Interview with Julianne MacLean – & giveaway!

Update

Julianne contacted me to say that since this interview had received so many comments, she’d like to give away THREE copies of Princess in Love – that means three winners! Thanks so much, Julianne!

Julianne MacLeanJulianne MacLean ditched a career in accounting to pursue one as a historical romance author—and the romance community is truly glad she did! She’s a bestselling author who’s written about American heiresses, Scottish lairds and—most recently—royalty from a fictional country. She’s here today giving away her latest novel, Princess in Love. Welcome, Julianne!

1. Your royal trilogy, of which Princess in Love is the second novel, is set in a fictional country called Petersbourg during the Regency period. Tell us more about Petersbourg and its royalty.

I wanted to create a full historical world with lots of drama, so I looked to a particular period that has always fascinated me – the Russian Revolution. I used that to inspire the turbulent history of the country, and the first book BE MY PRINCE has a hint of Anastasia’s story in it, where a long lost princess resurfaces many years later. I have imagined the country to be small like Luxembourg, near the Netherlands, so I called it Petersbourg to give a hat tip to Russia.

2. You say that Charlotte Brontë is your most effective guidance counselor ever. I love this description! Can you tell us more about this?

Be My PrinceWhen I enrolled in university, I didn’t know what path to take or what to major in, but I was fortunate enough to have a first year English professor with a great passion for literature. He introduced me to the Brontës and Jane Austen, Edith Wharton and Henry James, and from then, I was passionate about literature, too. I became hooked on broody heroes like Rochester and Heathcliff. Imagine my delight when I finished my degree and discovered the historical romance genre for the first time!

3. What is the best thing about being a full-time romance author? What’s the most challenging?

The best thing is being able to pour my whole heart and soul into my work—which is to tell love stories about passionate people. I feel very lucky that my passion is my job. The most challenging part is to stay focused on that and not get too caught up in the publishing “biz” – which involves promotion and websites and social media, etc. I enjoy that, too, but it’s important to remember that the characters and their love stories have to come first.

4. I love the fun facts on your website – especially the one about you being a DJ at a dance club during your university days! I was a DJ my freshman year of college, but for my campus radio station playing contemporary Christian music (something I knew nothing about!). What’s one song that never fails to get you on the dance floor?

What a fun question! Oh, how will I choose?? Okay…if it’s an eighties song – I’ll pick “Can’t Get There From Here” by R.E.M. If I’m going to pick a current song, it’ll be “On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez.

5. Can you tell us who will be the hero and heroine of the final book of your royal trilogy?

Yes! Nicholas is the bad boy – the wayward son of the king who is always at the center of a scandal – (usually involving a woman), but he meets his match when he is kidnapped by a seductive French spy who lures him out of a ball.

Giveaway!

Julianne’s generously giving away one copy of Princess in Love to someone THREE people who leave a comment here. I’ll randomly choose winners on Tuesday December 4th. Good luck!

Princess in Love

Princess In LoveShe’s engaged to be married—to the wrong man…

Leopold Hunt, Marquess of Cavanaugh, is a secret Royalist with a distant hereditary claim to the throne. He has been groomed to one day overthrow the king and rebuild his family’s dynasty. Only one thing stands in his way: the king’s daughter, Rose.

Princess Rose has loved the marquess her entire life, but she is about to enter a political marriage—one that promises to help keep her father in power. There is virtually no way for Rose to escape her fate…yet she cannot resist the unstoppable passion she feels in the arms of the handsome and charming marquess. When a dangerous plot unfolds and puts their love to the ultimate test—Leopold must make a desperate choice: To honor his family or follow his heart….

By Kat

Kat Latham writes sexy contemporary romance, including the London Legends rugby series. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. She's a California girl living in the Netherlands with her baby girl and British husband.

230 comments

  4. Love Love Love your books they inspire me each time I read them ! Thank you for the lovely post and for the totally stunning giveaway !

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  9. Leaving a career is a scary thing to do. Please tell us about making that courageous jump, fears, and overcoming the obstacles in your way. How do you keep coming up with great story lines and characters. Thank you for making that jump and for taking your time now to answer questions.

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    1. Hi Karla!
      Leaving a steady job was a tough decision to make, but I believe it was the right one because everything worked out well in the end. I’m not sure I would take that risk now. I think I would make sure I had a steady income from the writing before I would leave a job. At the time it took me 6 years to sell my first book, so I was an unemployed stay-at-home Mom for a while. It was well-timed because I wanted to be home with my new baby anyway :).
      How do I keep coming up with great story lines? (I’m glad you think they’re great :)). That’s one of the hardest parts for me – coming up with a plot that is fresh and unpredictable. I take a long time between books while I figure this out. Once I start writing, that’s the easy part for me. It’s the idea that I struggle with. And I don’t just start a book blindly, not knowing where it is going to go. I always know the full plot structure – then I flesh it out as I go.

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  10. I have been reading Julianne’s books for many years now and love each and every one of them. She has such an amazing way with the written word. Thank you for sharing your gift with us!!

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  13. Great post I love that Julianne likes Jane Austen. Her books got me into reading and have not stopped since. Thank you for the great post.

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  14. Who says those who work in accounting are dull, dull, dull? Just about everyone I worked with. But you prove that imagination and romance are more the order of the day. So glad you can put those thoughts and dreams down on paper for all of us to enjoy.

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  15. Historical romance is my favorite genre and Julianne’s books are wonderful. I would love to win Princess in Love.

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  16. I really enjoy your books and hope that you continue to write such wonderful tales. I was wondering what you think about all the crossover/mixups(SF+Rom, Horror+ Rom) in the Romance genre now?

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    1. Hi Norma – I am pretty traditional when it comes to my own reading tastes and read mostly the tried and true romances – either straight contemporary or straight historical. I don’t read much paranormal or futuristic or sci fi. But that’s just me. I think it’s great that publishers and writers are offering those sub-genres for readers who like them, however, because I believe that variety is the spice of life!

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  17. Your books are a “GREAT ESCAPE from daily life. I look forward to “escaping ” one more time with Princess In Love

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  22. Love your books–I imagine the research about what was used in that era could be tedious.

    IS there any speed bump you usually have to avoid in your writing?

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    1. A speed bump for me is the initial idea. I make sure that I have a solid plot before I begin. I used to consider myself a “pantser” but now I realize I’m a bit of both. I may not know what’s going to happen from scene to scene – especially when it comes to the characters and their feelings in terms of the romance – but I do know the external plot structure.

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  24. Even though it was not a holiday for us here in Canada, it was still great to have the parade and the football to watch…
    Always love to read your books and the chance to win one even better…

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  28. I so loved your Highland series and these three set in Petersbourg is another that will be a big hit on my shelf. Thank you for all the great hours of reading and dreaming. Thank you also for this contest and the others you have had. Happy Holidays, Helen in Ark.

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  40. Julianne, I absolutely love the characters and worlds you create. Thanks for all the hours of reading enjoyment I’ve had with your books. I can’t wait to read Princess In Love. I’m also waiting for your next Scottish Laird 🙂
    Carol L

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  41. Thank you for a sneak peak at “Princess in Love”. I love to read Historical Romance books, where I can be swept back in time to a place where people lived, laughed and loved, and were finding their way to each other. I love to follow the journey of the Hero and Heroine from the beginning of their story right up to their happy ever after.

    Thank you for this opportunity. 🙂

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  48. Hi Julienne! I can’t believe you gave up your carreer to pursue writing! If only I were as courageous as you…but then, I don’t really write as much as I used to…and that was way back in middle school! LOL

    I have Princess In Love in my TBR list and I can’t wait to read it! The plot already sounds so intriguing!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  49. I love your books. Everytime you have a new book coming out, I am like a kid in a candy store. Thank you so much for all the joy you have brought to my life. Thanks for the giveaway, fingers and toes crossed Happy Holidays

    Reply

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