WHY I WROTE DARK WARRIOR
by Julie Shelton
Dark Warrior is my third novel to be published, but it was the first novel I ever wrote, and that was over forty years ago. Back in 1972, in order to graduate “With Honors”, I had to write a lengthy dissertation IN FRENCH (since French was my major) on a topic of my choosing. So, I chose life in a 13th century French castle, thus cleverly uniting my love for the middle ages with the goal of graduating “Cum Laude”. I began researching, taking notes the way I had previously found most effective for me—on 3 x 5 index cards, one thought or fact per card. I quickly accumulated three shoe boxes full of notes on all aspects of daily life in the middle ages.
While I was studying the era, the germ of two completely different novels sprang full-blown into my mind, one inspired by my research, the other inspired by a blue gown worn by a minor character in the movie Becket. I couldn’t write them down fast enough. As it happened, I also wrote THEM on 3 x 5 index cards, one sentence at a time, thus enabling me to add scenes, switch scenes around, slip in research details, etc. as I went. Each of those novels wound up filling two shoe boxes. When I got my first computer back in 2003,Dark Warrior was the first thing I typed on my word processor. I chose it because at one point I had DROPPED the shoe boxes containing the OTHER medieval novel, spilling index cards all over my driveway. In the rain. So I just scooped them up and shoved them back into the boxes. I still have those boxes full of jumbled cards. Not sure what I’m going to do with them.
In the meantime, in my reading life, I had discovered the delights of erotic BDSM romance, so when the idea for Loving Sarah came to mind, I started writing. After four years of polishing, and revising, I finally said, “Enough already,” and sent it off to Siren. You can imagine how thrilled I was when they said they wanted to publish it! My first book! Owning Sarah, the sequel, contains quite a few scenes originally written for Loving Sarah, so I wrote it next. As I was working on it, I realized that my 14th-century novel could quickly be brought into the 21st century (so to speak) with a few revisions, updates, and rewrites, so Dark Warrior became my next project. When it is published on January 15, my first book will become my third book.
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| Click cover for excerpts and buy links. |
When Nicholas Herron, Duke of Berwick and his best friend, Rolf Torgesson, two of King Edward III’s most powerful and respected knights, discover a badly beaten young woman hiding in the forest, they swear to protect her. By the time they learn that she is Lady Kathryn Weston, and that her attacker is none other than her betrothed, Robert Walford, the powerful and ruthless Duke of Pemberton, it is too late. They have both fallen in love with her and she with them—a love so forbidden it could cost them everything, even their lives.
Set amidst the turmoil and pageantry of 14th-century England, Dark Warrior weaves a vivid tapestry of three lost souls bound to each other with a deep, abiding love. But will that love survive Walford’s evil plan to attack Berwick Castle, take it apart stone by stone and ultimately destroy everyone who lives there?
Also by Julie Shelton
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| http://www.bookstrand.com/loving-sarah |
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| http://www.bookstrand.com/loving-sarah |
About Julie Shelton
Julie has been writing her entire life, but it wasn’t until November of 2012 that she burst onto the erotic romance scene with her sizzling hot first novel, Loving Sarah, followed by its sequel, Owning Sarah, ten months later. Her third novel, Dark Warrior, set in 14th-century England, is her first historical romance.
Julie lives in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. Now retired after a 25-year dream career, first as a children’s librarian then a professional storyteller and puppeteer, she once again has time to devote to her new love, writing erotic romance, the steamier the better, thus following the career path blazed by so many before her—from kiddie lit to erotica.
Connect with Julie:
Fan Page: www.facebook.com/
Website: www.juliesheltonauthor.com
Amazon author page:http://amzn.to/IEAADL
Hi, Michelle, the post looks great. Thanks for having me as your guest.
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