Juliana Stone

Today I'm excited to host a good buddy from Toronto Romance Writers, Juliana Stone.

Juliana Stone has always believed in the power of a good story. When her first narrative, a futuristic about Santa Claus set in a world that resembled her friend’s hamster cage was a hit with her fourth grade teacher, she discovered the joy of words. Something that has stayed with her ever since. Whether it was music or narrative, words became an important part of her life.

During a stint on the music end of things, (and yes she had the big hair, and equally big shoulder pads), she toured Canada fronting an all female rock band and after meeting her husband fell into married life. Kids, dog and the requisite white picket fence followed and her writing took a bit of a back seat.

But in the fall of 2007 she decided to take another stab at writing and inspired by the paranormal works of Christine Feehan, Keri Arthur and Lindsey Sands she set out to write something great. She ended up with an intriguing world of Jaguar Warriors and was grateful that Avon Books wanted to publish them!

Her latest release, His Darkest Salvation was released July 26, 2011 and the series heads into an exciting, new direction, with the next installment, Wicked Road to Hell, out April of 2012.

GET TO KNOW JULIANA STONE

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite holiday?
JULIANA: Christmas

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
JULIANA: Pride and Prejudice (Kiera Knightly version)

MAUREEN: Where do you most like to read and how often?
JULIANA: Sofa in family room.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
JULIANA: One with lots of emotion and some smex!

MAUREEN: What’s the first book you remember reading?
JULIANA: Nancy Drew, The Secret of Shadow Ranch.

MAUREEN: What really scares you?
JULIANA: Death.

MAUREEN: Who was your favorite teacher in grade school? Why?
JULIANA: Mrs. Rebuk. She read to us every afternoon. Tom Saywer, The Black. I remember those books vividly because of her.

MAUREEN: Do you believe in ghosts?
JULIANA: Yes and I saw one in my house when I was about 9. She stood at the end of my bed and stared at me for a long time. There’s a story here…maybe I’ll blog about it!

MAUREEN: Where in the world would you most like to visit?
JULIANA: Australia.

MAUREEN: What’s next for you as an author?
JULIANA: As of now, I’m working on the next books in my new series that starts next year, League of Guardians.

MAUREEN: Do shapeshifters exist?
JULIANA: Well, I’ll never say never but if they do for reals, I sure as hell hope they look like Alcide from True Blood. SEXIEST shifter evah.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite hobby?
JULIANA: Music and baseball.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
JULIANA: Snow White.

MAUREEN: What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?
JULIANA: Family vacation in Belize.

MAUREEN: Cats or dogs?
JULIANA: Both.

MAUREEN: Hiking boots or high heels?
JULIANA: Heels of course. Easy answer when you’re only five foot three.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
JULIANA: Bugs Bunny.

MAUREEN: What hidden talents do you have?
JULIANA: Well, apparently I can sing a bit.

MAUREEN: What was your favorite book when you were twelve?
JULIANA: Scruples. A book I probably shouldn’t have been reading.

MAUREEN: What turns you off like nothing else?
JULIANA: Fakeness in people.

MAUREEN: What sound or noise do you love?
JULIANA: My kids laughing.

MAUREEN: What book would you want with you if you were stranded on a dessert island?
JULIANA: Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series.

MAUREEN: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

JULIANA: NO, I cannot. I need absolute silence when I’m writing.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite kind of cheese?
JULIANA: Mild cheddar.

MAUREEN: Vanilla or chocolate?
JULIANA: Chocolate.

MAUREEN: What was the first story you remember writing?
JULIANA: I wrote a Christmas story in grade four. Our world was a series of tubes, like in a hamster cage. My teacher thought I had a great imagination!

MAUREEN: Who’s your favorite villain?
JULIANA: Hannibal Lecter.

MAUREEN: What was your first boyfriend’s name? Would you want to meet him again?
JULIANA: Dave—he was my first crush and we eventually dated. Interestingly enough he ended up in the town that I now live in. I see him occasionally.

MAUREEN: Is Elvis really dead?
JULIANA: As a door nail.

MAUREEN: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
JULIANA: Breathe a huge sigh of relief.

MAUREEN: If you could interview one person (and it doesn’t have to be a writer) who would it be?
JULIANA: Jim Morrison.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite desert?
JULIANA: Apple Pie.

MAUREEN: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and why?
JULIANA: To the 60’s at the height of the new rock boom. I’d love to hang with The Doors, The Stones, Led Zepplin. How awesome would that be?

MAUREEN: What do you do to unwind and relax?
JULIANA: Read or watch movies.

MAUREEN: Strawberry daiquiri or a beer?
JULIANA: Beer…a really, really, cold one.

MAUREEN: Do you believe in alien abductions?
JULIANA: Nope.

MAUREEN: Vampires or werewolves?
JULIANA: Werewolves.

MAUREEN: What was your favorite subject in school?
JULIANA: History.

MAUREEN: Do you remember your grade one teacher’s name?
JULIANA: Mrs. Sysuik. At least that’s how I think he name is spelled.

MAUREEN: Who was your first best friend? Are you still in touch?
JULIANA: My oldest friend and I are still in touch yes. I’ve known Tracey since I was five.

MAUREEN: Did you belong to a clique in high school? Which one of the standard high school stereotypes did you best fit in to?
JULIANA: I didn’t belong to any clique…but got along with everyone. The jocks, the brains, the stoners. LOL, I loved High school.

MAUREEN: Salsa or guacamole?
JULIANA: Salsa

MAUREEN: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
JULIANA: I try not to read them. A really bad review gets to me.

MAUREEN: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
JULIANA: Some traveling. Because I try to attend the national conference I’ve been to cities that I otherwise would never have visited.

MAUREEN: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
JULIANA: Coffee. Double/double please.

MAUREEN: What does it mean to love someone?
JULIANA: Baring your soul and giving your all.

MAUREEN: What color would you make the sky if it wasn’t going to be blue anymore and why?
JULIANA: Green. My fave colour.


MAUREEN: What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon?
JULIANA: Chilling in the back yard and reading.

MAUREEN'S GOTTA ASK -- JULIANA'S GOTTA ANSWER

MAUREEN: Which career is most exciting: rocker, author or mother?
JULIANA: Well being in a band and traveling all over for two years was certainly different. I have a ton of stories I could tell and maybe one day will, LOL. It was crazy, satisfying, cool and an experience I’m glad my parents let me do.

Of course you can’t compare it to the craziness of being a mother. Different animals, believe me!

JULIANA ASKS HER READERS:

Of my Jaguar Warriors books, which is your favorite character and why? I get a lot of email about Declan O’Hara and am wondering what it is about him that appeals to fans.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Juliana is generously offering a copy of either His Darkest Hunger or His Darkest Embrace to one lucky commenter chosen at random. Since she plans to order from The Book Depository, the book won't be signed BUT the giveaway is open to anyone in a country to which they ship! (Most places in the world.)

Because this post is going up on a weekend, we'll keep the contest open for comments made up to midnight eastern time on Monday.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH JULIANA:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulianaStone

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#%21/Juliana_Stone

Website: http://www.julianastone.com/



Be sure to come back next week. On Monday, Simone hosts Christine Johnson!