Julia Golding

Sophie wrote on 28 July 2010:

Hello again, I was wondering how long it usually takes you to finish writing a book and if it is difficult to write books that are so different from each other? Sorry, last question - I find it really difficult to write stories from the past but most of my friends find it easy, do you find it easier to write in the past or in the present and if you had to do any research when writing your stories that are set in the past? Thank you, Sophie =)

Present tense is tricky to pull off - I mainly use past. Other tips on writing can be found on the page of that name. I usually take 4 months or so on a book spread over a year or more. Julia

Laura wrote on 28 July 2010:

Hi, Julia! I'm Laura,the catalan girl again. One question, are there any more books after Taosira?? Tnank you very much Laura :)

Yes, a book called The Glass Swallow, but not yet in Catalan. J

Tina wrote on 27 July 2010:

yh,greek mythology as stories.

Only in Companions Quartet. J

elliy wrote on 27 July 2010:

thank you julia 1.will the new novella books or tv.2.is cat going to stay with enyone{romanticly i mean}.3. is it syd. i hope i did not bother you.

Not sure what you mean by first question but the novella will be on line here. Not going to give away Cat's secrets of the heart outside of her books! Julia

A wrote on 27 July 2010:

Hi Julia! Just read Dragonfly again :-) If you did write another one (after the Glass Swallow) who do you think you'd write about - Tashi and Ramil, Rain and Peri, or some completely new characters? Also, one last thing - how do you pronounce Taoshira? I always think I'm saying it wrong :-D Thank you! Arianne

I don't know - the story comes when it comes! Ta-o-shira. Julia

Rhianna wrote on 27 July 2010:

Hey ;). Quick question, in The Diamond of Drury Lane, it's 1790 and you said Cat was about 12 or 13, so at the end of Black Heart, is she 14 or 15 in 1792? Sorry if it's confusing. Thanks.

She doesn't know for sure. See Cat's Cradle next year. J

Laura wrote on 27 July 2010:

in what did you think when you write your book Taoshira? Kisses from Laura :) ;)

I wanted to write about how people react when they have blind prejudices against others as with Tashi and Ram. Julia

Laura wrote on 27 July 2010:

Hi Julia, how are you? I'm Laura from Spain. I want to say to you that your book "Taoshira" it's very good and very original. At my school, our catalan teacher told us some books to read this holidays and I choose this one and I'm very happy with it. Have a nice holidays from Spain, Laura :)

Wonderful! In English it is called Dragonfly. You are the first Catalan speaker to contact me so thank you! Julia

Shannon wrote on 27 July 2010:

Hello. Julia i'm just wondering, when will you announce the the limerick competition winner? Thank you.

At the beginning of September. J

milly wrote on 27 July 2010:

Hi julia, i have heard that you are going to write a 5th companions quartet book. I love these books and I was just wondering will connie and col still be the main characters in the new book or will the new baby universol be the main charactrer?

See FAQ. There is a new cast but some old favourites appear too. J

Angela Jurjanz wrote on 26 July 2010:

Hallo Julia! Ich wüßte gerne ob du jemals die Bücherreihe "Bund der Vier" weiter schreiben wirst? Ich warte schon sensüchtig auf das nächste Buch aus dieser Reihe.

Sorry - I don't speak German!

elliy wrote on 26 July 2010:

hello! julia i rely like the cat royal i wanted to a couple of questions if that's ok

Sure.

Lanie wrote on 26 July 2010:

Hi Julia! I couldn't help but detect some similarities between Axoil and BP - hope the Sirens get even this time, though.

Yes, I've thought the same - but the reality is even worse than what I imagined... J

Jessica wrote on 26 July 2010:

Hey julia, i just finished the Cat books, and have started on the Companion's Quartet. Secret of the Sirens is amazing so far! i've actually nearly finished it. i have all the books lined up and cannot wait to read them! You've said that your bringing out a 5th book, will that include Connie, Col and the rest? thankss alott! Jessica

Hopefully. See FAQs. J

Anema wrote on 24 July 2010:

Hello Julia, the way you described the town in the Secret of Sirens, was so good, that I was thinking that it would be a nice place to visit, is it imaginary or real? If it is real I would like to know where is it located. Thank you very much.

See previous answer. J

Ana wrote on 24 July 2010:

Hello Julia Golding, I love the Companions Quartet books and I would like to ask you somethings about them. -First, I was wondering I you could tell if that town calle Hescombe, is real, and if it is, could you tell me where is it? You described it so well that I think it would be a really nice town to visit. - I am from Spain, and the third book, Mines of the Minotaur, is not in sale at the moment, but I would be really pleased if you could tell me when it will be. Thank you very much.

Dear Ana Hescombe is roughly based on Dawlish Warren and Exmouth/Teignmouth - all real places. I'm not sure what the Spanish publisher intends - if you ask them, they should have an answer for you. Julia

Sacha wrote on 24 July 2010:

Hi Julia, I just finished reading the Companions Quartet and I LOVED the series. I was wondering, when are you going to release your 5th book in the quartet ( with Connie, Evelyn, Mack, Col, Rat, Liam, the new baby George and so on) because I really want to know what happens with the new baby George being a new universal and Connie now having defeated Kullervo. Please tell me when the release date is and where I can find it. (At Barnes and Nobles, Borders, and other book stores.) I really want to know all this because the last sentence left me hanging.

HI Sacha See FAQs - not soon enough for you I'm afraid! :( Julia

Nicolw wrote on 24 July 2010:

Dear Julia, I was just wondering if you were going to write any more books like the Companions Quartet??? I love that series!!!! I was also wondering what inspired you to write?????

Hi, See FAQs for answers. J

Isabelle wrote on 23 July 2010:

Hey Julia! I was just wondering what advice you have to an aspiring writer. I always start off with great idea, but then I get too technical; like I start listing things. How do I get out of that habit? Also I never finish a book. How do I keep my drive? -Isabelle

HI Do take a look at the tips in the side bar to this Ask page. On your specific question, listing sounds like something that should go in to a notebook not a manuscript - dump all that stuff in there and use the notes as a place to structure it into something worth writing about. Julia

Henrik wrote on 23 July 2010:

Hi Julia! I just finished Wolf Cry and its a good read, one of the best books ive read, and im so glad your coming to visit our school in november! (I was going over your blog, and was amazed to find you mention someone with the same name as me, since I always thought my name would be kind of rare)

I wonder if that was a reader from Germany? I can't remember now. Look forward to seeing you in the Autumn. Julia