January 19-23: Julie Garwood [ Edited ]

[Bethanne]

Our latest Center Stage author is Julie Garwood, whose historical romances and thrillers have sold in the tens of millions. Her latest novel, Fire and Ice, brings her here, but I’m sure many fans will have questions for her about her other books. These include New York Times bestsellers like Shadow Dance, Slow Burn, Murder List, Killjoy, Mercy, Heartbreaker, Ransom, and Come the Spring.  

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Garwood attributes much of her success to growing up in a large family of Irish heritage. "The Irish are great storytellers who relish getting all the details and nuances of every situation. Add in the fact that I was the sixth of seven children. Early in life I learned that self-expression had to be forceful, imaginative and quick," she says.

Believe it or not, the prolific Garwood was not an early or natural reader. A slow recuperation from a tonsillectomy at age six put her behind in school, and her mother didn’t discover until Garwood was 11 that she couldn’t read (her brothers and sisters had been completing her homework for her!). In stepped Sister Elizabeth, a nun who devoted a summer to making Garwood literate. She told one interviewer that "First, [Sister Elizabeth] introduced me to the Nancy Drew mysteries. One of her favorite authors was O. Henry, and he became one of mine, too. Of course, some of the vocabulary was beyond me so I had to look up a lot of words. I sat on a large dictionary -- got up, looked up a word, sat back down." Sister Elizabeth also gave her pupil a notebook and encouraged her to write down her dreams and stories. To this day, Garwood still writes in longhand and says one of her needs on a desert island (besides an endless supply of Diet Coke) would be pen and paper.

Julie Garwood began her writing career when the youngest of her three children entered school. After the publication of two young adult books, she turned her talents to historical fiction. Her first novel, Gentle Warrior, was published by Pocket Books in 1985, and she’s written over 20 novels since then.

Garwood lives in Leawood, Kansas and is currently working on her next novel. When her schedule allows time away from family and career, she devotes her efforts to promoting literacy, and especially enjoys sharing her love of reading with student groups.

 Please join me in giving Julie Garwood a warm Center Stage welcome, and remember: you can start asking your questions now – no need to wait until January 12!

Message Edited by Bethanne on 12-17-2008 02:40 PM

Message Edited by Bethanne on 12-17-2008 02:44 PM

Message Edited by Bethanne on 12-17-2008 02:47 PM

[rubiwho]

Hi Julie

HUGE FAN here, love all your books. Can't wait to read your new Fire and Ice. Im saving it for my trip, im dying!!!!! just started reading Shadow Music which i thought was a sequel to Shadow Dance, I was wrong!!!! I don't have a favorite book, I love them all and re-read, at first I didn't think I was going to like the FBI books, but they are my fav now, go figure.

Im in California, will you be doing something here sometime this year? 

[GaryJ]

Julie, I have all of your books, I think my favorites are Guardian Angel and Show Dance.  There are a few more Buchanan siblings left.  Any plans for their stories?

Gary

[RedWhiteSassy]

Hi Julie,

I LOVE your books-I am pretty sure I have all of them. I was just wondering when your next historical  will come out. I love the contemparies, but I fell in love with your Scottish setting of Saving Grace. So thanks again for all the great stories.

Sara

[dhaupt]

Hi Julie, and thanks so much for stopping by to talk with us. As I'm writing your new book Fire and Ice is sitting on my desk, I'm about half way through it and I love it (not that I didn't expect to since I love all your novels). It's good to get to see what some of our old friends in the Buchanan clan is up to and to meet some new and interesting people too.

I love both your contemporary and your historical novels.

I think my favorite so far has to be Shadow Music, I just loved the hero and heroine in that novel.

So no questions for you just wanted to let you know what a big fan I am.

Thanks 

[lollycat]

Hi Julie!

Okay, I am going to ask an obvious question, but I just have to ask it. Are Cordie and Aidan going to get their story? I have been waiting for it since I read Murder List. Actually, Murder List was the first book that I had read in your Buchanan series. I am fanatical about reading series in order even though I know that most books stand alone and can be read in any order. However, this did not happen with your series (long story). Thankfully, you have written your books in such a way that when previous characters appeared (that I had not yet encountered since I read the books out of order) I had a feel for them but when I went back to read their stories the plots had not been spoiled by having read later books first.

I also have a second question...Are Father Tommy, John Paul Renard, Noah Clayborne, etc. be making appearances in any future books? I always like to see familiar characters in other books to catch up on them.

I also just want to say thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

[AceSB]

Hi Julie

Big fan and fellow neighbor here from Topeka. A lot of people are wondering if your future books will be about the Buchanan brothers, or a spin-off of characters from previous books - I have to ask though, are there any new ideas or characters running through your mind that might be coming soon? What can or could we be expecting?

Thanks again for sharing your wonderful stories with us. What would we read without you?

Ace

[warrior2]

Julie,

Thank God you did learn to read.The world would not be favored with such a talented and wonderful author. I believe I have read 95% of your books; there may be one or two I have missed along the way. I enjoyed "The Bride" so much, I will keep that one in my permanent collection. I love historial romances with strong, intense and detailed background. You supply all of these. You have the ability to do your contempory reads the same manner. I look forward to reading your latest book Fire and Ice.Thanks for sharing your time and talent with us.

Warrior2

[Bethanne]

Glad to see we have a crowd here to welcome Julie, with some great questions already in the queue. I hope everyone has been enjoying a long weekend full of great reads!

Julie, my own question for you: For which of your books did you have the toughest time finding the right title? (I'm fascinated by titles...) 

Bethanne 

[lisadh]

Hello, Ms. Garwood!  Greetings from Austin!

I've been a huge fan for years as my first book of yours was The Lion's Lady and have been hooked since (my favorite is The Prize) .  I see elements in Fire and Ice and your other contemporaries that remind me of The Lion's Lady.  My question is what lead you to start writing contemporary novels?  Many historical romance writers have done this and I was curious as to your reason. 

Thank you for your time and your talent.  You are always a "must buy" when your novels come out.

Have a great day!

Lisa

Message Edited by lisadh on 01-20-2009 01:12 PM

[luckymjmom]

Hi Ms. Garwood.

Another huge fan here.  I've been reading your books since the beginning (though I think I missed the two Young Adult titles - what were they? - my daughter is now the right age for them).  You are the first author I started buying in hardback immediately on release since I just couldn't wait.

I was also sceptical about the FBI books when they first appeared but now they're my favorites.  I've even gone and bought ALL the unabridged audiobooks as well as the hardbacks so I can listen on the go.

I just finished Fire and Ice this weekend and it was another great read.  My only problem is that now I've got to wait almost another year for the next one (sigh).

Anyway, thanks for all the hours of enjoyment you've given me.  Please know that you are appreciated.

[Bethanne]

Evening, all; I'm sure many of us who might normally be reading or writing are glued to the Inaugural festivities today (I know I am). As I type, the parade has just ended and the various galas are about to begin. If any Center Stage visitors attend any of these, please tell us all about it!

Julie, when you stop by, tell us all about...Fire and Ice!

[julie_garwood]

---

rubiwho wrote:

Hi Julie

HUGE FAN here, love all your books. Can't wait to read your new Fire and Ice. Im saving it for my trip, im dying!!!!! just started reading Shadow Music which i thought was a sequel to Shadow Dance, I was wrong!!!! I don't have a favorite book, I love them all and re-read, at first I didn't think I was going to like the FBI books, but they are my fav now, go figure.

Im in California, will you be doing something here sometime this year? 

---

Hi  rubiwho,

Would love to do a signing in California but don't have anything scheduled just yet.  Thanks for the kind words about my books.  Hope you like Fire and Ice.

[julie_garwood]

---

GaryJ wrote:

Julie, I have all of your books, I think my favorites are Guardian Angel and Show Dance.  There are a few more Buchanan siblings left.  Any plans for their stories?

Gary

---

Hi Gary,

Show Dance?  Cool title but not mine.  I think maybe you mean Shadow Dance.  That was  a fun book to write.  I do want to finish up with all the Buchanans but still not sure which one I will do next. 

[julie_garwood]

---

RedWhiteSassy wrote:

Hi Julie,

I LOVE your books-I am pretty sure I have all of them. I was just wondering when your next historical  will come out. I love the contemparies, but I fell in love with your Scottish setting of Saving Grace. So thanks again for all the great stories.

Sara

---

Hi RedWhiteSassy,

Happy to hear you enjoy my books.  I do want to go back to Scotland.  I'm thinking about setting a contemporary there but I also have a fun idea for another historical.  Still not sure which one will win out. 

Julie

[julie_garwood]

---

dhaupt wrote:

Hi Julie, and thanks so much for stopping by to talk with us. As I'm writing your new book Fire and Ice is sitting on my desk, I'm about half way through it and I love it (not that I didn't expect to since I love all your novels). It's good to get to see what some of our old friends in the Buchanan clan is up to and to meet some new and interesting people too.

I love both your contemporary and your historical novels.

I think my favorite so far has to be Shadow Music, I just loved the hero and heroine in that novel.

So no questions for you just wanted to let you know what a big fan I am.

Thanks 

---

Hi dhaupt,

Thanks for the lovely words about my work. I do love writing both contemporary and historical and will continue to do so.

Julie

[julie_garwood]

---

lollycat wrote:

Hi Julie!

Okay, I am going to ask an obvious question, but I just have to ask it. Are Cordie and Aidan going to get their story? I have been waiting for it since I read Murder List. Actually, Murder List was the first book that I had read in your Buchanan series. I am fanatical about reading series in order even though I know that most books stand alone and can be read in any order. However, this did not happen with your series (long story). Thankfully, you have written your books in such a way that when previous characters appeared (that I had not yet encountered since I read the books out of order) I had a feel for them but when I went back to read their stories the plots had not been spoiled by having read later books first.

I also have a second question...Are Father Tommy, John Paul Renard, Noah Clayborne, etc. be making appearances in any future books? I always like to see familiar characters in other books to catch up on them.

I also just want to say thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

---

Dear lollycat,

Aiden and Cordelia will definitely have a story but not sure when that will be.  I do know I will definitely put Father Tommy and Noah Clayborne in future books.  They are such fun characters.  Not sure about John Paul yet. 

Julie

[julie_garwood]

---

AceSB wrote:

Hi Julie

Big fan and fellow neighbor here from Topeka. A lot of people are wondering if your future books will be about the Buchanan brothers, or a spin-off of characters from previous books - I have to ask though, are there any new ideas or characters running through your mind that might be coming soon? What can or could we be expecting?

Thanks again for sharing your wonderful stories with us. What would we read without you?

Ace

---

Dear AceSB,

I get a lot of requests to do the rest of the Buchanan family and eventually I will but I also want to start another series (if that is what you would call the Buchanan stories) about another very large family.  It's so much fun to write about sisters and brothers.

I'm working on Aiden and Cordie right now but also writing another historical about a character from The Wedding named Quinlan.  To be honest I haven't settled on any one specific idea. 

Julie

[Kate15]

I discovered Murder List accidentally on the bookshelf at my mother-in-laws and have since devoured all your FBI novels that I could get my hands on. I especially liked Fire and Ice and thought the dialouge was fantastic. Do you have any tips on writing dialogue for budding authors?

Thanks! Can't wait to read the rest of your books!

[julie_garwood]

---

warrior2 wrote:

Julie,

Thank God you did learn to read.The world would not be favored with such a talented and wonderful author. I believe I have read 95% of your books; there may be one or two I have missed along the way. I enjoyed "The Bride" so much, I will keep that one in my permanent collection. I love historial romances with strong, intense and detailed background. You supply all of these. You have the ability to do your contempory reads the same manner. I look forward to reading your latest book Fire and Ice.Thanks for sharing your time and talent with us.

Warrior2

---

Dear Warrior2,

I'm so fortunate that I get to bounce back and forth between historical and contemporary.  I have such fun writing both.  I'm pleased that you like reading both.

Thanks for the kind words about my work.  It's always nice to hear.

Julie