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 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?
When 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
She’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….
The new book sounds wonderful and I’m glad your writting now , though a good bookkeepers hard to find too. 🙂
Hi I love your interview. I love it when authors take time out of their busy schedules to share with us. I can’t believe you have your Christmas tree up already. I haven’t even shopped for one yet. I love Historicals because I’m a history nerd and really enjoy the little touches to give a story flesh and bones. I would love to win a new book but good luck to all. And congrats to whomever does win. Merry Christmas.
Looking forward to the latest book.
What a fantastic interview! Great questions and great answers. I can’t wait to read this book. 🙂
Enjoyed your blog today. Your book sounds very interesting. I’ve read several of your books and haven’t been disappointed.
Love Julianne’s books! Looking forward to reading this book,
especially since few books have a Russian Revolution setting!
Pat C.
I enjoyed the interview and I’m looking forward to reading this newest book, Princess in Love.
Wonderful interview, I love your writing!!!!
I love your books and your talent. I am an avid reader and when I can afford it I am constantly buying loads of books. Happy Holidays to you, your family and all those fellow readers.
A wonderful interview thank you. The Russian Revolution does indeed fascinate. PRINCESS IN LOVE looks fabulous.
Love, love, love her books. I can’t wait to read this!
Great interview. Can’t wait to read the book.
Congrats on the release of Princess in Love. Accounting vs Historical Romance writer, what totally different things!
Hi.
Love the interview. My fave kind of literatura is historical romances.
I got a literacy blog in portuguese (Brazil) and i would love share with my readers about your books.
😉
By the way, my email is vaniafnunes@hotmail.com
Great interview and I Love your books! I am a huge historical romance fan and would love to win this one! Thanks for the giveaway.
I already have my copy, Julianne – can’t wait to get lost in its pages!
Julianne’s books look and sound wonderful, I really like the covers. I always enjoy a good historical romance and look forward to reading both of these books.
This would make a great gift for my mom. Thanks for the chance to win!
Grear Interview!! Not only am I going to love, love, love this book–but so will my Sister-in-law!! I always love the descriptiveness..it transports you into that place and time. I”ll keep fingers and toes crossed that you pick me, <3
Thanks!!
Great interview regarding Princess In Love and about you, Julianna. Can’t wait when the book is out.
Loved the first book in the series, this one will certainly be as good!
Thanks for a great interview!
You are on the ball! Evidently you have a fake Christmas tree. A real one might not last till Christmas. We do have our yard all decorated already.
You book sounds intriguing…with an imagined place and interesting characters. Congrats!
Great interview! I’m looking forward to the last book in the series.
Loved the interview Julianne, and Princess in Love, sounds fabulous can’t wait to read. I loved the Pembroke series, and am very much looking forward to you prequel release of A kiss Before the Wedding!
Looking forward to reading this! It’d be beyond awesome to win it! Julianne is one of my fav authors…
I know when I p/u a book by Julianne that it will be very good. Thank you!
Julianne, I love your books and this was a great interview.
I love your book, especially about Scotland.
thank you
Love your books. I really enjoyed your style of writing!
What a wonderful interview! I love hearing about your personal literary journey. 🙂
Really enjoyed reading the interview, and can hardly wait for the book!
Thanks for the interview and the giveaway.
I really enjoyed your interview. I really like that your series is about Russia. It is something I haven’t read about too much, and I enjoy reading about new things! I will be sure to order it even if I don’t win! Thank you.
This is my first effort at “leaving a comment” on this website. I truly enjoyed your interview with one of my favorite authors – Julianne MacLean. Thank you both for taking the time to do this. I am enjoying Julianne’s current books. Now I am retired I can read til midnight if I want to – and I do with her books!!
I hope this “takes” as it wasn’t the easiest web site to use. Happy and Healthy Christmas to all.
Thanks for the post. I had to go look up the 80’s song, so much fun. lisagk(at)yahoo(dot)com
It’s been awhile since I’ve responded to any blogs, but when I saw the comment about Charlotte Bronte being a guidance counselor, I had to smile. Thanks for the greast interview.
I enjoyed the interview, thanks for sharing with us. It has always amazed me where you get all the ideas for the books. How you can dream up the stories, especially when you’re making up a place. I really wish I had this wonderful talent. Until that miracle happens… I’ll just keep reading yours! I have really enjoyed all of them but, I have to say my favorite is ‘An Affair Most Wicked’. I look forward to reading anything you do in the future. Keep them coming please!!
Great interview and thanks for the giveaway. Happy Holidays!
Wow, I really love the blurb of Princess in Love!
I’m a fan of historical romance but mostly I read about dukes, duchesses, earls, or countesses. I don’t think I read about princes or princesses before. Most of the location are London or English countrysides, too. Princess in Love would be a fresh one. 🙂
Sonds like a very interesting series, I love the cover. Historical detail is always fasinating and you seem to have good plots to go along with it.
Good luck with your series!
thanks for giving us the opportunity to get insight into one of our favorite authors!
I’m a fan of historical romanceq but this one looks fresh.I haven’t read about Russia before so I will look forward.
Love getting information on Authors that I haven’t read yet and look forward to seeing your book at B&N
Love historical romances that’s why I love your books! thanks for sharing with us your book. I would love to read Princess in love! the covers of your books are so beautifull specially “Be my Prince”
thanks for the great giveaway!
Hadn’t heard REM’s song noted above before. Interesting choice! MY choice would be most of the songs sung by One Direction (One Thing … What Makes You Beautiful….). I still enjoy music from my own times, beginning in the seventies, but wow, there’s lots of great music out there today!
I also love the One Direction song – What Makes You Beautiful. Always makes me smile!
Julianne brought me back to romance fiction after a long hiatus. I love, love, love all of the emotion and the uncharted course of true love.
Hello everyone – I just have to tell you how overwhelmed I am by all the kind words here. I am so grateful to all of you who have taken the time to pop by here and reply, and to say such lovely things. I feel like the luckiest author on the planet. I wasn’t able to reply to all the comments individually, but I want each of you to know that I have read every single word of every post, and you have all made me smile, and have even brought tears to my eyes. I appreciate you so very much! THANK YOU for being the most awesome readers a writer could ask for!
Thanks for that wonderful interview. Those were great questions and answers. Thanks for sharing. I don’t have my tree up yet, but I’m over half way done with buying presents. I’m a little slow this year, usually I’m done by now. Thanks for the fabulous blurb. Princess In Love sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to read it. I love historicals.
love a good historical romance read