Julia Barrett's World

Sandy M. and I worked on interview questions.

It was crazy, last minute and lots of fun.  We talked about writing, my releases, covers, life in general.  I’d love to hear you comments – here and over there!!!  The interview will be posted at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

http://goodbadandunread.com/

Tomorrow – if I can get my act together today, begins a month-long, very delicious contest for a copy of Beauty and the Feast, my upcoming contemporary with Resplendence.  Stop by and check it out.  Thanks!  Julia

P.S.  It’s up!  Go check it out!

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

I’m the guest blogger over at Book Lovers, INC.

The topic?   PASSION!

Head over and leave a comment and you could win a copy of My Everything.  *See their review below…

http://book-lovers-inc.blogspot.com/

Molly Daniels posted an interview with me today over at her blog.  I had so much fun with her questions and I didn’t even know she planned to put it up today!  Thanks, Molly!

http://mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

Hi-ho, hi-ho…it’s off to work I go…

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Susi is enthusiastic!

She really enjoyed My Everything.  Her review is so winning – and you know I appreciate her energy.  She’s posted it on two sites:

http://thegeekybookworm.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-my-everything-by-julia-rachel.html

and here:  http://book-lovers-inc.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-my-everything-by-julia-rachel.html

I’m having site trouble, i.e., the link upload so I’ll reprint her review here:

“I received this book as a review copy from the author and after reading the blurb I was like “Okay we will see.”. And I have to say this blurb doesn’t do the book any justice.

The book is fast paced and written in such a lovely way, I just couldn’t put it down. We switch from different POVs through the whole story but it made the story more 3 dimensional and not at all confusing. I loved how Ms. Barrett chose an unique voice for each of her characters. It made them so much more real in my eyes.

Our heroine Grace had a few grave moments in her life. She lost her husband to leukemia after only 2 years of marriage and she suffers from really hard migraine attacks from time to time.But she doesn’t give up and tries to handle this all on her own. She is a specialist for pain management and it would look really unprofessional to have problems on exactly the same topic. While she has one of her attacks she meets Ben, her big teenage crush. He helps her and is more understanding and helpful than many other people in her life.

Ben is broken inside. He lost his wife and his unborn child in a terror assasination he should have prevented. He works in the security sector and it was his purpose and task to prevent things like that but he failed and got punished for his mistake. Or that is what he thinks. We all know that there are certain things in life we just can’t stop from happening. We shouldn’t stop trying to but sometimes it’s just the way it is. And especially in this situation it’s not at all his fault. As you can see I really felt for him. Poor man. He’s a strongly caring person and although he vanished from the surface of his normal life for a year to hide and work through his grief, he still cares for his family and friends. When he hears that his best friend is in grave danger he doesn’t hestitate and immediately starts his journey home. The moment he meets Grace again after ten years his first thought is that she is a distraction. But why? He quickly finds out how unlogical this assumption is and discovers his own attraction and perhaps a bit more for her. Surely he feels guilty for that and even more he knows that this is possibly the worst moment ever to get close and personal to someone he really cares about.

The situation gets even more dramatic when Ben finds out that not only his bestfriend is in danger but his sister got kidnapped to draw him out of hiding. The plot is really suspenseful and I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. The story is a great mix of relationship building and actual story plot. It always gave me what I wanted and it was a real satisfying read for such a short novel.

One thing at the end was a bit “Yeah, sure!” and I don’t mean the supernatural aspect. I won’t tell you more because that would be one gigantic spoiler but if I can forgive something like that other readers probably can,too.

All in all this book was a great read with scorching hot, emotional intense and thrilling action in a perfect mix. I can recommend this book to all the lovers of a nice steamy romance with the right amount of suspense!”

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While I’m working my little heart out on the day job, Tina’s hosting me today, so head on over and leave a comment – maybe it’ll ping you back a copy of My Everything!

http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/

Ya’ll be good while I’m gone – and Dana, if you’re reading, hope you enjoy your book!  love, julia

P.S.  Got a sweet review of Captured from Roni over at:  http://romancebookscene.blogspot.com/2010/02/romance-book-review-captured.html

Author Cindy Spencer Pape gave me a nice mention so right back at her:  http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/

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Yup, it’s that time again.

Release Day from Cobblestone Press.

My Everything is a sweet, spicy, exciting romance/suspense.

Blurb:

Security consultant Ben McCall is alone.  His wife and unborn child are dead, victims of an assassination attempt meant for someone else.  Grieving, he disappears.  When his best friend is in danger, Ben resurfaces only to find his friend isn’t the target of a murderer, he is along with his sister Angel.  On the night of his return, Ben unexpectedly comes face to face with a woman from his past.  She needs his help.  He learns that he needs hers even more.

Grace Adams is one of the walking wounded.  Her husband died two years ago.  One night she is incapacitated.  A man comes to her aid.  He’s the man she fell in love with years before, Ben McCall.  As the passion between them reignites, Grace too becomes a target of the madman who stalks Ben.  She, Angel and Ben must use their wits to stay alive as they fight a man desperate for revenge.

Check it out:  http://www.cobblestone-press.com/index.htm

In other news…Romance Junkies is running a fun Valentine’s contest.  Here’s the link to my contribution:

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjvalentinescontest/JuliaRachelBarrett.html

Here’s the main page for the contest:

http://www.romancejunkies.com/contests.html

Enjoy!  Hint…breathes fire…

**Dana is the winner of My Everything from Stumbling Over Chaos!

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I’d rather be in Paris

or working on my current and/or next project (cuz it’s gonna be fuckin’ great)…but…

I’m one of the lucky ones on my block who has a job, so by God, I’m there.

At least my kitty is home and on the mend and my dog and I got out for a hike early this morning on muddy trails loaded with deer tracks.  Big deer, little deer, medium deer.  Yesterday I watched the mating ritual of two gorgeous, huge red-tailed hawks.

The female, at least I assume it was the female, landed on one of the highest branches of a tall, bare oak tree.  The male followed with a low, raspy cry.  As I watched, he handed her something that got her all excited.  She kept bobbing her head and adjusting it in her claws, poking at it, plucking at it, while he stood on a branch facing her looking like he was all that.  Since my dog and I were the only other large creatures around, I stood and watched for about twenty minutes without interruption.  The female would spread her wings and flutter them gently, bob her head up and down.  She repeatedly touched the male with her wing tips.  It was so dang sweet.  Now that’s love.  Hope they build a nice big nest and raise a couple of beautiful chicks.

So…working the next four days.  My Everything comes out tomorrow – hope I have time to celebrate, but I doubt it…maybe Monday.  See ya!  Julia

***New link for the contest at Stumbling Over Chaos – to win a copy of My Everything!

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/5864

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My Everything

release date:  2/12/10

Cobblestone Press

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

Contest – win a copy at Stumbling Over Chaos

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http://

The contest runs through February 11th.

Mia Watt’s F.U. is up on that site also.

Otherwise, I am too pooped to pop!  I think my kitty may be able to come home today or tomorrow but now the other two are acting a bit sick.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they are tougher than Rico and can hang on without any near death experiences.  With love, Julia

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Siren-Bookstrand authors are running an amazing week-long Valentine’s contest.  You can win ebooks and Strandbucks to buy books from Siren.  Sign into the Siren Reader’s Group for links to the blogs and contest give-aways.  My day is tomorrow, so check back here and find out how to win a copy of my science fiction romance, Captured.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand/

You can find my interview over at the Logical Lust blog.  Leave me a comment and on Valentine’s Day, I’ll draw a name for a signed hard copy of The Cougar Book.  Link:  http://bit.ly/ZWnZq

Stumbling Over Chaos is running a contest for a copy of My Everything – my suspense romance coming out with Cobblestone Press on February 12th.  The contest runs through the 11th.  http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http:// Head over and leave a comment.  The book makes for a fun, sexy afternoon read.

There’s a contest running over at Romance Junkies too!  I just don’t know exactly where it is – but I think there are lots and lots of freebies over there!

In other news, my kitty will recover from his life-threatening illness – it was touch and go all weekend and he finally turned the corner.  The vet called to give me the good news.

The winner of Mia Watt’s F.U.?  Linda!  Here ya go!  Mia will contact you.  Congratulations!

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Today is my interview day on the Logical Lust Blog

http://bit.ly/ZWnZq

Drop by, leave me a comment and you can win a signed hard copy of The Cougar Book!

This is one sizzling read, containing stories from twenty-three amazing authors.

My contribution is – You Might Just Get It.  Here’s an excerpt:

Excerpt from You Might Just Get It, by Julia Barrett, The Cougar Book, Logical Lust

Eric lifted his eyes and studied the woman seated across the small table from him.  Her damp curls surrounded her head like a halo.  The first time he’d seen her, in the window across the courtyard, her hair had been damp, just like this.  Sweet.  Very appealing.  He wondered if she had any idea her kitchen window looked directly into his.  Probably not.  She’d only moved in ten days ago.  Eric assumed she was still busy unpacking.  That was one of the reasons he’d invited her to dinner, one reason among many.  He wondered briefly how old Kate was.  It was hard to tell.  She could be anywhere from twenty-nine to forty-five.  But he wasn’t about to ask her and he didn’t care.  Her age didn’t matter to him.  Her laugh did.  Her big brown eyes did.  Her luscious lips.  Her wide white smile.

When he’d arrived home and found her soaked to the skin and shivering on the stoop, he got to play the hero.  That was twice in two days.  There was no way he’d pass up an opportunity to spend time with her.  He’d hoped she’d accept his offer of dinner and he‘d been pleased when she did.  It was no big deal, one of his easy meals.  Oven toasted rustic bread with melted gruyere, roasted tomatoes, baby arugula and a soft fried egg.  Simple and sensuous.  The sandwich was messy and it required the use of all your fingers.  There was a lot of runny egg yolk and licking involved.  Eric hoped he could segue that licking into something else entirely.

God, there was a lot to like about her.  Not only was Kate easy on the eyes, she was intelligent, articulate, mature, and she appreciated his sense of humor.  Plus she blushed at the drop of a hat.  Eric found that adorable.  She wasn’t jaded or flighty, like so many women he’d met recently.  He’d bet the farm she hadn’t grown up in California.  Probably Iowa or Illinois.  Someplace rural.  An old-fashioned country girl.

“Where’d you come from?  I mean, where are you from originally?” he asked.

“Blair, Nebraska.  It’s a little town near the Missouri River.  I went to school there.  Dana College.  You?”

“Minneapolis.”

“You’re kidding?  You don’t have a Minnesota accent.”

“Yeah, well, I worked hard getting rid of that.  I can do it if you like.”

“You mean like…Minnesooooota, North Dakoooooota, ya think?  Like that?”

It was Eric’s turn to laugh.  “More or less.”  He looked at her plate.  “Finished?”

“Oh, yes, thank you.  The sandwich was great.  I can cook, but I guess it never occurred to me that such simple ingredients could taste so good together.”  Kate reached for his empty plate and set it on top of hers.  “Let me help clean up.  That’s the least I can do.”

He watched as Kate rose from her chair and stretched.  He enjoyed watching.  Her breasts were pert.  Not large, but pert with perky nipples.  Two handfuls.  That’s all he needed.

“You have a long day today?”

“Not too bad.  Really.  It would have been better if I hadn’t locked myself out.  But…what can you do?  I was sort of hoping to curl up in a hot bath with a good book, but I left my book in the car and then the key…well, you know the story.”  Kate carried the plates to the sink.

Eric followed with the empty glasses.  “You can still have a hot bath,” he said.

“Yeah, I guess,” she replied, rinsing off the plates.

Eric set the glasses down on the counter and ran a hand lightly through the chestnut locks that hugged the back of her neck.  He watched goose bumps rise as he trailed his fingers along her shoulders.  He heard Kate’s sharp intake of breath.  He waited momentarily to see if she’d move away, but she remained still.

“I mean, if you’re interested, you could have a hot bath…with me.”

***Today begins the Siren-Bookstrand Valentine promotion.  Win ebooks and Strandbucks.  Contests will run all week on

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand/

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It never rains but it pours!

Let me try to pull my thoughts together:

The contest for F.U., by Mia Watts, is still alive!!!  Write the words – Enter me!  Enter me now! – and you’ll be entered in the contest for a free copy of F.U.  I’ll draw the winner at random on Monday and announce right here.

My own contest, hosted by Stumbling Over Chaos, runs through February 11th.  Stop by the site and leave a comment and you could win a copy of my Romance/Suspense, My Everything, from Cobblestone Press.  Damn, that cover is hot!  The book comes out February 12.  The link:  http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http://

You can find My Everything over at Cobblestone:  http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

Other news – The Cougar Book, with Logical Lust comes out on Valentine’s Day.  My short story, You Might Just Get It, is one of twenty-three fun, sexy, hot reads.  The book is available for pre-order in both ebook and print and I think if you order early, you can get a copy of Swing!, another sizzling anthology.  Here’s the link:  http://www.logical-lust.com/cougar.html

Every day in February, a contributing author from The Cougar Book is being interviewed on the Logical Lust blog.  My day is Sunday, February 7th.  Please drop by and leave a comment.  If you do, you’ll be eligible to win a copy of any book from my backlist, including Captured, my new sci fi with Siren.  Link:  http://bit.ly/ZWnZq

Katie Couric is officially a Cougar – dating a man 17 years her junior.  Go Katie!

Last but not least, the authors over at Siren-Bookstrand are running a seven-day event, beginning tomorrow.  You can win Strandbucks by visiting blogs all week.  There will be lots of contests.  Head over to Siren-Bookstrand and join the Siren Readers Group.  It’s a great opportunity to get to know some fabulous authors in all genres and pick up some Strandbucks to buy a few books!  http://www.sirenbookstrand.com/

Paranormal and Sci Fi Day is Tuesday, so stay tuned for my blog and my contest!  You can win a copy of Captured!

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I have a contest going on at Stumbling Over Chaos:

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864

The link will go live after midnight tonight, Pacific Time.

Drop by.  Leave a comment, and you might win yourself a copy of my new romance/suspense with Cobblestone Press – My Everything.  The contest will run through February 11th and the book releases on the 12th.

In other contest news – check the post below regarding Mia Watt’s menage/multiple, F.U.

Leave a comment with the words – Enter me!  Enter me now! and put yourself in the running for a copy of her fantabulous book.  I’ll choose a winner, at random, on Monday and announce it right here.

In the meantime, enjoy the cover and stay tuned for exciting announcements over the weekend and next week.  Interviews!  Contests!  A week of Valentine’s fun and prizes from Siren-Bookstrand authors!

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Yee-hah!  My romance/suspense, My Everything, will be released on February 12th with Cobblestone Press.  Just got word this morning.

Never had so many releases in such a short period of time.

Check it out in the coming soon section.

My Everything, by Julia Rachel Barrett

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

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I don’t have a release date, but I received some fabulous cover files from the artist at Cobblestone Press.

The results are stunning.  She managed to get the visuals exactly right, from the bodies to the tattoo to the L.A. skyline.

Here’s a blurb for this work of romantic/suspense.

Security consultant Ben McCall is alone.  His wife and unborn child are dead, victims of an assassination attempt meant for someone else.  Grieving, he disappears.  When his best friend is in danger Ben resurfaces, only to find his friend isn’t the target of a murderer, he is along with his sister Angel.  On the night of his return, Ben unexpectedly comes face to face with a woman from his past.  She needs his help.  He learns that he needs hers even more.   
Grace Adams is one of the walking wounded.  Her husband died two years ago.  One night she is incapacitated.  A man comes to her aid.  He’s the man she fell in love with years before, Ben McCall.  As the passion between them reignites, Grace too becomes a target of the madman who stalks Ben.  She, Angel and Ben must use their wits to stay alive as they fight a man desperate for revenge.

Coming soon!

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May be setting myself up for some disappointment here, because I know you’re all busy making holiday merriment…

but…check the website over the next couple days, comment or sign up for my newsletter and win yourself a copy of something -

Beauty and the Feast, a contemporary romance with Resplendence coming in March.

Captured, a romantic science fiction story with Siren coming in April.

Daughters of Persephone, books one and two, a futuristic romance with Resplendence coming in July.

Daughters of Persephone, books three and four, see above, coming in August.

My Everything, romance/suspense with Cobblestone coming 2010.

First five people – go for it!

Merry Christmukah, everyone!

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What’s between the covers?

You can’t judge a book by its cover.  So says conventional wisdom.  Hmm.  I’m not entirely certain of that because the way I see it, readers judge a book by it’s cover all the time.  Let’s face it, right or wrong, we judge pretty much everything by its appearance.

It’s best not to make assumptions.  For example, yesterday I took a break from work and headed over to the local Starbucks to catch up on edits.  A guy, who for all intents and purposes, appeared homeless – judging by his dress, the unkempt state of his hair and beard, and his smell, sat at a table next to mine.  He carried with him a black case and a plastic grocery bag.  After setting down the black case, he pulled a bag of potato chips out of the grocery bag, popped them open and began to crunch away.  I assumed he wasn’t there to buy coffee, rather, he just wanted a warm place to hole up out of the rain.  A few minutes later, he turned to me -

“Would you mind plugging this in for me?” he asked as he handed me the cord to his laptop.  I plugged it in.  “Thanks,” he said.

Over the next hour, we chatted.  Who was he?  A former investment banker who had lost his job, that’s who he was.  He was bright, articulate, and beneath the filthy exterior, a nice man.  I bought him a cup of coffee and another patron recognized him and bought him a pastry.

See?

So here’s what I think.  My first impression was right and wrong.  I was right in that the man was indeed homeless, but if I’d had the time to make any further assumptions, I would have been dead wrong about him.  He had a whole lot more going on between his covers than I assumed.

Books are the same.  I recently bought and read a book with a fabulous cover – sucker that I am – and found that I had wasted my money.  But why did I buy the book?  Because the cover caught my eye.  Once again, my  impression that the  book would be great because the cover said so, was wrong.

I’m feeling lucky these days – Resplendence has given me a magnificent cover for Daughters of Persephone and I’m impatient to see the covers for my other books coming with them, not to mention my covers from Siren and Cobblestone.  I hope my readers find that what’s between the covers will be every bit as good as what’s on the cover.

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