Author Crush Friday with Julie Cross
Glitter girls, you have pressing questions for your favorite authors and we have their answers. Welcome to our weekly segment, Author Crush Fridays.
We love asking questions and we love the answers from some of our favorite authors. Today we’re talking to Julie Cross, NY Times bestselling author of Chasing Truth (September 27, 2016; Entangled Teen). If you loved Veronica Mars, you’ll love this latest novel from Julie Cross. Thank you for talking to us today, Julie! We’re honored!
GLITTER: For those who haven’t read your work yet, how would you describe your writing style?
JULIE: I would describe my writing style as fast-paced, readable even for the reluctant readers. I tend to write more character driven stories, first person narrative usually from 1-2 characters’ point-of-view. I also lean a little on the quirky side, often tossing something slightly unconventional. Even when I try not to do this, I still do it.
GLITTER: When did you first start writing and what drew you to writing?
JULIE: I first started writing in May of 2009. I was drawn to it because I have always loved to read, especially YA novels. I love the temporary escape reading provides and found that in an even bigger more fruitful way with writing.
GLITTER: What one message would you like readers to walk away with when they’re done reading Chasing Truth?
JULIE: Message? Hmmm…I’m not sure this is a message book so much as a story full of fun, mystery and plenty of personal growth for my characters. But I imagine there is a message in there somewhere.
GLITTER: Would you describe Chasing Truth as Veronica Mars for a new generation, or, if not, how would you describe this new mystery series?
JULIE: My main character, Ellie Ames does have many Veronica like qualities–she’s bold, resourceful, would rather snoop around than ask people the hard questions, and she has a tendency to cross lines that make personal relationships difficult for her. But unlike Veronica, Ellie comes from a more criminal background and has to work hard to convince herself to do the right thing.
GLITTER: Would you love to see one of your books on the big screen? If so, which one?
JULIE: Of course! Who wouldn’t? I’d love to see all of them on the big screen, lol. Seriously, I would. But I guess if I had to pick one, maybe Whatever Life Throws at Youbecause my love of baseball movies, especially romantic ones, inspired me to write that book.
GLITTER: Did you always want to be an author?
JULIE: I really never thought about being an author until I was 29 years old. I know it’s weird and late in the game but reading was such a big part of my life that the transition was surprisingly easy.
GLITTER: Did you ever feel like giving up?
JULIE: Only while editing.
GLITTER: Did you receive rejection letters in the beginning?
JULIE: I got hundreds of rejection letters from literary agents in the beginning. And honestly, I’m still getting them when my novels are on submission and every single editor isn’t fighting over them. It really is a part of the writer’s life in every phase.
GLITTER: How did you get over them?
JULIE: The first query letter I ever sent to a literary agent was strategically planned as my “get over rejection” exercise. I chose a literary agent with 99% rejection rate and an average response time of 8 minutes. It took this agent 25 minutes to send me the “thanks but no thanks” reply via email. I survived, lived to tell about it. And each one that followed got a little bit easier.
GLITTER: What are you currently working on?
JULIE: Currently, I’m working on plotting out more CHASING TRUTH books and another new series debuting in February 2017 titled OFF THE ICE that is basically Friday Night Lights with hockey.
Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press).
She’s also the author of Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more to come!
Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA.
She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres.
Outside of her reading and writing credibility’s, Julie Cross is a committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.
Find Her Here:
Editorial Director | Writer | Tweet me @heatherriccio
