first of these was Whitney, Darling . Maknot wrote this novel between 1978 and 1982 . Unable to sell the manuscript, Judith writes The Triumph of Tenderness , which was accepted by the publisher. She received a trial release on June 20, 1983 , the day after her husband died.

Whitney's favorite was published in 1986. Prior to that, in 1983 and 1984. two of her novels were published, bringing Judith her first success - The Triumph of Tenderness and The Battle of Desires . Still not knowing that there are certain canons in the genre of a historical novel of the Regency era , Maknot created something unique. Her novels first represented the hero, not the heroine, as was customary before. Unlike typical Regency-era novels, “easy flirting without sex scenes,” her novels were “sensual and witty.”

It is the novel “ Whitney, Beloved ” that is attributed ^{[2] to the} title of the founder of the historical Regency novel in the genre. Its volume, sensuality and emotional intensity were a novelty more characteristic of traditional historical novels. Almost 25 years have passed since the publication of the novel, however it is still popular and its success laid the foundation ^{[3] for a} new fashion, a new style in writing historical novels. Since 1985 , more than 50 authors of the sentimental genre have appeared, writing in a similar style.

By 1990 , Maknot herself decided to try herself in writing modern love affairs, motivating this with less saturation of this niche in the literary market. However, regardless of the genre, her books tend to be dynamic, with strong, loyal, compassionate, and intelligent heroines. This feminist trait runs through red thread through all the work of Maknot.

Judith Maknot became the first of the authors of this genre who signed a multi-million dollar contract with the right to publish hardback books. In 1988, she first hit the New York Times bestseller list, and all of her subsequent novels also fell into this prestigious category.

In the early 1990s , the Coors Brewing brewing company ^[2] asked Judith to write a book that would target women and could be used by the company to promote her women's literacy program. Shocked by the discovery that one out of every five women is practically illiterate, Maknot decided to rewrite the almost completed manuscript “Perfectly Perfect”, adding to it the problem of illiteracy among women. Making edits took about 6 weeks, and after the release of the novel, Judith decided to donate part of her fee for developing special literacy programs. She insisted ^[2] that each of her books should contain a methodological guide for those who want to help solve this problem.

Judith McNaught was the keynote speaker at the 1996 Romance Writers of America Conference, and in 1997 the Texas Women's Monthly named her the leader among other authors, such as John Grisham , Patricia Cornwell and Dean Kunz . Maknot was also named the leader in the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for the novel “ Night rustles ”.

Judith Maknot wrote 17 novels ^[4] , as well as 2 supplemented versions of previously published ones.

• “- And in your life there will be times when you forget about logic and plans, surrender to the imperious call of your inner voice. Of course, from the outside this may seem crazy. But in such situations, a person listens only to his heart. ” Do you remember
• “I will give you paradise on a golden platter,” he whispered painfully and gently. “Everything you want, everything you want.” In addition to me, of course. This is a package deal. ” Paradise
• ““ I would like you to give me daughters with your hair and your character, ”he began. “And so that the sons have your eyes and your courage.” But if your wishes do not coincide with mine, I will be grateful to you for any child that you give me.

“I want you to bear my name, and then all the gossip and rumors cease at once.” - He gently stroked her hands, looking into her eyes. - I want to get the right to share a bed with you today and always, all my life. I want to hear your passionate moans every night and wake up in your arms. - Stephen grabbed her face with his palms and carefully brushed away the tears from her eyelashes. “And I also want to hear that you love me madly.” But with the last request, you can not rush, I am ready to wait until night. In exchange for all this, I promise to fulfill your every desire, if only it will be in my power " That I without you ...

• ““ Well, my joy ... ”he said in a quiet, meaningful tone, looking where she was going to rush this time.

The fugitive with adoration looked at his beautiful pale face, and then darted ..., directly to Jason, clinging to him and hugging him tightly. For a minute, Jason stood absolutely motionless, struggling with feelings tearing his heart apart, then slowly relaxed. His hands clasped a thin waist, squeezed it with incredible force, and he anxiously pressed his wife to him. “I love you,” he whispered hoarsely, burying his face in her hair. - Oh my God! I love you so much! ” Once and for all

• 1985 - Romantic Times Award for the best historical novel “Whitney, beloved”
• 1986 - Romantic Times Critic's Best Choice
• 1987 - Affaire de Coeur Golden Pen Certificate for the novel Once and For All
• 1987 - Affaire de Coeur Reviewer's Best Choice Award for Once and Forever
• 1997 - Romantic Times Career Achievement Award "Best Novel" - "Night rustles"

Westmorelands Series

• Kingdom of Dreams ( A kingdom of dreams , 1989)
• Whitney, my love ( Whitney, my love , 1985)
• That I Without You ... ( Until You , 1994)
• The Miracle of Julianne's Marriage ( Miracles , 1995-1997)

The Romantic Series

• Once and Always (1987)
• Something wonderful (1988)
• Blessing of Heaven ( Almost heaven , 1990)

Modern Series

• The Triumph of Tenderness ( Tender Triumph , 1983)
• The Battle of Desires ( Double Standards , 1984)
• Paradise ( Paradise , 1991)
• Perfection itself ( Perfect , 1993)
• The Art of the Photographer (Double exposure) 1995
• Do you remember ( Remember when , 1996)
• Night rustles ( Night Whispers , 1998)
• Every breath you take (2003)
• Finally Together ( Someone to watch over me , 2003)
• My Love ( The Sweetest Thing, 2018)

• Works by D. McNaught in the Aldebaran Library
• Judith Macknot Official Website
• Judith Macknaugh Fans Site