Jude
Southerland
Kessler

Jude

Southerland

Kessler

The John Lennon Series

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​​Cheers!
Jude here. Thanks so much for stopping by the website! Feel free to browse and read a sample chapter from any of the books in The John Lennon Series.

 
All of the volumes are available, in one form or another. Every book is on e-book format (which is the best way to read The John Lennon Series…see the “Reader’s Review” by Victor Cantu!).

 
There is a wonderful, wonderful audiobook of Vol. 3, She Loves You, which also includes an hour-long synopsis of Vol. 1 and an hour-long synopsis of Vol. 2. 
And as of today, Vols. 4 and 5 are still available in physical form (as well as e-book). So, the books are “out there.” They’re waiting for you. 
As for me…I’m Never Not Working. It’s a life pattern.

I received two degrees (one in English, one in History) in 3 years from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and then went straight into the Master’s program at the University of Maryland. A year-and-a-half later, I was teaching English in Maryland while working on my paralegal degree, and by 1983, I was beginning to research the life of John Lennon…to write ONE book about his life.

When I completed 800 pages in that first book, and John was only 21 years old, I realized that his story couldn’t possibly fit into a single volume! “Okay then, three books,” I thought. But quickly, three became nine. And now, I’m trying to keep the total at “Number Nine, Number Nine,” although The Beatles did so much in each year that Vol. 4 is an 850-page book on 1964 alone.

 
The John Lennon Series has taken me to London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and most of all, Liverpool – seven times Merseyside – to interview John’s family, friends, early business associates, and early band members. I’ve chatted with his mate, Helen Anderson; his dear friend, Bill Harry; the life model at Liverpool College of Art who inspired John, June Furlong; the friend who shared a flat with Stu Sutcliffe and John, Rod Murray; The Beatles’ first manager, Alan Williams; Beatles’ friend and head of their Fan Club, Freda Kelly; John’s 1970s love and muse, May Pang, The Beatles’ first drummer, Pete Best, and hundreds of other incredible people. Getting the true stories of real people who interacted with John has been my goal. It was my great joy to interview his sister, Julia Baird. And I was thrilled to chat with Angie and Ruth McCartney as well as Louise Harrison. I’ve been very blessed.

Each book tells John’s story in a narrative format, but I spend untold hours researching what The Beatles and their entourage wore, said, did, sang…even ate! I document obsessively, so that you know you’re getting a true account of real events. In doing so, I’ve had so much help from my distinguished cohorts including Mark Lewisohn, Bruce Spizer, Jim Berkenstadt, Ivor Davis, Kenneth Womack, Sara Schmidt, Jerry Hammack, John C. Winn…too many experts and authors to name. And I’ve had the love and care of editors Janet Davis, Lanea Stagg, Al Sussman, and Jacob Michael…as well as the tireless work of my husband, Rande and my friend/editor at 910PR.com, Nicole Michael. They have made what I do possible.

 
“If you write the book, you must sell the book.” That’s the maxim. So, I try to stay visible to the reading public. Each month, I write a Lennon-based article for Culture Sonar magazine. I’m a contributor for Beatlefan magazine and Octopus’ Garden fanzine.

 
Every other month, my husband Rande and I present a webinar called “John Lennon Focal Points,” where we share important Beatles events, such as the day the boys received their MBE or the events of their 1965 Homeland Tour. You can enjoy a few of those webinars on this website. We’d love to have you join us for future live events via Zoom.

How can you do that? Well, while you’re here, sign up for my free newsletter. Follow me on Facebook (Jude Southerland Kessler), X, LinkedIn, and/or Instagram. 
Twice a month, I host a “short, sharp podcast” (20 mins.) called “Tell Me Why” with Beatles people such as May Pang, Angie and Ruth McCartney, Skylar Moody, Bruce Spizer, Roag Best, and Ivor Davis. Sign up for the free newsletter, and the podcast will come to you. Or find it on the YouTube “Tell Me Why” page.

My guilty pleasures? Coffee (three creams, four Equals, thank you!) and The Fest for Beatles Fans in New Jersey and Chicago! This is “nirvana” for thousands of Beatles fans. If you haven’t been to a Fest, you are missing a phenomenal experience. I write the monthly blog for the Fest at https://www.thefest.com.

Along the way, I’ve contributed chapters to other books on The Beatles that are not part of The John Lennon Series: The Beatles in Context and Things We Said Today: New Perspectives on The Beatles. And I have spoken at various Beatles conferences such as the “Tomorrow Never Knows” conference at the University of Pennsylvania, the “Beatles International Conference” in Penn State Altoona, and “The White Album Conference” in Monmouth, NJ. I’ve been a presenter at FabFest in Charlotte, NC, and BeatlesFestWest in San Francisco.

 
For seven years, Lanea Stagg of The Recipe Records Series and I chaired the “Author’s and Artists’ Symposium” at Beatles at the Ridge, a wonderful festival in Walnut Ridge, AR. And in 2016, I chaired “The Beatles Symposium” for the GRAMMY Museum of Mississippi.

 
Apart from The Beatles…my husband and I have a yard that overflows with an acre of gardens; so, many hours are lavished upon that. I love, love, love to read, and am always listening to one (or more) audiobooks as I water, plant, and weed. We have two wonderful, sweet children: Cliff (who is a real estate mogul in Dallas…sell, sell, sell!) and Paige (who is a gifted renovator and cutting-edge designer…and a great mom!) and two perfect grandsons Maverick and Tucker with whom we share homework, D & D, ziplining adventures, and laughter! Rain or shine, I work out every day – to keep my brain clear for The John Lennon Series.

 
And so, we end up back here – where we began with The John Lennon Series. The books are the real focus: John’s life and how it led him there. Where? To the place where you discovered him. His journey was circuitous and frequently, excruciatingly painful, but somehow, John always turned his straw into gold. And we are the better for it.

So, forget about me. Read the books. Get to know John. That’s the point of my story…and life. I should have just said that at the very beginning and “Let It Be.” Writers!

We do tend to go on. 
 

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Nicole Michaels - Nicole@910pr.com

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