One of the fun things about being a writer is that you get to imagine yourself into situations you (hopefully) will never experience. Ember, in my latest book written as Joss Stirling, has ended up on remand under suspicion of murder – pretty extreme but that’s where a good story is to be found! She … Continue reading
Author Archives: Julia Golding
Two books – one old, one new: by Julia Golding
Being a writer is a very strange career. Books tend to come in flurries, especially when you are the publisher’s flavour of the month. There are long pauses where you think maybe no one will want to publish you ever again…but wait, yes, another contract comes along…and you feel relatively secure for a year or so. … Continue reading
Starting your writing journey – by Julia Golding
I’ve been thinking about the first book I ever wrote recently, Secret of the Sirens, the first part in the Companions Quartet. As things worked out in the wonderful world of publishing, it actually came out a few months after my first published book (the other publishing house was quicker off the mark) but it … Continue reading
Cat Royal Diamond Tour by Julia Golding
To celebrate Cat Royal’s first adventure, The Diamond of Drury Lane, coming out as a Modern Classic this spring, she is going on an international Diamond Tour. If your school would like to take part in the fun, please talk to a teacher or librarian and let me know and I’ll see if her carriage … Continue reading
I’ve got it covered – an exclusive cover reveal by Julia Golding
Do you judge a book by its cover? I think we all do. If you don’t like a cover, it takes a while for you to get over your dislike and give the story a go. If you got any books for Christmas, which one do you turn to first? I’m guessing nine out of … Continue reading
Fantastic Beasts and Mythical Creatures by Julia Golding
It’s such fun when there is a new part added to the Wizarding World, isn’t it? One of the great joys of being a reader since the 1990s is enjoying the rock star treatment of J K Rowling’s story world. Harry Potter is a phenomenon like the Beatles and unlikely to be seen again – … Continue reading
Strange things you overhear by Julia Golding
In the second of my blogs about dialogue, I thought I’d pass on one of my tips for young writers aimed at honing dialogue. It’s really simple: become like a spy and listen in on the conversation of strangers. Obviously, I’m talking about appropriate moments, like in public transport where you get a snatch of conversation, … Continue reading
Getting the dialogue right – by Julia Golding
I know many of you reading this blog like writing so I thought I’d dedicate this post to a few things I’ve learned about dialogue over the past few years. My first question to you is have you ever tried to take down a real conversation with all the ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’, changes of direction, … Continue reading
What’s the strangest place you know? by Julia Golding
I can now answer my own question as I have just been to a seriously weird place while on holiday. As you can imagine, authors travel looking for inspirational locations but sometimes what they see is just so strange that you can only imagine a fantasy novel being set there. My family and I went to Iceland … Continue reading
My favourite heroines – by Julia Golding
I’ve just come to the end of writing a long series (6 books) under my pen name Joss Stirling. All of these stories from Finding Sky to the last part Summer Shadows are told from the point of view of the six different heroines. I’m sometimes asked if I have a favourite. I guess that … Continue reading
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