Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Julia’s books include A Merry Little Christmas, The Bridesmaid Pact and Midsummer Magic. We chat with Julia about her writing day, her ideal dinner guests and the character from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe that she’d most like to meet…

Can you tell us about your latest book, Midsummer Magic?

Midsummer Magic focuses on Josie and Harry who have just got engaged and are spending the weekend in Cornwall planning their wedding with their respective best friends Diana and Ant, who turn out to have history, very bad history. While they are away they meet Freddie Puck, a TV illusionist who persuades them to be hypnotised for a TV programme, which involves them spending the night at some local Standing Stones, where legend has it those who plight their troth at midnight on Midsummer’s eve are bound together forever. Cue mayhem, misunderstandings and fraught relationships as the hypnotism goes horribly wrong. Loosely based on A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Midsummer Magic also features an aging soap star called Tatiana, and her former lover (and Freddie’s partner) Auberon, who also get swept up in the magic…

What’s your writing day like?

Very disorganised! I have four children, the last of whom has just left primary school, so I’ve always had a school run to manage ever since I’ve been writing. So as a result I tend to fit it in as and when. I am looking forward to longer working days come September. I am also very sporadic, often going weeks without writing anything down, although I am usually thinking about the story all the time. So I don’t have a typical day. And I am certainly not one of those organised types who manages 1500 words a day. When I do write though, I tend to do it fast and furiously, which as I write my first drafts by hand, can be exhausting!

Do you plan? Also, when editing, do you edit as you go along or wait for a first draft?

I do have a plan, which gives me a structure, and helps me to get going, but I often deviate from the script and I don’t plan each chapter. I just know roughly where I want to be, and try and get there any which way I can. I used to edit as I went, but I found it slowed me down, and then it took me ages to finish, so now I get the story out  in the first draft, which is handwritten, and edit as I type it up.

You’re a member of the RNA. How important has this been to you?

The RNA has been fantastically important to me. Not only have I made lots of great and supportive writing friends, but it was (and is) an invaluable source of information and knowledge. Without the help of so many lovely RNAers, I might have given up writing, so I owe them everything. I advise anyone who wants to write romantic fiction to join. You won’t regret it.

Is there a fictional character you’d like to meet?

Ooh, that’s an interesting question. Mr Tumnus from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe probably. I love the description of him having tea with Lucy, and always wanted to go to his house as a child.

What makes you laugh?

My children, a lot (when they’re not making me cry), Green Wing, The Thick of It and numerous other comedies I enjoy; being with good friends and family; and most recently having a mud bath in Turkey. One of the funniest things I’ve ever done!

What’s your favourite word?

Perspicacity

Who would you invite over to dinner?

Friends first and foremost, but if I could have a fantasy invite, it’d have to be Julian Rhind Tutt, Richard Armitage, and Johnny Depp.

Do you get writers block and if so, how do you combat it?

I’ve never really had time to indulge writer’s block, so if I get stuck I go and do something else – go for a run or a swim, and usually that helps. One of the reasons I write by hand is that I find it frees my  mind more, whereas staring at a blank screen can be terrifying. I’m lucky it hasn’t happened to me too much, but I just have to write through it when it does.

Five pieces of advice for new writers?

Get a tough skin!

Don’t give up.

Listen to criticism and take it on board

Edit, edit and edit some more.

Believe in yourself and your characters. If you don’t, no one else will.

Midsummer Magic is published by Avon and is available now. For more information on Julia and her novels, visit her website.

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.