Interview with Stephanie Julian

Stephanie Julian

" Kiss of Moonlight " 

JJBC~Do you read any reviews on your books?

SJ~ I read all the reviews of my books. Sometimes the less-than-complimentary ones can be hard to read but I’ve only gotten a few of those so far. The good ones are gratifying. I first breathe a sigh of relief then I start to smile. Always in that order.

JJBC~Do you read your own books after they make it to final print?

SJ~Sometimes I have to.  My Magical Seduction and Lucani Lovers series are all set in the same world (contemporary but they share a mythology) so sometimes I have to reread certain books just to remind myself of what I’d set up for the future. And sometimes I fall in love with my guys all over again and can’t stop reading.

JJBC~Do you have a favorite book /series?

SJ~JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood and Lora Leigh’s Breed Series. Nalini Singh’s Psy/Shifter books and Virginia Kantra’s Children of the Sea. Louisa Burton’s Hidden Grotto and Eileen Wilks Lupi. Shana Abe’s Drakons, Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series (the first six books, after that they were hit or miss for me), Cherry Adair’s T-FLAC (though I haven’t read the paranormals, go figure), Tara Janzen’s Crazy series (Superman is still my man), Karen Marie Moning’s Highlanders, JD Robb’s In Death series, Judi Fennell’s Mer series, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files (God, I love Harry), Suz Brockmann’s Troubleshooters and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunters and Lords of Avalon series.

Can you tell I like series? There’s not enough room to list the Harlequin/Silhouette series I’ve loved over the years, although I will pimp Maggie Shayne’s Wings in the Night series.

JJBC~ I luv the Black Dagger Brothers, and KM's Highlanders! *sigh* i can never get enough Highlanders!!

JJBC~Did you always want to be a writer?

SJ~Yes, from the time I could read, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

JJBC~How old were you when you began to write?

SJ~Early teens. I wanted to be Stephen King or Robyn Donald, one of the first Harlequin writers whose name I remember looking for on the shelves. I would write during study halls and lunch when I wasn’t reading Kathleen Woodiwiss or Bertrice Small behind my biology book.

JJBC~Is writing your full time job?

SJ~Yes, actually it’s always been. When I left college with an English degree, I started to write for a daily newspaper and I still do on a freelance basis. When I had my first son, I left to freelance.

JJBC~What’s a typical writing day for you like?

SJ~I roll out of bed at 7 a.m., wave bye-bye to my guys, clean out my email and by 8 a.m., I’m sitting in front of the computer writing (or doing interviews J)  or updating my website. I write until 10:30 if it’s a run day (every other day is a run day). If not, I write till 11:30 or 12 then take an hour for lunch, which  always includes a few games of solitaire before I get back to work and write until my sons get home from school. Sometimes I actually get another two hours in after that, if the music isn’t thumping too loudly.

JJBC~Do you set a daily writing goal?

SJ~Yes. I try for at least 2000 words a day, though I’m working on increasing that number.

 JJBC~When and where do you like to write?

SJ~All day long in my office. I’ve got my bulletin board for inspiration, the walls are a bright red and I’ve always got Junior Mints on my desk.

JJBC~Are there any processes you use when writing? Do you keep journals, sticky notes, chicken scratch on the back of receipts?

SJ~I don’t have a journal but I do have files on my computer with folders for each of the books I’m working on. And I always have note cards with me so I can write thoughts.

JJBC~Do you prefer to write on a computer, typewriter, or paper and pen?

SJ~Computer, although I take research notes by hand then input them into the computer. That gives me time to process the info and roll it over in my head a few times to see how I’m going to use that piece of info in my story.

JJBC~What is the hardest / easiest part of writing for you?

SJ~Starting is the easiest. I almost always have an opening scene in my head. The hardest? Knowing when it’s time to wrap up the story. I mean, I know what the ending is, it’s just getting myself to say, okay, that’s enough.

JJBC~What’s the best thing about being an author?

SJ~Getting to play with my imaginary friends all day.

JJBC~How long did you write before you became a published author?

SJ~I started writing for publication right after my second son was born. I remember sitting at my computer at night with him in his carrier, rocking him with my foot as I wrote. That was 1995 and I sold my first book in 2002.

JJBC~Who’s your favorite hero/heroine?

SJ~My own? Ooh, tough choice between Cam from SEDUCED & ENSNARED and Kyle from KISS OF MOONLIGHT. They’re both Alphas and I love them for that. I typically have physical models for my characters, just because I do, but Cam and Kyle don’t. I just have this image in my head and that’s who they are.

Not my own? Butch and Vishous. Hands down.

JJBC~I do Love Vishous, but Rehevenge is my Fav!!

JJBC~What are you reading at the moment?

SJ~Lauren Dane’s COMING UNDONE. Next up, Lora Leigh’s MÉNAGE A MAGIC.

JJBC~What made you want to be a romance writer?

SJ~Because I love romance. I love happily ever after. There really was never a choice for me.

JJBC~What fed your interest in writing about Werewolves?

SJ~I always go back to “The Wolf Man” with Lon Chaney Jr. I saw that when I was five years old and I remember being fascinated by this guy who became a monster, only he wasn’t a monster. He was a victim of circumstance. Then of course, there’s “An American Werewolf in London,” “The Howling” and “The Company of Wolves.” I loved Kelley Armstrong’s BITTEN and I was always Team Richard from the Anita Blake series.

JJBC~Is there a question you have always wanted to be asked in an interview? If so how would you answer it?

SJ~Can’t think of one. Honestly.

JJBC~Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

SJ~You have to make writing a priority, even if you can only manage to fit in 15 minutes a day. Put it on your calendar. Don’t say you’re going to and never get around to it. It has to be a priority.

JJBC~Is there anything else you would like to share with your followers today?

SJ~Thanks for enjoying my stories and I hope I can continue to write stories that touch the readers. 

JJBC~Can you tell us a little bit about Kiss of Moonlight?

Kiss of Moonlight

Plagued by nightmares. Stalked by kidnappers. Tamra McMillan needs a safe haven. When tattooed bad-ass Kyle Rossini steps into her life, the last thing she expects to find is a sanctuary from her demons or steaming hot sex. Everything about him screams danger. But appearances can be deceiving. The tender possessiveness of his touch, the hunger in his eyes, the scorching sensuality of his kiss—all of it sears him into her soul and brands her as his for life.

But otherworldly forces are afoot and death hovers…

Etruscan werewolf Kyle is a loner. The king’s assassin with a killer’s instincts. The last thing he needs is a mate who could be placed in danger because of him. Until he meets the one woman who needs him more than he needs his solitude. When Tamra, battered but not broken, stumbles into his world and tumbles into his bed, she captures his heart. And nothing—not kidnappers or visions of his possible death—will keep him from her.

JJBC~How did you come up with the idea for this series? From a dream, from watching tv, while reading another book?

SJ~KISS OF MOONLIGHT came about because I wanted to write werewolves. I love them, always have. And when I started to think about werewolves, the idea of the lone wolf was first and foremost. When I started to write the book, Kyle was as clear as day in my head from the very beginning. I heard his voice, saw his voice and knew everything about the man.

JJBC~Did you have to do any type of research before writing this Kiss of Moonlight?

SJ~I’m a research hound. I love research. I’m always looking for more research books to read and new websites to explore. I read a lot about the Roman legion for this particular book. And I read several non-fiction werewolf books, just to see what the traditions have been through the years.

JJBC~Who’s your favorite character and why?

SJ~Well, Kyle, of course, because he’s just so damn gorgeous and loving and strong and… because he’s Kyle. He knows what he wants, he goes after it and he won’t let anything hurt those he loves.

Then there’s Cat. You’ll be seeing more of Cat.

JJBC~Are any of your characters created from people in your life?

SJ~Most of my heroes don’t talk very much. That trait comes directly from my husband. There are bits and pieces of people I know in my stories but not complete characters.

JJBC~Did the overall book turn out like your original idea of the story?

SJ~I can honestly say yes.

JJBC~Can you tell us a little bit about the characters?

SJ~Kyle is tall, dark and handsome, lethal, loving and steady as a rock. He’s the guy you want at your back and in your bed.

Tamra is damaged but she’s a fighter. She’s stronger than she thinks she is and she knows what she wants.

JJBC~Can you tell us a little bit about when and where the story takes place?

SJ~The story is contemporary and takes place in Reading, Pennsylvania, which happens to be my hometown. Write what you know.

JJBC~Do you have any idea how many book are going to be in this series?

SJ~Nope, no idea. I’m just going to keep writing.

JJBC~YAY!!! thats what i wanna hear!!! ;0)~  

JJBC~Do you have a favorite scene?

SJ~ Damn, I have to think about that one. The first one that springs to mind is Tam and Kyle’s first meeting, when he’s in his pelt and realizes that this is someone special to him and he just sits my her side.

JJBC~Was there any part of this book that was harder for you to write than the others? 
SJ~Anything to do with Tam’s attack before the book starts. 

JJBC~Can you give us a hint of what to expect in the next book? 

SJ~Moonlight Ménage will be released March 3 from Ellora’s Cave. If you read Kiss of Moonlight, you already met Tira, Nic and Duke.

Moonlight Ménage

Coming 3-3-2010

For eight years, Etruscan witch Tira Belludi has longed to give herself, body and soul, to the two shifter men who hold her heart. But visions of death and fears for her sanity have forced her to keep her distance.

Nic Rocca and Duke Ducati are brothers in everything but blood and partners who have each other’s backs. They share a home, a job and had planned to share their life with Tira between them…until the night she saw their future and built a fortress around her heart.

Now danger and death stalk Nic and Duke. And Tira must make a choice—grab love while she has the chance or watch Nic die from afar and lose Duke forever.

My Bonus Question:

JJBC~If you could be trapped in any series/book which would it be and why?

SJ~I’ve always wanted to be Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. But I’d never leave the Beast

Thank you Stephanie for giving us a glimpse into your world!
you can read my review here
Who I think should Play Kyle in the movies

You can also find Stephanie :

Stephanie's Website

Stephanie's Blog  

FaceBook 

Twitter 

Purchase "Kiss of Moonlight"