Meet Jude DeLorca | Book Content Editor & Consultant, Paralegal-Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jude DeLorca and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jude, what role has risk played in your life or career?
My entire business professional life has been impacted by major personal changes, both positive and challenging, that would require pivoting to map a new journey. As you will read my shoutout is gratitude for the examples and gifts of courage given me and look at risk as opportunity.

All my work employment and ventures have held risk and so it continues today with the intense incursion in all our lives of technology that is, and will forever, change our human interaction and goals. I embrace it as an opportunity to learn s0 that I can shape and control my current business and creative models. I claim the centuries-old adage as governing mantra: Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat – loosely translated – the gods favor the courageous, those who take risk – or – fortune rewards the courageous/strong.

What should our readers know about your business?
My entire business professional life has been impacted by major personal change, both positive and challenging that would require pivoting to map a new journey. As you have read my shout out is gratitude for the example of courage and looking at risk as opportunity.

That led me to four arenas of business: law administration, real estate sales, hospitality/travel, and writing/editing; founding two businesses: cross-cultural and language training for foreign wealthy clients, and a one-idea business consultation; and three focused creative avocations: fashion design; photography; creative writing.

This broad spectrum of experience fuels my mantra: maturity is an asset. It has served me well to bring considered insights and tested experience to my clients and provided a worldview from various perspectives.

Currently, I provide remote paralegal assistance to legal solo practitioners to facilitate their day-to-day operations and marketing. I have had over 20 years the enjoyment of working with brilliant attorneys who have mild dyslexia or ESL being foreign-born, both in need of a careful editing eye and writing skills. I learned hands-on legal document preparation and underscoring the importance of detail and again, discretion, trust, loyalty were the crux of being a paralegal and facilitator. Breadth of experience in real estate enhanced or structured strategies where real property was at issue.

In tandem, I have a vigorous book content editing and writing consulting business for non-fiction and fiction writers and authors. It is a privilege to be given the trust of anyone’s book or article, all writing is a deeply personal endeavor. My motto is “ a good editor doesn’t correct, rather leads a writer to the power of their words.”

Just in the last three years, I have shepherded 25 books to full edit and format for submission to literary agents or publishing houses. These have spanned widely and wildly different genres: techno-thrillers; contemporary war history; biographies; ancient history; Young Adult fiction; North American indigenous tales; detective mysteries; vampire intrigue; and short stories.

All my work requires loyalty and discretion, just as needed in our family and friendships. No matter the chaos that may swirl politically or socially, the social contract of keeping one’s private life – private; one’s business position or brilliance – in trust; is inviolable.

Culturally, I have lived as a resident in Europe, maintained Spanish and German households, spent considerable time in Mexico, and traveled extensively. Knowledge of Spanish and German has been asset in editing. What one learns is, people are essentially the same, everyone wants to be successful in what they put their life force and focus. I am no different.

From an early age I began to “interview” and photograph – to observe and listen to my mid-city San Francisco world rich with different cultures that I interacted with daily. From viewing the world on skates around the city at eight through high school with covering the city with my first Kodak, I viewed a fast-changing world while still able to remain invisible.

My first job was with The Wall Street Journal; it was an unexpected piece of luck. Gifted with talented, dedicated people, I experienced first-hand how a newspaper was produced. I learned to work hard for excellence, and the importance to play just as hard and share the exhilaration in common spirit. Rugged individuals come together to create, but they taught me to out on the limb, go with the gut, that’s where good reporting phoenixes into brilliance.

The law firms taught me how to handle 35-40 high energy, high ego, intelligent, career striving individuals and to keep a support staff of 20-25 hard-working bright souls satisfied, feeling secure, and appreciated. It was essential to hold confidences and not bring drama—a daily lesson in personal discipline. One also learns that bending that neutrality will be perceived as weakness and exploited.

Real estate in Beverly Hills and the LA canyons is high stakes sales, often difficult clients, and complicated contracts. Real estate for everyone is an emotional transaction, if it’s one’s living space, and an ego-driven bottom-line transaction for investment and development. I learned to write a tight contract and make sure addenda were succinct and able to pass lawyers’ and business managers’ piercing scrutiny. Discretion and trust in representing a seller or buyer is how you create the personal bond to complete a bid to closing, and bring future business. You also learn and absorb disappointment when the client does not return that in loyalty.

As West Coast manager for East Coast hotel and theater mega-moguls, Loew’s Hotels, I experimented with and initiated new promotional efforts that increased my territory sales by 25% the first year, and 40% second year. It taught me to associate with a quality organization, it will require the best you can give. Loyalty was an important factor as other hospitality or travel competitors were constantly poaching and wanting to make flash hires. I was well-rewarded for staying the course.

With years of business, and university education in spurts, awards, certifications, I returned to UCLA full-time to complete a couple of degrees majoring in English Literature with two minors in Spanish Literature and African (continent) Literature/History. Competing with 19-24 year-olds, graduating magna cum laude, and wearing the gold braid with just 224 of us with honors out of 2,000+ was a lifetime high. Aside from a stellar education, I learned not to be afraid of competition when you are in your field of talent, skill and intelligence. And it was the beginning of realizing that “maturity is an asset” propelled this success. That would continue to be a theme going forward. I also walked away with a high respect for upcoming generation’s passion and brilliance and continue to learn the language, science, and culture it interfaces with and influences.

I stepped off the campus with a dream. I started an international business and risked everything to bring a cultural understanding to high-profile, dynamic foreign visitors needing a guide to the North American mentality—socially, culturally, and in business. It was exhilarating, each day I taught and guided, I learned something. This experience underlined that all people share common concerns, anxieties, and needs. It required discretion and trust. I also learned that you can’t control international markets, money devaluations, foreign or domestic politics, and those conditions/circumstances can buoy or break your business. You pick yourself up and find another dream/journey.

Although I keep ties with San Francisco and Los Angeles, all the Pacific Coast, Denver is home, western in its own right. Here, I returned to the world of words, interviews, and visual media: covering California delegates to the DNC in Denver 2008 for California newspapers; doing the first online zine interviews in Denver with Swingvote Magazine garnering the prestigious Society of Professional Journalists’ first-prize for multi-media interview; starting my own book content editing and writing consultation services; and providing some urban photography and candid capture portraits garnering fine art international photography Julia Margaret Cameron award in 2021.

Today’s challenges for everyone—what we have in common—is the necessity to make peace with AI, and competing other technologies; deal with remote and distanced communications; wider generational differences; a shrunken global picture that is hungry for immediate response, immediate gratification, immediate attention, and immediate appeasement. I hope through the services I offer to calm some of that anxiety and empower my clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver metro and greater area can proudly boast demographic and cultural diversity which makes for a grand canvas to unfold for visitors. I love to show particularly our east/west coasters the special offerings that keep an influx of Gen X, Y, Z-ers as well as relocating empty-nesters here. I remember it from mid-‘80s when historic Platte St. was still empty warehouses on the Confluence except for Jazz at Jack’s up rickety stairs to second floor club and the Satire on Colfax (the ‘Fax) was one of the original dive bars visited by DPD nightly.

Depending on age and interests of guests, suggest the below for the broad experience of the paradox of Denver.

Suggest top three for stay: OXFORD HOTEL, historic building, right off Union Station; THE ART HOTEL, Broadway off Golden Triangle/Museum Center right adjacent to downtown (Lo-Do); and EL TEATRO, boutique hotel on 14th St. The THOMPSON, off 16th St. Mall, The WARWICK on Grant, beginning Uptown; reasonable boutique SLATE HOTEL; and for the total dive into history, the iconic BROWN PALACE, are great alternatives.

Breakfast: at UNIVERSAL on W. 38th, chef-driven southern food grits specialty and great brunch menu with bar, low-key neighborhood; KATHERINE’S on University Blvd, Bonnie Brae neighborhood, quiche, pastries; SNOOZE, five locations, one at Union Station is handy for hungry guests coming in early from airport/train; BUTCHER BLOCK, family-owned trucker’s diner, everything made from scratch, best cinnamon buns, W. 38th right off Brighton; SYRUP, off City Park on York, great pancakes/brunch; LUCILE’S CREOLE, on S. Logan off E. Alameda, flavorful great menu; TWO BROTHERS or SANTIAGO’S both on Federal Blvd., neighborhood places, rich authentic Mexican menu. Denver has a vibrant food truck option – any of them will be a unique experience.

The one “must” is a visit to the amazing collection of western art at the WESTERN ART MUSEUM – ANSCHUTZ COLLECTION in the three-story historic Navarre Bldg. on Tremont Pl. Pop over to BROWN PALACE HOTEL across the street. As a member, I follow with a visit and cocktail, or game of pool, at historic Denver Press Club, the oldest (1867) press club in the USA. Treat with a chef-driven meal at BAR RED, the red door in the alley off 13th/Glenarm Pl., or CHUEY FU’S on Santa Fe Drive. Over the week, visit next KIRKLAND MUSEUM on Bannock, then the DAM, the CLYFFORD STILL and HISTORY COLORADO CENTER museums. In the area, must stroll through THE ART HOTEL on Broadway, lobby and 4th Fl. FIRE restaurant, for lunch, happy hour, dinner, millions of dollars of original art accessible and part of public space. (For fun, tell guests to book an “ocean view” table – what Denverites know …). If late in the area, and in a piano bar mood, the popular historical place, CHARLIE BROWN’S, 9th/Grant.

Weather permitting, DENVER BOTANICAL GARDENS, and take a stroll through nearby Capitol Hill old mansions, walk City Park around Ferril Lake to catch the ubiquitous shot from lake to music stage to mountains that makes non-Colorado people think Denver is in located in the mountains. Find early HH at nearby neighborhood gems SATCHEL’s on E. 6th Ave., reasonable ANGELO’s on E. 6th Ave., SHELLS and SAUCES on E. 12th Ave., vibrant CUBA CUBA authentic Cuban fare/mojitos on Delaware/Golden Triangle. Swing by the actual Capitol building – shining gold leaf dome, if walking, find the 13th step up to front entrance of Capitol, the exact spot Denver takes its Mile High name – true 5280 alt. point.

Downtown iconic places to fit in, THE CRUISE ROOM, off lobby of OXFORD, upscale craft cocktails throwback to 1930s vibe; MY BROTHER’S BAR, reasonable hamburger/beer/oldest bar license in Denver, Platte/15 Sts.; CAPITAL GRILLE, steakhouse, on historic Larimer Square. A favorite walk takes in three bridges, Millennium, Commons Park, and Platte River Pedestrian spanning from 16th St./Union Station ending in LoHi, known to locals as historic North – old Italian culture, book lunch or dinner at old Smaldone mob hangout GAETANO’S, or adjacent Mexican culture neighborhood, authentic Mexico DF menu, NECIO on Tejon Ave.

If guests are adventurous, Downtown and Colfax offers dive bars, laid-back live music venues, jazz and blues are rooted in Denver culture. HERB’S on Larimer St. has blues, jazz, funk, R&B, Latino music nights; on Colfax LION’S LAIR, SQUIRE INN, LOST LAKE for alternative bands; LA RUMBA, Acoma/9th, Latino Dance; CLUB 404, Broadway, jazz to rock; BROTHER JEFF’S, SPANGALANG, MEADOWLARK LOUNGE, THE SAVOY, and WALNUT ROOM in Five Points/RiNo offer wide range laid-back music. NOCTURNE upscale favorite in RiNo for classic nightclub atmosphere and great local and national headline musicians. DAZZLE in Denver Arts Complex on 14th St. is iconic in presenting major jazz talent. Number one spot for consistent live Rock, Blues, Rock ‘n Roll, Rockabilly, Country, Fri. and Sat., LINCOLN’S ROADHOUSE, just off I-25, DU/Wash Park neighborhood. For late night dive bar last shots, Colfax NOB HILL INN, SATIRE, Broadway THE FAINTING GOAT. Favorite late night cocktails Uptown/E. 17th Ave. THIN MAN.

Denver has amazing mural art, urban art graffiti, it’s everywhere but for a concentrated experience, walk RiNo about a ten-block area, from Blake to Welton and Park Ave. to 39th Ave. CREMA COFFEE Larimer/28th Ave. or its BODEGA Larimer/26th – great coffee and sandwiches. Short 3 min. drive RiNo to Five Points, Arapahoe St., to the RedLine Contemporary Art Center. Great Mexican family-run food close: MEXICO CITY on Larimer and LA FIESTA on Champa. Or – lunch at DOMO in the beautiful garden on Osage.

Getting out of the City, day trips to Evergreen, Golden, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, – begin with quick visit to Red Rocks, walk/jog it and head off to nature road trip or hot springs or hike. Places we love LITTLE BEAR SALOON in Evergreen; BUFFALO ROSE, Golden; DUSHANBE TEA HOUSE, and HOTEL BOULDERADO live music, Boulder; BROADMOOR HOTEL, Colorado Springs; EILERS BAR, Pueblo, great cultural neighborhood pub; GLENWOOD HOT SPRINGS LODGE.
Personal tastes that give guests something to take home: get cowboy boots/hats at ROCKMOUNT RANCH WEAR, BOOT BARN, TECOVA’S, second-hand western gear places; Denver big population for tattoo artists; hugely talented, reasonable, safe ANNA GRACE – ELECTRIC ANNA; looking for collectibles, take half day and walk BRASS ARMADILLO on Frontage Road I-70/Wheat Ridge – 600+dealers, 45,000 sq. ft. After, treat yourself at SIMM’S STEAKHOUSE HILLTOP, Lakewood – good HH and view patio overlooking Denver. If books are a passion: stop in at used book stores, PRINTED PAGE and BROADWAY BOOK MALL, both on S. Broadway and head to LA DOÑA MEZCALERÍA on E. Louisiana for tequila and get a bite at ADELITA’S or MARIA’S EMPANADAS. If serious collector, THE HERMITAGE in Cherry Creek.

IF guests are international, take them two days to Taos or Santa Fe, drive rural NM, stopping at iconic Rte. 66/Bernalillo SILVA’S SALOON – or – up to Cheyenne, Cody or Evanston, WY rodeos, if summer-time visit. True western experience is unique to these visitors, as is the desert – you could do two-day trip southwest to Colorado sand dunes/San Luis Valley. Also, they would appreciate the many pho Vietnamese places on Federal Ave., Denver, and Korean BBQ on Havana Blvd., Aurora/Denver.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Grateful to all those who lifelong gave me and taught me – courage – and provided an ideal to follow. You remain my heroes.

Voyage: PHOTO Nothing Without Courage

Muralist: Zach Yarrington
Photo cr: Jude DeLorca

Instagram: judedelorca

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/judedelorcaoha5aa1bb31/

Facebook: Jude DeLorca

Other: jdelorca@gmail.com

Image Credits
Shout-out cred,it “Nothing Without Courage” photo credit: Jude DeLorca, muralist/artist: Zach Yarrington

Main lead portrait photo: photo credit: Cliff Shaffran

Jude DeLorca – in conversation – photo credit: Dick Nosbisch

Jude DeLorca – close photographer with lens – photo credit: Jude DeLorca

Jude DeLorca – full face looking at camera in hand – photo credit: Donna Chrysler

Jude DeLorca – Julia Margaret Cameron 2021 award “Abandoned Flag II Nebraska” photo credit: Jude DeLorca

Jude DeLorca – seated in chair with book – “Comfortable at The Press Club” photo credit: Jay Lindgren