Hi to Terra and everyone at Yankee Romance Reviewers! Thanks so much for inviting me to spend the day with you. I’m Julia Latham (and I’m also Gayle Callen, but that’s another blog!) and I write medieval romances for Avon Books. My newest release is TAKEN AND SEDUCED. Sexy title, huh? I cannot tell you how difficult the title process can be, what with brainstorming with my husband, my critique group, my agent, my editor…between us all, we finally manage a title. And this one really reflects the plot, which can be tough to do in a couple words. But I strive for that.
TAKEN AND SEDUCED is the first in a new trilogy, “Raised to be Bladesmen.” If you haven’t read my books before, I’ve created a mysterious group of knights called the League of the Blade, who fight for justice. Either the hero—and/or heroine!—is a member or about to be member. Lots of swashbuckling and intrigue, and of course, most importantly, Romance with a capital R. The League serves as a backdrop as two people come together and overcome their pasts and danger and all their misconceptions about the other. And isn’t that what makes a good romance?
The trilogy is about three brothers whose parents were murdered when they were children. To keep them safe, the League took them in to raise them. They decided on an experiment—to train Bladesmen from childhood, to create a superior group of warriors. The experiment has unintended consequences that are confronted in each book. Adam Hilliard, earl of Keswick, the hero of TAKEN AND SEDUCED, is the eldest brother, and he feels it is his respon
sibility to bring his parents’ murderer to justice. But the only way he can get to his enemy is by kidnapping the man’s daughter, Florrie. Adam tries very hard to intimidate her into behaving as they travel the length of England to confront her father, but she sees right through him. Florrie is destined for the convent, and she is thrilled to have her very own adventure.Every so often, I write an on-the-road book. I’ve done them in the Victorian era (in which I write as Gayle Callen) where there are fine carriages and decent inns. Travel was totally different in 15th century England, especially when one wants to remain hidden. Ah, but that’s the challenge, isn’t it? Two people alone in the close quarters of a room at an inn, sharing a bedroll by a fire at night (okay, one person is tied to the other so they can’t escape…), forced to bathe in streams…there are so many fun and romantic situations when characters are on the run!
Hope you get a chance to read TAKEN AND SEDUCED. The “taken” part is pretty obvious, but who is seducing whom?
I love questions. Ask me about writing, or writing under two names, or—anything!
Julia will giveaway a free book to one lucky commentor. Ask her a question and don't forget to leave your email addy!
45 comments:
Hi Julia,
Why'd you decide to write under two names? (I know why I would, but I'm not you, so I have to ask :P)
jaam121388 at yahoo dot com
Hi Julia,
Your new trilogy sounds great. Adam sounds so sexy but you lead me to believe that Florrie is seducing him. If I were in her place I know I would definitely be doing the seducing.
Your genre for the books you write under Julia and Gayle are similar. Is there a reason you took a non de plume? Which is the non de plume or are they both fictional names?
Thanks for putting my name in the hat.
orelukjp0 at gmail dot com
:) I've read you under both names but honestly did not know you were the same person. How awesome is that?? :)
I was just wondering how you decided on what to write..how did you decide those two specific time periods?
Do you think in the future you will change and perhaps write something from a different time period or genre (paranormal? conteporary?)...and if so, will you have a new name?
Have a good weekend!!
Hi Julia!
Ohh, finding the right title. It is hard battle, isnt it? Finding the title that could get the attention of the reader and at the same time reflect the contents of the book. Aww, the life of an author.
What inspired you to come up with the idea of a group of knights called League of the Blade?
Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com
Hi Julia,
Were you inspired by real life characters for the hero and heroine of Taken and Seduced?
monamhassan@hotmail.com
Hi Julia,
Congrats on the new release. I haven't read any of your medievals, but I love your Victorian books written under Gayle Callen. What's your release schedule like? Are you alternating between the medievals and Victorians?
janie1215 AT excite.com
Hi Julia :D
You know what I always wonder about when it comes to authors, is the cover. Do you have much say in it, or is it the publishers? And can you give suggestions?
blodeuedd1 (at) gmail (dot) com
Nightdweller, I decided to write under two names for a couple reasons. My publishing house could publish me faster as two different people (I write fast), and so that readers wouldn't be confused. Gayle writes Victorian, Julia writes Medievals.
orelukjp0, Gayle Callen is my real name. And let me tell you, it was tough work coming up with Julia, a shorter name, slightly British, with the .com available, and that all my editors liked.
RachieG, more than one person has told me they didn't know I was two people! ;) As for choosing those time periods, my first six books as Gayle were medievals. I chose the 1480s because 4 different kings reigned in a couple years, so there was lots of intrigue. After six books, my editor mentioned that if I wanted to grow my readership, I should try 19th century. I picked Victorian, because so many people were writing Regencies. And trains are fun!;) And I have no urge yet to write a different genre. I'm still so happy writing historicals! But I think contemps and/or paranormals are fun. And another name?? That would be SUCH a split personality! ;)
Sue, I came up with the League of the Blade because I wanted to do a sort of military brotherhood of knights. Very macho. Of course I've had female Bladesmen now, too...But also, I wanted my medievals to be more action adventure, and this lent itself to that perfectly.
Mona, nope, I wasn't inspired by real life characters. For some reason, that usually doesn't happen to me.
Jane, yes, I'm alternating as Julia and Gayle. Julia's out in April, Gayle is out in September, Julia is out in January '10, Julia is April '10...it can get confusing!
blodeuedd1, I don't have a lot to say in the covers, although they do ask for suggestions--and hair/eye color, of course! The art department at Avon is incredible, and I always trust them. When I wrote The Lord Next Door, my mom suggested doors on the cover, and Avon went with that for the whole series!
Julia
Wow, glad I stopped by--I just 'discovered' a new author to read!
magolla, wow, I love to hear that!
Julia
This sounds like a great trilogy! I love series of books that center on or link to favorite characters. In that vein, how do you keep track of the storylines from book to book? Do you have a master storyboard, careful notes?
Margay
Margay1122 (at) aol (dot) com
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I posted this on Win A Book.
Wow! I'm intrigued! Your books sound great. How hard was it for you to get your first book published? Do you remember that "call?"
Margay, I keep track of the storylines in each book of the trilogy in a couple ways. First, I write a very detailed 25-page synopsis before I even begin a book--I refer to that often throughout the series. Also, each time I finish a chapter, I summarize it on one page, scene by scene, noting the timeline, POV, setting, etc., and what was accomplished in each scene, what clues were revealed, etc. And then I keep a shorter summary as well, where I summarize the whole chapter in just a couple lines. That helps me find something quickly. Also, if something happens in Book 1 that needs to be mentioned in Book 2, I'll jot it down on an index card, and put it with the Book 2 notes. Hope I explained that well!
Lori, you bet I remember "the call"! It took me 13 years to be published, and three complete manuscripts, so that day is seared in my memory. I had lots of rejections as I struggled to learn how to write a book, and having a great critique group and RWA chapter really helped. I had an agent for 2 1/2 years as well, so she was the one who called me first. And on that day, I couldn't even relax and enjoy my success, because I was hosting 26 swimmers on my son's high school team for dinner, so I was making 4 pans of ziti! What a crazy--and wonderful--day!
Julia
Very well, thank you. I wish I could be that organized!
Margay
Hi Julia,
I Love ALL your books (and Gayle's too.) How do you go about developing your hero and heroine? Are they based on people you know, actors, stock photographs, or entirely imagination?
I'm always looking for new authors to read and series, sounds good!
Alee, thanks so much for letting me know you enjoy my books! As for the hero and heroine, I never base them on real people, because they become so real to me all by themselves! I don't use photos either, because I can see them in my head. When I approach a new book, I first think of how the main characters will react to the premise of the whole trilogy. TAKEN AND SEDUCED is the first book about three brothers who were raised to be warriors, without ever seeing women until they were older. They lived solitary, hard lives. So I came up with how the three heroes should react different: Adam is very noble, and honored to be a Bladesman. His brother Robert (hero of WICKED, SINFUL NIGHTS, coming next January)is more of a rake, who thought he wasn't much bothered by their restrictive childhood (of course he has a lot to learn...). The final brother, Paul, was very angry as he gradually realized how restricted his childhood was. From there, I find heroines who are sort of the opposite of the heroes. And then I plop them into a plot that challenges each of them. Hope that makes sense!
Julia
Hi Julia,
I am so excited about your new trilogy. Taken and Seduced sounds great.
What is your favorite thing about being a writer? Also, do you have to do much research when writing your books?
beamer339 @ hotmail.com
Hi Julia,
I've read several of your 'Gayle' books but never the 'Julia' books. I guess mainly because the time period is not one that I like (goes back to history lessons in school). But reading your blog today may just be changing my mind. After all, I enjoy watching The Tudors DVDs and medivel is not too far back from that period so I might like it after all.
Do you choose real-life people to act as your inspiration when characterizing and personalizing your heroes & heroines?
Raven, glad I'm making the book sound interesting! ;) I do a lot of research when I write my books--that's my favorite part of it! I have about 175 research books (for three time periods, medieval, Elizabethan, Victorian) and I consult them constantly. I even have a three ring binder divided alphabetically by topic, so that when I need to know something about clothes, I've listed a title and page number for where I can find it in one of my books.
As for my favorite thing about being a writer, we like to say it's good "having written," because that means you're done with the book. Ha! The actual writing is usually hard work. But there are precious days when the scene seems to flow, and the characters come alive, and I'm seeing it like a movie in my head. Those are wonderful moments!
Julia
Hi Julie
The questions I was going to ask have been answered already. this was a great blog today thanks for being here! Your new trilogy sounds great I'll be getting your book can't wait.
Penney penneyw at sbcglobal dot net
Karen, my medievals are set right when the Tudor era begins. Trust me, in terms of research and how people lived, the only thing that changed in that small span of time was politics. King Henry VII, father of Henry VIII, makes an occasional appearance in my books. Hope you'll give my books a try.
And nope, no real people as inspiration for my characters. You can read about that in more detail a few posts higher.
Julia
Thanks, Penney!
Julia
Hi Julia. I think it is great that you write under two names. I love your Gayle Callen books. Your new trilogy sounds good.
Hey Julia! (:
What was the book that most influenced your life — and why? And...What are your favorite books to give (and get) as gifts?
Thanks!
loony_balooga_91@hotmail.com
Thanks so much, Crystal!
Liyana, the book that most influenced my life? I'd have to say Kathleen Woodiwiss's SHANNA. I had never read historical romance before that, and a friend brought it to a slumber party in high school. While everyone slept, I read all night. I was hooked. That book influenced my entire career, because I'd always written, but science fiction before that. After SHANNA, I put all my energies into historical romance--when I wasn't raising my kids, working, etc.!
As for favorite books to give--if not a romance by Loretta Chase, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Julia Quinn and so many other Avon ladies, then Harry Potter! Or the Chronicles of Narnia. I've read the Narnia books dozens of times since I was child, and I read them to my children.
Julia
I am intrigued by your new trilogy. I like the idea of a noble brotherhood of knights and 3 children being raised by them. I see that you have mentioned the titles and release dates of the first 2 books. What about the last one?
castings[at]mindspring[dot]com
Sounds like a great new trilogy. What people or other authors influenced you to write??
msboatgal at aol.com
Thanks for answering, Julia!
Hi Julia,
I love your books! I have the entire collection under both names.
I share your books with my little sister who also loves your work.
We would like to know what inspired you to start writing, and are you going to be writing any other types of books?
Thanks so much for blogging with us.
Amber and Nikki
Hi Julia,
Did you need to do a lot of research for the story?
mce1011[at]aol[dot]com
Cheri, the third book of the trilogy doesn't have a title or a pub date yet. It will be some time next year though. I'm writing a Victorian right now, and then I'll do Paul's story.
Scottsgal, I've mentioned Kathleen Woodiwiss as starting my love of historical romance, but as for people encouraging me to write, I have to say that would mostly be my husband. I spent 13 years working part-time, dealing with our kids, and still spending a couple hours most days writing. And never once did he complain. He encouraged me when I was feeling down about ever having a career. 13 years is a long time!
Hi Amber and Nikki! Wow, the whole collection of my books! That's close to 20 now. Thanks so much! As for what inspired me to start writing, I was a big reader, and I used to think about the plots and the different ways I would have changed them. And so I just decided to try it. I was 13 at the time. I fell in love with it, and I never stopped. As for writing other kinds of books, not any time soon. I'm happy writing historicals, and as long as Avon keeps buying them, I'll keep writing them.
Hi Maureen! Yes, I do LOTS of research, but then that's my favorite part. Although after 20 books, I know my time periods pretty well, at least about how people live, so I don't have to look things up all the time. I don't like to interrupt the flow of writing a scene, so if I need to research something, I leave myself a note and do it later. Because otherwise, I get lost in a book and I forget to keep writing!
Julia
The trilogy sounds great! Love the title and cover for Taken and Seduced.
marieimy (at) gmail (dot) com
I haven't read any of your books, but am always glad to find a new author.
kissinoak@verizon.net
Thanks, Marie! I love the cover, too!
Estella, hope you enjoy my books!
Julia
Hi Julia, I have always wondered why authors have several pen names? I can understand one pen name, but some authors have several.
Forgot to leave my e-mail.
lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com
Hi Virginia, yes, if an author writes many different types of book, she might choose several pseudonyms. But I can't imagine more than two--hard enough to keep track of them!
Julia
Wow. Sounds like an awesome book! :)
What would your favorite book of all time be?
Thank you!
Hi Julia!!!
This is a fun question! If you could invite up to 5 authors/famous people living or from the past, to your home for tea, who would you invite and what would you have always wanted to ask/say to them?
(For sure I'd love to meet with Jane Austin. So that's an example if I didn't explain it well!)
I meant to put this in too, is there any place you'd like to visit and set a book in that you haven't yet?
Thanks again! I'm thrilled about your books!
macbeaner, my favorite book of all time is Kathleen Woodiwiss's Shanna! Sigh...fell in love with that book in high school.
Caffey, 5 famous people--that's a hard one! Definitely Kathleen Woodiwiss. I did get to meet her once, but only a sentence's worth. I would love to talk to her about how she first came up with her revolutionary story ideas. And I'm with you--Jane Austen. Brilliant woman. Maybe Charles Dickens. Love to talk to him about Victorian England. Maybe Benjamin Franklin. I have a fascination for the Revolutionary period, and he was such a renaissance man. JRR Tolkien. Lord of the Rings was such a part of my youth--I'd love to pick his brain.
As for where I'd like to visit--every little corner of England, of course! I'd like to visit Cornwall someday (although I have already set a book there).
Julia
Julia ~ How do you keep the "voices" of your two names separate? You must do a good job, since commenters have pointed out that they didn't know you were both... =)
dreyshouse at gmail dot com
Hi Drey! Writing in two very different time periods keeps my voice distinct, I think. Medieval language is a bit more formal, with some period words thrown in, so it "sounds" different. That's pretty much it!
Julia, off to pick a winner out of a hat for free copy of Taken and Seduced
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