Julie Anne Long (The Beast Takes A Bride) | Forced Proximity Interview
Stern heroes, knitting rectangles, and being certain of uncertainty
As Lorraine Heath put it in her own Forced Proximity interview recently, “there isn’t a single [Julie Anne Long] book that I haven’t loved. She’s so poetic. There’s a beautiful rhythm to her stories.”
I couldn’t agree more, and between sobbing for hours after finishing The Beast Takes A Bride and explaining The Ballad of Colin Eversea in excruciating detail to my beleaguered husband, I actually got to speak with the poet herself!
Forced Proximity: Please introduce yourself, perhaps as if hoping the proprietresses of a reputable (if formerly scandalous) inn will allow you to rent a room with them.
Julie Ann Long: How do you do? My name is Julie Anne Long, and while it’s true that the inside of my head is a veritable carnival, I mean simply teeming with every imaginable kind of character and circumstance, outwardly I’ll be the quietest boarding house guest you’ve ever had. The only sound from my room will be the scratch of my quill pen over foolscap until the wee hours of the morning, chronicling the shenanigans, ahem, I mean, history, of the charming establishment near the docks known at The Grand Palace on the Thames. I’ve heard the scones are heavenly and that the men and women who show up at the door are, too. Not that you’ll ever catch ME roaming the halls after midnight in search of a duke. Oh, good heavens, no. I wouldn’t DREAM of breaking any of your very sensible rules. (*crosses fingers in the folds of my skirt*). And speaking of your rules, I see they endorse “spirited discourse”, and frankly, I adore nothing more. I’m certain I’ll fit right in.
And if I may present my letters of reference: Both the esteemed Podcast Fated Mates and The Washington Post named THE BEAST TAKES A BRIDE one of the best romances of the year, to my utter delight and humble amazement. (editor’s note: it was one of Forced Proximity’s 5 Star Books of 2024 as well!)
How would you explain your latest book to a non-romance reader?
It’s love at first sight when legendary war hero Colonel Magnus Brightwall (aka, Brightwall the Beast) meets charming, blue-blooded beauty Alexandra Bellamy—but because he knows in his bones there’s no way a woman like her would want a taciturn brute like him, he makes a deal with her father: he’ll pay Viscount Bellamy’s crushing debts in exchange for Alexandra as a bride. But a shocking betrayal sunders their marriage before it even begins. When a scandal—with Alexandra at the middle—reunites them after five icy years of separation, Magnus issues an edict: they will confront the ton, rescue their reputations, then Magnus will banish her to another continent—forever. But during their stay at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a little boardinghouse by the docks, a new battle begins between pride and the unexpected volcanic passion—and tenderness— stirring between them. Can this marriage be saved? Will Alexandra lose Magnus forever the moment she falls in love with him? Will Mr. Delacorte go bankrupt adding pennies to the Epithet Jar? Will they win a fortune betting on a donkey race? These questions and more will be answered with lots of laughter, tears, passion and angst along the way.
How would you explain it to a regular reader of romance?
Probably in much the same way, but for fun I’d throw in a few of our “romance insider” code words, like forced proximity (WINK), marriage in trouble, age gap, second chance romance, beauty and the beast. IYKYK.
What’s something you wish you knew at the beginning of your writing career?
BOY, that is a long list. But I think if I have any wisdom to offer it all boils down to: a writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. And attempting to use any particular event on your career timeline—whether it feels like a triumph (e.g., making a bestseller list) or a failure (e.g., disappointing sales)—as a predictor of how the rest of your career will go is futile. Everything happens on a continuum. The only thing certain is uncertainty and the only thing you really have any control over is staying present and doing your best work.
What’s your writing routine, if you have one? When do you find yourself at your most creative?
I probably do my best writing very late at night—I love those super quiet, wee small hours of the morning—and in the morning I do my admin and social media stuff and go over what I’ve written in the morning and edit and tweak. But I also write during the day. It really depends on whether a deadline is looming, and if a deadline is seriously looming, I might write all day and all night. I only write one draft, because I edit as I go, and I’m a pantser (vs. a plotter), though I generally have a decent idea of where the story is going before I dive in. I seldom start writing at the beginning of a story. I write scenes out of order, based on mood and inspiration, and I find that hopping around from scene to scene can keep me feeling fresh and inspired. I always have a cup of green tea nearby, and I often listen to music.
What hobbies do you have outside of work that aren’t literature-related?
I have lots! Reading, of course. And I get a nice little buzz from learning how to do new things. I’m a music freak, though I lost my instruments (electric and acoustic guitars and a really great tambourine) in a fire years ago and haven’t been able to replace them. I recently bought a mini keyboard just to have something to play and I wrote a little theme song for Pennyroyal Green. I love art, and I’m becoming more proficient in watercolors. I like to play chess online as a sort of reset—it forces me to use a different part of my brain. I like to knit, and I’m hoping one day to actually complete a pair of socks. Mostly I can knit rectangular things. Spending an hour or so in a non-writing activity helps clear my mind when I start accumulating a sort of greasy buildup from working too hard on a particular story.
Which of your protagonists would you most like to be forced into proximity with? Why?
Oooh, fun question! Every single one of them. Hee! Actually, I currently think maybe Lord Dominic Kirke from MY SEASON OF SCANDAL. He’s funny, a little difficult, brilliant, a bit remote, passionate and idealistic and so, so hot–it definitely wouldn’t be boring.
How do you find new authors and books to try? Are you a casual browser, or do you have a network of trusted recommenders?
All of the above. I’ve serendipitously found new faves through Bookbub, through friend recs, through helpful bookstore staff enthusing about a book they love when they see me wandering about the tables. I’m always on the lookout for something that intrigues me. Lately on Bluesky various people have been sharing lists of twenty books they can’t forget, and I’ve been taking notes on that, too.
Is there a romance trope that’s an auto-read for you? What about one you’re suspicious of unless a favorite author tries it out?
Oh, I’ll read just about anything if an author’s voice hooks me. If a story has sparkle and verve and rhythm from the first page, I’ll happily relax into it and I’ll keep reading. I’m less of a trope-seeker than a storyteller appreciator, if that makes sense.
What’s a misconception about traditional publishing that early career writers often have, and what’s the truth?
I think perceptions and misconceptions about traditional publishing have changed over the decades. It’s possible that authors who sell to a traditional publisher might believe this will make their workload ease a little, because it’s often assumed the publisher will shoulder the marketing load or provide other kinds of promotional support. But this isn’t necessarily true. I think the workloads may be roughly equivalent, if distributed differently.
What else do you want readers to know about you and your work, if anything?
If anyone would like to dive into the Palace of Rogues series, the first six books are available on KU, in case that’s helpful. And I’m always happy to answer any questions—you can find me most frequently in my Facebook Group, The Pig & Thistle After Dark, and on Instagram.
Thanks so much to Julie Anne Long for this incredible interview!
More from Julie: Official Website | Facebook | The Pig & Thistle After Dark | Instagram | Bluesky
Next week, I’ll be recommending books where the heroines are kidnapped… by their heroes!
What should I be reading next? Let me know in the comments!
Follow me on social: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky
Available now: my debut marriage of convenience romance Rehabbing the Billionaire! Buy your copy on Amazon, or snag it on Kindle Unlimited! Then, rate it on Goodreads to help more people discover it!