As I have mentioned once or twice JuliaQ has an awesome website with a great FAQ. Do check it out if you haven’t already.
1. When you wrote your first Bridgerton Novel, The Duke and I, did you plan to write 8 books? 6 years seems like an amazingly long time to be writing about one family.
No. I have no idea why I gave Daphne seven brothers and sisters. I was aiming for a trilogy.
2. Did you know their stories from the get go or did plans for different characters change as you wrote each book?
Not only did I not know everyone’s story, I didn’t even have plans for them that could change. I know that some authors have their next dozen books all plotted out, but I’m not one of them. I wish I were.
3. As an author is it difficult to read criticism about your novels? Do you read reviews or online Message Boards?
I do. For me, a big part of being a writer is being read. I like to know what people think of my work. I don’t find it hard to read criticism, actually, as long as it doesn’t get personal.
4. Where did you put your RITA? Were you surprised to win for On the Way to the Wedding? LOL or is that one of those questions an author can’t honestly answer *g*.
I was surprised! Weren’t you there? Seriously, I think anyone who saw my acceptance speech would know I was not expecting to win.
Rita’s on my fireplace mantel, btw. I’m not sure if that’s going to be her permanent residence, but for now she looks great.
5. Are you going to write books for other secondary characters from earlier novels? You know for say… Brighter Than the Sun? Do you hate those questions? Or is that something you haven’t had a lot of since you have been writing a family series?
I don’t hate those questions at all, except that I usually don’t have a satisfactory answer. I probably won’t revisit the characters from my earlier books, but I’ve learned never to say never.
6. Is Secret Diaries a stand alone book, or will it be tied in with your next books?
Right now it’s a stand alone. When I wrote the first version of Secret Diaries I absolutely planned to write a book for Olivia, and I still might, but I have some other projects I want to do first.
7. Has it been tough to move on after you’ve finished any of your books?
I have trouble starting any project, but that’s mostly because I’m lazy and undisciplined. It has nothing to do with whatever I was working on before.
8. If you wrote in another setting or time period what would it be? Any chance that we will see it? Please don’t say paranormal.
You’ll know I was pressured to write a paranormal when you read a ballroom scene and one of my characters suddenly says, “Look! There goes a werewolf!” Right now I’m enjoying what I’m doing, so I’m sticking with it.
9. If you could retire two words from Romanceland, what would they be?
TSTL and Avonization.
10. Do you plot out your books with other writers or CPs? Does anyone see your work before it is done. Or are you the type doesn’t like anyone to see your work until you type out THE END.
I work solo. I don’t think I’d be a very effective member of a critique group. Which is interesting, because I very much enjoy collaborative projects.
Have a question for Julia… ask away in this thread. She should be popping in and out today. And if you post late I will email them to her.
I’ll be in your critique group, Julie. 😉 I’ll let you know *exactly* where the werewolf should go.
LOL, Kate. Together we’ll take over the world.
Mu ha ha ha.
JQ
*laughing too hard at the thought of that werewolf to form a question*
Okay, mostly I’m just here to bask, anyway. And squee. Love your work.
…yeah, no questions.
*basks*
Hi! I’ve only read the Bridgertons, but I love them!
I kinda hate to ask this, but I have to. As an Ivy League grad and gorgeous, intelligent woman, do you ever get idiotic comments from people about your choice of career? I’m just curious because I recently got the”You’re too smart for those kind of books” comment from someone. Terribly rude.
Also, if you have much time to read, what do you like to read? Romance? Historicals? Or do you go a different way?
How did it feel when you were done with the Bridgerton’s? Were you sad to leave them behind or relieved to work on something else?
I don’t have a question for you. Just wanted to say I love your books. TVWLM & RMB are 2 of my all time favorites.
Devon–
(loving the gorgeous and intelligent part) Actually, I don’t get that very often. I think it’s for two reasons. The first is that it’s so far out of many of my peers’ frames of reference that it becomes fascinating. The second is that I’ve been very successful. It’s harder for people to be dismissive of what you do when you’re a big success.
The question I tend to get more often is, “Do you read romances?” Which always stuns me, because of course I do. Why else would I want to write them? I always feel that there is a subconscious undercurrent to this, that people think (not insultingly, and not even purposefully) that because I’m “smart,” I must have somehow studied the market and figured out how to be a success and maybe romance was the most logical field for me to choose for this reason.
Unfortunately, I don’t get to read nearly as often as I’d like these days, but I read quite widely in the genre and out of it. I love travel essays (Bill Bryson is a fave) and memoirs, too. Science for laypeople books I love as well (give me a good plague book anyday—I love epidemiology.) Within romance I probably read more historical than anything else, but I like lots of different stuff.
JQ
Meljean–
Nice to “meet” you! And congratulations on that EW review! That is FABULOUS.
JQ
Maureen–
I wasn’t sad, but I wouldn’t say relieved, either. I was definitely ready to move on, but I didn’t feel like the last few were a burden AT ALL. It’s been tricky, actually, working on new stuff. With Secret Diaries the bones of the book were already there, so I didn’t have to create a new “world.” With the books I’m working on now, it’s really the first time in years that I’ve had completely new characters. It has meant that I didn’t have a familiar jumping off point, which was disconcerting at first.
JQ (waving to Stacy S.–thanks!)
Ok, I know, totally off-topic, but I love your website (and all the others I’ve seen on your sister’s site). I adore great webdesigns and usually websites such as yours entice me to try out the author. *g*
Thanks, Katharina! I think she (and her designers) are enormously talented. I actually went down and stayed with her when we were working on a mini-redesign of my site, and I was amazed at the work (and time) that goes into getting something just right.
Have you seen http://www.karmawilson.com? Karma is my sister’s first picture book client, and it was so fun for her to design a totally different kind of site. Everything changes when you have illustrations.
JQ
First of all, congratulations on your RITA! It must look very stylish on your mantel. 🙂
Is it okay to ask/can you tell us anything about your upcoming “Two Dukes” books? Will they be back to back? I’m already eagerly anticipating your next books even though they don’t come out until ’08!
I think I must have asked my questions as the info about your upcoming books was being posted. So thanks!
Hi Julia,
I get the newsletter from your sister’s site LOL. I started years ago dawdling around with html, css and photoshop and like learning from professional sites. To make a long story short, I know the site you mentioned. Gorgeous as always 🙂
For me one of the highlights of the RITA’s was Julia’s winning speech. She was just so happy and efervescent (is that spelled right?). Although I haven’t read all of the Bridgerton books – I tend to zone out after max 4 – I do own all her previous books and they are all delightful.
Julia, you look lovely in pink holding that Rita, with a great smile.
No tiny hint at all about what those future projects entail? Anything? LOL.
Thanks, KristieJ! It really was just a great moment. The winning, yes, but also when they called my name, I heard a big cheer from my friends, and it just felt… nice. One of those moments that reminds you how lovely your friends are.
And yeah, Pam. I think I smiled straight for a week.
JQ
Great interview! Do you have any say in your covers? Congrats on the Rita!
Congratulations on winning the Rita. You truly deserve it. I loved the Bridgertons. Such great characters. 🙂
Congrats on the Rita! Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your books.
A werewolf going by in a ball?!? I laughed so hard with that.
Julia, you don’t know what a joy it is knowing you still write these historicals and write through your heart. I remember some people saying publishers don’t want the historicals, but I’m and so many others always asking for them! I wished I was there for your RITA, but I can’t fly but know you were thought of by so many of us!