Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Michigan and have remained here all my life, attending Western Michigan University for a BA in English. I love the Great Lakes and all of Michigan’s phenomenal vacation locations. The third book in my second series – the Thief à la Femme Series – takes place on Mackinac Island–a place I am very familiar with.
I am married to the most fabulous man in the world, Mark Devereaux. We met because we were/are both distance runners, running Cross Country and Track throughout our high school and college years and then moving on to road races (anywhere from 5Ks to Marathons).
We have two adult children. 1). Daughter, 36, who has given us two wonderful grandsons…and a pretty great son-in-law. 2). Son, 33, who married our lovely daughter-in-law. Their one child is our only granddaughter.
As my author picture suggests, I did a lot of research for my two “thief-oriented” book series. As such, I learned to pick locks, pick out of handcuffs (even behind my back), and have some basic skills in pickpocketing. All of the new learned skills were to help me better write the narratives for my books, but I have helped more than a couple friends get back into their houses when they locked themselves out. 😉 Fun stuff, that!
I have 15 books published in two series: Requisition For: A Thief (9 books and two prequels) and Thief à la Femme (4 books). I am in the middle of writing a three-book Crossover Event where the thieves in the two series come together.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I was originally inspired as a preteen by a TV show that ran in the late 60s–It Takes a Thief–starring Robert Wagner as an international jewel thief who is taken out of prison by a CIA type of organization to steal for them. Neither before nor since have I seen a plotline like this–until I started publishing Requisition For: A Thief. My REQThief series is what I consider a contemporary upgrade to the It Takes a Thief television series.
I just released Book 4 in my Thief à la Femme Series: To Have And To Heist (Thief à la Femme Book 4), what is actually the first book in a three-book Crossover Event between my two series (REQThief and Femme). With nine books in the Requisition For: A Thief Series (plus two Prequels for a total of eleven books in that series) and now four books in the Femme series, I am excited to have reached a total of fifteen books published in both series–and I’m already well into what will be the second part of the Crossover Event and my sixteenth novel with my current WIP (Work In Progress): Requisition For: A Thief <10> Stealing the Stolen.
But you want to know about my latest published book, so let me tell you a little bit about the Femme Series. Taking my inspiration for a male thief out for a female counterpart–but with a little different twist, the Thief à la Femme Series came about because of a fan who wanted to read about female thieves. I don’t think I have a better description for the series than the back cover synopsis on Book 1:
BEAUTIFUL. INTELLIGENT.
CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL.
SHE’S A THIEF …
WITH A HEART FOR JUSTICE.
A recent college graduate, Rayla Rousseau has been leading a double life, the secret one a double scoop of phenomenal that’s given her life extraordinary meaning.
Trained from the time she was seven by her grandmother to become the irrepressible thief she is, Rayla has worked for a secret sisterhood since her thirteenth birthday. In addition, Rayla’s maintained a solo thieving career since she turned eighteen. Now, at twenty-two, she’s a full-fledged high-end thief who steals from the vile, contemptible, and unentitled wealthy, taking down real bad guys and keeping a fair amount of the spoils for her trouble.
Until …
Enter drop-dead gorgeous FBI Special Agent Luke Keltry. One hot member of the High-End Theft Unit out of DC—according to Rayla’s refined eye—Luke is also hot on Rayla and the sisterhood’s trails.
Attraction erupting between them, Luke is unaware Rayla is the thief he’s attempting to capture, and he is dangerously close to finding out the truth about her and her secret life. Meanwhile, Rayla could risk everything she’s ever lived for if she breaks high-end theft’s rule number ten: Never let your guard down.
Genre: Crime-Heist/Action-Adventure
If you like books, movies, and TV shows where thieves are the heroes, and not really the bad guys, you’ll love the Thief à la Femme Series and Requisition For: A Thief Series.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write and edit at the same time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Honestly, I am much more influenced by television shows and movies than authors or books. It Takes a Thief, Leverage, White Collar… and movies The Italian Job, Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen, Now You See Me, Focus…to name a few.
What are you working on now?
Requisition For: A Thief <10> Stealing the Stolen – what will be the second book in the three-book Crossover Event between my two series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Wish I had one! I generally do a boosted post on Facebook/Instagram and offer lowered prices for the first book in the series when I release a new book and run Amazon ads.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Spend the money. Get professional editing!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Spend the money! Get professional editing!!
What are you reading now?
A little embarrassing, but to get myself back into the REQThief series I’m currently writing after coming out of the Femme series, I’m rereading all of my books in the Requisition For: A Thief Series…and really enjoying them! I’m on Book 7 now (possibly my favorite).
What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to continue kicking out books in both series–shooting for one book in each series every year for a total of two published books per year.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wow. That’s a tough one. For sure The Bible. Other than that…
Author Websites and Profiles
J.A. Devereaux Website
J.A. Devereaux Amazon Profile
J.A. Devereaux’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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