And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

I think every author must be asked at least once "Why did you become a writer?" Many will tell you it is something they've always wanted to do. Julia London's career as an author came about for a much different reason. At her website, she explains she had read dozens of books and "... was lying around on the couch one weekend thinking I wouldn't have ended a story in a particular way, or I would have made the character bigger. And seeing as how I had nothing to read at that point, I said to myself, "Well if you think you're so smart, Miss Julia, go write your own book!" That was when the bright idea hit me, LOL!" That has got to be one of the best reasons I've ever heard for becoming a writer. *G*

Since the publication of her first novel, THE DEVIL'S LOVE, in Dec 1998, Julia has quickly become a best-selling author in just a few short years. She'll tell you that she just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I think maybe she is just a natural born writer. Her ability to combine the right amounts of humor, excitement, and romance makes her books fun to read and hard to put down. Maybe all those years driving a tractor on the family farm, with nothing else to fill the hours except her daydreaming, sharpened her imagination so that putting her stories to paper comes easily.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Julia did her best to get as far away as possible from that tractor. She went to University of Texas and studied government. This lead her to a job in Washington, D.C. and eventually to the White House during the Bush Administration. Julia has traveled quite a bit... all over the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and more recently, Norway.

Now Julia's back at home in Texas, living with her two huge Golden Labs, Hugo and Maude, dreaming up more stories for all of us to enjoy. She's presently working on a contemporary trilogy, but will continue to write historical romance. No matter the time period, I have a feeling Julia's talent for spinning tales will have readers coming back for more for a very long time.

Here are the questions I had for Julia...

1. What was it like working at the White House during the Bush Administration? What exactly did you do? Was it as exciting as it sounds, or more like a lot of paperwork with a pretty letterhead? *G*

If I told you, I'd have to kill you. Okay, not really. I was in charge of data analysis having to do with drug use and drug interdiction. The job was not even remotely exciting, and talk about a pressure cooker! But there were, of course, some cool perks about working at the White House. Like the White House Christmas party, and the Easter Egg roll. And the access, and the occaisional full staff meeting (I'm talking hundreds) where the POTHUS (the actual acronym for the President of the United States, and how he is referred to in memos, etc.), would actually show up. But in the end, it was a government job in a government office with a bunch of government clones. My sincere apologies to all my clone friends -- you know I'm right!

2. So far, all of your books have been regencies. Do you have a preference for this time period, as far as historicals go?

I like all periods of history, but the regency era is so much fun. It's far enough back that I think a reader feels transported, but close enough that they can also relate to it. I really like that period, and Jane Austen has always been a favorite of mine. Man, she was soooo clever! I've written seven regencies now (one you haven't seen yet), and I am very familiar and comfortable with it, so it works for me. And the publishers sure like that time period, so I guess I'll stick with it.

3. I saw that you are writing a contemporary trilogy about 3 very rich and very spoiled sisters, whose father suddenly cuts them off so that they can learn to appreciate what really matters in life. (a much better summary can be found at Julia's website *G*) The whole concept seems like it would open up countless possiblilies! How fun has this been to work on?


A BLAST. I had no idea how much fun it would be to write! At first, I had to train myself to think a little differently - shorter, quicker, racier. But once I got the feel for it, I loved it. I have so many ideas and so many characters I want to try and do now! Lets just hope the readers like what I am doing so my publisher will continue to publish me!

4. Have you noticed much difference between writing contemps and historicals? Do you find one harder than the other?


That's an interesting question, because I have heard this debate between authors - they say historicals are hard because they require too much research, and then contemps are hard because its harder to suspend disbelief. But I find that neither are particularly hard, they are just really different, and most especially in creating and maintaining a unique voice. Contemporaries have a different cadence I had to learn, and I know it will require practice, just like my historical voice required (still requires) practice. The historical voice is easier for me to create and maintain now than it was in the beginning, but there are times I feel stymied because I don't know enough about the historic (and British) use of the English language. So. I guess I find the contemporary and historical novel equally challenging. And it seems that no matter how many books I write, the next book is hard to write. Why is that???? Augh!

5. For those of us that frequent the Cafe we know that you are aka Dimwonkie, but not how you came by that nickname. Care to share? *G*


Oh, it's such an ugly, hideous story! There was a conference, and Marsha and Virginia (and I seem to remember Connie Brockway on the fringes), and I don't even KNOW who else, except the cover model, and his loin cloth, and that stupid oyster shooter thing with all that vodka (like oysters have to be fermented or something), and don't even get me started on the feather boa strategically placed...well....I guess I'd just as soon leave it at that. Just call me Dimwonkie :-).

Thanks, Julia!

Visit Julia at her website and read an excerpt of her new release "THE SECRET LOVER".
http://julialondon.com/