Monday, February 8, 2010

Guest Author -- Stephanie Julian

Erotica author Stephanie Julian had a book-a-day habit until she realized she not only wanted to read books but write them, too. She eventually went on to graduate from Penn State with an English degree and then took a job at a newspaper because the only thing she wanted to do was write and they were going to pay her to do it. Ten years ago, she decided to rekindle her childhood dream of writing romance and here she is! Welcome to The Romance Dish, Stephanie!

Thanks for having me here at the Romance Dish.

Hi, I’m Stephanie Julian, author of the Lucani Lovers and Magical Seduction series from Ellora’s Cave. I’m an erotic paranormal romance writer with a wicked addiction…

To Junior Mints, minty, chocolately discs of sheer heaven.

Oh, and I also love romance.

I’ve been a romance reader all my life, since I first discovered Harlequins in the mid 70s. I think I was eight. I was a pretty precocious reader, graduating to Bertrice Small and Rosemary Rogers by the time I was twelve.

I also read a lot of fantasy, including Tolkien, Eddings and Brooks, and every Stephen King. But even as I enjoyed those stories, I was always looking for more romantic elements.

At college, I majored in English. I loved Shakespeare but of course I wanted to rewrite the ending of “Romeo and Juliet.” The greatest love story of all time and they both die? What the hell? Yes, it’s an amazing written work but I’ll stick with “As You Like It,” thank you very much.

That preference for a Happily Ever After is why I write romance. People who don’t understand or look down on the genre don’t fully understand the appeal.

But why do you want to read a book where you know the ending? You hear that question a lot from people who read books where all the major characters die at the end, usually in horrible fashion.

I read romance because I like to believe that life isn’t always so dire. That there is hope and love does triumph even when your world is crumbling down.

Pollyanna much? Maybe. But isn’t that the beauty of romance?

When Rhett Butler walks out of Tara and away from Scarlet, I knew one day she’d follow him and win him back. Same goes for Ilsa and Rick in “Casablanca.” Actually, I just finished my second ménage, so maybe Ilsa and Rick and Victor… Okay, maybe not. But Ilsa and Rick are meant to be together, even if they have to wait until Victor dies heroically liberating death camps.

In my series for Ellora’s Cave, an entire society of Etruscan magical users has hidden itself in our society, clinging to their old ways while trying to fit into modern life. They retain their magic, they worship deities (who just happen to be living among us, as well) and fight to keep themselves and their families safe in a world that, if they were exposed, probably wouldn’t look too kindly on them.

Some of them have horns, wings and pointy ears and can change into wolves and other animals. But these stories are first and foremost romances and the central story is always two (or three) people falling in love amid turmoil, suspense and conflict.

How they overcome their obstacles to live Happily Ever After is the best part for me. Yes, writing the sex scenes is fun and exciting but having the story unfold before my eyes is even better. I’m not a detailed plotter. I have a general idea of the story before I start but I typically just start to write when I finally have the main characters in my head.

I had a leg up on that plot for “Moonlight Ménage,” the second book in the Lucani Lovers series to be released soon from EC. It’s a continuation of the story started in “Kiss of Moonlight.” I knew Duke, Tira and Nic before I started their book and I knew where their journey would take them.

They have a pretty rocky road ahead but, in the end, they come through and are stronger for it. Together.

Isn’t that what we all want? What do you want from a romance?

Stephanie's blog
Stephanie's website

6 comments:

  1. Hi Stephanie! Great to have you with us today. I haven't read a lot of erotica (yet) but that Etruscan series sounds fascinating. I'd like to give it a try.

    What do I want from romance? First of all, I want a happy ending...or at least the promise of an eventual happy ending if it's a story arc that continues through a series of books. I want complex characters that hold my interest. No TSTL heroines - or heroes - for me. I don't want gratuitous sex. Good, hot sex that is a natural extension of the story is great! Sex that has obviously been thrown in just to titillate is wasted on me.

    Stephanie, what do you look for in the romances you read? Are you able to lose yourself in stories or does being an author yourself limit your ability to do that?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey PJ,

    I look for emotional stories, not just sex or action or even plot. I want a good relationship first and foremost between characters I grow to love. I think I'm drawn to PNR because the stakes are always so much higher and the romance is usually that much more intense.

    If the story's good, I'm lose myself and that's why I love to read.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Stehanie!
    Great interview and very informative. Your Etruscan series seems fascinating. I am definitely going to have to add it to my TBR list.
    What I want from romance is A happy ending, I need the emotional aspect of a story. I need to feel like I am right there with the characters, going through everything they are.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, Stephanie! We're glad to have you with us today. I haven't read much erotica, but I agree with PJ about you Etruscan series. Sounds so interesting.

    I want my romances to have a happy ending or if they are urban fantasies, then knowing there is a happy ending at the end of the series. And that emotional connection between the characters is essential.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi and welcome, Stephanie! We're happy you could join us today. :)

    What do I look for in a romance? Well, I have to second what the others have said. I need emotional growth between the hero and heroine, an HEA (or the promise of one), and characters who appeal to me. Oh, and I loooove a story with lots of tension. ;-)

    ReplyDelete