Comments on: Chat With An Author and Giveaway: Julia Quinn

By: Ellen W.

Ellen W. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Great interview! I look forward to reading the upcoming books!

By: Ellen W.

Ellen W. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Great interview! I really enjoy these books and look forward to reading your new books in the future.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:32:00 +0000

Great interview! I loved the Bridgerton series!

By: Patty

Patty — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:24:00 +0000

Julia, in all of your books the thing that I like best is the over-lap. I really enjoy how the books and the characters dovetail and mesh together. After all, that’s how things would happen in real life. Even if it was sad for Francesca to lose her first husband, and it took awhile for things to get straightened out with Michael, I’m glad you found a way out of the corner for her. I’m still just amazed that you can keep the years straight for everybody- LOL! Do you write it down on paper or keep a huge bulletin board with post-it notes? Thanks for writing great stories!

By: Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:50:00 +0000

toohotforturtle–Thanks so much for the compliments on my characters. I think that is something I work on quite hard as I’m writing. That said, I’m not really sure how to explain what I do to build them. I know that I spend a great deal of time before I even start a book figuring out their history and childhood. Even if this stuff never appears in the book, it helps make them fully formed in my mind, which I think comes through when I’m writing.

Patty–If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that if I ever write another eight book series again (not likely, I’ll admit) I’m going to do a bit more planning ahead of time. I originally set it up to be a three-book set and so when I got to some of the later books, I’d written myself into a bit of corner. (I had to make Francesca a widow in An Offer from A Gentleman because I realized that if I didn’t, I’d have three 27/28 year old spinsters in a row.)

By: Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:44:00 +0000

Back to answer more questions...

Kim--I think you've hit the nail on the head. It --can-- be difficult to keep things fresh and interesting as a writer. And I firmly believe that if my projects aren't interesting and fun for me, they won't be interesting and fun for readers.

I've found (I think I touched upon this in the interview; if I'm getting it confused with a different one, I'm sorry) that for me, the best thing is to try creative approaches with the writing process. That's why the whole Two Dukes thing was such a good project for me as a writer.

As for how many ideas I have floating around in my head, I usually don't have more than one. Right now, I know which character I want to write about next, but I don't really have a plot yet.

JQ

By: Juliet

Juliet — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:53:00 +0000

Great interview!

I love Julia's books and my favorites are the Bridgerton ones, specially the earlier ones, because I loved Lady Whistledown and in a certain way I missed her voice at the last ones :o)

To all that haven't read Julia's books yet, do it and you'll soon will be glooming her backlist.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:10:00 +0000

I have enjoyed Julia’s Quinns stories for years but Jack from The Lost Duke has to be one of my favorite heroes.

By: Pam P

Pam P — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Thanks for the interview, Julia. I’ve got all your books, loved that croquet scene, and the epilog with more on that later on was fun, too.

By: ArkieRN

ArkieRN — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:09:00 +0000

Hi Julia!

Just wanted to say I love your books. Especially the Bridgertons. Can’t wait for Olivia’s story.