Blog
8 February 2010
Scenes from an author's life - what inspires and what I do behind the scenes. Here I am researching Wolf Cry from the comfort of a cruise ship.
Posted by Julia Golding on 08 February 2010
27 January 10
There's good news and bad news on Cat - more later. The publishers are making my life difficult (again) but I have a cunning plan b this time. Watch this space.
Posted by Julia Golding on 27 January 2010
21 January 2010 - Caspar in the snow
On the basis that you can never have enough puppy pictures, here is the Golding dog last week puzzling what the white stuff could possibly be.
Posted by Julia Golding on 21 January 2010
5 January 2010
For those of you following the introduction of a puppy in the Golding household, here he is at 4 months on a frozen Port Meadow, Oxford. I took a break from writing to walk him there to watch the ice skaters.
Posted by Julia Golding on 05 January 2010
21 December 09
Merry Christmas to all my readers!
Next year is going to be a good year for Cat lovers (she's back and she's as outrageous as ever in August!).
It's also good for those of you who liked Dragonfly as I revisit that world in The Glass Swallow and have two new characters for you to fall in love with - Rain and Peri.
Wish I was celebrating a better outcome from Copenhagen though. What a tragic failure of political will. I was proud of the UK delegates though - last minute save of the accord by our Environment Minister when it was going to be thrown out (Obama and PMs had all disappeared thinking it a done deal). If you can, please do what you can where you are to try and tell the world leaders that this was not good enough - our future really is at stake.
Posted by Julia Golding on 21 December 2009
Highlight of 2009
My personal highlight of 2009 was staying on the Colorado Ranch. Here I am on the swing seat with my youngest son.
Posted by Julia Golding on 21 December 2009
26 November 2009
A reader has set up a fun site with quizzes etc on www.juliagolding.net - try your hand at them and see if you can do better than me! He also wants to know who you think Cat should marry (my lips are sealed) so get your views down, Cat readers!
Posted by Julia Golding on 26 November 2009
24 November 09
Attended regional final of the Kids' Lit Quiz yesterday - amazed by the general knowledge of all the teams. The winning school - Wheatley Park - beat both author teams! Now looking forward to the UK final on Friday.
Posted by Julia Golding on 24 November 2009
13 November 2009
Wolf Cry has made it on to the Carnegie long list. I'm really pleased it has been selected as I know it is probably my most ambitious book so far, unusual in having a heroic/tragic flavour.
Posted by Julia Golding on 13 November 2009
26 October 2009
For those of you who want to see what our puppy looks like - here he is at 7 weeks.
Posted by Julia Golding on 26 October 2009
16 October 2009
My big news is that aside from finishing first draft of new Companions book and starting something else, WE HAVE A GORGEOUS PUPPY. Only 7 weeks old and in to nibbling bare toes, he is called Caspar. Great addition to the household. Think of me typing away with a small canine on my lap...
Oh yes, I've also posted a Dragonfly competition. Closing date 1 December.
Posted by Julia Golding on 16 October 2009
5 October 2009
Just signed up to the 10:10 campaign which aims to reduce your personal carbon footprint by ten percent in 2010 - a great idea. Let's show the politicians by taking the initiative. Practical steps - for me that is turning the heating down and putting on a jumper, more cycling (and recycling :) ), use the microwave rather than the oven where this means less energy used, reviewing our house for bad carbon guzzlers (I suspect my fridge of this particular sin!). Hmm, still I live a very carbon intensive life compared to most of the world but better these small steps I suppose than doing nothing at all. I don't fly unless there is no alternative - and even these I try to ration.
If you are interested in this stuff (and I hope you are), take a look at the website www.1010uk.org. Maybe you/your family/your school would like to take up the challenge. And please do ask me how I get on so I don't slide back in to bad habits!
Posted by Julia Golding on 05 October 2009
4 October 2009
If you can't get enough Companions, you can follow Connie post Chimera on Twitter (she's the one listed as living on Dartmoor). I'll be dropping hints about how her relationship with Col is progressing.
Cat's Muddle is closing soon so do have a go at the anagrams if you want to win a sign copy of one of her books.
I'm just coming to the end of my new Companions novel - very first draft but great fun! I've got a great companion for George...
Posted by Julia Golding on 04 October 2009
24 September 2009
Some of you have found your way to the new fan page for the Companion's area - it's your chance to send in any short piece of writing or illustration to share with others. If there is a demand for a Cat one (or any other of my books) do let me know, and I'll set it up.
Cat fans will like to know that the latest competition is coming to an end on Twitter. Frank has set Cat three clues to solve so far, last one will be over the weekend. The instructions of what to do are on the Cat's Muddle page. She'll also be giving hints as to how to solve the puzzle.
I'm working on the new Companions at the moment and having huge fun. Hero in impossible situation and I've now got to work out how to save him...
Posted by Julia Golding on 24 September 2009
15 September 09
Just thought I'd share a little of what I was up to over the holidays. This is your author on Old Yellow, my trusty steed, in the Rockies.
Posted by Julia Golding on 15 September 2009
10 September 09
Just finished reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and have to admit to hating it - an over extended joke that stole lots of Austen then spoiled it. So my recommendation: don't bother with it. There is a glut of books like this at the moment all inspired as a strange spin-off from the vampire fad but doubtless it'll pass soon. What's next I wonder? We've had wizards, lots of pirates and dragons, books about children with terminal illness (that was last year), so the next fashion will be for.... (fill in the blank!)
Posted by Julia Golding on 10 September 2009
4 September 2009
I've just started a new competition for Cat which involves Twitter so those of you who like the Tweeting world might find it fun. It's called Cat's Muddle and I'll, or should I say, Cat will be leaving clues over the next four weeks. You'll be able to search for them on Twitter so don't worry if you miss one. You'll also find there some things which did not make it in to Cat O'Nine Tails concerning life at Boxton and Cat's attempts to behave.
Related links
Posted by Julia Golding on 04 September 2009
24 August 2009
You may have guessed that I've been on a long holiday in the US going from West to East. It's an amazing country! If you want the best vacation ever, start saving for a week at the Tumbling River Ranch, Colorado. Your author has done things well out of her comfort zone (white water rafting, all-day rides and rodeos) and I'm sure many experiences are going to crop up in later books in some form or other.
I'm about to launch a series of new competitions and fun things to celebrate the new books coming out in the States. This fall we have Dragonfly (in a striking black jacket hard back), Cat O'Nine Tails (with cat posing Sailor fashion on the cover), and a paperback of Sirens - as they say here - enjoy!
Posted by Julia Golding on 26 August 2009
21 July 2009
I'm off on my travels for most of August but I will be trying to keep the site up to date but forgive any lapses - it means I'm having a proper holiday for once!
Before I go, I want to post a competition for Wolf Cry. Have a think and come up with the best Viking name for yourself - real Viking examples would be Erik Bloodaxe, Svein Forkbeard etc etc. There are plenty of other names of this kind in Wolf Cry too. One entry per person only please. At the beginning of September I will post the best names. The winner gets a signed copy of the book.
See Wolf Cry Competition page to enter.
Posted by Julia Golding on 21 July 2009
7 July 2009
Just received my advance copy of Wolf Cry - such an exciting moment for a writer! It's got a map I'd only seen in proof and a nice detail along the bottom of the page. I quickly re-read the end so now will have to sit down and start from the beginning so I get the same on-page experience as you will. I think it is one of my best books to date - I've really stretched and challenged myself as a writer in this one. I hope you'll enjoy this glimpse of a harsh but amazing world of the Dark Ages.
Posted by Julia Golding on 07 July 2009