Julia Golding

jessica wrote on 04 September 2007:

hey, i was just wondering if you new when the Gorgon's Gaze is coming out in new zealand because i read the first book in the companions quartet series and i really enjoyed it and ive been looking around all the shops and cant find it any where. thanx

Hi Jessica It's been out for a while so you should be able to get it. Have you asked a shop if they can order it for you? Julia

Becci wrote on 03 September 2007:

Dear Julia Hi it's me again, I think it's really good that you answer questions for people. i was just wondering does frank love cat to because i think that cat will only ever see syd as a big brother no matter how sweet he is ?? Also i was wondering whether you had read the icemark chronicles by stewart hill as they r to about a strong woman leader with red hair ??? Thanks youre a great author, Becci

Hi Becci Yes I've read and enjoyed the first Icemark but that was well after writing Diamond. Feisty red haired people crop up all the time in stories (and why not). Doesn't Anne of Green Gables also have red hair? If anything is lurking in my subconscious it's probably heroine like Anne. Julia

Milliex wrote on 03 September 2007:

Hi Julia:) Sorry i keep writing but i just have so many questions to ask you. You told Fiona that its hard going after the initial inspiartion has faded. do you have any tips as to how to keep going afterwards. I've tried to write so many stories and have always got stuck once the inspiration has gone. Also, i'm going to try and make the glasgow festival in march as i couldnt make the one in edinburugh. I'm 12 now and i want to start a fresh plan for my story. You have given me so much inspiration. THANK YOU for that!!!! One last thing. You said that Cat will almost definetely fall in love with probably an unsuitable man. Any characters in mind for the role or have you not got to thinking about that yet? I love all your books and can't wait to get cat o' nine tails, black heart of jamaica and chimera's curse. Also i'm going to get the first darcie lock book and dragonfly when they come out too. I want to read all your books as i know they'll all be fantastic just like the ones previous. Thanks so much for the inspiration. I admire you a lot. Your my idol. Millie. P.S What font size do you use for your cat royal series if you can remember. It would be a great help.

Hi Millie I'm not sure what the book uses; I use Ariel when writing. Tips to keep going? Well, find an audience - that helps. If you are getting stuck in a bit, leave it, perhaps putting notes to bridge the gap, and then go on with something you feel like tackling. Good luck. Julia

Kirsty!!!!! wrote on 02 September 2007:

Hi Julila, I was just wondering what age group you set your Cat Royal Book for? I really Like your book but i don't know if I am too old for them... I am in my teen.

Hi Kirsty You're never too old for Cat. There are many adult readers out there! Julia

emma wrote on 02 September 2007:

hi julia thanks 4 writing back even though it was ages ago. Will Cat ever see J-F again?I've read the 4th book 4 times already. I'm just thinking that I know she already has Syd, J-F and Billy after her but I'm starting to wonder if Frank feels the same way!! Could you shed any light on that?? Emma Trott

Hi Emma I think JF was something of a holiday romance for her - but who knows what would happen if they met up again a little older. I can't give too many secrets away but you have to remember that Cat sees herself as a person in her own right with her own ambitions and these aren't about boyfriends just at the moment. Julia

charlotte b wrote on 01 September 2007:

how did you get the idea for tha cat royal series R your charcters in thecat royal series related to people you know

Hi Charlotte Some of them are real historical figures of course. Then some are based on kinds of people from that era (for example the Miss Millers). But the main characters are themselves - they just start talking in my head and the rest follows. Julia

Sophie wrote on 01 September 2007:

Hi, are they ever going to make films of the Cat books? I think it would be quite cool, but it might ruin the books i'm not sure? Sophie.

Hi Sophie, It would be fun, wouldn't it, but only if done well. However, as yet no one's asked to do it. Julia

Rosie wrote on 31 August 2007:

hi! It's me again .I went to Edinburgh book festival a few days ago and was so dissapointed that you weren't there!we went to go and see Allan Gibbons and his not so scary book and the kidnapped thing didn't make much sense. Whens black heart of Jamaica coming out? I'm bored so i'm writing a story called Only an oceon away about a girl called Jane who goes to France to escape the world war2 bombing and although she's trying to fit in with everyone she just can't. Roz xxxx

Hi Roz, You missed me in Edinburgh by a few days. Black Heart is out in the new year, probably February. Just a thought on your story - the Nazis invaded France. Jane might need to go somewhere like Canada (there's French speaking Canada if that helps). Julia

layah wrote on 30 August 2007:

hi again, just wondering, i know this sounds a bit crazy as i am quite young but i am making a story and i have ten more chapters to go amd i would like it some how to be published when it is finnesed so how do you find someone who publishes books? I hope i am not being a nusince layah

Hi Layah The best thing to do when you're young is to enter competitions for your age group - you stand the best chance to be published that way. Alternatively, look at the Writers and Artists Yeak Book. That tells you how publishing works. Julia

Sophie wrote on 30 August 2007:

I am a twin and my twin has already written to you but I wanted to know if you would write a twin series because all the twin series that I have read so far have been complete and utter codswallop. Not going to mention them. But I have read at least 15 with 3 books in each. Most of the time they say that twins always hang around each other and always feel desperatly alone without each other. Perhaps you could write one where one twin is the bad guy and the other twin is the good guy?

Great idea Sophie. I'll have to think about it but not being a twin, may be I'm not the right person... But if twins crop up in my books soon, it'll be thanks to you. Julia

Aurora wrote on 30 August 2007:

Thanks for your advice! I think that when I've finished writing it up for my coursework I'll start a book about it and expand the ideas. Aurora x

charlotte biondi wrote on 30 August 2007:

i love the cat royal series. how many books have you planned to write in that series? will cat fall in love with syd ? Any writng tips ?

Hi Charlotte The answers - probably 9; well, I can't tell you too much; and for tips you might like to look at the FAQs at the top of this page. Julia

Stephanie wrote on 29 August 2007:

Helloo Julia Its me again. Do you think you will ever visit Leicester?? Me and my friends love your books. Also, i was reading through the other comments and you said not to post your ideas online, how could i send an idea i have to you-if that would be ok. Love all your books..im a great fan. I think yours and Mischas site is really good. Stephanie X

Hi Stephanie Unfortunately I won't have time to read anything at length (it's either that or write Cat 6 and I guess you'd prefer me to get on with her story!) But if you have specific questions I'm happy to answer. Julia

Kayla wrote on 29 August 2007:

Miss Golding, I was wondering if you were going to do any book signings in London because I think that you are a great author and I would really love to meet you P.S. I live in Islington

Hi Kayla If you check my events page you'll see I'm in London quite a lot during the autumn. Best wishes Julia

Katie wrote on 29 August 2007:

Hi, this message is very long, for school we have to write a short story over the holidays that is based on a series that we have read, mine was based on the Cat Royal books: “Well, well, well, we meet again Miss Royal and yet again it is here that we meet. Although I cannot say that I am surprised that we meet here so often, rumour is you are quite the young ruffian these days.” Constable Lennox smiled imperiously, “Though I would never have believed some of them if I had not met you before now.” I felt like bashing the old creeper’s face in. I was only here for some questions and anyway I hadn’t done anything that bad, not worse than what Boil does. The worse thing that I have done to date is help a convicted criminal leave the country. “Calm down Constable, we would not want this…um very important lady to think that there was anything wrong now do we?” Even though the Beak was keeping an annoyingly false smile on his face he managed to slip a very pointed glance towards the Constable. “What do you know about Captain Sparkler?” Lennox spat the words out like vermin. I almost fell out of my chair, so that’s what they were after; information on Johnny. Well, if they thought they could wangle anything out of me they were badly misinformed. Even if they put me on the rack I would not squeal. “Let me Constable,” simpered the Beak who I was beginning to dislike more and more as my buttocks turned numb on the bench, “I have a good way with children.” “I am not a child!” I blurted out skulking into a corner, realising, far too late, how much I sounded like a child. “Yes, of course you’re not.” The Beak answered sarcastically, “Now do you know this man, this Captain Sparkler?” I was ready; “No.” “Anything about him?” “His name is Captain Sparkler. He works as a rebel again the government. He draws insulting pictures for money.” Beaky sighed, a long, drawn out sigh. “Other than what everybody already knows?” “Don’t play innocent we know that you convinced the Duke’s daughter, Lady Elizabeth, to hand you her jewels so that you could buy tickets for Mister Sparkler to go to America.” Constable Lennox smiled triumphantly evidently pleased with himself. Now I was a goner, they knew everything. They would make me talk eventually when they worked out the one way they could… “It does not matter how long we wait Missus, we have all day.” I nearly swore out loud, how had it been so easy for him to find my one problem? How had he known that I cannot sit still for long? It could be hours, I could miss Pedro being Horatio in Hamlet, he would not speak to me for ages if that happened. “All right; his name is Johnny Smith. He was employed as my tutor and he know lives in America.” I sighed; it felt good to have released the burden of the truth from my chest, “Now I’ll just be going.” “I don’t think so whispered the Beak, powered by a whole knew tone, “People have to pay the price for crimes like yours.” Too late I realised what the new element in his voice was; malice. “What?” I squeaked absolutely petrified. “You’ll swing for this one Kitty Cat; I think you’ve just caught Hempen Fever.” The Constable’s malicious smile sent shiver’s running through me, the Cat was on her last life. Who would save me now?

Hi Katie What fun. I like the way you use the language from the books and left us on a cliff-hanger (though I doubt Cat would shop Johnny even if he is in America - she'd rather swing first). Why don't you contact Mischa (see my blog) and see if you can get it posted on her site somewhere. We could do with some Cat Royal fan spin off stories/scenes, couldn't we, while you all wait for me to write the next book? Perhaps some of you out there would like to play with this idea and put your heads together. Julia

Charlotte Walker wrote on 29 August 2007:

Hi Julia! I have just finished Ringmaster and can't wait until Empty Quarter comes out!!! Are there going to be any other Darcie Lock books? I have also read the four Cat Royal books and I started Secret of the Sirens last night!! I dont know if you will remember but we met recently at the Edinburugh book festival and you told me and my friends a secret!!!! You were brilliant on stage and my friends and I had the best day ever!!! The best part was meeting you!!!! From Charlotte p.s. I haven't told anyone your secret!!!

Hi Charlotte I do remember meeting you. Don't forget to enter the Darcie Lock competition. I think there will be more from her after Empty Quarter but let's see what my publishers decide. You were indeed the first to hear that the next Cat book but one will be called (I think) Cat's Cradle. You all heard before I told my editor (she still doesn't know!). Julia

Aurora wrote on 29 August 2007:

Hi Julia, Sorry, it's me again, I just had a question about writing and I didn't know who else to ask. For a piece of English coursework I have to write a short story about some point in history. I was thinking how I could make mine more interesting and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to break sterotypes or if this would make it riduculous. For example, would it seem like bad writing if I made a girl from the Regency period go swimming in a river in just her slip and drawers with her friends all of whom are boys? I don't think there is anything wrong with that because not everyone would have behaved in an appropriate manner but my friends just keep telling me it wouldn't happen. I hope you can help me with my trouble, Aurora x

Hi Aurora It depends on a number of things - age for one. Younger than 10 it would be OK I think. Also class - genteel girls wouldn't have done it, but poorer ones or from country backgrounds might not have made such a big deal of it. Do remember that the funny ideas about gender behaviour are part of the fun of writing about the period. Failing to bow or curtsey for example could speak volumes about what you felt towards someone. Little gestures meant everything. There would be a good story in a girl breaking the rules... Julia

Lydia wrote on 29 August 2007:

Hi, Sorry, I just wanted to ask, what are some of your favourite books and what would you recommend for others?

Hi Lydia If you scroll through some of the previous pages you'll see a few names - Susan Cooper, Garth Nix, Tamora Pierce, CS Lewis, Tolkien, Jane Austen, Philip Pullman, Trudi Canavan and many many more. Julia

Sophie wrote on 29 August 2007:

Is Cat going to fall in love with Frank because they've always seemed very close? Or with Billy, although that's quite unlikely!!!!! Sophie.

Hi Sophie My lips are sealed. Julia

hannah wrote on 29 August 2007:

hi, i was wondering, of all the books that you have read, which one do you wish that you had written yourself? by the way, can't wait for the next cat royal, i love the series as well as Companions Quartet and I'm going to read The Ship Between the Worlds when I've finished the book I'm reading now. Hannah

Hi Hannah I would have liked to write Pride and Prejudice I think - the perfect novel. Julia