Julia Barrett's World

Remember to drop by Michelle’s Book Blog and give yourself a chance to win a signed print copy of Captured – you can read my interview too and see one of my new head shots!  http://michellesramblins.blogspot.com/

She’s posted both an interview with me and a lovely review of Captured, one of my favorite books to write.

This is head shot number one.  I climbed a tree for this shot.  I look happy and it seems as if I have cleavage.  I don’t.  It’s the push-up bra and the tree branch I’m leaning on.  Jewish people may have cleavage, but they get nervous when they look happy – it attracts the evil eye.  And no, I’m not wearing make-up.  Make-up makes me look like Bozo the Clown.  Or maybe Ronald McDonald.

Anyway – I’ll be posting head shots this week and you all can choose the one you want me to use for my blog.  You decide.  As I said, this is option number one.

I finished reading Catching Fire, How Cooking Made Us Human – it’s a great fast nonfiction read.  The author, Richard Wrangham, kept me enthralled with his very easy to understand theories on the cooking of food and how it influenced the rapid and astounding evolution of the human brain, the human body, and the division of labor between the sexes.   My next book?  Spice, the History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner.  Cannot wait!  In my TBR pile?  Mukiwa, A White Boy in Africa and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun, both by Peter Godwin.  On ebooks I’ve got romance author, Katalina Leon‘s entire libraray – yummy!  I plan to start with Noblesword.

The puppy, Jake, is out in the backyard running his little feet, oops, his big feet off, after his doggy cousin who is visiting for a few hours.  She’s an 18-month old German shepherd-coon hound mix.  I used to think she was crazy.  Compared to Jake, she’s an angel.

Many thanks to those of you who’ve signed up for my newsletter.  I still have three unconfirmed email addresses I cannot access.  Check your spam folder and see if the confirmation letter is there.

Oh, one more thing – I got word from Siren yesterday that the release of my full-length cowboy romance, Anytime Darlin’, is scheduled for August 26.  I won’t be around – I’ll be canoeing in the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota.  I love all my books, but Anytime Darlin’ is very, very special.  I encourage you to give it a try!

Tweet This Post

I know you’ve heard this one before,

but here goes…from my photographer friend.

Tweet This Post

Damn you sportscasters!  Damn you all to hell!  I saw Andres Torres first!  I picked him out last year as a baseball stud and I became a fangirl – now you all jump on my bandwagon!  Ha – I say – ha ha!  Really, ask my husband…the very first time I saw him play with the San Francisco Giants, I said, Who is that man and why doesn’t he get more playing time? Like, why isn’t he starting every game?  Of course he had some injuries last year, but anybody with half a brain could see what kind of athlete he is!

Thursday’s San Francisco Chronicle – The Sporting Green headline – Torres, as in torrid.

I like it – Torrid Torres!  On Wednesday, against the Marlins, he had a Splash Hit.  He now has two.  My other favorite Giants player, Aubrey Huff, also has two.  So…here are my guys – and they have been since the first time I saw them – Andres Torres, Juan Uribe, Aubrey Huff, Travis Ishikawa, and Jonathan Sanchez.  Yeah, sure, everybody likes The Freak, Matt Cain, and Brian Wilson.  Man, that Bumgarner can throw and Buster Posey is amazing -  why the heck wasn’t he brought up sooner???  Hmmmm???  I like every guy on that team, but I love me some Andres Torres!

Yes, there is no contradiction…you can write science fiction/romance and still love baseball.  My guys have always been baseball players.

So…Thank you very much Steph, at Fangs Wands and Fairy Dust, for letting me take over your blog yesterday and many thanks to those of you who stopped by.

Today, Friday, I’m over at Anna’s place.  She’s posted an interview with The Thousand Year Empress, Aja Bokina, a Daughter of Persephone.  Come see what makes her tick and maybe win an e-copy of this fun, sexy, romantic, kick ass science fiction book.  http://s7anna.blogspot.com/

The ladies at Happily Ever After Reviews informed me today that Beauty and the Feast is up for cover of the month.  I’m going against some great covers.  If you feel like voting, here’s the link:  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-book-of-month-and-cover-of-month.html

Off to play with my puppy!  He has that sweet puppy breath and he gives me kisseeeees!

Tweet This Post

A puppy, Daughters of Persephone and a nice book blogger!

Yes!  We got a puppy, Jake, a long-coated German shepherd puppy, 8 1/2 weeks, suffering from big puppy syndrome – the poor guy is so big for his age that people expect more of him than he’s capable of delivering!  But he’s sweet, smart and gorgeous!  Of course my cats won’t come near him.  They’re like…Crap!  Not another dog!  We thought we had the house and yard all to ourselves!

Daughters of Persephone is now available for Kindle and over at All Romance Ebooks.  I’m happy.

Stephanie at Fangs Wands and Fairy Dust has a feature on Daughters of Persephone today (Thursday) – I’m the guest blogger.  She’s running a contest – you can win an e-copy of Daughters or one of two hard copies of Captured.  Yum!

http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.com/

That’s all for today – I have  a big puppy sitting on my lap!

Tweet This Post

For the first time in my entire life, I have a room of my own.  No, not this room, although a few years ago I did rent a flat for a week that had this exact view.  In fact, this picture is taken from a window in my flat!  Yes!

But that’s beside the point.  I went from my father’s house where I shared a room with my sister to college where I shared rooms with dorm mates to my first husband’s house to my father’s house where I shared a room with my infant son to my second husband’s house which we filled with kids and their friends.  Although my husband has an office of sorts, my office had been the kitchen table or the dining room table or the back of the couch or a chair.

After packing up my daughter’s room and injuring my back schlepping boxes and boxes and more boxes, today hubby and I put together my desk and matching desk chair, a totally cool leather armchair with matching ottoman, and a mega-amazing daybed/sofa.  OMG!  We sat up there, each sipping a Kir Royale – yay Mia – enjoying the fruits of our labors!  I have my own room with a glorious view of our backyard and its huge redwood trees and gigantic maple.  Sigh!  I’m an adult at last!  (Not really.)

Now I can slip away to my writer’s retreat and write like a real writer.  You think?

This week – still the major re-write.  Anny Cook will be guest blogging here and I think I’ve been assigned a blog meme. Gotta check it out!

Oh yeah…email me at Julia@JuliaRachelBarrett.net if you want a signed hard copy of Captured.  Just checking to see if you’re paying attention.  No really, a signed copy.  love, julia

Tweet This Post

Run, do not walk, to Book Lovers Inc. to read my interview with The Geeky Bookworm!  http://book-lovers-inc.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-author-julia-barrett-giveaway.html

I’ll be giving away a copy of Daughter’s of Persephone – new release date for volume one is July 21, for volume two, the new release date is September 8.  Stop by Book Lovers Inc. and leave a comment!  Please!

Tweet This Post

Recs!  I love reading reviews – sometimes I find a gem in a genre that isn’t exactly my cup of tea, like Steampunk and YA.  I just bought a used copy of Kathleen Givens’ Historical set in 13th century Scotland, Rivals for the Throne.  Historicals aren’t among my usual suspects, but this book was highly recommended by a book blogger and her readers – I bought it before I left and it was waiting for me on my porch when I returned.  I wish I could remember which blogger featured the book…sorry!

Interaction!  Book bloggers like to…well…let me qualify that…many book bloggers like to interact with authors.  They are happy to read and review our books, and feature interviews, guest blogs and givaways.  They make me feel welcome!  It’s a quid pro quo kind of thing – very participatory and I love that!  Susi over at Book Lovers Inc. gave my coming sci fi book, Daughters of Persephone, a plug in her new releases post – I believe she plans to post her interview with me today or tomorrow as the book comes out tomorrow…fingers crossed!  http://book-lovers-inc.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-releases-week-of-july-12-18-2010.html

Hilarity!  Jessica over at Read React Review and her ROTFLMAO review, or rather, nuview, of Passion, by Lisa Valdez.  I just about peed my pants reading her post!  http://www.readreactreview.com/2010/07/06/review-passion-by-lisa-valdez/#comments

Education!  Rebecca, at Dirty Sexy Books, Jessica at Read React Review, Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos, Kelly at Five Agents and a Funeral, and everybody at Dear Author – are all really smart as opposed to snark.  They manage to enlighten without insulting. I’m likely to come away from one of their posts with a new perspective on an author or a genre or the publishing industry in general.  Thanks, ladies!

Tweet This Post

I saw this bumper sticker today – well, a nicer version of this bumper sticker – but since this is my first attempt at using my paint program I figure you’ll be pretty forgiving!

The bumper sticker is right on, reading is sexy in the same way that a big, alpha, macho shirtless man is sexy holding a little baby against his bare chest is…

S.E.X.Y.

Of course hubby saw a bumper sticker today that said:

If you’re this close, my balls are in your face!

I like mine better!

Thanks to all of you who voted for Captured on Happily Ever After Reviews – Book of the Month Contest.  If you haven’t voted, there’s still time…hint…hint…  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/p/best-book-contest_30.html

The contest is open until July 8th.

I haven’t yet decided which books to take on my trip to Montana.  Leaving Friday.  May have to take a couple re-reads since my new books haven’t arrived and I’m unlikely to have internet service.  What would you take for your reading pleasure on a ten day vacation?

Ack!  Beauty and the Feast is up for Book of the Month on Dark Diva Reviews!  Do not pass go…vote!  Congrats to my friend Mia Watts, whose book is also up!

Tweet This Post

Captured is up for Book of the Month at Happily Ever After Reviews!

This is a first for me, so if you love me…you’ll head over there and vote for me!

http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/p/best-book-contest_30.html

Many many many thanks!  julia

Tweet This Post

Morning Glow has won the tote!

Congrats!

Thanks so much for your wonderful comments – wish I had more to give away!

julia

Tweet This Post

Author Mia Watts is my friend and she’s written a post that felt like a kick in the gut.

Oh…she wrote about both the good and the bad in her post, Mood Swings and Reviews.  Everything she said resonated with me as I’m stuck in a big fat down period in my life, both as a writer and in general.  I’m quoting her:

“You want a look into the writer’s psyche? Here’s your look. We’re mostly solitary people because we hunker behind a computer and pour our hearts into our work. We believe in our characters. We believe in their struggles. We believe they will end up happy, because our faith in those characters is more real than fiction. We hurt for them when they don’t understand their lovers. We laugh when we’re typing a line that came out of nowhere and surprised us with its humor. You have to understand, we aren’t crazy… we just feel and know those characters so well, they are almost real to us. Yes, we know the difference between actual real people and fictitious people. But we created these guys and we care about their stories.

So, when we hear bad things it’s like a knife.”

Her site is well worth the visit and you can read the post for yourself:  http://miawatts.blogspot.com/

In other news…you can still be in the running for the tote!  Cats not included!  And here’s a shot of my new tattoo – not the greatest view but it was hard to hold the camera and push the button with my left hand (yes, those are my jeans and white tee shirt on the floor – just getting into the shower):

I miss my boy…

Tweet This Post

This is what I call a tote!

Tote it to the beach – it’s big enough to hold a bathing suit, a beach towel, flip-flops, wallet, car keys, three or four bottles of water, sandwiches…or take it to the local super market and bring home a tote full of groceries.  Hey, use it as a carry-on bag -  I guarantee this tote will get you some looks!

Hey…I’m right there in the middle, see?  The cover for My Everything is right there, along with covers by many authors you know – on both sides!  The tote is from cover model, Jimmy Thomas.  He gave a few of these priceless gifts away at RT.  You know you want one.  Even my cat, Yoshi, is hot for this tote!

Here’s all you have to do…comment!  Even better, sign up for my newsletter!  Tell me about your favorite books, (no, they don’t have to be mine!), what genre you like and why, what authors you visit.  Do you like to read a quickie over lunch or do you like a book to cuddle up with at night?  I’d love to know.  I’ll announce the winner on Sunday so stay tuned because I’m going to need your email addy.

Ooh, Yoshi’s brother, Rico, got into the act!  He wants one too!

Tweet This Post

Like most days, today…or yesterday…was a mix of good and bad.  I had fun over at author Stacey Espino’s place and I was humbled by Katalina Leon’s praise for Captured – still want to hear that para sailing story again.  A close cousin who lives in the Midwest showed up for one night and we laughed into the wee hours of the morning, just like when we were kids – and I was feeling pretty okay today.  Then the vet’s office called and said they had Louie’s ashes for me to pick up and I lost it all over again.  I’m still not dealing with my grief very well.

Yeah, got the tattoo on my right wrist – LOUIE – in very cool letters and I’ll post a pic up here soon.  Chopped off my long hair today.  Just didn’t want to deal with it anymore.  I planned to go chin length, but Deanna, my stylist, accidentally whacked off a big chunk with the razor so I said, shit…just cut it off.  My hair is now about, oh, I don’t know, maybe an inch and a half long.  It’s okay, no biggie.  I can just style it with my fingers and I’m done.  I canceled a coffee date with my plastic surgery addicted friend because I just couldn’t face her critical eye…you know – wow, you look tired…or you trying to lose weight?…or…you cut your hair???  Or…my doctor could do something with those bags under your eyes…or the old…you need to detox…maybe a colonic.

Never!

So my cousin and I were reminiscing about the time we all, by we all I mean my cousin, her friend, Murray, my two sisters and I rafted down the Colorado River and deliberately jumped into a class III rapids sans raft.  We hiked upriver with our guide and he said, “Okay now, climb out to the edge of this big rock and jump in.   Swim to to middle of the current as fast as you can and point your feet downriver so if you hit an underwater rock or snag, your feet will hit it instead of your head.  When you reach flat water, swim like hell to the right side.  Somebody will pull you out.  Oh, and remember to breathe between waves.”

My loony sister, of course, only heard, “Okay now…” before she leaped off the rock and disappeared into the churning white water.  My other sister and I jumped in together, swam as hard as we could to the middle of the river and then tried to survive for the next four or five harrowing, adrenaline filled, ice water minutes, both terrified and exhilarated.  We reached flat water and managed to make it to a rock near the shore, where we clung, along with Murray, for dear life, exhausted and unable to pull ourselves to safety.  My cousin floated by and in a weak voice, cried…”Help me…”  She vanished around the bend.  My other sister was no where to be seen.  The second rafting guide headed downriver to pick up my cousin.  My loony sister, of course, nearly drowned before they found her.  Those were the days!  Really, sounds bad I know, but it wasn’t.   The experience was great, one of the highlights of my life.  That’s the nice thing about families, shared adventures.  One day my kids will get together and talk about all the crazy insane wonderful things that happened on our camping trips, our backpacking trips, our nutty ski trips.

It’s kind of the way I feel right now…holding on for dear life, exhausted, but eventually I’ll have amazing memories to look back on.

So…stepping forward…I’m entering two of my new paranormal works in a contest.  Wish me luck!

Tweet This Post

Beauty and the Feast is hot on Fictionwise and All Romance Ebooks.  That scares me.  Yeah, I guess I’ve paid my dues in a sense, but the way we see things in my family, any success whatsoever attracts the evil eye.   Wooooooooo.  It’s like when my husband says – Gee, my car is running great! – and I slap my hand over his mouth and knock on wood – I remind him that speaking of good things is a surefire way to guarantee an immediate blown head gasket!

To make a long story short…thank you for buying my books and please keep buying them.  Maybe one of these days I’ll be PAN Eligible.  I don’t want to talk dollars and cents so if you are wondering what that is, feel free to look it up.

I think my newsletter will be out today or tomorrow – for those of you who don’t receive the newsletter, I have a new contract with Siren for my very first menage – All Four One.  This is a futuristic work of science fiction – the story takes place maybe 150 years from now in the Pacific Northwest.  I do love sci fi.  My husband says that erotic sci fi is a bit of a contradiction in terms but I find it heavenly to write.

Many thanks to Chris from Stumbling Over Chaos for her sci fi recommendation, Babel-17, by Samuel R. Delany, an unknown-to-me author and work published back in 1966.  I told her the story is like a cross between Ringworld, Albert Einstein and The Left Hand of Darkness.  The premise of the book is that language influences thought and perceived reality – not the meaning, but the words themselves.  Deep stuff!  http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/

Many thanks to Susi over at The Geeky Bookworm who asked me to guest post this past week.  If you want to win one of my books, leave a comment – she’s extended her contest for a couple days due to her school schedule.  http://thegeekybookworm.blogspot.com/

Today is Memorial Day – my dad and all my uncles served in various branches of the Armed Forces so thank you, men and women, who put your lives on the line for us everyday!  You are never forgotten.

Tweet This Post

What’s up with my books?

Captured has come out in print on Amazon!  Yay!  This makes me really, really happy.  I can’t wait to get my own copy.  There’s something about seeing a book, holding a book, smelling a book, opening a book that just feels good!

http://www.amazon.com/Captured-Publishing-Classic-Rachel-Barrett/dp/1606018582/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275021374&sr=8-2

The book can also be purchased for your Kindle, if you’ve got one!  http://www.amazon.com/Captured-Siren-Publishing-Classic-ebook/dp/B00371V7WO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Beauty and the Feast is a bestseller on Fictionwise and all it’s outlets.  This so takes me by surprise!  I’m in good company – Tessie Bradford and Desiree Holt – author friends – are there with me.  http://www.fictionwise.com/topstories.htm

It’s also available for Kindle.  http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-and-the-Feast-ebook/dp/B003NX70QS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1275021641&sr=8-2

SusiSunshine over at the Geeky Bookworm invited me to post for her anniversary week – you can win an e-copy of Beauty and the Feast or Captured or My Everything.  http://thegeekybookworm.blogspot.com/2010/05/guestpost-by-julia-rachel-barrett.html Susi will be announcing the winners on Sunday so you have plenty of time to leave a comment!

So…coming soon with Resplendence Publishing:  Daughters of Persephone, Book One Exile and Book Two Return.

Coming with Siren:  Anytime Darlin’ – my favorite romance-suspense.

Ya’ll have an excellent weekend!

Tweet This Post