I remember the exact moment my mind “clicked” and the funny symbols on the page in the book I was holding in my first grade reading circle suddenly formed words. See Jane Run.
So began my love affair with reading. I have priceless memories of walking into my small town library and inhaling the scent of thousands of books all just waiting for me to pick them up and lose myself in another world, another time, another person’s experience. First, I read every Nancy Drew they had. Then I devoured every Barabara Cartland. By the time I was 13 and 14, I’d discovered Georgette Heyer and and became emmersed in the world of the Prince Regent and England’s war with Napoleon.
After that I wanted more suspense and the decade of the incomperable Gothic authors was in full swing. Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart, and Barbara Michaels. To this day Barbara Michales’ novels are the only stories that ever literally scared me so much I couldn’t sleep after reading her for fear there might be a ghost in MY bedroom.
Tomorrow I’m taking my mother and my daughter to a film based on one of my all-time favorite classics. The book that really started my life-long love affair with reading Gothic Romance: Jane Eyre. They’ve once again remade Charlotte Bronte’s classic into a movie, and though I’ve seen every incarnation, I’m looking forward to this new one. My 11 year old daughter has just discovered romance novels and when I started telling her the story of poor orphan Jane and Mr. Rochester, (without revealing the secret, of course) she leaned forward in her chair and her eyes lit up and I knew she was hooked. Ahh, I can’t wait for her to read Ms Austen.
How about you? Who are some of your favorite childhood authors?
I’ll give away a copy of Primal Calling to one commenter this month.

Linda Henderson, I drew your name from my hat this morning–so just send me an email to julietburns@gmail.com with your snail mail and tell me which book you want and I’ll get it in the mail ASAP!!
Today is my birthday, and I am turning 49. My birthday is always a reflective time for me, but especially as this is the last year of my forties, I find myself thinking back on the past decade of my life.
Due to several tragic events, I barely noticed turning 40. 9 months before that big 4-0, I’d lost my dad to cancer. Then a mere 3 months after he died, New York was attacked on 9-11, and then, right around my 40th birthday, my brother-in-law died from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
Mostly, that 12 month period is a blur. I think I was too numb to even really grieve. I remember on the one year anniversary of 9-11 I cried all day. I just couldn’t stop. I think I was crying all the tears I hadn’t cried the whole year and a half before.
Only 2 things stood out for me in that time: My children—who, even when they were a challenge, were always a source of joy for me—and my writing.
I never –EVER thought about being a writer. I always loved to read, but… Believe it or not, after being a straight A, Honor Society student all through school, I made a C in an English Lit class after pouring my heart and soul into papers, so I figured, ok, a writer I am NOT.
I was never cut out for the corporate world. I was fired from several jobs in my 20s for speaking out when I should have stayed quiet—i guess I have a little rebellious streak. My plan had been to go back to school to earn a degree after my youngest entered Kindergarten and maybe get a teaching certificate…
But while I was on bed rest with my last pregnancy in ‘99, I was reading a LOT more than normal, and little by little, a story started forming in my head. But I didn’t start writing it down until January 2001. Since the kids were young, and I was a stay-at-home-mom, the only quiet time I had to devote to writing was late at night. Usually between 10 PM and 2 AM. I’m not sure I ever really thought I’d get published or that I was really serious about it until 2 people I love had 2 very different reactions to my writing. First, a good friend gave me a book on how to write romance novels for my birthday. This was only a month after I started typing on our family’s shared computer. I think it was the first time anyone took my writing seriously. And therefore, it planted a seed that maybe I should take it seriously too. Second, my husband, after I had excitedly relayed something I had learned that day at a meeting, pulled me aside and very seriously said, “You know, Juliet, the chances of you ever really getting published are very slim.”
And that, more than anything, made me determined to do it. If just to prove him wrong.
Anyway, by October of that year, (notice that’s only a month after 911) I’d finished the first draft of my manuscript, joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) and visited my local chapter.
I went to the RWA meeting every month and learned about the craft of writing. Every time I learned something new, and every time I received feedback from a contest or a critique, I revised my manuscript.
In 2004, a month before my 42nd birthday, I sold that manuscript and the rest of this decade of my life has been amazing in terms of my writing career. First, I never thought I’d be able to say that word, “Career” in the same sentence with “I have a”.
Okay, I’m probably boring anyone left still reading this, but I guess this was a roundabout way of saying, as a published author, I’m living a dream I never even thought to dream. The forties may have started out devastating and heartbreaking, but they have ended up being pretty amazing. And this last year of being forty looks to be better than ever.
I’ll go into the fifties awed by what life has in store. You just never know.
To celebrate my birthday I’m giving away a copy of Primal Calling to one commenter and another copy of Seduce and Rescue to another.
Just tell me, has Life ever surprised you?

With your indulgence, I’m updating a blog from the Sizzling Pens Blog, July 2008. I’m in a tight deadline crunch right now. So here goes:
I’m so excited! I have the cover art for my March Blaze, PRIMAL CALLING. Isn’t it gorgeous? I love the Northern Lights in the background. This is a story about an Alaskan bush pilot.
It’s fascinating to me how a romance cover is made. You can read about it here. An authors’ cover can be so important to her sales, and yet she basically has no say in how it turns out. She can only describe her characters and a few scenes and hope for the best. If you want to see some covers voted some of the worst in recent years, go here . And here is an interview with one of the artists who create romance novel covers.
Blaze authors are so lucky, the Harlequin art department does an outstanding job making the most delicious covers. I don’t know about you, but I love a clinch cover. And I don’t care who sees me reading a book with one. I read romance novels and I’m proud of it.
And have you seen some of the guys that model for Romance covers? Yum-EY! Romance cover models have come a long way since Fabio. Check out this site: Models like John DeSalvo, and Rob Ashton are tall, dark and sexy, baby. And they’ve gained a following in the biz among authors. Some authors with enough clout can actually request certain models for their covers. And it’s fun to go to the models’ web sites and look at all the covers they’ve modeled for and see how different they can look. Every year, Romantic Times Magazine hosts their cover model competition during their Book Lovers convention and one man is crowned Mr. Romance. Convention goers, both readers and writers of romance, drool and sigh as they get to meet and mingle with the years’ finalists. Some day, I’ll go to a Romantic Times Convention…
I guess some people think the “clinch” cover is cheesy, or demeaning, or even misrepresents what’s on the inside. Let’s face it, today’s romance novels -LIKE BLAZE-are compelling, relevant, complicated, and darned exciting. So why, you might ask, do we need a hunky bare chest with a set of rock hard abs splashed across the cover?
Well, sister, we might not need them, but they sure are scrumptious to look at. And if it encourages readers to pick up my book and read the back cover, then I’m all for it.
So, do you like or dislike the bare-chested guys on Blaze covers, and why or why not?

Just wanted to let everyone know the MRI results showed Cassie’s brain is normal! The findings were, “There is no mass or abnormal enhancement involving the internal auditory canals. The Mastoids are clear.” YAY! Whew!
Thank you to everyone for your wonderful support, and kind words.
Blaze fans ROCK!
I won’t be home to reply to your comments until this afternoon because today my youngest daughter is having an MRI on her brain.
First, let me explain why. About 3 years ago, my daughter started telling me and my husband that her right ear “felt funny”. I told her it was probably just stopped up and it would “pop” open on it’s own in a few days. But every evening, my daughter kept complaining, finally saying she couldn’t hear out of that ear. Well, it was always right before bedtime and, like most young children, she’s always been a big staller about going to sleep. Plus, she’d never had any ear infections—I mean, none. It’s my one bragging right as a mother. None of my children ever had ear infections–so I really didn’t give it much thought.
Then, a few weeks later we were in the movie theater and I whispered something in her right ear since I was sitting to her right, and she turned her head so I would talk into her left ear. She did this several times until I asked what she was doing and she said, “I told you I can’t hear out of my right ear!”
This was not bedtime. This was not when I was trying to get her to do her chores, or to turn down the television. I finally realized she might be telling the truth. So, I tested her. I whispered “I hate you.” into her right ear, knowing she would react to something so awful.
No reaction.
I blinked. Damn.
We took her to an ear, nose and throat specialist and they tested her hearing. 100% deaf in her right ear. My beautiful baby girl. My special gift after trying for two years and hoping for a girl. How she loved to sing. What a talker she was. What a huge vocabulary she had. How would all our lives change having a deaf child? I’d need to learn sign language. What would we do about school? And not only that, but…I was the Worst Mother in the World! What if I’d believed her 2 months ago? Could they have saved her hearing? What kind of monster was I?
The doctor said she had Otosclerosis — the immobilization, or hardening, of the stapes bone — occurs slowly. And is usually caused by a lifetime of exposure to loud noise, like a military person exposed to bombs and guns or someone who attended lots of loud concerts all their life. They said when she turned 18, our daughter can have a Stapedectomy to replace the bone with a prosthesis. What a special gift medical advances are that they can diagnose and correct so many human frailties!
That was 3 years ago, and every six months, we take her back to check the hearing in her left ear. Luckily, my worst fear has never been realized and she remains 100% hearing in her left ear. But this last checkup, our usual doctor was on vacation and the new doctor wondered again, why? This condition is very rare in someone so young. (At the time, she was only 8 years old) Had she had an infection? Not that I or my husband knew of. Was it hereditary? Again, not that either of us knew. So, the new doc ordered an MRI. Kind of late if the problem is a brain tumor, but okay. I felt, again, like the world’s worst mother. I should have insisted on something like this in the beginning! Why didn’t I make them do this three years ago?
Like most of you, I’d heard of MRIs (Hey, I watch House) but I’ve never had one. So, the first thing I did after being told my daughter needed one was to go to the internet and Google it. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures. Ok.
But what’s actually going to happen? My daughter wanted to know and was kind of scared, and I don’t blame her. So, back to the internet we went and I brought up some pictures of the machine so my daughter could see what it would be like. She’ll have to lie completely still for about 45 minutes.
My daughter was diagnosed ADHD last year. “Still” is not a word in her huge vocabulary. And to be in there all alone where I can’t hold her and comfort her? That’s going to be difficult for all of us. To tell you the truth, I’m a little nervous, myself. Nervous about the results. I can only pray everything is all right.
If you pray, please say one for my daughter today. If not, maybe send out some positive vibes into the world for me, will you? That would be an special gift to us this holiday season. I can deal with deafness, but I can’t deal with losing my baby girl. She was a special gift to us. We were pretty old when she was born (I was 38 and hubby was 47)
This was our year to host Christmas Day and my mom, and all my sisters and their husbands and my nephews came to our house for Christmas lunch and unwrapping presents. I get out my grandmother’s good Dresden china for the meal, and then it takes several hours to unwrap presents because we like to go two at a time so we can all see everyone open their gifts. At the end of the day, the living room was piled with discarded wrapping paper and boxes, and the house is a mess. But it’s worth it to make such special memories with the whole family. And that of course is my true gift. I’ve had so many special gifts in my life. A magical childhood. A loving family. A caring husband who is always there for me. My beautiful children. And so many friends and people who care about me. I’ve been pretty lucky. How can I ask for more? But I’m going to. I pray the MRI shows everything is okay.
I’ll post the results here, dear friends.

I have a dear friend who has known me for more than 25 years. One night, after we’d been very close friends for at least a decade, we were discussing the Meyers/Briggs Personality Test we’d taken in college to determine what kind of job we might be good at. (the test didn’t help me find a career, but it taught me SO much about myself and others around me, and I use it for my characters now) You can take a part of the test Here
Where was I? There is a point to this story, I promise. Oh yes, my friend and I compared results. As I expected, we were almost complete opposites. But when I told her I was a J (Judging) like her, she was shocked. Why?
Here are the traits of a “J”
Judging Characteristics
• Plan many of the details in advance before moving into action.
• Focus on task-related action; complete meaningful segments before moving on.
• Work best and avoid stress when able to keep ahead of deadlines.
• Naturally use targets, dates and standard routines to manage life.

Unfortunately,one’s first impression of me is that I’m a flighty, bubble-headed, “Blonde”. Because I tend to be happy and optimistic. However, that is a misconception. I am a HUGE list-maker, very organized, and like to plan ahead. My critique partner, Pam, despairs of me ever being spontaneous.
And this specific information about me was a long way around to tell you this. I love to make lists.
And the best list I ever made was as a gift to each member of my family for Valentines one year. It was 10 Things I Love About You.
Both my parents said it was one of the best gifts they ever got and that they cherish their lists and have them tacked up on the wall in their bedroom.
The next best list I ever wrote was for me. A Gratitude List.
If you’re ever feeling down, or life has just gotten the better of you lately, try making a Top Ten List of Things You’re Grateful For. Perhaps you’ve already done this. If so, you can attest to how life-changing it can be. When we focus on the good things in our lives, it helps us get through the rough patches.
And since this is Thanksgiving weekend, I thought this was an appropriate time to pull out my list and share it with you. And if you want, maybe you can tell me a couple of things you are grateful for in your life.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Top Ten List of things I’m Grateful For
1. Hugs from my kids (Hugs from anyone!)
2. kisses from my hubby
3. chocolate
4. listening to a great song
5. reading a really great romance
6. family vacations (includes mom and sisters)
7. being with enthusiastic writers and talking writing
8. shopping for furniture
9. meeting my writing goals for the day
10. Unexpected reprieves or income—free time or money you weren’t expecting to have

THE WINNER IS: Well, no one guessed correctly but what I’d like to do is give a book to the 4 people who made a guess: Laney4, 80s Tart, Katie, and Laurie. If you gals will email ME julietburns@gmail.com and give me your snail mail addresses, I’ll send you a copy of something from my backlist you don’t already have.
And, oh yeah, I was the second from the left on the back row with the big floppy hat on.

Okay, I admit it. I was a Choir Geek. From 7th grade on, I was in choir and I loved it. But it wasn’t anything like GLEE. We were definitely lumped in with the Band Nerds when it came to being LOSERS. We were made fun of and never allowed at the popular table. I never got a Slurpie thrown in my face, but I never got dates either. Of course we weren’t singing songs by Foreigner and Journey either. Our usual choir selections tended to be more from the classical genre, and maybe for the Spring Musical we would get to do some show tunes.
Now, I watch Glee mainly for the music. Ok, and for Finn. He’s a cutie.
But almost every episode I get frustrated by the (in my opinion) bad characterization. Maybe only a writer would notice things like this, but even if one didn’t know exactly why, I bet other fans get frustrated sometimes. And here’s why.
It seems like characters can behave any way that suits the storyline for that particular week. There’s no consistency. I admit, Rachel can be a bit of a diva and blatant about grabbing the spotlight –and solos—but the glee group has come down much harder on her for much lesser offenses than, say Santana and Brittany, who are spying on them, actual traitors. Rachel is ostracized by the entire choir and Quinn is given sympathy and support when she’s cheated on and lied to Finn. Then there was the week that Rachel sent that poor girl to a crack house. The Rachel I’ve come to know would never do something that bad.
And Kurt’s anger at Finn for not wanting to share a girly room with him was way over the top. Kurt is intelligent enough, and sensitive enough to understand that a straight guy wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.
But staying true to the characters and making sure motivation is strong enough for their actions doesn’t seem to be Glee writers’ strong suit.
Reality in general doesn’t seem to be a top priority on Glee. Musical numbers happen perfectly with little or no rehearsal, and they seem to have an unlimited budget for the costumes.
Oh well, the music is so fantastic, so totally awesome, I watch anyway. The voices on these “kids” (and Mr. Schuster) are beyond amazing. I’m completely addicted. And I’ve spent way more than I should at i-tunes downloading songs.
And where else on network television can you find serious story lines about gay, physically disabled and developmentally-disabled kids that show they have all the same mainstream issues that every high-schooler has?
But perhaps the best thing about Glee is how it’s made being a choir geek a little bit more okay.
Still, though I knew being in choir was not a popular choice, I never regretted it. I loved my fellow choir members and I loved being a part of a talented group that made such beautiful music. Being in choir in school was a joy every day and I missed it terribly after I graduated. Soon after high school I directed a Young Adult choir at my church with electric guitars, piano, bass, drums, congas, flutes and woodwinds and an amazingly talented group of singers who brought gorgeous 4-part harmonies to beautiful songs every week. We rocked that church for fifteen amazing years. I still sing at weddings, funerals, and baptisms. For me, the Joy is still in the music.
I love the song Mercedes sang, I Look To You
And this one
So, how many of you saw the Rocky Horror Glee Show last night? My one crit? Finn shoulda worn REAL tighty-whities not boxers. (U)
I’ll give away a copy of LET IT RIDE the prequel to this month’s SEDUCE AND RESCUE to the first commenter to correctly identify ME in that old choir trip photo.

KIM, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT julietburns@gmail.com WITH YOUR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN SEND YOU THE BOOK!
In 4 days my second Blaze, SEDUCE AND RESCUE, will be on shelves everywhere and I’m so excited. click HERE to read an excerpt. This is the story of Lt Col Ethan Grady, who lost a bet to Major Cole Jackson in LET IT RIDE but still hadn’t paid off his debt by the end of that book. So, this story begins with Ethan forced to get a massage.
The inspiration for this story began as a Sweet November with a happy ending.
Keanu Reeves plays an emotionally repressed man who’s life is changed by a meddling, free-spirited woman. He falls in love with her, but (SPOILER ALERT) she is dying of cancer. Great movie, BAD ending. So, I rewrote it the way I wanted it to be. This story also has a bit of An Officer and a Gentleman in it, and just a touch of Bridget Jones’ Diary.
I did a lot of research for this book, and I also love to have a lot of pictures to help me visualize places and things.
You may prefer to visualize things in the book with your own imagination, but if you don’t mind some help, here are a few of my favorite images from my collage for this book.
And if you’re wondering about Captain Mitch McCabe and Captain Alex Hughes from LET IT RIDE, their story continues in SEDUCE AND RESCUE and they’ll be getting their own book, NIGHT MANEUVERS, in Sept 2011!

Here’s my question for you: Do you mind if a movie has a sad ending, like Sweet November or Nights in Rodanthe? Or do you prefer a Happily Ever After ending like Officer and a Gentleman, or Bridget Jones’ Diary?

I’m giving away a copy of LET IT RIDE to one commenter. I’ll announce the winner here Friday, Oct 1!

Well, the kids went back to school this week. I remember when I used to be just like Kathleen O’ Reilly (Aug 19th) I’d get the last little rug rat out the door and then go open a bottle of champagne and do the happy dance around the empty, quiet living room while throwing confetti and blowing a party horn.
But this year it’s different. I guess it has to do with my oldest being a senior. I feel the era of having little ones at home slipping away. In the spring my firstborn will graduate, and by this time next year she’ll be gone to college.
My baby girl. How fast the past eighteen years have gone. It seems like only yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital wrapped in her pretty pink blanket her Mimi crocheted, and rocking her against my shoulder in the middle of the night.
In the blink of an eye she was holding my hand as I walked her into her classroom on the first day of Kindergarten.
Maybe it’s because I had another baby 17 months after she was born, and then another 5 years after that. But I feel like I turned around and my firstborn was suddenly a moody teen. As much as I tried to soak in every moment—and I have the pictures of Disney princess and Barbie Ballerina birthday parties to prove she had one—it feels like her childhood was over practically before it began.
So, even though I still have a fifth grader, and a son whose rock band likes to practice in our garage, I feel the silence in our house this week quite keenly. On the one hand, I have two deadlines and the quiet time while they’re in school enables me to get those 5 pages a day written. But on the other, the lack of noise screams at me: “Only a few more years and they’ll all be gone.”
And I’ll be entering a new era of my life. One where I’m not the center of my kids’ worlds. Where they are adults with their own lives and I’m just an afterthought or somewhere to bring dirty laundry. Hopefully, they’ll still need my advice and want my company every once in a while. But it will be different.
So, this is my last year with my daughter. My firstborn. My baby girl.
Was I ready for school to start? No way. I guess I better soak up every minute with her while I can.

It’s the cover for my second Blaze, SEDUCE AND RESCUE!
This book is a sequel to my first Blaze, LET IT RIDE that was released last May ’09. Seduce and Rescue also takes place in Vegas and at Nellis Air Force Base, and all the buddies from the first book are back in this one–including Captains McCabe and Hughes, who are up to their usual pranks. There’s only one person who hasn’t paid up from the bet the guys made in the first book, and that’s this book’s hero, Lt Col. Ethan Grady.
I’m so excited about this story, because it was such fun to write. My heroine, Lily, was impulsive and wild, and likely to do anything that popped into her head, which made for some really fun scenes. Here’s the blurb from the back of the cover:
Out of the fire…and
into his bed!
Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Grady is having his very first massage with a rather eccentric but smokin’-hot redhead, Lily Langford. But her touch isn’t so much calming as it is very distracting. When he accidentally sets Lily’s business and home ablaze, Ethan can’t tell if the smoldering is from the fire…or their attraction to each other! But now Ethan’s condo is invaded by the free-spirited Lily, who’s convinced that he’s the one who really needs to be rescued. And Lily’s methods? Well, they’re not so traditional. Still, Ethan can’t remember having his chakras aligned so…er, intensely. But will this be rescue—or retreat?

Isn’t the cover gorgeous? Even though Lily is technically a redhead, this picture just perfectly encapsulates my idea of Lily and Ethan.
SEDUCE AND RESCUE will be on shelves October 1st!
And i just learned my next Blaze will keep my working title PRIMAL CALLING, and will be released in March 2011. PRIMAL CALLING is about a reclusive Alaskan bush pilot and the Travel Channel celebrity who sneaks aboard his plane. Things heat up fast when they get stranded on the frozen tundra!
So, I guess I don’t have a question except…don’t you think the Harlequin Art Department has been doing a fantastic job with the Blaze covers?

I’ve been meaning to follow up on a blog I wrote in May of 09 about Bad Boys. In researching for that blog, I found this article How To Be A Bad Boy By Matthew Fitzgerald- Relationship Correspondent.
When I first read it, I thought it must have been written as tongue in cheek. SURELY this guy wasn’t for real. I mean, come on. I couldn’t believe some of his advice to men. “Act as if you couldn’t possibly care less about getting women.” And “Be indifferent and don’t show you care.” And how about this bit of wisdom: “Get her off the pedestal. Run the relationship by your rules, not hers.” And here’s my personal favorite, “For women, guys who are too available are boring. Bad Boys are selfishly independent. Women always want what they can’t have, so make yourself busy and scarce. –Let her do some work to get you.”
Okay, this guy is just BEGGING to be made into a Blaze hero. I can just picture his backstory: BURNED by a woman in his past, he has become the consummate “player”. The serial dater who never lets his heart get involved and thinks relationships with women are all about playing a game. But in my Blaze story, this “player” would finally get what was coming to him. That is a woman who loves him with all her heart and won’t put up with his game-playing. My Blaze Bad Boy would finally come to realize not all women “want what they can’t have” and are ready for a real, grown-up relationship where there is mutual respect and a love so deep and true he would be a fool to let it slip through his callused, bad-boy hands.
Actually, I’m writing a book just like that right now. It’s the third in my Vegas fighter pilot series and features Captain Mitch McCabe, Bad Boy extraordinaire. McCabe is the ultimate player. But he wasn’t always. In his early twenties he wanted nothing more than to fall in love, settle down, and have the kind of happy home life he never had as a child growing up on the bad side of Memphis.
Hmm, makes me wonder about this “relationship correspondent”, Matthew. Did he have his heart broken by a woman in his past? (U) Has he actually used his own advice? If he has, how often did it work for him? And if it worked, did it make him happy? Is he in a successful relationship now?
I guess a lot of writers wonder about other people’s lives; their past experiences and motives, their loves and losses. And then we start playing “what if…” I would love to talk to this Matthew Fitzgerald. To be fair, if you read the entire article, he does have a few bits of advice with which I agree. He just might be tamable. Hmm, a romance novelist who sets out to teach a Bad Boy “relationship correspondent” a lesson in what a woman really wants. Oh, the story I could write…

What about you? Are you curious about other people’s lives?