Thursday, November 19, 2009

Award-winning, best-selling author Julie Lessman


My name is Julie Lessman … and I am a romance addict.

However, I might add, Margaret Mitchell bears the blame. The moment Scarlett seared Rhett with a look on the winding staircase of Twelve Oaks, I was a goner, my brain irrevocably branded with the burning desire for romance. God help me, I was only twelve at the time when some innocent, unsuspecting person put a copy of Gone With the Wind in my hand. I swear to this day that the binding not only burned my fingers, but it seared my life forever.

You see, when I read that novel at the age of twelve, I was swept away into the world of romance for the very first time. It captured me like no other book had done, and I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I’m sure), what I hoped would be “the great American novel.” Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn’t go anywhere, but I did write 150 single-spaced pages of a story that became the basis (some forty years later!) for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure. Today, I like to think that not only are Margaret Mitchell’s fingerprints are all over me in my religious devotion to passion, but God’s as well—merging my passion for romance with my passion for Him.

And speaking of religiously devoted, I may well be one of the few GWTW fans whose obsession became a habit—a religious habit, that is, of the “nun” variety. Although I had read the book at the age of twelve (and reread it a gazillion times since then), I never saw the movie until I turned sixteen. Way back then (we won’t go into how far back that was), Gone With the Wind was only re-released every seven years. So when I found out that a theatre in my city was sponsoring a free premiere to all the local religious and clergy, I actually dressed up as a nun to go. One of my friends had a sister in the convent who loaned us novice habits, and off we went! I sat there mesmerized, shoving free popcorn into my mouth as I watched the emotional tug-o-war between Rhett and Scarlett. It was one of the most thrilling times of my teens … until we ran into the nuns from our high school! I must have looked pretty convincing in the novice garb, though, because one of our nuns started talking to me about a vocation. Are you kidding? A nun who writes romance? Uh, no!

Why would a book like Gone With the Wind impact me so? Romance, pure and simple. Yes, Scarlett was selfish, but what drew me was the pull she had over Rhett—a man who wanted her but couldn’t have her. To me, seeing a strong, male type like Rhett Butler “who wasn’t the marrying kind” give in and marry her because he loved her and wanted to cherish her, spoke volumes to me. Even as a little girl, I sensed that was what romance was all about—finding a man who couldn’t do without you and to whom you were the most important woman in the world. It wasn’t until I became a born-again Christian at the age of 23 that I learned it was a foreshadow of how God sees romance in Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her."

Now I am not saying that Rhett Butler typified the kind of love Christ had in mind, but he wanted Scarlett so badly, he was willing to give of himself to get her. No other woman alive could do that to him, only her. Now to me, that’s romance in the most heart-pounding sense of the word—to be cherished, loved and desired by a man who would sacrifice himself to claim you as his own.

Sound familiar? Think about it—the romantic love between a man and a woman is a mere shadow of the love, passion and desire that God has for each of us. And if you don’t believe me, take a stroll through the “Song of Solomon” sometime—a love letter to Israel and mankind from a God who wanted each of us so badly, He was willing to sacrifice His Son. When it comes to romance, there’s no question that God wrote the book—and for me, it’s a true bestseller that always guarantees a happy ending.

Feel free to leave a comment to be entered into a Daughters of Boston giveaway where you can win a signed copy of your choice of one of the three books in the series, A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed or A Passion Denied. Good luck!

Hugs,

Julie

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her white-hot passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever. She is the author of The Daughters of Boston series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. You can contact Julie through her website at http://www.julielessman.com/.


Book 3, A Passion Denied, is the story of Faith and Charity’s little sister, Lizzie, a shy bookworm who dreams of a fairy-tale romance. It unfolds a man’s dark past and a young girl’s shattered dreams … and the God who redeems it all.

Elizabeth O’Connor is the little sister John always longed for. With a fire for God in his belly, he has been her spiritual mentor since she was thirteen, sharing her love of literature and her thirst for God. But when his gangly protégé blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving him, he refuses to act on the attraction he feels. His past won’t let him go there. Unfortunately, “Lizzie” won’t let him go anywhere else … until his dark and shocking secrets push her away.

65 comments:

  1. Oh My Yes. I'm with you 100% except for wearing the habit--can't beat that one! I went from obsession with Black Beauty to GWTW. (Details coming along in my blog post about Scarlett coming next month.)

    I know that the Christian worldview of marriage--that old submit to your husband thing--is looked down upon as old-fashioned. But when that is 'fashioned' on "as Christ loved the church" (as in willing to lay down their life) . . . wow. Thanks Julie. Pure romance. We all want a hero, because we were made to love God.
    One of these days I'm going to send you a photo of my Scarlett and Rhett blanket.
    (Scarlett is all over my Christmas tree, too! how about yours?)

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  2. Beautiful post, Julie! I have them all so don't enter me, but I'm looking forward to your other books. :-)

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  3. I just read a Passion Most Pure yesterday! I like your books and writing style. I have not read the GWTW book but I have seen the movie.
    gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

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  4. DEBRA!!! Somehow I just KNEW it -- that YOU would be a fellow GWTW freak like me -- you had that Scarlett gleam in your eye when I met you in Denver! :)

    And, OH, I am realllly looking forward to your post next month ... if you think about, shoot me a reminder so I don't miss the day, okay?

    Uh, no, I don't have a Rhett and Scarlett blanket (you little brat!), but I do have a Scarlett purse, both Scarlett and Rhett coffee mugs that I only drink out of on weekends and special occasions AND a Rhett and Scarlett cardboard cutout AND silkscreened painting hanging over my desk in my office. Sigh ... then why am I STILL jealous about your blanket???!! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  5. JESSICA -- thank you, sweetie! And, hey, Christmas is coming, girl, and wouldn't a signed copy of A Passion Most Pure for family or friend save you the price of one present????

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  6. ADGE ... thank you! I'm really happy you liked APMP! And, OH, the GWTW movie!! Gosh, I've seen it a gazillion times over the years, mostly because I would always watch it when I did my ironing (a bi-annual event, sadly enough), because yes, by that time, I had THAT much ironing to do!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  7. Why, aren't you up bright and early, Mrs. Passion?

    It thrills me to have you guest at our blog today and share with the world what I have been sharing with my sphere of folks for two years--if you want a romance, read Julie Lessman. If you want history, read Julie Lessman. If you want social issues, writing spiked with literary elements...read Julie Lessman!!

    Patti
    P.S. I hear she's a good instructor, too.

    P.P.S. Had to add this: MY favorite Passion book is A Passion Denied. Why? The subtle (and not-so-subtle) personality changes within already fascinating characters. Jesus' love changes people, and it's apparent in this book. Plus there's a load of subplots, which nicely intertwine when you sadly turn the last page.

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  8. Julie, I mentioned wanting check into a convent last week for peace and quiet. Never considered becoming a nun to watch a movie :)

    I also love Gone With The Wind, although I'm not quite a fanatic.

    I've been writing my first nonfiction book recently. In it I mentioned how I'm the kind of stupid girl who falls madly and passionately in love, but that I'm okay with that because I've fallen madly and passionately in love with Jesus.

    Sound like we have a lot in common. Look forward to reading your books. I've heard rave reviews. Thanks for stopping by and letting us get to know you better.

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  9. PATTI!!! Girlfriend, I did NOT know you were part of this fabulous blog until recently -- VERY cool, and a terrific group of ladies (met most of them at ACFW).

    And thanks for the endorsement that "if you want a romance, read Julie Lessman." I'd say that's somewhat true. However, "I hear she's a good instructor, too"? Uh, not so much, which should pretty much send a cold chill down your spine right about now! :)

    Thanks for your very kind words on Denied -- as you know, your opinion carries a lot of weight with me.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  10. DINA ... a convent? But only if you can bring a stack of Inspy romance books, right?

    And NOT a GWTW fanatic? Lucky you're an Inkspot or that might shade my opinion of you!

    And there is NOTHING more romantic than passion for Jesus and His passion for us. So YES, Dina, I would say we have a lot in common! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  11. Hi, Julie : )

    I am from Virginia and I come from a long line of very Southern women. Especially my mama! She loved Gone With the Wind! I can't tell you how many times we watched the movie in the theater, and then later on TV. Once when I was still in high school, GWTW was showing at the local theater. Mom & I went and ended up sitting with two girls who were in my graduating class. Both of the girls later told me how much fun it was to watch Mama watch the movie! She really liked Melanie and Ashley. She thought Leslie Howard was quite a hunk!

    The book is quite different from the movie. Scarlett had many more escapades in print than could be acted out on the big screen. Each of the actors portrayed their characters to perfection. Even without words, their eyes and their facial expressions captivated and held us rapt. Was Clark Gable ever more handsome and dashing than he was in GWTW? Captain Butler, indeed!

    Scarlett was unrepentant and self-serving. Her beauty was intoxicating and her devotion to self was the downfall of those caught in her spell. Even her precious Ashley was second to her love for herself. She only really tried to hold onto Rhett when she knew he was leaving. Yet, somehow, Scarlett remains a fascination. She is a reference and a model for countless other literary characters. Rhett was a scoundrel, but his love for Scarlett and their daughter is legendary!

    The love of one's life is not always the person who could stay in your life, but they will always stay in your heart. Please keep writing with "Passion", Julie!

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

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  12. Earthly romance is always confusing and comes with both good and bad aspects. Romance with God is perfect. Yet another reason I would enjoy that convent. I could focus on my one true love without all the distractions.

    Of course since I'm married with three kids, I'm just fantasizing. Real life calls.

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  13. Okay, I guess I'm not a romantic at all. I've never gotten GWTW. I don't like Scarlett at all (Although, Rhett is a great hero.) To be honest I was rooting for him to leave her and find someone worth spending his love on.

    *ducking and covering*

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  14. Forgot to say that I think I might have felt differently if she had changed any by the end, but she hadn't she was just as selfish and spoiled at the end as she was at the beginning.

    Now I'm really running to hide!

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  15. Hi Julie!
    Oh this converstation is heating up. What fun! I've been watching GWTW for as long as I can remember. And I don't know what it is about my extended family, but it seems like every Thanksgiving someone gets into the, Franky, my dear, I don't give a d... discussion and what really happens to Rhett and Scarlett after the movie ends. :)

    I want to read Lizzie's story now.
    So glad you could hang out with us here at the Inkwell today, Julie.

    jilly11(at)cinci(dot)rr(dot)com

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  16. Hi...I enjoy romance novels too, and my absolute favorites were Gone With the Wind and Forever Amber.
    I'd love to be added to the giveaway for one of Julie's Passion books. I read the first one and would love to read the other two. Thank you!

    Blessings,
    Sandee

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  17. Good morning, all! Thanks so much for blessing us today, Julie. Your books are on my "must acquire list."

    Rhett's still got it, after all of these years! Wonderful points about Rhett's love for Scarlett being a shadow of God's love for us. "...to be cherished, loved and desired by a man who would sacrifice himself to claim you as his own." I think another example of this sort of romantic hero would be Edward of the Twilight saga. To many females, I think he embodies unconditional, sacrificial love, and it's something they want. Badly. As Lori Lundquist puts it, we are created by Perfect Love to receive Perfect Love, in Jesus.

    Thanks, Julie. Can't wait to devour your books!

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  18. VIRGINIA ... what a great memory going to see GWTW with your mom, and I bet she looked a lot like I did as I watched the movie -- goggle-eyed as I shoved popcorn into my mouth.

    Ashley? A hunk? Well, I never quite saw what Scarlett saw in him, but Rhett? Be still my heart. And, YES, Virginia, Clark Gable definitely reached his zenith for me as Captain Butler, NO QUESTION!

    Good luck in winning book #3, sweetie!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  19. DINA ... three kids? "Fantasy," indeed! But "real life" does have its merits, eh ;)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  20. LISA ... Bite your tongue, girl!! The only thing saving you right now is your approval of Rhett. But if you didn't like Scarlett, honey, you DEFINITELY won't like Charity O'Connor, the antagonist in book 1, A Passion Most Pure, but then nobody really does. Which made it a bit nervous for both my agent and editor when they learned book 2 was about Charity. YIKES ... who wants to read about a heroine everybody hates? Well, fortunately for me, quite a few people, apparently, which is a relief. But, the main difference between Scarlett and Charity is that Charity actually changes for the better by book's end ... I mean, come on, this IS an Inspy Romance, after all, right? :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  21. Oh, JILL, how fun!! Discussing GWTW at Thanksgiving!! I'm afraid that wouldn't fly at my house where the only thing my 25 dinner guests want to discuss is Dominoes (for the gals) and Poker (for the guys). Not a real literary crowd, apparently. :)

    And you say you want to read Lizzie's story, Jill, but I just want to make sure that you have read books 1 and 2 first. This is definitley a series that needs to be read in order to get the most out of it due to a number of HUGE surprises, so bear with me because I tend to harp on that point.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  22. Hey, SANDEE, thanks so much for reading A Passion Most Pure, and let's just see what we can do about getting book 2 in your hands, okay? Good luck in the contest.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  23. SUSANNE ... oh, honey, i SO agree -- Rhett DOES still have it, at least for this Baby Boomer!!

    And I love the quote: "We are created by Perfect Love to receive Perfect Love, in Jesus." WOW, that is beautiful and SOOO true!

    And I'm glad to see that my books are on your "must acquire list," but let's see if we can't get them on the "win" list too, okay? Good luck!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  24. Loved this interview--especially the part about dressing in a habit to see GWTW! I have the first two books, so would love to win the third one. thanks! crmcc at setel dot com ps. the first two books are on loan to a 92 year old friend who told me she is loving them!

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  25. Julie, thanks for such a fun post! GWTW is one of my all time favorite books and movies. But I'm afraid I connect more to Rhett than Scarlett. He had flaws aplenty, but at his core, he loved Scarlett. And he respected women, as shown in his treatment of Melanie and Belle.

    I love the scene when he comes back from the shanty town raid, pretending that he and the other men have come from Belle's just to get them safely past the Union soldiers. He saved the man he knew Scarlett pined for out of respect for Melanie. Wow.

    And while Rhett's departure at the end of the story certainly packs a punch, I do wish Margaret Mitchell would have let these two have a "happily ever after" ending. Or at least "happy for an hour." :+}

    Be blessed, Julie. Sending you hugs!

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  26. I don't know how old I was when I first read GWTW. Maybe around 12, like you. And I felt just as much in love with the story, although I'm pretty sure I'd seen the movie already and was head-over-heels for Rhett as portrayed by Clark Gable.

    It's been years since I read GWTW, but the allure of the story hasn't lessened. Romance is romance, and good romance endures.

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  27. I do recall being disappointed that they had changed the story and happened to leave out Scarlett's other two children. But, okay the movie was originally 5 hrs before they cut it. Hmm. I'm surprised it's not a mini-series now. But how would we ever deal with a new Scarlett and Rhett (Joanna Walley did an admirable job... but...)?

    Lisa, you're a brave girl today. Speaking of duck and cover--- Rhett did hide behind that couch when Scarlett threw the vase and asked "Has the war started?"
    I know why Julie had so much fun with Charity.

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  28. I have the first two books and would love to get 'A Passion Denied'! :)

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  29. I definitely need to finish out my copies of this series with a passion redeemed, I've read it but don't have my own copy yet!
    rebornbutterfly (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

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  30. I just wanted to let you know this Ozarks farm chick truly enjoyed the read through your beautiful blog today. Oh, GWTW makes a gals heart thump a little faster. The love of a good man is complete when Christ is in the circle of love. AHhhh, true romance blooms then.

    From the hills and hollers of Missouri, ya'll have a wonderfully blessed day!!!

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  31. Hey Julie, I should have guessed you'd write about Scarlett. :)

    I can see how GWTW would have such a profound effect on you but I really think you were destined to be a passionate romance writer even if you never read the book or saw the movie.

    How you doing with Book 4? Time's a wasting... I need my Julie fix.

    So very glad you came to be with us today.

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  32. Hi Julie,

    I loved your post...Gone With The Wind is one of my favourite books, too...And to this day, I only saw the movie once...I don't know why, come to think of it. I'll have to change that...soon.

    I, too, enjoy your writings...and truly you are an inspiration to me.

    Blessings,

    karenk
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  33. Julie, welcome. It's so great to have you here with us. Scarlett, Rhett and GWTW (book and movie) have been hammered out here pretty well. I saw the movie before reading the book. That was my first inkling that movies don't follow books! Wish I'd experienced them the other way. I try to read the book first now so I have the deeper meaning inside me, like with Harry Potter. You lose so much detail 'seeing' first, but on the other hand, sometimes your favorite scene in the book doesn't make the cut or the character doesn't live up to the written one! Thank goodness Scarlett and Rhett did.

    Your first two Passion books are here on my shelf. Soon, I promise.

    Again, thanks for stopping by. What a fun day.

    Blessings

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  34. Hi, again, Julie: Just a quick 'woof' from my Golden, Riley, to yours. He got upset when I didn't mention him! :-)))

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  35. ROSE!! Bless you, girl, for lending those books out -- word of mouth is everything in this business, so keep it up, PLEASE!! :) And your friend is 92??? Well, I don't why I'm surprised because my 91-year-old aunt loves reading my books too. Mmm, no prejudice there, I'm sure. :)

    Good luck in the contest!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  36. JENN!!! Hey, girl, so you "connect more with Rhett than Scarlett," eh? Well, move over, kiddo, because there's a long line on that one, for sure, and I'm right at the top.

    Rhett did have an awful lot of good in him, for sure, whereas Scarlett was pretty selfish through and through. BUT ... she does grow up in the sequel, Scarlett, which obviously is not written near as well as GWTW, but who cares? It's the characters we love by that point, right?

    And as far as the happy ending? I ALWAYS believed in my heart that Rhett and Scarlett would get back together. You don't love someone with that kind of passion and have it just fizzle out like that, or at least I don't think so. That's one of the reasons I loved the sequel so much. When it came out as a miniseries on TV years ago, I pulled my rocker recliner three feet from the TV and kept the remote in my hand to fast forward commercials as I taped it on my VCR. My husband had strict instructions to keep the kids (then about 5 and 10) AWAY from their mother. It was a VERY tense night, as I recall. :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  37. PATRICIA ... "Romance is romance, and good romance endures."

    Amen to that, sister! And you were twelve when you read the book like me, but already saw the movie? Way to make me feel old, girl! Not that I need any help ... :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  38. DEBRA, you're back! And I'm with you ... that was a bit of a disappointment to me, too, how much of the book they left out of the movie, but it doesn't matter a whit now, does it? :)

    And, YES, a hundred time's YES ... Charity is one of my favorite characters to write. She factors heavily into book 2 of the next series (Sean and Emma's story), and she just cracks me up ... truly!! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  39. Oh, DOREEN honey, we DO need to get you book three for sure! Most of my family and friends like book 3 the best, so hopefully you will too. Good luck in the contest.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  40. REBORNBUTTERFLY ... So good to see you here!! You're still shooting for that signed copy of Redeemed, eh? Well, good for you, and here's hoping for a win, my friend. :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  41. Oh, NEZZY, you're making me homesick, girl!! We had two different houses down at the Lake of the Ozarks, but sold the last one we had when the kids became teenagers -- didn't want to leave them home alone, but OH, do I miss it! Hope to retire there someday, God willing. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the contest.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  42. ANITA!!! Uh, I think I'm with you in your statement that I was destined to be a passionate romance writer before I ever read/saw GWTW! I was realllly good in art, and I used to create my own "romance" stories in pictures at the age of 9 or 10, and I didn't read GWTW till 12, so you're dead on.

    And good news on book 1 of the next series (Katie's story ... and Cluny McGee's!). Just got revisions from my editor and she likes it best of all four books, as do I and my friends, so that REALLY makes me happy! I mean after all, as writers, we all want to think we improve with each book, right?

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  43. Aw, thanks, KAREN, for your really sweet comment! And, YES, you do need to watch GWTW again ... maybe at Christmas time? It does have a Christmas scene in it, after all!

    Thanks for your support and good luck in the contest.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  44. Ooooh, CONNIE, it always makes me nervous knowing my books are sitting on someone's TBR list, like maybe I need to start a prayer vigil now that you'll like them, you know? :)

    And I agree with you about the book always being better than the movie. The fertile imagination is a MUCH BETTER screen to unfold a story on than the TV or theatre.

    How did you know I have a golden retriever? Please give Riley a HUGE hug from me and from Bunker. How old is Riley? Bunker is 14 and 1/2, so we are babying him something fierce. :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  45. Hey Mrs. Lessman,
    having lived about 20 minutes from where Ms. Mitchell penned that epic tale, you would think that I would have read the book by now or at least seen the movie. But alas, I neither seen nor read. But your love for GWTW (and my love for APM, and where it all began), had me on a mission to find a my own copy. After seaching many a used bookstore(the books, not the store:~) I was able to attain a battered, old hard copy for $3.00. Now it's sitting on my shelf waiting for me to leaf through those musty pages and go back to civil war Geogia with Rhett and Scarlett and all that romance. I would love to be enter in the book giveaway.

    i95fahrenheit@ymail.com

    Love Y'all,
    Ashley

    P.S.
    I can't wait for AHU. I don't know how my family will stand me till sept. 2010!

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  46. Hi Julie -

    Great post! I'm looking forward to your next release.

    Don't enter me in the contest as I've read all your books. I'd like to see a new reader discover your excellent writing.

    Susan :)

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  47. Hey Julie, it's your newest fan, Kathy. The one who received APMP from Lori (Sugar and Grits) and inhaled it, then went and bought the 2nd book only to read it in three days. Oh my, I really, really, really, look forward to reading A Passion Denied and all three of your upcoming books. Excellent, excellent! And they give me much food for thought for my own writings. Thank you!

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  48. Julie,

    Love the post! I have to tell you something funny though. Okay so I have heard of "Gone with the Wind" lots of times and I have seen the book, but I've never read it and I never knew what it was about. Well I knew it was your favorite book. So last Sunday I asked my cousin what it was about, and that was a long conversation. Okay so maybe it's not really funny, but it's cool because me and my cousin talked about it on Sunday and you did a post about it today. I still can't wait for your next book and I so hope I win your contest that would be so AWESOME!!!

    I would love to be enter in to this contest for a chance to win A Passion Redeemed b/c I don't have that one. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

    your fan~Kayla
    happygurl1807(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  49. ASHLEY, you lucky girl, you -- living that close to where romance began for me!! And I cannot believe you haven't read GWTW yet, but I am VERY proud of you for hunting a copy down! I still have my original copy (the cover is a ragged hardback cover, with my name penned in ink at the age of 12. Now keep in mind that back then, this one one of the really few great romances around, so it literally captured the entire country. I am not really sure what a young woman today would think of it, but I hope you really, really like it. And it will certainly give you some idea as to where my "passionate" scenes come from in my books! :)

    And, grin, I can't wait for AHU either, and I'm not sure how my family will live with me until then as well! For those of you who don't know what that it is, it is my next book, A Hope Undaunted, Katie O'Connor's story.

    Thanks, Ashley, for your support -- I SO appreciate it.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  50. SUSAN!!! Soooo good to see you here, my friend. Thank you for stopping by AND for your kind comment.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  51. KATH!!! Great to see you here as well, and I am SO glad you enjoyed the first two books, so lets see what we can do about getting you the third. Good luck in the contest and God bless Lori for getting APMP in your hot, little hands!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  52. Hey, KAYLA, thank you SO much for your incredible support, and that's too funny about you and your cousin just talking about GWTW!! I'd love to hear what you think of it after you read it, okay? And good luck in the contest, sweetie ... here's hoping for a win.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  53. I have read Faith and Charity's stories and must say I really enjoyed them. I have really come to love the O'Connor family.

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  54. Thanks, CHERIE, for your kind comment -- MUCH appreciated! Good luck in the contest.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  55. Julie, I really enjoyed this post. I can't remember how old I was when I read GWTW, but it was long before I saw the movie and I thought Scarlett was a great character. I love that you dressed up as a nun to see the movie. I'm looking forward to reading your boooks...they're in by TBR pile.

    Thanks for visiting us. I hope you come back again.

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  56. Thanks, SUZIE, I really, really enjoyed being on Inkwell Inspirations blog -- thanks to Gina and the rest of you for inviting me! You gals are THE BEST!!

    And thanks for having my books in your TBR!! Hope you enjoy them.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  57. Julie, I have no doubt that I'll enjoy the books. I'm just sad that I can't drop everything and read all the books in my TBR pile. Every day I have to ask myself whatever possessed me to think going to school while working full time was a good idea? Now there's no time for reading good books at my own pace. And of course, there's even less time and energy to write, too.

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  58. SUZIE ... going to school while working full time???? You must be VERY young, girl, to accomplish something like that -- I admire you! And I certainly relate, although I'm neither young nor going to school (unless it's the Publishing School of Hard Knocks!!). But I have found that I am able to read about four or five books a month by reading whenever I go to the restroom, for a few minutes before I go to bed AND carrying a book with me everywhere I go so I can read while in the car (while hubby's driving) or waiting in a line, etc. It has really, really worked for me.

    Good luck to you, Suzie, in your schooling and your writing. Someday you'll have time for both. But don't wait as long as I did, for pity's sake. I didn't start till I was 50!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  59. Julie, thanks for the laugh. Young. Ha! I'll be 50 next year. And, um, since you didn't start until you were 50, does that mean you wrote your books and sold them all in a year's time? Seriously, I can't believe you're over 50. I attend that publishing school of hard knocks, too.

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  60. SUZIE ... 50 next year??? Dear Lord, was the picture above taken years ago??? Glad I could give you a laugh, but you gave me one too! Uh, no, didn't write the books and sell them all in one year, although that would have been nice. :) I am 59 years old, but use A LOT of night cream and have an artist husband whose wife begs him to PhotoShop out all her wrinkles ... :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  61. Well, you are a superstar to me! My goodness! Over FIFTY comments!! And this ain't Seekerville!!!

    Night cream, huh?

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  62. Grin ... yeah, but half of them are mine, sweetie. And, YEAH, I have the BEST night cream around. If you're nice to me, I'll tell you the name when you get old.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  63. Julie, I need the name of that night cream, too. Seriously. My picture was taken with the sun shining directly on me. Blogger is so wonderful in that it makes the pictures so small no one can see the wrinkles. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  64. SUZIE ... Oh, I agree on the small pictures, for sure!! Okay ... but only because I like you! The night cream is Neutrogenia Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Fabulous stuff ... especially under the eyes!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thanks Julie! And I'm sure the bags under my eyes will thank you, too.

    ReplyDelete

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We, the ladies of Inkwell Inspirations, would love to give free stuff to everybody. Since we can't, we will often have a giveaway in conjunction with a specific post. Unless otherwise stated, one winner will be drawn from comments left on that post between the date it was published and the end of the giveaway as determined in the post. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address. This address is used only to contact the commenter in the event that he/she is the winner, and will not be sold, distributed, or used in any other fashion. The odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. NO PURCHASE, PLEDGE, OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

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