Julie: I live in Leawood, Kansas. It�s a suburb of Kansas City. I grew up here, and have lived here most of my life. I come from a large Irish Catholic family, and I learned early on that if I wanted to be heard, I had to have a strong voice. I also got my warped sense of humor from my family. When we get together, there�s a lot of laughter.

Donna: When did you first know that wanted to write? How did you go about selling your first book? How long did it take?

Julie: As a little girl I loved making up stories, but it was something I did for fun. I was a history major in college, and I wasn�t looking toward a writing career, but a couple of teachers encouraged me to think about it. When I got married and had children, I did a little freelance writing, but I didn�t become serious about it until the youngest of my three started school. I began to work on a couple of book ideas and joined a writers� group. I attended a reception following a local writers� conference, and there I met an agent. She asked me to send her what I was working on. I sent her a YA (young adult) novel. She liked it and asked if I had anything else. I was also writing a romantic story about a medieval knight, so I sent her that. I was surprised and delighted when she called and told me she had sold them both. The publishers of the historical novel soon asked me for another, and then another, and I�ve been writing the adult fiction ever since.

Donna: Where do you get ideas for your stories? Do you ever use personal experiences when writing them?

Julie: My stories come from everywhere. I�ve always been a bit of a daydreamer, so there�s usually a story going on in my head at any given time.

Donna: Do you work from an outline? Do you already know how the story will proceed before you actually write? Do your characters try to take the story in a different direction than what you had planned?

Julie: Most of my books come from an initial scene that I imagine. As it begins to take shape, I learn who the characters are and what motivates them. I have the general story in mind, but sometimes I�m surprised by the twists and turns it will take as I�m writing it. I think that�s what makes the writing so much fun.

Donna: What is the hardest part of writing a story? How long does it take you to write a story? What type of research did you do for your books?

Julie: The hardest part of the writing is the deadline. I haven�t written a book yet that I didn�t wish I could start over and write again. On the whole, it takes about a year. I�ll do some initial research before I begin, but I continue throughout the process. There�s a difference between historical research and contemporary. I rely on a university library for much of the historical work, but with the contemporary I use the Internet or I interview experts who have firsthand knowledge. I enjoy the research, but I don�t always have the time I�d like, so I have a research assistant who helps.

Donna: Why did you make the move from historical romance into romantic suspense? How many sequels do you plan in your current series? Will you ever write historical romance again?

Julie: I wrote HEARTBREAKER, my first contemporary romantic suspense novel, three years ago. I had come up with the story a couple of years previously, and I had tried to fit it into a historical setting, but it just wouldn�t work. I finally sat down and wrote it as I saw it. I was thrilled when I began to get positive feedback from readers. The publishers were pretty happy about it, too, and asked me to write another, so I followed it with MERCY. Because the response has been so good, the publishers have contracted with me to do several more like them. I really enjoy writing the contemporary stories, but I also love the historicals. I�m hoping to someday find the time to do both.

Donna: When FOR THE ROSES was made into a television movie, many fans were upset that the plot and even some of the characters were changed. What was your reaction to the movie?

Julie: I thought Hall of Fame's production of "Rose Hill" was beautiful, but yes, I was disappointed to see that the screenwriter made so many changes to the plot of the book. I'm still receiving letters from viewers who were upset by that.

Donna: When are you going to write Noah Clayborne's story? Is he a descendant of our favorite Clayborne family?

Julie: I thought it would be fun to meet a modern-day Clayborne. He's a descendant of Cole Clayborne, and the readers who remember Cole will probably see the resemblance. I'd love to give Noah his own story, but I'll have to come up with just the right one. In the meantime, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of him.

Donna: How does the Internet affect you as an author? What are some of your favorite Web sites and discussion boards?

Julie: As for the Internet and Web sites, unfortunately I don�t have much time to spend there. I get a great deal of e-mail from my own Web site, and I try to answer all of it. I understand there are some wonderful bulletin boards and chat rooms out there, but I�m afraid if I began to visit them, I�d get so involved I�d never want to leave - and then I�d never get a word written - and then I�d be in big trouble - oh my.

Donna: Do you have any advice for the aspiring authors here at RBL?

Julie: The advice I have for aspiring authors is to make sure you set aside a portion of each day to work on your writing. I think it�s essential to get into a rhythm, and developing the discipline will help you survive the days that aren�t so productive. I also believe it helps to network in the writing community. Belonging to writers� organizations and attending conferences will afford you the opportunity to meet editors and agents, and it will also give you a great support system.

Donna: Is there anything else you would like to say?

Julie: Thanks very much for all your interest in my work. I love hearing from others who share this passion.

I hope that everyone at RBL has a productive and successful new year.