Julie Miller's Blog

Hey, Readers!

Just a quick FYI announcement:
Harlequin has changed the title of my August 2019 release, Covert Assignment, to PERSONAL PROTECTION.

So, if you've already marked the release on your calendar or TBB list, please note the title change.

It's my understanding that if you've already pre-ordered it under the former title, the order will simply switch to the new book. If you haven't pre-ordered it yet, why not? :)

Thanks!
Julie Miller

Dear Readers—
March is blowing in like a lion here. But hey, where I live, the wind blows a lot. ;)

February was a busy month for me! Finishing up my next The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue book. Still don’t have a title finalized for it yet. Right now I’m just calling it KEIR’S STORY, after the hero. Definitely some Irish genes in the Watson family of cops! You can get a sneak peek at the first Bachelors in Blue book, APB: BABY, which releases May 24th in print/June 1st in digital on my Contests & Fun Page.

I’ve also been gearing up—arranging travel plans, setting up appearances, ordering swag, gathering books, etc.—for the RT Booklovers Convention coming up in mid-April in Las Vegas! If you are attending the convention (a lot of fun for readers—a great place to meet authors!), here are some events where we could meet:

Wed., April 13, 11 a.m.—Kickass Cowboys, Cops & Kisses event. Hosted by several Harlequin Intrigue Authors, this one features games, cover models and fun photo opportunities. Plus, the first 100 readers get goody bags filled with books and swag!

Thurs., April 14, 10 a.m.—Club RT. I’ll be in the RT social club, sharing a table with my good friend, Delores Fossen. (btw, have you read her brand new HQN contemporary romance, TEXAS ON MY MIND, yet?) A chance to pick up some swag and maybe a book, and chat with authors in a casual setting.

Thurs., April 14, 12:20 p.m.—SOS America Military Tribute. In honor of my late father, the veteran Marine, and my brother, who still serves, I’m hosting a table for 10 readers, with books and gifts for each guest. This one is about honoring our veterans, active duty personnel, and their families. Get ready to sing the armed forces song honoring your favorite branch of the service.

Friday, April 15, 2:45 p.m.—We <3 ROMANCE: Harlequin Reader Event. A book signing with free books and fun with many of your favorite Harlequin authors from across their various lines.

Sat., April 16, 10:30-2:00 p.m.—Giant Book Fair. From Young Adult to every genre of romance, you’ll find your favorite authors here. This event is open to the public. You do not need to be registered for the conference to attend.
While you all a
re busy reading, I’m busy writing more of my The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue books, which will be out later this year.

Happy Reading!
Julie Miller
(for full newsletter graphics, go to www.juliemiller.org)

Here's the prologue from the launch book of my brand new miniseries, The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue. Meet the Watson bachelors--3 brothers and their widowed father--all cops, all heroes who put their lives on the line for their family and the women who claim their hearts. The saga begins May 24th.

APB: BABY
Copyright ©2016 by Julie Miller
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.
(Excerpt)

Prologue

Dr. Niall Watson would rather be at the crime lab conducting an autopsy instead of standing at the altar, babysitting his brothers.
But saying no to his baby sister on the day of her wedding wasn’t an option. Putting on the groomsman’s suit and facing the crowd of smiles and tears that filled the church was as much a gift to Olivia and her fiancé as the sterling silver tableware he’d bought at the online department store where they’d registered. If Olivia, the youngest of the four Watson siblings, and the only sister, asked him to keep older brother Duff and younger brother Keir in line today, then Niall would do it. It was a brilliant strategy on her part, he silently admitted. Not only would their rowdier brothers be kept in check, but asking the favor of him was sure to keep Niall engaged in the ceremony. It was smart to give him a specific task to focus on so his mind didn’t wander back to the dead body he’d analyzed yesterday morning at the lab in southeast Kansas City, and the follow-up notes he wanted to log in, or to the facts on a drowning victim he wanted to double-check before turning his findings over to the detectives supervising those particular cases.
As a third-generation cop in a close-knit family of law enforcement professionals, it was practically impossible not to be filled with investigative curiosity, or to have dedication and responsibility running through his veins. When it came to work and family, at any rate. And for Niall, there was nothing else. Work filled his life, and the Watson family filled his heart.
Except when they were screwing around—like Duff beside him, running his finger beneath the starched collar of his white shirt and grumbling something about Valentine’s Day curses while he fiddled with the knot on his cherry-red tie. Or Keir, chattering up the aisle behind Niall, saying something outrageous enough to the bridesmaid he was escorting to make her giggle. Then Keir patted her hand on his arm and turned to wink at Millie, the family housekeeper-cook they’d all grown up with, as he passed the silver-haired woman in the second pew. The older woman blushed, and Keir blew her a kiss.
Niall adjusted the dark frames of his glasses and nailed Keir with a look warning him to let go of the bridesmaid, stop working the room and assume his place beside him as one of Gabe’s groomsmen, already.
“Natalie is married to Liv’s partner, you know.” The tallest of the three brothers, Niall dropped his chin to whisper under his breath.
“Relax, charm school dropout.” Keir clapped Niall on the shoulder of the black tuxedo he wore, grinning as he stepped up beside him. “Young or old, married or not—it never hurts to be friendly.”
Olivia might be the youngest of the four siblings, all third-generation law enforcement who served their city proudly. And she might be the only woman in the tight-knit Watson family since their mother’s murder when Niall had barely been a teen. But there was no question that Liv ran the show. Despite Duff’s tough-guy grousing or Keir’s clever charm or Niall’s own reserved, logical prowess, Olivia Mary Watson—soon to be Olivia Knight—had each of them, including their widowed father and grandfather, wrapped around her pretty little finger. If she asked Niall to keep their headstrong Irish family in line today, then he would do exactly that.
With Keir set for the moment, Niall angled his position toward the groom and best man Duff. He didn’t need to adjust his glasses to see the bulge at the small of Duff’s back beneath the tailored black jacket. Niall’s nostrils flared with a patience-inducing breath before he whispered, “Seriously? Are you packing today?”
Duff’s overbuilt shoulders shifted as he turned to whisper a response. “Hey. You wear your glasses every day, Poindexter. I wear my gun.”
“I wasn’t aware that you knew what the term Poindexter meant.”
“I’m smarter than I look,” was Duff’s terse response.
Keir chuckled. “He’d have to be.”
Duff’s muscular shoulders shifted. “So help me, baby brother, if you give me any grief today, I will lay you out flat.”
“Zip it. Both of you.” Niall knew that he was quickly losing control of his two charges. He scowled at Keir. “You, mind your manners.” When Duff went after the collar hugging his muscular neck again, Niall leaned in. “And you stop fidgeting like a little kid.”
A curious look from the minister waiting behind them quieted all three brothers for the moment. With everything ready for their sister’s walk down the aisle, the processional music started. Niall scanned the rest of the crowd as they rose to their feet. Their grandfather Seamus Watson hooked his cane over the railing as he stood in the front row. He winked one blue eye at Niall before pulling out his handkerchief and turning toward the aisle to dab at the tears he didn’t want anybody to see.
And then Olivia and their father, Thomas Watson, appeared in the archway at the end of the aisle. A fist of rare sentimentality squeezed around Niall’s heart.
His father was a relatively tall, stocky man. His black tuxedo and red vest and tie—an homage to the date, February 14—matched Niall’s own attire. Niall knew a familiar moment of pride and respect as his father limped down the aisle, his shoulders erect despite the injury that had ended his career at KCPD at far too young an age. Other than the peppering of gray in Thomas’s dark brown hair, Niall saw the same face when he looked into the mirror every morning.
But that wasn’t what had him nodding his head in admiration.
His sister, that tough tomboy turned top-notch detective, the girl who’d never let three older brothers get the best of her, had grown up. Draped in ivory and sparkles, her face framed by the Irish lace veil handed down through their mother’s side of the family, Olivia Watson was a beauty. Dark hair, blue eyes like his. But feminine, radiant. Her gaze locked onto Gabe at the altar and she smiled. Niall hadn’t seen a glimpse of his mother like that in twenty years.
“Dude,” Duff muttered. He nudged the groom beside him. “Gabe, you are one lucky son of a—”
“Duff.” Niall remembered his charge at the last moment and stopped his older brother from swearing in church.
Gabe sounded a bit awestruck himself as Olivia walked down the aisle. “I know.”
“You’d better treat her right,” Duff growled on a whisper.
Niall watched his brother’s shoulders puff up. “We’ve already had this conversation, Duff. I’m convinced he loves her.”
Gabe never took his eyes off Olivia as he inclined his head to whisper, “He does.”
Keir, of course, wasn’t about to be left out of the hushed conversation. “Anyway, Liv’s made her choice. You think any one of us could change her mind? I’d be scared to try.”
The minister hushed the lot of them as father and bride approached.
“Ah, hell,” Duff muttered, looking up at the ceiling. He blinked rapidly, pinching his nose. The big guy was tearing up. “This is not happening to me.”
“She looks the way I remember Mom,” Keir said in a curiously soft voice.
Finally, the gravity of the day was sinking in and their focus was where it should be. Niall tapped Duff’s elbow. “Do you have a handkerchief?”
“The rings are tied up in it.”
“Here.” Niall slipped his own white handkerchief to Duff, who quickly dabbed at his face. He nodded what passed for a thank-you and stuffed the cotton square into his pocket, steeling his jaw against the flare of emotion.
When Olivia arrived at the altar, she kissed their father, catching him in a tight hug before smiling at all three brothers. Duff sniffled again. Keir gave her a thumbs-up. Niall nodded approvingly. Olivia handed her bouquet off to her matron of honor, Ginny Rafferty-Taylor, and took Gabe’s hand to face the minister.
The rest of the ceremony continued with everyone on their best behavior until the minister pronounced Gabe and Olivia husband and wife and announced, “You may now kiss the bride.”
“Love you,” Olivia whispered.
Gabe kissed her again. “Love you more.”
“I now present Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Knight.”
Niall pondered the pomp and circumstance of this particular Valentine’s Day as the guests applauded and the recessional music started. Logically, he knew the words Liv and Gabe had spoken and what they meant. But a part of him struggled to comprehend exactly how this sappy sort of pageantry equated to happiness and lifelong devotion. It was all a bit wearing, really. But if this was what Olivia wanted, he’d support her wholeheartedly and do whatever was necessary to make it happen.
Following Duff to the center of the aisle, Niall extended his arm to escort bridesmaid Katie Rinaldi down the marble steps. Despite his red-rimmed eyes, Thomas Watson smiled at each of his children. Niall smiled back.
Until he caught the glimpse of movement in the balcony at the back of the church. A figure in black emerged from the shadows beside a carved limestone buttress framing a row of organ pipes.
In a nanosecond frozen in time, a dozen observations blipped through Niall’s mind. The organist played away upstairs, unaware of the intruder only a few yards from his position. The figure wore a ski mask and a long black coat. Clearly not a guest. Not church staff. The pews were filled with almost two hundred potential targets, many of them off-duty and retired police officers. His new brother-in-law had made more enemies than friends with his cutting-edge editorials. What did he want? Why was he here? Didn’t have to be a cop hater with some kind of vendetta. Could be some crazy with nothing more in mind than making a deadly statement about a lost love or perceived injustice or mental illness.
The gleam of polished wood reflected the colored light streaming in through the balcony’s stained-glass windows as the shooter pulled a rifle from his long cloak. Mauser hunting rifle. Five eight-millimeter rounds. He carried a second weapon, a semiautomatic pistol, strapped to his belt. That was enough firepower to do plenty of damage. Enough to kill far too many people.
Time righted itself as the analytical part of Niall’s brain shut down and the years of training as a cop and medical officer kicked in. Move! Niall shoved Katie to one side and reached for his father as the shooter took aim.
“Gun!” he shouted, pointing to the balcony as his fingers closed around the sleeve of Thomas Watson’s jacket. “Get down!”
The slap, slap, slap of gunshots exploded through the church. The organ music clashed on a toxic chord and went silent. Wood splintered and flew like shrapnel. A vase at the altar shattered. Flower petals and explosions of marble dust rained in the air.
“Everybody down!” Duff ordered, drawing the pistol from the small of his back. He dropped to one knee on the opposite side of the aisle and raised his weapon. “Drop it!”
“I’m calling SWAT.” Keir ducked between two pews, pulling his phone from his jacket as he hugged his arms around Natalie Fensom and Millie Leighter.
Niall saw Gabe Knight slam his arms around Liv and pull her to the marble floor beneath his body. Guests shouted names of loved ones. A child cried out in fear, and a mother hastened to comfort him. Warnings not to panic, not to run, blended together with the screams and tromping footfalls of people doing just that.
“I’ve got no shot,” Duff yelled, pushing to a crouching position as the shooter dropped his spent rifle and pulled his pistol. Niall heard Keir’s succinct voice reporting to dispatch. With a nod from Katie that she was all right and assurance that her husband was circling around the outside aisle to get to her, Niall climbed to his knees to assess the casualties. He caught a glimpse of Duff and a couple of other officers zigzagging down the aisle through the next hail of bullets and charging out the back of the sanctuary. “Get down and stay put!”
Niall squeezed his father’s arm. He was okay. He glanced back at the minister crouched behind the pulpit. He hadn’t been hit, either. The man in the balcony shouted no manifesto, made no threat. He emptied his gun into the sanctuary, grabbed his rifle and scrambled up the stairs toward the balcony exit. He was making a lot of noise and doing a lot of damage and generating a lot of terror. But despite the chaos, he wasn’t hitting anyone. What kind of maniac set off this degree of panic without having a specific—
“Niall!” His grandfather’s cane clattered against the marble tiles. Niall was already peeling off his jacket and wadding it up to use as a compress as Thomas Watson cradled the eighty-year-old man in his arms and gently lowered him to the floor. “Help me, son. Dad’s been shot.”

Hey, gang--for any of you who've read my March release, TACTICAL ADVANTAGE, I'm posting a bonus epilogue to the book on my website in April.

As some of you may know, when I originally completed the story, it was too long, and my editor asked me to cut about 20 pages. So, while I trimmed bits here and there, I eliminated the villain pov scenes and the epilogue in their entirety.

I decided not to share the villain pov scenes, because I thought they might give away too much of the mystery to readers who haven't started the book yet.

But my writing group, along with a small group of faithful readers whom I polled, thought the epilogue would be the real treat. So, if you want a little more story, if you're not quite ready to leave Nick & Annie behind, if you want to see them a little further along in their happily-ever-after, or if you just want a recap of some important clues in the Precinct: Task Force miniseries, I hope you'll stop by my website at in April to read the extended epilogue to TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.

My gift to you! Enjoy!

Best wishes,
Julie MillerTactical Advantage

I'm motivated. I'm feeling the urge to accomplish more, to become something more.

A very good friend and I went to an interesting program at a local college last month. We watched the movie, THE BIG YEAR, starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson--and then we attended a presentation by the man, champion birder Greg Miller (no relation), the book was based on. We also attended a program on Raptor Rescue and met a brown-tailed hawk that had broken its wing and was being nursed back to health by the organization.

The basic premise of the movie and book and real story it was based on is the quest of 3 different men who love birding (laymen like me call it bird-watching, but the pros call it birding ;)) to have what is known as the "Big Year", where a birder sort of puts his/her life on hold and travels the country/continent to spot as many different species of birds as possible. It's a contest that involves a lot of miles, a lot of money and a lot of dedication. But to a birder, it's the ultimate indulgence and achievement--to be the person who (on record) sees the most birds in a single year. And the best part of the story, of course, being a romance writer--were the relationships that changed and develop over the course of each man's Big Year--finding love, find fame and respect, finally finding an understanding with a father, finding out that family is a priority in life, etc. iow, it's not just the challenge of being #1, it's a journey of self-discovery. It was fascinating, it was funny--and it motivated Linda and me to try a "Big Year of our own.

So, while we're not birders trying to spot as many birds as possible (although I do find myself more aware of birds than ever before), we have been motivated to challenge each other to our own big year--to cheer each other on, to celebrate small victories along the way, and to commiserate disappointments and pick the other up to keep moving forward. Both of us have decided to improve our health this year--and for us the main thing we need to do more of is exercise. So she has pledged to ride her bike 1000 miles this year, and I am going to walk 300 miles. Of course, surpassing those goals is a bonus. But we've set weekly goals, monthly goals. We've rewarded ourselves with practical things like a new sports bra and bike helmet, and with less practical things--a girls night out with strawberry lemonades and a splurge of dessert.

Just as important as the change in activity levels and health, I think, is the mental adjustments Linda and I are going through. We're feeling more positive about our lives, our work and our health. I'm sure it's partly due to the exercise, but I'm thinking a lot of it has to do with the camaraderie. We've been friends since our children were in preschool (her daughter and my son are graduating college in a year!). But we've been busy raising families, writing books, taking care of ill parents, dealing with life. Now, we're making a concerted effort to have contact much more often. That social interaction is invaluable to a solitary writer's life, believe me.

So that's my Big Year. Just this week I was offered a contract to write 4 new Precinct books for Intrigue. I'm presenting a workshop at a national conference with my good buddies BJ Daniels and Delores Fossen. My son is planning his last semester of classes and internship. I'm starting to lose weight. I'm balancing the demands in my life much better than I once did. I'm in a very positive place right now. It's my "Big Year" and I intend to make the most of it!

So what movies/books/people/stories in the news have inspired you to do something?

Share what motivates you. If you also go to the Intrigue Authors blog on 4/6/12, I'm giving away a signed copy of my May 1st release, THE MARINE NEXT DOOR, to one lucky commenter there.

Now get out there and be inspired!
Julie Miller

Happy Veterans' Day to all our Marines, soldiers, sailors, guardsmen, veterans and their families!

I just completed a story, THE MARINE NEXT DOOR, that will be out in May 2012. Writing it was a wonderful experience for me because I got to feature a hero who was near and dear to my heart--a United States Marine. Why a Marine? Not just because they look so spiffy in their uniforms. Wink I enjoyed it because I got to draw on the veterans in my life for inspiration.

Every year I debate whether I sign up to blog on November 10th--the Marine Corps birthday--or November 11th, Veterans Day here in the US. For as long as I can remember, the 10th was practically a holiday at our house. My dad, a retired USMC veteran from the Korean Conflict, always called us kids to say Happy Birthday on November 10th. In later years, we'd try to beat him to the punch and call him first (or send a card) to let him know we'd remembered the Marine Corps' birthday. There was Semper Fi and Camp Usher and a lot of patriotism and pride running through Dad's blood, long after he retired from the Corps, the Reserves, and went into business and teaching. I never knew him to wear his hair in anything other than a crewcut, and he'd get antsy about getting to the barber if his hair so much as brushed against his ear. Innocent



Dad also made a point of speaking to, shaking hands with, and thanking any active duty or veteran military personnel and their families he met throughout his life. Sometimes, I wondered how he spotted them when they were out of uniform--at an airport, at a gas station, on vacation, etc. Sure, some had bumper stickers that proudly stated their son was in the Army, or they sported a tattoo of the Corps' eagle, earth and anchor on a bicep, or they wore a ballcap like my father-in-law, with the name of the Navy battleship they served on.



But just as often, the people my father greeted looked like you and me. They were normal, everyday people with their families and friends, just going about their business. But there's a shared spirit among the military and their families, I think--an internal radar of one hero recognizing another. They share a bond of pride and honor. They understand duty and hard choices and loss. They command respect and give it when earned. Some laugh well; some think deeply. They know the value of life and friendship and support. They stand and remove their hats and cover their hearts when they see their country's flag or hear the hymn from their branch of the military. And they are humble or practical enough to believe they are/were just doing their job when called to serve or to send a loved one into danger.



One of the few times in my life I ever saw my dad get emotional--or admit to any fear--were the times he sent his younger son--my brother--into an overseas war zone, first as a Marine, and more recently as an Army officer. I see a lot of my dad in my "little" brother. Quiet on the surface. Super smart. Loves structure. Loves sports. Wicked sense of humor. Big laugh. Family man. (See? Lots of heroic traits to put in my hero, Capt. John Murdock Wink) I've been blessed to grow up with the family I did. And while I'm so proud to have these veterans in my family, I'm even more grateful that they're just my dad and my brother (well, there was that phase my brother went through at about 4 or 5 where he took great joy in kicking me in the shins with his pointy cowboy boots when I would have traded him for a nickel, but I digress... Innocent).



My point is this--the men and women we're honoring today are heroes, yes. But veterans are more than that. They're moms and dads and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters. They teach. They play sports. They work in hospitals. They build roads. Thank them, yes. Honor them. But remember, too, to shake their hand and laugh with them and hug them... and call them on days that are important to them.



Do you have a special veteran or active-duty personnel member in your family or circle of friends? An ancestor whose service makes you proud, or adds an interesting twist to the family tree? Share the name of someone you'd like to honor or remember today. Tell a bit of their story, too, if you like. I'll give away a copy of my December Intrigue, NANNY 911, or a backlist title to one lucky poster.



Thank you to our veterans and their families!

Julie Miller



NANNY 911-Dec 2011
SAFE IN HIS ARMS-Harlequin Showcase (UK), Dec 2012
ICE LAKE-(Anthology w/ BJ Daniels & Delores Fossen) Jan 2012
THE MARINE NEXT DOOR-May 2012
Big Book GiveAway this month at www.juliemiller.org

I'm here today to report on my 2011 RWA Conference experience in NYC. I had a terrific conference--the perfect mix of business and fun.

From the moment I stepped into the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, the buzz was all about ebooks and indie publishing (I dipped my toe into that pool last month with the release of my very first novel, a ST paranormal romantic suspense, IMMORTAL HEART), and how it was affecting traditional publishing and the big publishers. Trust me, this will be an ongoing conversation. I heard every side of the issue, from author frustrations and successess, to publisher concerns and strategies. It's an exciting, changing time in the publishing world. And with all the changes taking place and coming down the line, it really affirmed to benefits of attending such a conference.

Actually, I hadn't been to RWA for about 5 years, so I was feeling long overdue. I always learn something new, and the networking with publishing professionals and fellow authors is invaluable. Throw in a little fun and it turns into the kind of truly wonderful conference I had. So, here's a list of 10 things I learned or did at RWA this year. I hope others who got to attend will jump in and share their highlights. And if you didn't get to attend, please feel free to leave comments or ask questions.

Julie's Conference Highlights:

1. Lunch with my editor at this awesome Scottish pub, St. Andrews. (I could feel my Scottish roots flowing through my veins! It's fun to go to a new city and feel right at home.)

2. Meeting with my editor, Allison Lyons, and agent, Pattie Steele-Perkins. Very good meeting. Smart, sharp ladies. Covered lots of important info. (Now I have to get busy writing!)

3. Staying in Times Square. They had the premiere for the third TRANSFORMERS movie about 18 stories beneath my feet. Red carpet and a really cool display. I got my picture taken with Bumblebee. Cool! My 21 year-old son (who's been a Transformer nut since he was a little boy) was jealous!

4. Rooming with fellow Intriguer (and Nocturne & HRS author) Elle James (it's not everyone who'll break into show tunes with you)

5. Dancing at the Harlequin Party (Intrigue authors love to dance!) (although, one downer was the terrible rash I had on my legs the next morning--it's a circulation/too much pressure on my feet in the wrong kind of shoes kind of thing) But fun!

6. Breakfast with my ICE LAKE anthology buddies B.J. Daniels and Delores Fossen. Two truly wonderful women to hang out with! (Like I said, the networking at a conference is invaluable!)

7. Going to see MARY POPPINS at the New Amsterdam theater with my roomie Elle James (hence the spontaneous show tunes!). Hey, Bert the chimney sweep walked up the side of the proscenium arch and danced on the ceiling. What can I say? Magical!

8. Attending the Daphne du Maurier Awards with B.J. Daniels. There was yummy chocolate involved. We were runners-up. Fellow Intriguer Paula Graves won!

9. Going to the Intrigue authors meet & greet at this really cool nightclub called NIGHT. I felt so New Yorkish! And I got to meet brand new Intrigue author Robin Perrini. Plus, I got the get better acquainted with Carla Cassidy and Kerry Connor. And I hung out with some of my Intrigue buddies.

10. Meeting and sharing a fabulous lunch at Nougatine with Delores Fossen, Marsha Zinberg and the Toronto Feature & Custom editors who worked on the ICE LAKE anthology with us. Victoria Curran joined us (it was delightful to get to know her, too--we're both community theater veterans). The waiters were choreographed and the food was so delicious!

There's so much more...the eHarlequin Pajama Party (lots of silly pix), the workshops, other Meet & Greets, some cool restaurants, touring Times Square, getting great feedback from Malle Vallik and the eHarlequin pros on my website, networking (aka sitting and chatting) with many authors--Intriguers and those who write for other lines and/or publishers, and on and on. But 10 is a nice even number, so I'll stop there.

I'm giving away a copy of my new August Intrigue, PROTECTING THE PREGNANT WITNESS, to one lucky poster. So be sure to leave a question or comment.

Julie Miller
PROTECTING PLAIN JANE--March 2011 (4 1/2 *s RT!)
IMMORTAL HEART ebook--June 2011
PROTECTING THE PREGNANT WITNESS--Aug 2011 (4 1/2 *s RT!)
NANNY 911--Dec 2011
Enter the Pregnant Witness contest at www.juliemiller.org

The more I write, the more I learn about writing. I've always believed that as a teacher, and I'm seeing it firsthand as my writing career progresses. Whether published or not, there's always something to learn from completing a writing project.



I recently finished revisions and updates for the first novel I ever had published--IMMORTAL HEART, a contemporary paranormal romantic suspense--that will be reissued on June 15th. That was 40+ novels ago. And wow, what an interesting trip down memory lane to read through that ms again. There were some obvious updates content-wise after 15 years that I needed to address--giving my techno-wiz heroine a cell phone, changing her videotape collection to DVD's, using flash drives instead of (groan ) floppy disks.



But I discovered that my writing style has changed over the years, too. I discovered a few cliches in the ms--maybe they were fresh back then, but they've been overused now. I discovered that I must have had a favorite word back then because I used it a LOT in that ms (I've changed several of them, played with different phrasing in the new version so it doesn't jump out at the reader the way it kept jumping out at me). Plus, I think I'm a tighter writer now (ooh, that rhymes). For example, I can see that I took fewer chances with breaking the rules of grammar and sentence structure. Some sentences--dialogue, especially--I just wanted to snap in half so that the pacing moved faster and it sounded more realistic to those characters. Of course, I was still teaching full-time when I first wrote that story, so maybe all those rules I insisted my students use were stuck in my head, influencing my style. I hope I've given the story the contemporary, fast-paced tone I use now to go along with (what I'm pleased to discover) the deep characterization that I still have today.



As I begin my next writing project today (a Christmas cowboy novella for an Intrigue anthology I'm writing with Dana Marton and Paula Graves), I'm keeping in mind the evolution of my writing style. No more 'darlin's' unless that hero is from Texas, and even then, probably not. And really, 'galvanized' is a cool word, but I think once in a ms is plenty since it's so unique. I'm giving myself permission to play with those grammar rules. My ms will still be clean and easy to read, but I will break some rules intentionally for certain effects in my story.

But there's something else in that first novel that I want to get back to in my writing. That truly was a book of my heart (in fact, the whole trilogy I wrote featuring that group of characters was a books of the heart project). While I know there are certain requirements in writing now--right tone for the line, required length, certain level of heat, hooks that readers like, etc.--I don't want to limit myself creatively. I want to dream more, let my imagination go, allow myself to feel the joy of writing that I felt back then. For example, in the first book of the next miniseries I'll be writing, I'm already thinking of some tweaks I want to give my hero. Deepen the angst and conflict. Incorporate some things that have touched me in real life recently (he's a Marine). And so on. When I start writing that 45th book, I want to try to recapture that book of the heart feeling. The ptb at Harlequin say that readers are looking for something a little unpredictable and fresh in their books, while still being able to bank on the promise of a particular line. I'm hoping to pull that unpredictability into my story by trusting my instincts and playing a little more.



So that's where I am in my process. Reflecting back on how far I've come while giving myself permission to break a few more of those rules I didn't know about back then that I know now. I'm looking forward to starting my next slate of projects with this new attitude. That'll keep it fresh and exciting for me as a writer, as well as for the reader. I hope!



Feel free to ask a question about writing or upcoming projects. Share what you would consider fresh or unpredictable in the Intrigues/Harlequins you read. Or just share what you've been reminiscing about lately.