Some of Jude Willhoff’s earliest and happiest memories are of reading and writing. She started reading at an early age. Being an only daughter and living out in the country far from friends, she had to find other outlets for entertainment. In good weather, she’d climb into her treehouse with a book and be content for hours hidden among the branches. In lousy weather, she was happy to spend time in her room, reading, or writing in her journal.
At one time, she thought she’d like to be an investigative reporter, but became sidetracked in college. A husband, children, and life have a way of changing things. The years slipped by and Jude didn’t consider writing again until she was faced with a health crisis. “It started out as a low back ache. I thought I’d pulled a muscle. The pain down my hips and legs became severe, and within six months I was unable to walk without assistance. I became totally dependent on others and had to take debilitating medication to enable me to live with the pain. A horrible time.” With the future looking bleak, Jude began writing in her journal to save her sanity.
To make a long story short, eventually Jude was diagnosed with Arachnoiditis, a noncurable progressive disease of the spinal cord, which causes constant, excruciating pain. Finally, after much searching, she found relief from her constant pain with a Medtronic Itrell Three spinal cord implant, Advanced Pain Therapy Neurostimulation, which gave her life back. But she was unable to go back to work as a freelance artist doing make-up, hair, wardrobe, and special effects for movies, commercials, and documentaries. However, she does have screen credit for the films she worked on and if you happen to play pool, check out her status with the Billiard Congress of America. She earned recognition as a National Eight-ball champion before becoming physically challenged. It was difficult for Jude to face the fact she had to leave behind a career and things she loved. After two major back surgeries and a spinal cord implant, today she controls the pain, is drug free, and people don’t know Jude lives with chronic pain on a daily basis unless she tells them.
She was asked to join a local critique group that evolved from a Romance Writers of America Chapter and she began writing seriously. Jude has been the recipient of numerous awards for her novels in contemporary romance and books of nonfiction.
By day, Jude works alongside her husband with their real estate investments. “Though I could always use more time to write, the hours spent working with the real estate are never dull and are a constant source of ideas for plots and characters.”
By night, she writes contemporary romance and nonfiction. Jude has served for several years on Pikes Peak Romance Writers’ board and received PPRW’s Volunteer of the Year award. She is an active member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Denver Romance Writers, Colorado Romance Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers.
Currently, Jude resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her beloved husband, Rob, their long-haired orange and white cat, Sheldon, and little Chihuahua Mattie, new to the household. She is the mother of four and grandmother to six precious granddaughters and four grandsons who keep her busy when she’s not writing.