Welcome back to Books-n-Kisses Julie Ann.

For those who missed your prior visits can you please share with us a little about yourself
Julie:  Hello! *waves* My name is Julie Ann Walker.  I write the bestselling Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series.  I’m addicted to three things: coffee, handbags, and shoes.  I adore travelling and hope to visit 100 countries before I die – so far I’ve been to 43, which means I still have a lot of plane rides ahead of me.  LOL!  I’ve been married fifteen years to the love of my life.  And I ride my bicycle everyday when the weather is nice.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
Julie:  Well, I got my degree in mathematics, so I suppose the answer to this question in no.  😉  On the other hand, I’ve always written.  It’s just that I treated it more like a hobby because I figured the dream of actually becoming a published author was too big, unattainable for the likes of little ol’ me.  Imagine my surprise, then, when first a literary agent, and then a publisher actually wanted to print my books.  LOL!

Are you a plotter or a pantser or combo of both? And can you explain the difference?
Julie:  I’m a pantser all the way – meaning I write by the seat of my pants.  A plotter is someone who outlines their books beforehand, thinking through all the ins and outs, devising all the plot twists and character arcs.  Sometimes I wish I could do that.  It certainly seems more efficient.  But, alas, my method it to just sit down at the keyboard and go… letting the story take me where it will.  Yeehaw! *wink*

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Julie:  I don’t know how interesting it is, but I’m obsessed with post-it notes.  If I have an idea about what should happen 20 pages further along in the book, I use a post-it note.  If something has occurred to me that should be added to a scene I’ve already written, I use a post-it note.  If I have an upcoming book reading or signing, I use a post-it note.  If I have a payment due for, say, a conference or something, I use a post-it note.  My office looks like total mayhem, but it’s actually quite organized.  Just DON’T TOUCH MY POST-ITS!  Or I might have to murder you… *gives the evil eye*

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Julie:  I’d love to!  So, Born Wild is sort of the book BKI fans have been waiting for.  The hero and heroine, Wild Bill Reichert and Eve Edens, have been dancing around each other since the beginning of the series.  We know there’s history between them… deep, dark, delicious history.  And in this book we finally find out what all the hot fuss is about.  Plus, in standard BKI form, there’s a devious villain, some flying bullets, kick butt motorcycles, and, of course, smokin’ hot sexy times.  😉

How did you come with the idea for this story?
Julie:  Like most of my books, I pulled this one straight out of my… ahem… you know.  *shakes head*  I never know where exactly the story will take me until I’m actually finished with it.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Julie:  Absolutely!  I’ve just started working on the seventh book in the series.  It’s hero is BKI’s crazy cool Latin lover, Carlos “Steady” Santos.  And the heroine is the President’s daughter, Abigail Thompson.  There’s a kidnapping, ransom demands, a race through Southeast Asia, and some sweet lovin’ that’s guaranteed to set the pages on fire.  I’m having a blast writing it!

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Julie:  I would kill  to meet Suzanne Brockmann.  She is the reigning queen of romantic suspense, and she’s the entire reason I started writing in the genre.  If I ever get the opportunity to meet her, I’ll likely prostrate myself at her feet.  So if you see me on the floor of a hotel lobby, kissing some woman’s toes, you’ll know it’s Suz Brockmann standing before me.  *snicker*

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Julie:  Read, write, read, write, rinse, and repeat until you’ve got something that’s ready to be put out into the world!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
Julie:  I would love to live abroad in Ireland for a year.  It’s one of my most favorite spots on the planet.  The pubs, the Guinness, the soda bread, the fields of heather, the blarney… *sigh*  Heaven.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Julie:  My friend, Amanda Carlson, writes some of the best Urban Fantasy out there.  The third book in her series, Cold Blooded, debuted about a month ago, and I can’t wait to dig in!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?
Julie:  Gone With The Wind… without a doubt.  I’ve read it at least a dozen times.  And every time, I find something new and wonderful about the story.  Scarlett is such a difficult heroine.  She’s so complicated and easy to hate, yet she’s amazingly strong and resilient.  I love characters that are deeply three-dimensional.

What is your favorite time of year & why?
Julie:  Summer!  I’m outdoorsy.  And when I can’t go out and play, I get – as my husband so delicately puts it – cranky.   😉

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?
Julie:  Currently, I’m a bit enamored of Tom Hardy.  I mean, those lips. Hubba, hubba.  If I ever met him?  Well, I’ll probably try to steal a kiss.  Just a quick one.  Nothing to get me in trouble with Mr. Walker.  LOL!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Julie:  Just a giant cyber hug and my heartfelt thanks for having me back on Books-N-Kisses.  This is always such a treat!

BORN WILD

 IN STORES NOVEMBER 2013

Amazon| Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Discover a New Love | iBookstore | Indigo/Chapters | IndieBound | Sourcebooks

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker dives back into action with the red-hot romantic suspense Black Knights Inc. series!  They claim they’re bad-boy bikers who own custom motorcycle shop, but these special-ops guys–a mix of Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Marines, FBI and more–handle the jobs too tough for the government to tackle.

TICK…TICK…

“Wild” Bill Reichert knows a thing or two about explosives. The ex-Navy SEAL can practically rig a bomb blindfolded. But there’s no way to diffuse the inevitable fireworks the day Eve Edens walks back into his life, asking for help…

BOOM!

Eve doesn’t know what to do when the Chicago police won’t believe someone is out to hurt her. The only place to turn is Black Knights Inc—after all, no one is better at protection than the covert special-ops team. Yet there’s also no one better at getting her all turned on than Billy Reichert. She has a feeling this is one blast from the past that could backfire big time…

PRAISE FOR BORN WILD:

“One heck of a riveting plotline… Born Wild is definitely not to be missed!” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars

 “A wild roller coaster ride of a story… Nonstop action.” —Fresh Fiction

 “Drama, danger and sexual tension… Romantic suspense at its best.” —Night Owl Reviews, 5/5 Stars, Reviewer Top Pick

A little about Julie Ann: 

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. She is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics, and prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind. You can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission. For more information, please visit www.julieannwalker.com or follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor, and Twitter, @JAWalkerAuthor.

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