Hello Julie, what can you tell us about you?
I’ve always had a love of languages so after studying
French at University I went off to live in
We have been renovating our run-down property for ten
years now and I can’t wait until I have a study of my own. Actually, I’d settle
for having a room that is finished! I usually end up writing on the dining room
table.
When not writing I can be found reading or blogging
and I am a keen member of our local amateur dramatic group, taking part in the
annual panto – Oh yes I am!
How lovely to hear that you love languages and that
you speak French. C'est merveilleux! And how exciting to set up a language
school in Poland
What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you
always know you wanted to write?
I’ve always loved writing and as a child wrote little
sketches for my friend and I to perform. I never thought of it as a career
though. In primary school I fancied myself as a musician, then as an actress
before finally becoming a teacher. It’s only in later life that I’ve found the
right moment to fulfil my dream of becoming a writer.
I know this is a difficult question, but I am always
fascinated to find out how other writers get ideas for their stories, so I must
ask... Where do you get your inspiration from, Julie?
It can be a line from a song or something heard on the
radio. I take inspiration from anywhere, as I think everything in life
influences you; all the books I’ve ever read, all the people I’ve ever met all
play a part.
It's true that anything can trigger an idea!
Can you tell us about CALLIE'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN?
‘Callie’s Christmas Countdown’ is a short novel with a
feel good factor. It’s humourous and just the thing to dip into when you need a
break from all the festivities. Callie wants everyone to have a good Christmas
and puts everyone else first. For the perfect Christmas, she has to get her
divorced parents talking, sort out her flatmates lives and as a wedding planner
organise the best Christmas Eve wedding ever for a client. In doing so,
however, it means that she’s likely to end up spending Christmas alone.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve just finished my first Christmas story. I’ve been
working on it for the last two years. It really shouldn’t have taken so long
but I’ve got about four WIP at the moment. There might be a fourth book in the
Greek Island mystery series, I’m working on a cosy mystery set locally plus a
couple of other ideas. I don’t know which one will win but I’ll go with
whichever seems to be pulling me the most.
Locations are very important in my writing. What about
you? How do you pick the location for a story?
I think the locations just pick me. For the Greek
mysteries the setting is an amalgamation of several islands I’ve visited,
mainly because I loved them all and couldn’t decide which one I preferred. This
way I get to choose the best bits from them all.
For the Christmas novel I decided to set in close to
where I live. There’s always room for artistic impression though!
What comes first when you are thinking of a new story
- the plot or the characters?
It depends. Sometimes I have only the vaguest idea of
a plot and a couple of characters. It’s only when I start writing that other
characters suddenly appear and drive the plot forward. Sometimes it all starts
with a novel title and takes off from there. Either way I just love the idea of
creating something from absolutely nothing. Try as I might I can’t plot out a
whole book. I think that even as the author I need to have that element of
surprise myself to keep me guessing.
I am just the same, Julie! What was your best ever moment
as a writer?
The moment I hit publish on my first novel was pretty
awesome. Getting my first five star review also left me on a high but I guess
the absolute best moment was holding the paperback copy of my first book. That
is such a special moment and I couldn’t stop stroking it. It made me feel like
a ‘proper’ author as I can now add my own book to my bookshelf.
Thank you very much!
You are welcome, Julie. I wish you good luck with your
novel.
Blurb
Callie
is an event planner, organising weddings and corporate parties. What she'd
really love however, is to organise the perfect Christmas. How difficult can it
be after all? She simply needs to get her divorced parents talking to each
other, sort out a Christmas Eve wedding for the daughter of a millionaire and
wait for her hunky, rich boyfriend to propose. What could possibly go wrong?
BUY LINKS
About Julie Ryan
Julie
was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in
She
is the author of the Greek Island Mystery series, Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s
Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy, each of which can be read as a standalone. She
considers Greece
Twitter
@julieryan18
GIVEAWAY
1.£5.00 amazon giftcard uk
2. ebook Callie's Christmas Countdown
<a
class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1d685e6f0/"
rel="nofollow" data-raflid="1d685e6f0"
data-theme="classic" data-template=""
id="rcwidget_zy9uxvl2">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Or
Thank you so much Marie - it was lovely to be interviewed
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Julie. Good luck with your novel and JOYEUX NOEL!
DeleteWhat an adventurous life you've enjoyed, Julie. And so much fodder for lively stories you've garnered through your adventures. I agree it's so interesting to build a story from a small idea that flashed through your brain. But 4 WIPs at one time? Enjoy your family and writing. All the best!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting JQ! Yes, Julie is amazing. I could never have more than one WIP on the go at any one time.
Delete