Sunday, June 7, 2009

A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman



I am thrilled to host good friend Julie Lessman here at Net's Book Notes today. We're featuring her novel "A Passion Denied," Book Three in her Daughters of Boston series.

Recently she and I discussed the passionate nature of her novels. There has been a little "controversy" around her writing, but for the most part, readers are eating it up. I personally love her writing, though I did have some questions for her following this third book. You'll also get the scoop on her upcoming series!

Wanna win an autographed copy of one of Julie's books? Read on for details about our BOOK GIVEAWAY.

Here's the blurb from A Passion Denied:

Young Elizabeth O'Connor is the little sister John Brady always longed for. But she wants much more than that from her spiritual mentor. As she blossoms into a beautiful young woman intent on loving John, he must push back the very real attraction he feels for her. His past just won't let him go there. Unfortunately, Lizzie won't let him go anywhere else--until she discovers he is not all that he seems. Can true love survive such revelations? Full of the romance and relationships Lessman readers have come to love, A Passion Denied is the final book in the popular Daughters of Boston series.

Has she fallen in love with a man who cannot love her back? Elizabeth O'Connor has been like the little sister Jo
hn Brady always wanted, sharing his love of literature and his thirst for God. But in the throes of the reckless Roaring Twenties, Lizzie has grown up. Suddenly she wants more from the man who has been her friend since she was a child. When this shy little bookworm blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving John, she discovers that his past won't let him return that love. But Lizzie refuses to give up--until his shocking secrets push her away. Can true love survive the betrayal and deceitful of a painful past . . . or will it be shattered like the fairy-tale dreams of a girl in love? Brimming with romance, longing, and redemption, A Passion Denied, will quicken your pulse and gladden your heart with a riveting story of the true power of love. Julie Lessman is the author of A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed and is the recipient of ten Romance Writers of America awards. She resides in Missouri with her family.

And some info on Julie:

Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She is a commercial writer for Maritz Travel, a published poet and a Golden Heart Finalist. Julie has a heart to write “Mainstream Inspirational,” reaching the 21st-century woman with compelling love stories laced with God’s precepts. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. A Passion Most Pure is her first novel.

And now, for a conversation with Julie:

Welcome, Julie! So glad you could drop by. From the moment I picked up A Passion Most Pure, opened to the first page and began the journey into your series (The Daughters of Boston), I knew I was in for a read like few I’ve ever seen. The trademark of your fiction is passion, sensuality. You portrayed marital passion wholesomely, and believably (I might add, having been married only a few years younger than the married parents in this series.). I liked the novel very much. The Christian romantic fiction marketplace has been careful to maintain strict boundaries around portrayals of sensuality and passion, even in romance. What you’ve been able to do is push the envelope, giving readers a more real depiction (for good or bad—in other words, the characters can make wholesome decisions or not, but if not, you painted the bitter consequences). I read books One and Two with interest, noting your veering from the norm. Book Three (the one we’re featuring today—A Passion Denied) seemed to go further than the others. For me, the issue with this most recent book was the seduction element, which I felt occasinally pushed the limits further than the others.

Julie: Annette, your assessment that A Passion Denied goes “further than the others” as far as the “seduction element” is probably true regarding this third book in The Daughters of Boston Series. The reason for this is that in this book, I am not only dealing with the romantic relationship between the unmarried hero and heroine, but also the romantic and obviously more intimate relationships between three married couples as well—the mother and father, Marcy and Patrick and the two married sisters and their spouses.

You see, when I fall in love with a hero and heroine in a series book, I hate to see them relegated to a shallow cameo appearance in the next novel. I desperately wanted to have a flesh-and-blood family who evolved with each successive book, just like the hero and heroine do. I guess like any author, I pour my heart and soul into my characters, literally, and I don’t like to leave them behind when a book ends. And, I have a strong desire to try and impart some of the valuable moral lessons I’ve learned in my marriage into the marriages of all my characters.

One of my biggest pet peeves in romance is when a story focuses primarily on 1.) Young People and 2.) Unmarried Couples. I’m sorry, but I am an older woman who has a passionate love affair with my husband, and frankly, I want to be able to write about the power and potential of having a relationship like that and the vital part that romance plays in a godly marriage. In book 3, because of the married couples, I was able to do that, which resonates with some readers, but certainly not with all.

It absolutely resonated with me. Thanks for explaining that. The Daughters of Boston Series contains three books so far: A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed and A Passion Denied. Great titles. Tell us about your latest book, and will it be in the same series? (I know it centers on Katie, one of the sisters in your series.)

My next 3-book series will finish off the saga of the O’Connors in grand style, but I must emphasize that this will be a BRAND-NEW series, NOT a part of The Daughters of Boston Series.

Book 1 (working title Refuge From the Storm) will be the story of the youngest daughter, Katie, who is a pistol who comes of age in the Roaring Twenties, right before The Great Depression. Book 2 (working title Far Above Rubies) will be about the eldest O’Connor brother, Sean whose love interest will be—guess who? Emma, Charity’s gentle and scarred friend from Dublin! And then book 3 (working title Beside the Still Waters) details the tale of the younger O’Connor son Steven, during the exciting era of speakeasies, dance marathons, gangsters, G-men and era criminals like Bonnie & Clyde and John Dillenger. Steven will be a tall, brooding G-man-type modeled after Elliot Ness, a la Robert Stack from the Untouchables. I’m very excited because all three plots are very involved, include detailed sub-stories for ALL the character couples (can you say “complicated”???) and each plot has surprises that I hope will blow my readers away!

Sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to read them! Your bio mentions you have won ten RWA awards. Tell us about them. (i.e. were they the unpublished contest, or for short stories, or full length. Were any of your currently published novels among the winners?)

Yes, I won ten RWA awards, everything from 1st place to Honorable Mention in RWA unpublished contests for A Passion Most Pure (which was then A Chasing After the Wind) and a few for A Passion Redeemed (which was then Chaff Before the Wind), including The Golden Heart, The Maggie, The Molly, The Stepping Stone, The Jasmine and the ACFW Noble Theme to name a few.

Very impressive. Let’s talk about the recent “controversy” around the sensual nature of your writing. What’s been happening?

You know, Annette, I’m not really sure there’s any real “controversy” other than in my own mind when I receive a pretty harsh review. I know with A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed, there really wasn’t much “controversy” AT ALL, other than one or two 1-star reviews that clearly indicated displeasure with the passionate nature of my books. And I have to admit, I prefer the term “passionate” over the word “sensual” because for me, the first implies more of a “heart” passion (whether for God or for a loved one) versus the second, which indicates a more sexual passion ruled by the senses rather than the heart.

But with A Passion Denied, I do sense a faint undercurrent of “controversy,” real or imagined, that has given me pause. Not only with one or two harsh reviews (i.e. “In my opinion, smut is smut. Even if you slap God's name in it on occasion it's still smut.”), but in veiled comments in otherwise really great reviews that have made me question (again!) whether the level of passion in my books exceeds boundaries in the CBA. Clearly in the ABA, my novels would be nothing more than the tamest “sweet romance,” but I am an Inspirational author whose market is Christian women, so naturally I do not want to overstep any bounds in that market. Although to be honest, my real concern comes from overstepping bounds set by God, so I do pray about the direction of my writing constantly, both in my own prayer time and with my prayer partners. I truly believe that I have been called to write passionate romance for God—I feel it in my bones—but as with anything where fallible human beings are involved, I want to make sure that I am following God’s direction for my writing and not my own.

You and I have had conversations about this before. Please share with readers what your calling is in your writing. And please share how you came to understand your calling. (How God showed you your niche.)


Well, I thoroughly explain both my “calling” and how I came to it in a blog I wrote for The Seekers entitled “Life on the Edge …” (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2009/05/life-on-edge.html), but basically I feel I am called to draw people to an intimate relationship with God through “passion”—both romantically and spiritually. You see, according to the American Religious Identification Survey conducted by the Barna Group, “nine out of ten women nationwide (90%) consider themselves to be Christian.” The sad truth is that most of these women who do read romance wouldn’t choose Inspirational romance to save their soul.


Why, you may ask? Well, I can only speak for myself and my friends who wanted more heart-pounding, 21st-century realistic romantic tension interlaced with God’s precepts (i.e. on the "edge," like mine), which in years past, hasn't been overly prevalent in the Christian market. As a result, most of my friends, C
hristian and non, read secular romance, which, of course, generally promotes the world’s amoral lifestyle rather than God’s. What’s wrong with this picture? I mean if the world can take something that God created and use it to sell its amoral agenda, then why can’t Christians utilize this God-given passion to promote Him and His precepts?

(Note from Net: I couldn’t agree more.)


So when God tapped me on the shoulder in a beauty shop (figuratively, of course) while reading a 2001 Newsweek cover article on how Christian movies, books and music were on the threshold of exploding, I was nervous. Now is the time to finish your book, the thought came, and I knew that meant the book I’d begun at the age of twelve after reading Gone With the Wind. But romance? The "subgenre" that literary snobs (myself included) looked down upon? Yes, the thought came again, write for Me. Mmm … passion for God, an interesting concept. Thus was born my tagline and my ministry—Passion With a Purpose.


I mean, l
ook at the world today—it’s obsessed with illicit passion. Hollywood promotes adultery and unmarried couples sleeping together as sexy, and I can count on one hand how many young, unmarried women I know who are still virgins today, Christian or no. Why? Because passion is important! Not just to romance readers, but to everyone on the planet. We were created that way by a passionate God who analogizes His own depth of love for each of us in a very passionate love letter called “Song of Solomon.” And what happens? The world uses this beautiful, God-given gift to shove sin down peoples’ throats, and I, for one, am really sick of it. I want to use passion the way it was intended—to teach people God’s precepts and therein, His love. It’s the cry of my heart, and I hope and pray that for my readers, my stories of romantic passion translate into passion for God.

Oh, I love that connection and wholeheartedly agree. My own writing reflects as much! With your successful series so far, I’m sure you’ve had feedback where people’s lives have been changed. Please share a testimony (or more than one) where that is the case.

Gladly! My favorite story is about the day I was praying with my prayer partner and her 25-year-old daughter stopped by. Now this was a girl I hadn’t seen in a long time but knew that she had strayed from her Christian roots—living with her boyfriend before they got married, not going to church anymore, heavy drinking, etc. This young women proceeded to tell me that when she read my books, she actually got angry at me. Why? Because the spiritual parts convicted her so much that she wanted to throw the books out. But she didn’t, she said, BECAUSE the intense “passion” and romance so grabbed her by the throat, that she was compelled to finish the books. And when she turned the last page of A Passion Redeemed, she told me it had brought her up to a whole other level with God. I had tears in my eyes when I learned she is now back at church and trying to live for Him. Call me “edgy” if you will, but for me, it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Love that story! Anytime someone boldly goes where God is calling her, despite the resistance, I r
espect her. You’re out there on your own, it feels. Has your family supported you and where does your husband fit into your writing life?

Uh, yeah, it does feel a little “lonely” at times out on the edge in a market where my style of “21st-century realistic” and “edgy” writing may ruffle a few feathers. But I have to say that the opposition has been minimal and far outweighed by the positive. For instance, I received an overwhelming response of encouragement on The Seeker blog I mentioned above with 129 comments, all of which were positive except for two, and one of those changed her mind after I answered a few of her questions. Since the series came out last year, I have received over a 1,000 positive e-mails from readers, some that have reduced me to tears over the positive impact this style of writing is making in women’s lives. And, yes, my family has been an amazing support, as well, especially my artist husband who is not only my inspiration for so many of my male characters, but the glue that keeps me together (along with God) when my emotional nature wants to fall apart. And, you will be happy to know, Annette, that it is my husband who is the main factor in my decision to tone down my next series just a tad as far as the “passion” aspect.

I respect both of you and appreciate how challenging this must have been for you (walking out your calling together). Thank you for joining me today on Net’s Book Notes. It’s been a pleasure. How can readers contact you?

Thank you, Annette, for allowing me this time to connect with you and your readers. Anyone who would like to contact me can do so through my website at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter, in which I feature book giveaways. Finally, I invite your readers to visit The Seekers, a group blog of which I am a part that talks about “The road to publication. Writing, contests, publication and everything in between.” You can find us at http://seekerville.blogspot.com/.

Hugs,
Julie

And now, my review of A Passion Denied:

Oh, how I enjoy reading Julie’s books, especially the first in the Daughters of Boston Series: A Passion Most Pure. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.

One of her strengths is prose. She doesn’t settle for traditional wording (clichés) but rather invents new phrases. I should have carried a highlighter around with this novel, because I’d have used it a lot.

Julie’s work intrigued me. As a student of Christian fiction for nearly 20 years, I’d never seen anything like it. She pushes the envelope (see interview above) and honestly, I wondered how she’d “gotten away” with her story elements at times. But what I found was real, believable, "relatable."

A Passion Denied challenged me. I’ve become friends with Julie and had committed to reading this book for review. And I trust her (a key element for readers to have). Though all of her books have sensuality, this third book contained a strong element of seduction. Now, it’s not a traditional secular romance (i.e. no holds barred on sexuality) but it does push at the walls of CBA fiction publications. If you’ve read my own book (Love Letters) you will know I’m not afraid of writing passionate scenes. I’m unafraid of reading them, as well. What unnerved me about A Passion Denied was that seduction factor.

What I didn’t know as I read it was that Julie has a very specific calling. And as we communicated after I finished reading the story, she shared with me her heart (see interview). What a difference it made to hear this from her. Suddenly the intensity made sense. A show of hands please from any woman (Christian or not) who has ever read a conventional romance novel (secular). . . . I haven’t always had the moral reading standards I’ve adhered to now for almost 20 years. So, yes, I saw some elements from days of old. But imagine the impact such a novel (one which speaks of God redeeming someone’s life and his past, and other Christian themes) could have in someone’s life. Say a person picks up the novel, reading for pleasure, but finds she can’t avoid running directly into God and His ways. Julie does not glorify ungodly behavior. She shows the consequences of it. She also points readers directly to the Lord.

In my experience, I haven’t read other authors who are going where Julie is going, attempting to do what she is doing. And I believe God has her here “for such a time as this.” So, I applaud her courage. I plan to continue reading her work. I’ll continue to pray for her to have wisdom, and God’s direction, and that she will keep writing for His glory. May many lives be changed.

Readers, leave a comment for a CHANCE TO WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY of any of the three Daughters of Boston books. You can name the one you’d like to receive if your name is drawn. I’ll hold the drawing late Thursday, June 11th. If you send someone over to leave a comment, have them mention your name and we’ll enter your name twice. Please leave your email address: yourname [at] wherever [dot] com.


35 comments:

  1. ANNETTE, I cannot thank you enough for not only hosting me on your blog, but your incredible review. When I wrote that comment in my Seeker blog that "I ache inside at the thought of offending people I love and respect because some of the “passion” in my books made them uncomfortable," you were one of the foremost people in my mind. I greatly respect you and value your friendship, so your understanding and support means more than I can say. Thank you, my friend.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  2. Julie,

    I'm still "stalking" you, trying to win A Passion Denied. *grin*

    I got A Passion Redeemed back from one sister yesterday, now, I've got to get A Passion Most Pure from my other sister. LOL I hope to have read them both before I see you in Atlanta.

    Your interview was wonderful! It sounds like the O'Connor series will be awesome as well.

    Thanks again,
    Lori S.

    sugarandgrits[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  3. I loved the interview! You can feel Julie's passion leap of the page when she talks about her writing and God...she is such an inspiration to me. Thanks so much for the chance to win!
    carolynnwald[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  4. Any book about the Irish or Ireland typically grabs me, and Julie's first book did just that and even more since it was set in my almost backyard of Boston. I haven't had the chance to read the rest of the series yet, so if I win I'd like to receive Charity's story, A Passion Redeemed.

    Holly
    oceandreamerfla(at)aol(dot)com

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  5. Thank you, Julie. Your friendship means a lot to me, too. We hit it off so quickly, it must be a God thing. I had no idea how much we have in common in our understanding of God's passionate nature. A wonderful surprise in our interview. Love your heart!

    :) Annette

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  6. Carolynn, which book would you like if you win?? :)

    Annette

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  7. Lori, thanks for dropping by! Here's hoping you get your hands on all Julie's books. ;) (Sounds like your sisters are big fans, too.) Send 'em over to leave a comment and you get entered again for each new person you refer. :)

    Holly, I saw you left two comments with generally the same wording. I posted one of them. Hope you don't mind. I have moderation turned on, so it won't post 'til I see it. Sorry for any confusion. Glad you stopped by!

    All His best,
    Annette

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  8. Sorry, I forgot to say. I would love to win 'A Passion Denied', thanks! :)

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  9. Hi Julie and Annette!

    Great interview. I appreciate the honesty in which you share your heart, Julie.

    No need to enter me in the contest. I'm in the middle of reading "A Passion Denied" right now. Love it! :)

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  10. Great interview! I'd like to win A PASSION DENIED. Already read the first two :0)

    Thanks!
    courtneylp1323(at)aol(dot)com

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  11. ANNETTE, sorry it has taken me so long to get back here, but it's been a crazy day!

    LORI!!! I am SO excited that I will get to meet you in Atlanta in just a few short weeks!! Uh, gosh, wouldn't it be awful if you didn't like the books??? If you don't, then you are off the hook for coming to the book signing, okay? And what a sweetheart you are, lending your books out to your sisters! I like that A LOT -- thanks!! ;)

    CAROLYNN!!! Hi, sweetie, so good to see you again. You are definitely about due, girl. Let's see if you can win a book on Annette's blog, okay? Also, I haven't posted it yet, but I am doing another Seeker blog on Wed. where I am also doing a giveaway, so be sure to check out my website for the info.

    HOLLY, you lucky dog -- you live close to Boston??? Gosh, I have never been there (except in my research), but I definitely hope to go there someday ... maybe for a book signing? Then hopefully I can meet you!

    ANNETTE, trust me, it WAS a God thing. My wild, out-there, drama- queen heart tends to gravitate toward gentle, kind and patient hearts like yours, so the click was immediate, I assure you! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  12. Net, Isn't this an AWESOME series?! This is my favorite Christian series BY FAR! I think I might just take these books with me when I go to the beach next week to re-read them :-D Please don't enter me I've already won the books elsewhere.

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  13. I've read the first book, which was excellent and have the second one waiting for me to read it. I'd love to win "A Passion Denied".

    Thanks!

    Erica
    bookhearth [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  14. DAWN, oh-oh, talk about pressure!! You're reading Denied RIGHT NOW??? Glad you "love it." So far, so good!! :) And thanks for your sweet comment about my honesty in sharing my heart. I will admit, it does get me in trouble at times, which is why my kids sometimes joke about getting me a shock collar for Christmas ... :)

    COURTNEY, gosh, I hope you win soon, girl, because are one diligent commenter and I really, really want to give you the third book!!

    RENEE!!! You are too cute, my friend! Rereading the series at the beach??? Wish I could join you ... :)

    ERICA, I hope A Passion Redeemed isn't burning a whole in your TBR stack because that Charity tends to be one hot number!! :) Let's hope I can redeem her enough to set her straight ...

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  15. I would love to win any of the books. I look forward to reading the series.

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  16. JULIE - After all of the GREAT reviews, I don't see how I could NOT love your books!

    My sister, Whitney, is planning to come with me to Atlanta ~ I'm glad ~ I get nervous driving through all that traffic all by myself. *shudder*

    I can't wait to meet you!
    Lori

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  17. Annette, that's fine, the way my computer was acting, I didn't think it had posted at all (it kept shooting me back to the leave your comment form), but I figured you would probably only post one.

    Julie, I used to live in Beverly, which is 20 miles north, but when I was a junior in college, my parents decided to move to central Florida, so I live here now. I do periodically go back for visits. I'm heading up that way in a couple weeks and I'm hoping to do more of the historical stuff that I didn't get to see when I lived there because I took it for granted.

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  18. this series sound so great! I'd love to win A Passion Denied :)

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  19. That was a fascinating interview. It's great knowing how your stories can really change someone's life, yeah? Never doubt the power of God.

    ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com

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  20. As a reader of secular romance (Nora Roberts is my FAV author)I love Julie's books!

    As an author who writes "Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm) I APPLAUD Julie for sticking to her guns and writing what God CALLS her to write.

    I too find the "shame" (for lack of a better word) attached to the godly passion couples in love feel for each other sad and discouraging.

    Yes, passion is godly!
    Yes, passion is natural!
    Yes, passion is beautiful!

    Yes, passion should be expressed within the bonds of marriage and books that portray THIS aspect of passion or sensuality should be CHEERED instead of deemed smut or "less than Christian."

    Frankly these labels we have on each other and the industry has on its authors is more than frustrating - they are downright AGGRIVATING!!

    I agree with you both also, anyone who has a problem with godly passion should RE-READ the Song of Solomon.

    JMHO

    Good luck and God's blessings on both of you, Julie and Annette.

    PamT

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  21. PS: I'd LOVE to win a copy of A Passion Denied - please enter me in the drawing - THANKS!!

    My email: pthib07@hotmail.com

    PamT

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  22. Great interview, Annette! Julie's passion for the themes of her books really come through!

    Kathie in Oly
    kmsprout@comcast.net

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  23. Awesome post Annette! I think Julie's heart for a pure passion is wonderful! I can't wait to read this one!

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  24. Lori, I'm SO jealous that you'll get to meet Julie, hope you have a nice time!

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  25. CYNTHIA ... trust me, I would LOVE to have you read this series too! :) If you don't win it here, though, be sure to check out my website calendar at www.julielessman.com for more blog giveaways.

    LORI!! Oh, I am THRILLED that your sister is coming with you to the Atlanta book signing, my friend!! I get to meet both of you. And I hope and pray you "LOVE" my books, but the proof is in the pudding, I guess ... :)

    HOLLY ... Oh, and Boston is LOADED with the historical stuff, isn't it, though??? And now I'm doubly jealous of you ... you used to live close to Boston and now you live in Florida ... NOT FAIR!!! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  26. It was so neat reading this article and finding out more about Julie's heart and calling in the books she writes. She is BY FAR my new favorite author!!! I literally COULD NOT put the books down when I read the first two.

    I have book 1, read book 2 from the library, and won (yeah!) book 3 in the last blog interview...so I would love to get book 2 - A Passion Redeemed - so that I could own it as well to re-read over and over. I can't wait to get and start reading A Passion Denied!!!

    -Alli
    papatya213[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  27. After reading this blog and I am going to buy Julie's books the first chance I get. My editor told me my story needed to be toned down a bit for the Christian Market. But it already seemed pretty tame to me. I think Christians should be passionate in ALL areas of their life. I hope the success of Julie's books opens doors that Christian doesn't have to equal prudish.

    I hope I win a book so I only have to buy two. :-)

    Janelle Ashley

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  28. ALLI, I saw you had left the same comment twice. Hope you don't mind I deleted one of them and posted the other. :) Sorry for any confusion. Thanks for reading! You're entered in the contest!

    Annette

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  29. That's fine. I posted the first one and didn't see it at the bottom so I tried to post it again...THEN I read that all comments must be approved by the blog author. Sorry for the confusion!
    -Alli

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  30. Alli, no problem. :) As one who posts comments on other blogs I like when they appear right away. It's different on this side of the desk. On your blog, are you moderating, or not?

    Net

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  31. I am not moderating on my blog...in fact I haven't been doing much of anything on my blog for a while! We have had a very busy year, and sadly my blog has paid the price!! :( I'm hoping to start it back up again soon now that things are starting to calm down a little.

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  32. Gosh, I've been busy writing the VERY last scene for Katie's story, so forgive me for not dropping in for a while! But you guys have certainly been busy without me, though, I will say that!

    STAMPEDWITHGRACE -- Thanks for stopping in to enter ... good luck in the contest!

    ASHLEY ... Amen to that! Where would we be without the power of God???

    PAM, WOW, you go, girl!! I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you SO much for your encouragement, my friend, and it sounds like I DEFINITELY need to read you books in the future!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  33. KATHIE ... thanks for your kind comment and for stopping by to enter the contest. The best of luck to you!

    JESSICA ... I can't wait for you to read this one, too, my friend, because you sure have been diligent on the posts -- THANK YOU!! And "Pure Passion" ... has a nice ring, don't you think???

    Awe, RENEE, you are such a doll!! But one of these days I hope to get up your way in Pennsylvania, my friend, and to Boston, too, so hopefully we will get to meet. And I just sent your signed copy of A Passion Most Pure out on Monday, so be watching for it!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  34. ALLI!!!! A Passion Denied is on its way to you as we speak! Sent it out on Monday, so I'm guessing you should have it first part of next week. Can't wait to see what you think! And thank you SOOO much for your incredible support, my friend -- you are a blessing!

    JANELLE!! A woman after my own heart as far as writing edgy Inspirational romance -- YEAH! And, girl, if you think Christians should be "passionate" in ALL areas of their lives, then this series is DEFINITELY for you because I feel the exact same way. Let me know what you think after you read them, and good luck in the contest!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  35. What a pleasure to have Julie here this week with some of her fans! I've enjoyed reading your comments.

    Tonight, I wrote your names down on scraps of paper and drew one. So, without further delay--the winner of the free, autographed book is...Alli!!!

    Congratulations!!! Julie will be emailing you with details.

    Thanks for reading everyone!!!

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