A Chat with the Very Talented Julie Garwood about 'Sweet Talk' , Romance, and Writing

Julie Garwood

Check out her website at: http://www.juliegarwood.com/#

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=JulieGarwood ( @JulieGarwood )

Follow her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulieGarwood

With tens of millions of books in print and numerous New York Times bestsellers, Julie Garwood has clearly earned a position among America's favorite fiction writers. Her reputation as a masterful storyteller is solidly founded in her ability to deliver stories with appealing characters, powerful emotions, and surprising plot twists. Readers claim that it's the humor as well as the poignancy of her novels that keep them laughing, crying and thoroughly entertained. Ms. Garwood lives in Leawood, Kansas and is currently working on her next novel. When her schedule allows time away from family and career, she devotes her efforts to promoting literacy, and especially enjoys sharing her love of reading with student groups.
For more information, visit Ms. Garwood's site at www.juliegarwood.com

(Photo and biography taken from the Simon & Schuster website: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Julie-Garwood/1075688/biography )

The Interview

Lisarenee: Several years ago you made the switch from historical romances to romantic suspense novels. It seemed like you were not alone in doing so. I noticed several other authors did so as well. What prompted you to do so? Was there some sort of industry shift or did you just wish to try something different to challenge yourself?

Julie: I loved the historical novels, but I had come up with an idea for a book that I really wanted to write. Even though I tried to make it historical, I realized it had to be in a contemporary setting. This story kept gnawing at me, so I finally sat down and wrote it. When HEARTBREAKER came out, the reader response was so positive, the publishers asked for another contemporary romantic suspense novel. Right now I'm committed to writing several more contemporary novels, but I hope to get back to medieval Scotland at some point. I'm always a little homesick for the Highlands.

Lisarenee: I've noticed a lot of your historical romance fans will read your romantic suspense novels and then comment in their reviews that they wished you'd go back to writing historical romances. I get a chuckle from this because they obviously must like your romantic suspense books because I notice time and time again they keep reading them. I can only imagine as an author you need to have thick skin to take the bad reviews, with the good, as well as have a good sense of humor to see past some of it. What makes me curious, however, is what made you decide not to write under a pseudonym? I've seen a lot of authors do that when they switch sub-genres and was wondering if that was something you even considered at the time?

Julie: It never occurred to me to use a pseudonym. Years ago, I wrote a book for an Emily Chase series, but that's the only time I didn't use my real name. People have told me that I have a distinct voice in my work, so if I used another name, they'd probably know who it was anyway. I don't read reviews. I'm not thick-skinned, and reviews, whether they're good or bad, take my mind off my work. I've decided it's best if I don't read them and just focus on doing the best job I can.

Lisarenee: When you first started writing your romantic suspense novels, you used to really give your readers a look into the mindset of the killers. I've heard from other authors that it is sometimes the funnest part to write because it's so challenging and different from what they usually write. Is that true for you as well?

Julie: Getting inside the mind of a killer is fascinating. It can be challenging for a writer, but it's also fun because you can go to the extreme. When I started writing contemporary novels, I focused more on the suspense and wanted the reader to know what the villain was thinking. I've lightened up some since then. There are enough sick things happening in the world. I'll still write stories with a mystery or an element of suspense, but I want to concentrate more on the humor and the romance.

Lisarenee:  In Sweet Talk, one of your characters is suspected of running a Ponzi scheme. I suspect this part of the story was inspired by the Berni Madoff scandal that was so highly publicized and talked about?

Is there anything else that inspired this story?

Julie: It was actually a whole array of financial schemes that inspired this story. We'd heard so much about the problems caused by the mortgage crisis and out-of-control financial institutions and companies like Enron, I decided to write a book that characterized the greed and showed the effects it had on innocent victims.

Lisarenee: Sweet Talk begins with 4 girls all being part of a test trial for some sort of experimental drug treatment of an illness that is thought to be incurable. Is Sweet Talk the first in a series?

Julie: Not right now. I loved these girls, and I think they each would make a terrific story, but they'll have to wait. I have several other projects to work on first.

Lisarenee:  Besides a steamy chemistry between the main characters, what do you feel are some of the most important elements to crafting a good romance novel?

Julie: Of course the hero and heroine have to have a sexual attraction. And it's important for the reader to feel that emotional tie and to empathize with them, so I give them certain traits that make them people I would like to know. For example: they must have a sense of humor, and they must be loyal.

Lisarenee:  There seems to be a trend lately in books to make the heroines more real by making them less perfect. Some accuse your romances of containing heroines that are a little too perfect. I personally like both the flawed heroine and the fantasy perfect heroine. Each brings something different to a story. Sometimes I can connect with the heroine more when she's flawed while other times it's nice to know no matter how perfect they may appear on the outside, they still have some of the same issues as the rest of us. What are some of the characteristics you feel make for the best heroines? What are your thoughts on your heroines being too perfect?

Julie: I've tried to create heroines who have qualities that I admire, but I've never thought of them as perfect. They all are flawed in one way or another. In SWEET TALK, for example, Olivia is insecure and has issues from feeling abandoned as a child. She also has a bit of a temper and loses her cool on occasion. Love is blind, however, so the hero might know these weaknesses are there, but he chooses to see past them.

Lisarenee: Are you presently working on any new books and, if so, is there anything you can share with us about it?

Julie: I'm working on two trilogies. The first is about three sisters and the second is about three brothers.

In the story I'm currently writing, the heroine is a food critic, so she has strong opinions, and the hero is a bit of a nerd. Thus far, they've been a lot of fun.

Lisarenee:

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview. For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure, Sweet Talk is out in stores today. 

Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood
To read my 5 rose review of Sweet Talk Click Here.

Book Synopsis:
Attorney and IRS agent Olivia Mackenzie is the kind of tough, wise-cracking, powerful woman fans expect from a Garwood protagonist—but this time she has outdone herself. Olivia is not just any woman, she is every woman; flawed in the familiar ways so many of us are.

On the trail of an elaborate Ponzi scheme, one that threatens to ruin the lives of naïve and unsuspecting victims, Olivia suddenly finds her own life is in danger after she asks questions of the wrong people. She is accustomed to fighting for the underdog, but being vulnerable herself is a very different story. Smart enough to know when enough is enough, Olivia calls for reinforcements.

When she meets FBI Agent Grayson Kincaid there is an immediate and obvious attraction, palpable on both sides. Together they make an excellent team to fight corruption but Olivia is also fighting the immediate and intense attraction she feels for Agent Kincaid, and that may be a battle she is bound to lose.

Early Review of Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

• Title: Sweet Talk
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Romantic Suspense
• Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (August 7, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0525952861
• ISBN-13: 978-0525952862
• Author's Website:  http://www.juliegarwood.com/
• To read an excerpt: Click on 'Read an Excerpt' button on top left hand side of screen at Penguin's Sweet Talk Page: http://bit.ly/M9FeXo
• 
  

'Olivia MacKenzie was certain she would have been offered the job if she hadn't punched the boss during the interview. But knocking the man senseless turned out to be a real deal breaker.'

Many people claim to have had the worst job interview ever, but no one can hold a candle to Olivia MacKenzie's claim. While interviewing for a position as an attorney for an investment firm she asked the wrong question at the wrong time which lead to the owner ripping her top in search of a nonexistent wire. If that wasn't bad enough, he sent his body guard on her and made death threats. Luckily, the FBI who had been investigating the man, was close at hand or she'd probably have ended up with worse than being backhanded in the face. While at first, the whole incident seemed to be an event that would be written off as an unlucky quirk of fate, it turned out to have one good thing come out of it, Olivia met Agent Grayson Kincaid, a man who reminds Olivia of Bruce Wayne. He's now assigned to protect her in case that death threat becomes something more than a threat.

_________________________

I just adored this book. While you can't always judge a book by the cover, this one you can. I didn't realize how much I missed the view of a man in a suit till I saw this cover. I swear the testosterone just oozed from the pages every time Gayson made an appearance and an earthy, clean male scent seemed to waft from the pages. *sigh*

Agent Grayson Kincaid is not your typical agent. He loves what he does or he wouldn't do it. He's actually quite wealthy and could do whatever he wanted or nothing at all. He finds his position with the FBI challenging. Perhaps that's what he also finds attractive in Olivia as well. It was fun to see him try to convince her to give their relationship a chance. Plus, the initial struggle he had to try to resist his feelings for her because agents aren't supposed to get involved with the people they are supposed to protect was fun as well.

Olivia is a smart, tough, sweet, strong person who is beautiful inside and out. When Olivia was eleven she came down with an illness that at the time was considered fatal. She was sent to DC for some experimental treatment and never went home. The treatment was a success and she left the hospital with three lifelong friends who'd undergone the treatments with her. They'd all managed to survive, but she lives in constant fear that the illness will one day come back even though blood tests and scans prove otherwise. Perhaps it is that fear that at times makes her a little reckless. It also keeps her from getting into a serious relationships.

Now grown up, Olivia is an attorney working for the IRS. Due to budget cuts she's looking for alternative full time position in case her old one gets the ax. That was the reason she ended up at the worst job interview ever. But working for the IRS is not her only job, she also does side work for a couple of judges for children's advocacy on the weekends and evenings. They say experience in our lives mold us, and in Olivia's case, it is definitely true, and her childhood experiences led her in the direction of helping children. She would have loved to do the work full time, but it was an emotionally demanding job, or perhaps she just allowed it to be because she cares. It was not uncommon for her to put her life in jeopardy to help one of her kids out of a dangerous situation because she cared so much.

No one really expected Eric Jorguson, her once prospective employer, or any of his men to come after Olivia once he realized his error. Grayson's standing watch over her was just standard procedure, a precaution if you will. When an attempt is made on her life, the question becomes was it Jorguson or someone else? Between her two positions, she's made a lot of enemies who wouldn't mind seeing her dead. That includes her father--with whom she's had a strained relationships since the age of 11, when her illness blemished his illusion of being the "perfect" family and whom she suspects of shady business practices.

Why is the title named Sweet Talk? Well, in the book Olivia and Grayson have a discussion about sweet talk at an intimate moment. That, I believe, is where the novel gets its name.

Overall, this was a great read and I gave it 5 out of 5 roses. I thought it had a wonderful blend of romance and drama with a dash of humor mixed in. I enjoyed trying to figure out who exactly was after Olivia. I loved seeing the two fall in love and the fact that Grayson had to basically chase Olivia because she really wasn't looking for a permanent relationship. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Side Note: If you're a fan of Ms. Garwood's historical romances and haven't yet tried one of her romantic suspense novels (or vice versa), they are quite a bit different. To attempt to compare the two would be a little like trying to compare a nectarine to a peach. While both are a juicy rounded self contained fruit, one can be warm and fuzzy (historical romances) while the other has a slightly tougher interior and less soft exterior (romantic suspense). At the heart or pit, if you will, they are both romances, but some will prefer the sweet flavor of one to the other while others will savor them both. I mention this because if you go in expecting one type, you might be in for a surprise. If I hadn't been told who the author was when I first read Heartbreaker I'm not sure I would have guessed it was Ms. Garwood. I'm guessing this is why some authors use pseudonyms when they change styles, genres, and/or subgenres.