Julia Golding

Emma wrote on 02 February 2007:

Dear Julia, I first started reading your books with "The Diamond of Dury Lane" and have been addicted ever since. I can happily and confidently say you are one author I can pick up any of your books and will know I will love it. Whether I get transported to the 18th century or Devon (Hopefully more places in the future). Do you have a plan to only do a certain amount of Cat Royal books like the companions is a seris of four? Just keep on writing please. Emma

Hi Emma Cat may go as far as nine but we'll see. Julia

Melissa wrote on 01 February 2007:

Hi Julia, I love your books and I can't put them down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a question. Why are you only making 4 books in The Companion Quartet? I’m just wondering. I love your books and I can’t wait for the Mines of the Minotaur to come out!!! Melissa

Hi Melissa I designed it as four because of the theme of the four elements. I hope you won't be disappointed. Julia

Amy wrote on 01 February 2007:

Hi Julia, My friend Millie got me on to your 'Cat' books and I can't stop reading them! She just called me up and told me that 'Den of Thieves' is out, so I'm eagerly awaiting the time when she's finished it and lends it to me! Do you have any idea what Cat 5 will be called, or even (dare I say it!) any hints as to what it will be about? Thank you very much, Amy

Hi Amy I've a working title for Cat 5 - Black Heart of Jamaica - but it might change as I'm only at the beginning of the writing process. I plan to look at slavery in the West Indies and send Cat into new territory. Julia

Stacy wrote on 31 January 2007:

When reading some previous messages i noticed that you are going to be at the Edinburgh Book Festival !!! I'll be sure to go !!! Ps. i love your books, i'v read two - The Diamond of Drury Lane and Cat Among The Pigions - the best books i'v ever read. Stacy

Lucy wrote on 31 January 2007:

Dear Julia I am now waiting on tenter hooks for Cat 4 to read more about some of the cliff hangers you left us with! When do you think we will get a picture of the cover on you web site? Cant wait for it to be published (and i no i will have to wait a few months) Lucy

Hi Lucy I'll post a picture asap Julia

Claudia Stenbaek wrote on 29 January 2007:

Hi Julia, I met you in Bute House (red hair) , and i really want to have Secret of the Sirens and the Gorgons gaze! I am quite interested in books now because of you. From Claudia

victoria marie jackson wrote on 28 January 2007:

Hi We are having a book week at our school in Banbury on the 19th February 2007. We would love it if you could come and talk to the children if at all possible. Thank you Victoria Jackson. Victoriajacksonz@yahoo.co.uk

Hi Victoria I'm not sure from this is you are a teacher or a student. If you are a teacher, best to get in touch with my publishers to arrange a visit; if a student, you'd better ask a member of staff. Best wishes Julia

Sandy Love wrote on 28 January 2007:

Hi there. Saw you at the Edinburgh Book Festival last year - have you any plans to go again this year? Cheers

Hi Sandy Yes, I'll be there in August - no dates yet. Julia

Mischa wrote on 28 January 2007:

Hi Julia! How are you? I'm eagerly waiting for Den Of The Thieves to come out! Please could you give us a few more ideas of your Darcie Lock novel(s)? Thank you, Mischa.

Hi Mischa Some shops already have Den of Thieves so do go and look. Darcie Lock? My web page will be up soon but it's set in Kenya and involves smuggling, corruption and shoes. Julia

Rachael Bernice Robinson wrote on 27 January 2007:

hi, forgot this, you know if you muddle my full name around RACHAEL BERNICE ROBINSON it gives you the name of Connie Lionheart but sadly except the T. And i just love magic, myth and adventure so much makes me want to be alone and just daydream about them all the time and wonder if any of that could happen to me, and im an expert at keeping secrets. sincerely Rachael. P.S. you look so much like my aunt jennette, who i look upto all the time.

Rachael Bernice Robinson wrote on 27 January 2007:

hi julia, me again. I just missed a few things out when i first wrote to you.first, i got the companions club as a member of the pegesus, but then again i like all animals. second is i would really like some tips on how to keep my head clear for writing books because i want to become an author, trouble is though some of my friends in my english class at Gillbrook technology college keep copying from my work so they get all the credit. yours sincerely rachael. P.S. Please dont hesitate to write back, i would love to hear more about you and your books.

Hi Rachael Being a pegasus companion does not mean that you can't care for other animals too - far from it. As for keeping your head clear, you need to find a place where you can concentrate without interruptions (and stop your friends looking over your shoulder!). Also a good notebook helps to organize ideas. Julia

Rachael Bernice Robinson wrote on 27 January 2007:

Dear Miss Golding, though I have only read two of your books secret of the sirens and gorgon's gaze, I think that you have grew to be a very talented woman, I only got them last saturday and have finished them both. I like the way the tension builds up around the society and also the way connie and col get along and that makes me wonder, is there going to be romance between them two, but whatever it is, it sure warms my heart to want to be connie Lion heart. P.S. I found out that mines of the minotaur comes out on my burthday, 1st march, my wish is to get it first day. HOPEFULLY! yours sincerely, Rachael.

Hi Rachael My lips are sealed on future plot developments but you don't have long to find out what happens in Minotaur as it'll be in the shops soon. Julia

Helen Ashmore wrote on 26 January 2007:

Dear Miss Golding, Cat Royal is Brillient and I loved Diamond Of Drury Lane very much so its one of my favorite books now. I loved Cat Among The Pigeonsjust as much! I am about to start the den of thieives and I noticed that the cover looks different in a way than the others. It doesn't say the same artist on it. Why have you changed the artist and how you pick them? I am going to be a writer one day. Yours Sincerely, Helen Ashmore PS: I don't have an email address.

Hi Helen The cover was the result of a collaboration between the artist on Diamond (Tim Spencer) and Tony Fleetwood as during the process Tim got caught up in other things. The publisher (Egmont) picks the artist. Tony is also doing Cat o'nine tails - he has a different style but there is a similar design running through each. I think the main variation on Den is that it is day time. I'm rather pleased with it - I hope you like it too as it picks up on the crowd theme in the book. Good luck with your writing. Julia

hafsa age 9 wrote on 25 January 2007:

hello Ms Golding I am a bit of a book worm and am always looking for books to read. My mum bought me the first 2 cat books and read them first. I have just finished the first book and have started cat among the pigeons. I understand most of it. My mum helps out if I get confused. Your glossary is a big help. I think Cat is brilliant. Do you do book signings. I would love a book signed by yourself. I have asked my mum to buy me the third book. The hardback covers are brilliant and I am planning on completing the full matching set. Thank you very much for writing these brillant books

Hi Hafsa I'm glad you are enjoying Cat and impressed that you are managing on your own. I do book signings, school events and all sorts - keep on eye on my events page. I'm in the London region for the Loughton literary festival at the end of March and Edinburgh in the summer. Julia

chloe stanley age 13 wrote on 25 January 2007:

how long did it take to write he diamond of dury lane. i loved it. it was the best book i have read

Hi again The first rush through was only about six weeks - I then went back to it over the next year or so. Add that together and it probably makes about four months work. Julia

Lizzie wrote on 24 January 2007:

Dear Julia I loved The Diamond of Drury Lane & Cat among the Pigeons! I have now started on Den of Thieves & it's great! Could you recommend any similer books? I like books set in 18th century London. Thanks! Lizzie (age 12)

Hi Lizzie I'm not sure if anyone writes books quite like this one (I hope not!). I'm a bit stumped as to what to suggest so invite my readers to make suggestions and I'll post them on this page. Other ideas: for 19th century you might like to try Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart books. For theatre, I enjoyed Swish of the Curtain by Pamela Brown. A Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge has an 18th century feel, though it spins off into fantasy. Julia

aroosa wrote on 24 January 2007:

Dear Julia i absolutely love your books and i find it so intersting and hope you keep the series (the cat one) going on and on and on, I haven't had time to read your other books and i sure am looking forward to read it, your book is so wow me and my friends are fighting over who gets to read it next. I hope your books get turned into a movie I personally think that your books are far more better than J.K. Rowlings. And I just wanted to know how old is Syd and Cat from your 'the diamond in dury lane'. from aroosa

Hi Aroosa I love the Harry Potter books so it's very flattering to be compared favourably to them. Syd is in late teens, Cat not sure of her age but she was a toddler when abandoned at Dury Lane in 1780. Julia

matthew wrote on 24 January 2007:

Hi Julia I've read Secrets of the sirens and can't wait until i can buy a copy of The Gorgans Gaze. What made you come up with the idea of the society and how they protect mythical beasts. Have you tryed to get a contract for the quartet to be turned into films? Yours sincerly Matthew

Hi Matthew Gorgon's Gaze is now in paperback so hopefully easy to obtain. The idea for the Society came from a number of places. I wanted to do a fantasy story set in contemporary life but not a school one (Harry Potter, Charlie Bone etc seem to have cornered the market there). I thought back to my own childhood and remembered that I really liked being part of societies outside of school (guides, drama clubs, Young RSPB etc). That led me to dreaming up the most exciting society I could think of, and it became useful vehicle to tell the environment tale I wanted to put forward. I like the idea that the Society can have its own history in all coutnries over the last thousand years, opening up vast imaginative spaces for my readers in UK and elsewhere. It fits in each culture, drawing on local mythologies. Yes, I had a near miss on a film contract but who knows about the future? The books are coming out in the States this year so that might generate more interest. Julia

Chloe Tuckwell wrote on 23 January 2007:

Dear Julia, Thanks for your reply, I shall go and look for Cat 3 A.S.A.P. The school I'm in does'nt have your book The Diamond of Drury Lane so she must have it at home but if not then its probably just a misunderstanding. Have you got your letter yet? Chloe Tuckwell

Hi Chloe Letters take a while to reach me as they go via my publishers, but I look forward to receiving it. Julia

chloe stanley wrote on 22 January 2007:

i was just wondering after cat 4 will there be any more books.

Hi Chloe Yes - up to a maximum of nine. Julia