First things first: OMG, Notre Dame.
We are set to revise SWEEP OF THE BLADE, but I have no brain power. None. Also no willpower, which is why I have finished 70 episodes of the Story of Yanxi Palace. So today is the answer emails day.
J: writes:
Just had a quick question about the second Iron Covenant book that’s *hopefully* still coming out in October: When we read KD 10, it mentioned that Hugh and Elara had met with the soldiers a year before the events of KD 10. I was just wondering about the timeline for the second Hugh book?
The second book has been bumped a bit to possibly December. We are still very committed to having it out this year. It picks up almost immediately after the first book left off and deals with Elara, her background, and the challenges of her origin.
S. writes:
I’m sorry if you have already answered this but will Julie get a book/series? It seemed like a setup at the end of Magic Triumphs, but was it only to leave an opening with no set plans to continue? Please tell me that is not the case!!
Julie was written as a very sensitive, vulnerable kid who had to put up a lot of emotional barriers to survive. Her father died, her mother was murdered and eaten in front of her, her boyfriend was planning to steal her magic, and she has been repeatedly targeted by creatures much stronger than her. She’s been kidnapped, attacked, infected with Lyc-V, saved by Kate, sentencing her to a form of slavery, approached by Roland, who tried to use her as a pawn, and through it all, she persevered, learning to show no weakness, and remained kind and compassionate. She is, to borrow a phrase from Yanxi Palace, a person with a cold face but a warm heart.
Some people, women in particular, aren’t willing to cut her any slack. The moment she “steps out of line” by behaving as a typical teenager or by taking independent action to protect Kate on her own terms, they react violently, lashing out.
I don’t know if this is because the character isn’t understood because she doesn’t fawn over Kate and doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve, or if it’s that trend of hero can be forgiven everything while the heroine can be forgiven nothing. Maybe it’s tapping into the refusal to acknowledge that our children are not extension of ourselves. Maybe it’s catering to the mindset of telling random women to smile more, because fake happiness is more palatable than sadness or worry. Who knows?
Long story short, we get Julie hatemail. Half want bad things to happen to Julie. They literally hate her and want her to die. The other variation of the hatemail is, “I am just not interested in Julie as a character and I don’t think she could carry a book.” Right, because despite writing 12 books set in this world, all of which succeeded in being entertaining, we will lose all of ability to tell a compelling story just because Julie is the main character.
It actually resulted in Brandi having second thoughts about publishing her own work. She isn’t sure she would be willing to put up with all the venom.
We had definite plans for a continuation of the storyline, picking it up with Julie as the main character roughly 8 years after the events of Magic Triumphs. The world is even more warped by magic, Conlan is 10, Jim is ready to retire, and the battle for the Pack is about to start. We have chunks of the first book plotted. We spared some characters in Magic Triumphs so they could return in the sequel. However, I’m not going to do it.
Writing comes from the same place as play. Right now if we sit down and write Julie, she won’t be true to the original vision of the character. There is a lot more depth and layers there than in Ascanio, for example, who is at the core a simple character. I don’t feel like working with her until I’m sure we can do her justice. So that trilogy and any other work in KD world, except for Iron Covenant, is indefinitely on hold. That might change tomorrow, but probably not. 🙂
A different J writes:
I’m an aspiring PNR writer and I recently pitched my first MS at the California Dreamin writer’s conference. I received some positive feedback from the big NY publishing houses and I was wondering whether, based on your past experience, you think there is a benefit to having an agent or whether dealing directly with the publishers is now the status quo.
Always shoot for the agent first. Relevant reading:
https://ilona-andrews.com/should-you-have-a-webpage/
Also, one publishing house noted that my MS might be better suited to UF rather than PNR, even though it is a romance with HEA, because of my world-building. Did you find that there was an advantage to being in one genre over another. I know you guys are basically the OG of urban fantasy with your Kate Daniels series, but your Hidden Legacy series seems like it could have been marketed as PNR also. Did you find a benefit to one genre over the other?
The typical answer is: No, there is no advantage to one genre over the other. However, since you called us and Gordon OG, I now have to live up and say things not everyone will like.
Romance readership is an enormous behemoth. Romance readers buy books in a very large volume. According to The Richest, here is the breakdown of the genre sales.
2014 Book Sales by Genre
- HORROR ($79.6 MILLION)
- SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY ($590.2 MILLION)
- RELIGIOUS / INSPIRATIONAL ($720 MILLION)
- CRIME / MYSTERY ($728.2 MILLION)
- ROMANCE / EROTICA ($1.44 BILLION)
So if you put Horror, SF/F, and Mystery together, Romance still outsells them.
If you are aiming to be a commercial writer and you are naturally inclined to romantic storylines, you are in luck. If you’re not, and you are trying to stuff romance into the story because you think you will sell more, it usually doesn’t work. You have to be actively interested in the romantic aspect of the story to pull it off.
So aim for romantic elements if you can.
The definition of romance is simple: there must be a Happily Ever After and if you take relationship out of the story, it falls apart. The storyline of Kate Daniels will still work if Kate and Curran are not together. It’s a UF. The romance arc does become gradually stronger, but even if we killed Curran midway through, negating the HEA, the story would still work.
The storyline of BURN FOR ME would make a lot less sense, but yes, it could still stand. WHITE HOT would fall apart, and if you take romance out of WILDFIRE, there isn’t much left. That’s why the Hidden Legacy trilogy overall is classified as PNR.
Ask yourself, can your story work without the couple? If it’s yes, aim for UF. If it’s no, aim for Romance. Get an agent first. The agent will help you sort this out and will likely query both sides. UF and PNR have a large crossover audience; many people read both. If your book is solidly UF but there is a strong romantic element, they will find it. However, if your book is solidly UF and you try to pass it off as Romance, you may get a backlash.
Be advised that UF and PNR is a tough sell right now. The market is saturated, the readers are mostly tired of the same old tropes, so make sure your work is original and brings something new and exciting to the table.
Best of luck.
Damn. I had no clue there was so much animosity towards Julie :'(
I’ve been waiting for her book since she let Curran out of the cage in Magic Strikes.
It’s okay though, maybe an actual 8 year jump (2027 maybe?) might be what her character needs.
For what it is worth, I love Julie, want her to end up with Derek and can’t wait to read her new adventures with her Great-Auntie in tow. Sorry people suck.
PS Thank you *curse you* thank you, for mentioning your recent self-soothing pastime of K-pop’s “What is Wrong With Secretary Kim”. It was the cotton candy and happy ending I never knew I needed in my life! (curse you, because it caused a brief period of obsessive watching at the expense of productivity and much else! )
Ha! I have no regrets. It was a very satisfying drama. I really enjoyed it.
I want to thank you for this recommendation as well. I watched it and then I made my Mom, who is going through chemo, to watch it. It helps, in a way, because it is such a sweet, nice, warm thing, no one is evil, everyone is happy (ish). The downside is, I am now searching for more K-romcoms:)
While I am here, I want to thank you for your books and declare that I, too, am loving Julie, she us strong, complicated and smart girl. I hope she will get a book eventually. She reminds me a bit of a character from Chinese historical drama Empresses in the Palace. 70+ series, totally worth watching. The main character goes from nice young gal to power woman, ruthless and lonely, because she had to see her friends die,and avenging them does not bring them back.
It was Julie’s short story in “An Apple for the Creature” that lead me to the Kate Daniels books. So I’m pro Julie. I think Kate needed Julie to evolve properly in the story. To each their own though. Glad I’m on your email list, so I will know when her first book comes out. 😉
Oops wrong place to comment guess I clicked the wrong button.
Why in the world would people hate on Julie? Just shaking my head. Thanks for writers insight. I need a glossary of the acronyms. New reasearch for me!
Thanks for the post. Descendants of the Sun, Secret Garden, and Eternal Love aka Three Lives Three Worlds: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms are also good intros to k/c-dramas.
I was thinking the same thing about the acronyms LOL!! I was shocked myself to hear so much hate on for Julie, I thought she was hilarious, even more so would be putting her with Erra for some adventures! I can picture the 2 in my head so easy!!
+1
I have not been a Parisian for 25 years but watching Notre Dame burn has made me realise that you can take the girl out of Paris but you can’t take Paris out of the girl.
As for Julie, I am really surprised that people hated her but then I have my own teenagers so maybe I am reading her differently… Go Julie!
I truly don’t understand people who take time out of their day to write hate mail. ?♀️ Julie is a fascinating character & I’d love to see more stories about her when y’all decide the time is right.
Its funny that so many people dont like Julie. I love her and because of the short in Apple for Creature Anthology is why I searched out the KD world. If you do decide to write her story I will devour it.
I do have a question though. Would you guys ever put all the short stories together into one book? Not Dali’s of Andrea’s but like Julie’s, Simon’s etc.
This is where I should have commented!!! “An Apple for the Creature” lead me to KD too.
I loved the collection “Small Magics” because it’s a start toward getting the short stories together for those of us who don’t want to buy a million different anthologies. I love KD and HL, so it was a happy find. Julie annoys me sometimes (in the way real teenagers annoy me when they do something I wish they didn’t do), but I loved “Magic Tests”, “Magic Stars”, and the blog blurb “The King of Fire” (once I read the next post that cleared up who “Julia” was). I would NEVER hate mail. Happy to be a member of the BDH. ?
Reading that a lot of your readers hated Julie made me sad, she is my favourite character by a mile. She’s been through so much but she’s still got heart, how can anyone be mad at that? I wish more teenage (and adult!) characters were written with the thoughtfulness and all round realness that you put into your female characters. I’m really tired of harmful and limiting tropes.
Yes! I am gobsmacked by all the hate on Julie, she is magnificent!
Wow, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the hate for Julie. I always thought she was the most interesting character in the Universe and enjoyed seeing how she developed as she grew with everything she had to face. If you do eventually choose to write the books I will be so happy to read it, but to be fair I like that with all your work.
I think Julie is a marvelous character and could be a main character in her own right. But that is your decision and you will do what’s right when the time comes. When it comes no braining, I would happily see you take some time off to relax and recharge. Sweep of the Blade is awesome, but we got to read the ‘first draft’ and I’m good with waiting until you’re ready. You work so hard on your stories, you give it everything you have. It’s April, Spring has come, so relax and enjoy for a bit, smell the flowers and play with the dogs and cats. When you’re ready, your own internal gage will nudge you into working again. I promise, we’ll be here. =)
+1
I loved Magic Stars, and had some small hopes of more Derek & Julie; but after finishing KD I see it isnt a thing that can happen anymore. Also all the hate for Julie… damn people piss off, she’s a far better character than some who have had 4 books and just as many awful movies made about them. I do hope some day Julie will get the story you’ve started for her, she has earned it.
Love all that you guys do, you’ve saved me more than once ♡
Why would you think Julie Derek couldn’t still happen? Nothing at the end of KD seemed to preclude it. And hey going off and becoming more her own person would seem to make it more possible, to me?
I was wondering this too. Didn’t know if I missed something or just forgot something. ?
? I really had no idea there was so much Julie hate. I really liked her as a character and was looking forward to more from her.
That being said, if you as the writer feel like you won’t be doing the character justice, I completely understand not wanting to write it
Wow, I can’t believe “fans” go to the trouble of writing hate mail, and are hating on Julie of all people! Please know that plenty of us like her, and want to see her grow into her own kick-ass woman.
I had no idea how you were going to turn Hugh into a protagonist, but you did it–I’m sure you’ll do just as fabulously with her story when you get to it.
Never in my wildest dreams would it occur to me to write hate mail about any fictional characters, much less Julie. I love all your books but I certainly don’t take them seriously enough to write hate mail. They are your creations, not mine.
Julie always resonated with me, reminding me a bit of Mattie from True Grit. She is tenacious, capable, driven and honorable – yet she /is/ a child who sometimes makes wrong or selfish choices – and it was a good balance. I think the world benefits from seeing characters like Julie and Mattie reflected in our art. This isn’t a call for you to write her, just wanted to let you know I greatly appreciated your character work with Julie.
Julie is hands down my favorite Kate Daniels character. I really hope you get the headspace back to tell her story the way you want to.
I echo all the others is disbelief of the hatred for Julie, much less the sending of hate mail about it. She has always been one of my favorite characters. It makes me sad that the future books have been put on hold, but totally understand your point of view on the why they have been. Y’all are awesome, I will read whatever it is that y’all come out with next 🙂
Julie has been a favorite since she first entered Kate’s life. I cannot wait for her story and see how she has turned out. Hate for Julie? Why??? I mean, have these haters never interacted with teens? They rarely show respect for anyone because that isn’t cool. Anyway, I’m sorry. I was looking forward to her story.
Julie hatemail
???♀️??♀️??♀️
As someone who has fifty years or reading behind them I am still amazed at the readers of today. I remember when we did not have instant access to an author through blogs, Facebook or twitter and I enjoy hearing from authors who make me laugh and keep me informed of their writings. The downside is the hate. In all my years there has only been one authori loved that chose a different path for her books. I didn’t throw hate not even at a character I didn’t connect with. I just moved on and you know what there were thousands of readers who did enjoy the new direction. I did not throw hate at the author cause you know what that was their choice and there are many other authors to enjoy. So instead of throwing hate and spoiling it for other readers just quietly move on. Different strokes for different folks. Just chill. Life is short. Consume all the food stuff while you can
Sorry Ilona. Please delete if yo wish. Just had to get this off my chest cause I seen this so often. Thank the authors for the hours of enjoyment and chill.
I agree with you. I don’t have quite as many years of reading but I am close. I have also moved on from a few authors who I greatly enjoyed for a time but they took their characters in a direction that was not as fun for me. But these characters belonged to the authors and not me. I can’t tell an author how to write his or her book. When I stop enjoying a series I just quit reading it I do not write hateful things to the author. I might share my feelings on Goodreads or a similar sight but that is what those forums are for. At least in my opinion.
I so agree with you both! Venting to a friend about not liking a book is fine. Writing a bad review, fine because it’s a review, it’s a place to put your opinion. Writing hate mail to the authors?? No. Just no.
Why is it people can’t just stop reading if they don’t like it, and find something else? I’ve been emotionally invested in books before, and hated where the author has taken the characters. So I stopped reading them. It’s that simple. It has never even crossed my mind that I should directly share that opinion with the author. People suck.
hope you find the place where you can write about Julie, can’t believe the hate mail .. ugly!
Here is some Julie support!
I connected with her and love each time we see her pov. I hope she gets a series, I can promise, that if I have funds available, I will autobuy.
I would take the julie hate as a compliment to your work. You can’t hate just anything it has to be special to you.
So at the end of the day you did such a great work with julie as a side character that she is special enough to hate.
?? you’re so right
Part of me is like, they don’t need to see another post about being shocked about the hate towards Julie, but the bigger part of me just needs to send some love Julie’s way <3 She is one of the best characters in the series and has so much depth and possibility, and such a huge heart on top of all of that. Thanks for sharing her with us in the first place! 🙂
Agreed! She is a well written and well developed character in so many ways. I don’t get the hate, but whatever. I wish people just wouldn’t feel entitled to express their hatred to the authors. If I don’t like a book, I might leave a review – not on an author’s site or forum, and I certainly wouldn’t send them an email with it – but I move on. The review is usually for ME to remember why I didn’t like it.
I’m so confused why people hate Julie. She’s hilarious, I love the sass and sarcasm, and she’s still such a compassionate person. And she’s a kid! With an adult’s mindset!
I’ve been dying for a Julie series since Apple Creature novella thingie.
Well darn, I was looking forward to reading Julie and auntie ‘s adventures and head-butting episodes. It makes me laugh whenever I think about it. The haters evidently have an inflated sense of importance, kind of like Hollywood actors now. I’ve stopped reading lots of authors for many reasons but never wrote and complained about their characters. If you don’t like it, don’t read it, easy fix.
I think about teenagers like a horse on a lead rein, long enough for jumping around and exploring but a way for a safe control and shut down. I’m smiling, my eldest now has three teenagers, 13, 15, 17. My boys were really good but we did have some serious issues, so happy they are grown up and have kids of their own. Puts a big smile on my face!
My homecare client is 90 and complains about her kids (55 to 70). I told her “we love our kids, we just don’t like them all the time.” : )
I love Julie. I love the fact that she has such a passive power but is not a passive character. I’m so surprised people hate her. She’s made choices I wouldn’t have made, but I’m also not a teenage girl /shrug. That’s what makes her story interesting.
Thank you for sharing your updates. I’m excited for everything y’all put out!
I can never sort out why people think they can tell authors what they should write or how their stories should progress! ( I had the same reaction to all the nasty criticism of Nalini Singh when “Archangels Prophecy” was released.). Write Julie if that is where the story arc and your muse takes you. Makes me crazy that a vocal minority think they should dictate for an author or authors. If they do not like a story they do not have to read it.
This!
First, dear Brandi – please keep thinking, and consider a pen name. The world needs more good published authors. I bet a good agent could help buffer the ugliness. I noticed that the author lords interact more with their readers than many other authors, all who are also successful. You be you.
Having said that, let me claim to be the silent majority and say I would love to read more Julie stories. I have noticed that the author lords can write more than one protagonist.
Awww. I love Julie. She’s more real when she acts like a normal teen, or veers off from what Kate thinks she should do. I hope one day we’ll get her series. In the meantime *snaps rubber bands at the haters*
Julie is wonderful. In some ways, with a different but also troubled history, a chip off Kate’s tough heroic block. A well realized human, even more admirable since not of a magic heritage. A fabulous adopted daughter. Shocked anyone would not love her.
whenever you guys are ready to write Julie, I will be ready to read it. I think she’s a very interesting, intriguing character. I think she’s got dips and twists that would make wonderful storytelling. I think haters need to be put in time out!
+1 I guess on the one hand you can’t hate a character without feeling passionate about them. However, sending emails to the authors?? Sigh. The haters need to do a Bart Simpson while in time out and write “I will write hate mail about Julie” 5,000 times.
I hope you do write the Julie book eventually – 8 years ahead would make her a good, age for adventures of her own. 🙂
Oops – meant “I will NOT write hate mail about Julie.”
Grin, I haven’t even watched a single episode of Yanxi Palace (serials are hard for me unless they have Sci Fi or zombies)! Thought it was Yanxi Palace when you first mentioned Asian royal court drama series 🙂
Have you watched wynonna earp? No zombies but plenty of scifi and really cool characters
I ADORE Julie, and look forward to when you are able to continue her story. I agree with others, some people are just mean and SUCK. They have obviously either a) never interacted with teenage girls, or b) those girls were hopelessly “perfect” which causes me to be suspicious if they were truly human.
I hope you enjoy a few days break.
I do not get the animosity towards Julie. She has a special place in my heart and I really, really get where she comes from. I do not understand how people cannot reach into the depths of a character and find the complications as fascinating and rich. I do get holding off too.
I don’t hate Julie. She’s a kid in a very rough world. And she acted like a kid – which is actually probably pretty rare in the world of Kate Daniels. I consider her interesting in the way Curran thinks of Conlan. She’s different, and we barely know anything about her capabilities. She’s creative and definitely a survivor, though. I’d love a book from her perspective because we’ve only gotten hints about who she is. And the hints of her traveling with Erra sound amazing. I’m sorry Julie gets so much hate mail. I feel like we’ve lost a good story due to that. But for those who hate her… a lot of us used to hate Hugh and well, the changes he’s made have proven we were very, very wrong about him. Give Julie a chance!
I can’t imagine actually writing Julie hate mail. I’ll admit when y’all first started talking about featuring her, I wrinkled my nose because young adult just doesn’t often work for me. But when I actually read Magic Stars I really enjoyed it. And seeing how you pulled off Hugh really highlighted how you can still surprise me. And then the end of KD, I got really stoked for more Julie.
I love Julie and see so much potential in her for a lead character in a story of her own. I hope the haters eventually inspire you to use your writer magic to prove them wrong. (One can always hope.)
First, let me express my completely broken heart that, at this moment, Julie and the future of KD world is on hold. I was so, SO looking forward to that continuation. Like, so much. I hope things change, selfishly.
I am so disheartened that people have sent you hate mail AT ALL, but especially over a character as complex and worthy of being a successor to carrying on a series in that universe as Julie.
I wish I could say I was surprised. I’m, sadly, not. I’m super small potatoes yet, but I recently released a standalone novella set in the same universe as my main series. In it, a side character gets to take center stage. That wasn’t the issue. The problem, apparently, was that another side character who has appeared VERY briefly “on screen” was also featured, and because he was featured more prominently, the fact that he is gay was finally addressed on the page. I have received some email from readers that is pure venom. People are angry that I’ve “made him gay”. I assure them he was ALWAYS gay, that he was never on the page long enough for his sexuality to be addressed naturally, but that doesn’t matter. Whether they wanted him as a romantic interest for Nayla, the MC of the novella, instead of a close friend, or whether they are just biased against characters of differing sexuality from their own, IDK, but I literally stopped checking my author email after release week because it hurt my heart so much. I haven’t even expressed this on my author page where I communicate to readers because I’m so angry/sad/disappointed. Even though the vast majority of my readers seem to love the novella and only lament it for its length, the hate filled emails really do pack a punch. I guess I’m going to have to learn how to deal and ignore them, because I’m not changing my forward plans because of a few. They can stop reading, go buy a different author if they’re dissatisfied with my work.
I know another author right now dealing with hate messages from readers because Amazon hasn’t published her newest book yet. She submitted it six days ago, but it languishes waiting for Amazon approval. Readers are bombarding her email and PMs DEMANDING she give them the book. I am SHOCKED at the sheer sense of entitlement. She has disappeared from her own author group and her PA posted to say why. I’m heartbroken for her. I don’t if fans realize, if they treat creators terrible, we are less likely to create for them.
Oh that sucks. I am so sorry. The worst thing that even if the hate mail is completely absurd, the sheer volume of it just makes you want to snarl. I am so sorry. ::passes a cup of tea:
Thank you! I should add, it is a small, vocal few. But it was my first experience with this kind of feedback as an author and I wasn’t expecting it. Even the fact that a small group of my readers could feel that way is upsetting, maybe in part because I love being inclusive and diverse with my characters, and I had hoped my readers would be supportive of that (most are).
I will add that, my release was also screwed up by Amazon because they sent out the wrong file to preorders – meaning instead of the final file I uploaded, they sent the placeholder I’d uploaded when I created the preorder. This was due to a change they made in the back end eliminating the need for preorder files at all, and it auto-marked the placeholder as final, affecting any authors who had set up their preorder within a certain time frame. In fact, as of Friday I know of authors still being caught in this glitch. So, I had already had what I consider a nightmare launch and was not in a great place emotionally when I started getting that feedback. The good news is, all of my readers who preordered and received the wrong file have been very understanding about the issue and I have received zero backlash about it from them. It’s just been a really difficult launch overall, and is probably the most discouraging week I’ve ever experienced as an author.
But, back to Julie – seriously I love her. I love Derek. I was so sad to see the end of KD I cried when I read the last book. I am sick that people have sent you guys hate mail about Julie. I hope the outpouring of love I’m seeing in comments helps you to know just how many of us adore her and were excited at the idea of a series featuring her. I mean, you guys redeemed Hugh! I’m sure there were people who hated that idea before they read the first book. I believe you could write a series about any character and people would love them.
I love everything you two write. I’ve set aside money for all of your potential future books. I never feel a twinge of guilt, worry, or regret that I have made a mistake in investing my hard earned money in your art, so take my money whenever you have a new book out. Bless you both.
I’m just sitting here kinda floored by the idea that people are hating on Julie. Personally I think she’s a great character and deserving of her own “spin off”.
I love Julie and have my fingers crossed for her future, when you are ready. I know it will be all kinds of awesome.
I love Julie, and I too cannot believe there are people out there who take time to write hatemail about a fictional character :-/ I would love to read a Julie series! Thanks a lot, haters *shakes head*
First let me say, I know you will and want you to do whatever best keeps you all healthy and writing, because I love your stories and will read whatever you put out.
That said, I love Julie and will look forward to that day somewhere down the line when you feel you can write her again. I want to add though, that even if I hated her, I would have faith that you could write her in a way that would make me love her. I was in the hate Hugh camp, though I tried to keep my mouth shut about it because I didn’t want to torture you guys, but what you did with his first book and with KD10 won me over completely, and if you could do that with Hugh, I have to believe you could do it with any character.
I like Julie. She is devoted to Kate and her family. I would like to see her have a happy ending with Derek. Ironic if he became Beast Lord and Julie was the consort. Also really curious how Conlon turns out. There were so many interesting ideas that arose after the snippet of Julie and Moloch. I hope you get inspired!
I have really enjoyed Julie’s character arc, and how she has developed over time, including frustrating every normal expectation one might have for that sort of character.
Please keep your Julie plans on the back burner and don’t drop her altogether! She is turning into an amazing woman, so loyal and brave- I find it hard to believe that people dislike her ?! I really want to see her as an adult??
Wow…..
That is all I can say about the reaction to Julie……
I am so sorry, I love Julie and everything you two create.
Hi! This is the guy who you both signed the Physical Copy of Magic Stars for at the Cary N.C. ‘Barns and Nobel ‘ about 2ish years ago.
Aside from Kate and Curran, Julie is my favorite character. She’s very much a real person when I read her on the page and the depth of life you both have put into her is incredible. I would give anything for her story to continue in any avenue possible as the story potential is off the charts. And I’ll freely admit I ship her and Derek. They just WORK as a couple-the banter between them only highlights how rich they are as characters. She doesn’t NEED Derek to be ‘whole’ but realizes she wants him in her life so they both can be ‘more whole’, if you’ll pardon the bad structure there.
But even if her story is over I’ll relish every moment of the stories you have given us in the Kate Daniels series and be forever grateful for the chance to journey along with them.
At the end of Marvel’s Transformers with issue #80, writer Simon Furman said (paraphrasing) ‘ as long as we remember the stories, it never ends!’
That’s how I feel about Kate, Curran, Julie and everyone else in this world-they’ll never really be gone as long as we remember.
Thank you both for everything!
I am actually quite shocked about the hate mail toward Julie. Personally I have always adored her character! I quite enjoy the dynamic between her and Derek and I will continue to be hopeful that your mindset changes on continuing there story! ??
I’m another who’s surprised at the hate on Julie! I love her. She’s brilliant and yet, still very much a teenager. I’ve never understood how she’s managed to be so sane despite all she’s been through. I love when she has a “teenage” moment because it shows how well she’s come through everything, that she has that normality.
So, as others have said, I’m sorry people suck so much. I hope that one day you feel able to pick up and tell Julie’s story the way you always intended to. Until then, I’ll just love on anything else you write!
This is so disappointing! Thinking about there being a series with Julie and Erra has kept me going after the depression of Kate’s arc ending. Both of these characters have had the most amazing character growth into some of my most favorite characters in the entire Kate Universe. Kate’s own growth was so influenced by these 2 women that I have always wanted more from each of them. The hallmark of the best characters are those with the greatest amount of growth. I can’t even pick any other characters out of this series that deserve their own series. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Erra. She so totally redeemed herself to me, having lost my own mother when I was young, I just absolutely adored her for filling that role for Kate. There are no words for me really to describe how that bond just was life for me in this series. My most heartbreaking moments for Kate were almost always related to her not having a mother, the scene on Yvdokia’s porch where she found out that Vorron didn’t really love her, nearly broke my heart for Kate. I cried, I mean like sloppy cried, snot and all. When she then told Curran about the revelation at their steak dinner before the Light House battle, I felt her heartbreak at the thought that Curran would leave her but also her courage in wanting to confront it and know for sure, totally expecting the worst. Him telling her about the safe houses in every state made me just burst with joy for her that she had found real true love. So when Erra came along to fill yet another void in her life, I just felt that Kate’s story was truly complete and I could move forward knowing she was in good hands with Curran and Erra, Conlan and Julie. The thought of Erra filling that role for Julie too just excited me beyond all belief! I can’t even tell you how much I have been looking forward to their stories! So what if some people don’t get it! Everyone hated Hugh too and look at how well his series is doing. I honestly don’t understand this at all.
Thank you. You really gave me something to think about today. I have always been hesitant about Julie. I thought a bit about this today after learning about the Julie haters. Julie has great potential to betray Kate (who I love) and become a huge monster. She leaves me feeling uneasy. Then it occurred to me ….that is pretty much who Kate is. A person with a huge capability of becoming a monster. Julie kinds of echoes her. It seems like Julie’s youth has been more unstable than Kate’s. Yes, Kate was raised by a psycho, but a focused psycho with a clear, if warped vision. Poor Julie had a good life, then had a single parent and was thrust into poverty….then all that other stuff you mentioned happened. I do not always understand her motives. We have seen her have regular kid dramatics. We have seen her disregard Kates support and guidance. I think readers get really attached to their favorite characters.
Honestly, I would not have believed anyone could make Hugh likable. You amazed me with the other side of that coin. Shedding the heroine light on Julie seems relatively easy (of course, I have never written a single book..so) I would not have believed I could ever like Hugh, at all. I was really pleasantly surprised with Iron Covenant and look forward to reading more of Hugh and his world. If Julie and the muse call to you, please do write the stories. I think you might end up converting a lot of readers. To paraphrase an art teacher, ‘true art gets an emotional response.’ It sounds like Julie is a master work. Thanks for the food for thought and all the wonderful books!
So surprised to hear you get hate mail to begin with, and gobsmacked that some of it is about Julie! I mean really, wtf?! I mean, if someone asked me to guess who would send you hate mail, I would assume it was some borderline crazed, fundy christian (fundy any religion, but since I’m in the US, I think of christians first) who just takes issue with any UF. You guys will do what’s best for you, but I hope by revealing the Julie Hate you’ll see that whoever those people are, they are in the minority. (I really hope they’re in the minority anyway because I just don’t get it.)
Much love for you guys and your work – no matter what you decide about your future production. I just want it to be enjoyable (for you) so it will endure(for us) and be profitable (for you). *grin*
A part of me is not surprised to hear that you get venomous emails. I developed this jaded perspective from reading comments on anything. Newspaper and magazine articles to any kind of social media. I deplore the trolls, I don’t understand it, but not surprised. Another part of me is shocked and frankly outraged that you receive any kind of hate mail, especially from a fan who reads your work. It is such a bummer, I’m ashamed and embarrassed for them. I’m a fan of your work and your blog. I love how you so generously share slices of your art, the process and insights into characters, story development and the industry. To think that your own fans are responsible for enough negativity to give Brandi pause is tragic.
I love Julie. I love all of the characters in the KD world because they are fully realized. Maybe I am only aquatinted with many of them, but they seem real to me like the glimpses I have of most people.
Sending love mail and virtual peeps. ?
+1
I like to think that Julie is off having adventures. She just hasn’t told you about them yet. I have just done a re-read of Hidden Legacy and a re-listen to the Innkeepers. I haven’t read Kinsman yet so that’s next. I thought of you when I heard of the Paris fire. Treasure your pictures and memories.
I remember a tidbit about Howard Stern; however listeners who loved him listened so many minutes a day, and how listeners who hated him listened (I want to say it was like at least 3 times as may minutes a day as those that loved him). I hope you find that encouraging, as your readers who hate Julie (which I personally cannot fathom), maybe even more rabid to buy her stories than those who think she is great.
Your characters read as real people, not just . A friend once said she stopped reading books with “chick with sword!” covers because it seemed she’d be a badass but turned out to be rather uninteresting. I suggested she try Kate Daniels series despite the cover.
So many romance heroines (or K-dramas) read as bland characters we, the reader, can superimpose our woes on. But nothing too egregious because we deserve love. No, we are entitled to at least a love triangle. I guess some readers may get upset that characters might have flaws, independence, and want to do good works for people other than their love interest or child. It isn’t a sin to enjoy the fluffy with light angst stuff, but Julie isn’t a “flower vase” (Chinese drama insult for looks pretty, nothing inside).
Jessica Goldstein recapped Netflix “You” and I thought she explained this type of character pairing rather well:
“I already found Beck grating but I see now that our heroine has what I like to call Bella Swan Syndrome: When a female character is aggressively unremarkable but, somehow, everyone else in the story is infatuated with her and fights over her constantly. (No offense, Kristen Stewart! But we can all agree: Bella is lame as hell. Her interests are like … laundry? I think?) ”
https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/you-recap-season-1-episode-5-living-with-the-enemy.html
If they remade it now, I wonder if Bella would at least Konmari fold her stuff.
Aggressively unremarkable is an awesome turn of phrase.
Also in the “love Julie “ camp! Loved her in KD, Magic Stars, Apple for the Creature. Would love to see her in more books, either on her own or with any of the KD cast. Or you could make my dreams come true by writing a series a la the Avengers and bring somehow combine Kate’s world with Innkeeper, Edge, and Nevada’s.
We have the same dream.
+1
Must be all the genetically modified food people eat. Hate Julie? Hate her more than you hated Hugh? You guys turned that around. That being said, I know you have to keep an eye on the financial side of things, but I’d prefer you write what you want to write when you want to write it. Think it makes for a better story when authors are enjoying what they do.
By the way, thanks for the Peep addiction. Every day you were gone, I checked for new blog and saw the Peep post. May need rehab for withdrawal when Easter is over.
Two questions…
1. Were you able to tour Notre Dame while you were in Paris? I hope so.
2. So does this mean Derek’s novella series (Gray Wolf) won’t continue, or will it continue (when you have time) but while Julie is off running around with Erra?
1. Yes.
2. Not sure.
Sorry to hear about all the Julie hatemail! She’s been a favorite of mine ever since Magic Tests.
Also, so strange that people take the time out of their day to email you about their dislike for one of your characters.
+1! I couldn’t get over the whole idea of hate email about a character. Hate email???Especially for an essentially teenage girl who’s had a pretty miserable life before starting to come into her own. I think she’s got tremendous possibilities as a lead character. And frankly, as much as I love the Kate world, I wasn’t that excited about Kate or Curran in the beginning – kept thinking, oh, please just grow up will you. And voila, of course they did exactly that. The characters just got better over time. I really despised Hugh, but you got to have a great villain! And his own book turned that around for me, giving me other more relatable aspects to his character. So please, when the time is right and you’re in the mood, go for the Julie book!!
I was watching Life Unexpected and there were these mean girls who making fun of a girl for living in a foster home. I was looking at them like there’s no way people like actually exist. Then I heard about the Julie hate mail *shaking my head*
I love Julie and really want to see what her future holds.
First: yes, OMG, Norte Dame. Torn up yesterday, teamed up this morning when I saw the Rose Window had survived.
Second, thank god for the comments, because my reaction was the same. Who the hell takes the time to write “I hate this character” to an author? You don’t like her? Don’t read the book and let the rest of us have it. Jerks. I mean, I totally ‘ship Derek and Julie, but you are the AOs.Screw those people, Julie rocks, and I was completely looking forward to the quest.
Third, thank you for the PNR vs. UF discussion. I found KD and you through a best-of romance site, and I was pretty frustrated with the first novel. I liked it, obviously, but it wasn’t a romance, and it still irks me that my local bookstore keeps it in the romance section. Because nope. The Edge series, absolutely. Look at that, versatility.
Finally – you two are incredibly prolific and deserve to take as long as you need with all of the books. Will be here, waiting.
Three things come to mind.
1) People are crazy. I think that’s already been established but for some reason they feel to need to continue proving it.
2) I have no understanding why people try to tell authors what/why/why/where/when to write. It reminds me a little of when I ran a nonprofit daycare center. There’s something about that profession… Everyone thinks they know the best way to teach/manage/disciple/raise/feed children and most felt the need to instruct me. Grandparents were (weirdly) the worse. As soon as I saw a mom come in my office with a grandmother, I had to brace myself for nasty behavior from elderly ladies. I’d still be working with kids if I could have worked with orphans.
3) Why do people think you (and, by extension, we) care if they hate your characters? What makes them feel so important to the world that they get to judge what is published? Why do people so often think that they “know better”? It’s my favorite philosophical question these days.
“I’d still be working with kids if I could have worked with orphans.”
ROFLMAO! Sorry, but that just tickled my funny bone; too true! Old people (and at 57, I think of myself as one; certainly, I’m old enough to have grandkids!) can be opinionated. And a bit (or more!) rigid. We’ve had a long time to to refine our arguments, if not our actual opinions. Personally, I’m fond of falsification; I flip my position and try to prove THAT, instead; or at least find evidence for it. Keeps me honest, and on my toes.
So when the old farts speak, smile, and nod, and do it the way you were going to anyway. If you’re willing to be wrong, at any age, empirical evidence and experience will show who’s right. 🙂
I also forgot a comment for Brandi… To quote Taylor, haters are gonna hate. You could write the next Great American Novel, and someone somewhere is going to hate something about it, and in this age of anonymous trolling, they will post it to social media and rip you to shreds. (Especially if you’re female and writing for a genre that males consider “theirs”.) I’m not going to suggest that you ignore that, because IMHO, that advice is a bit naive. It will hurt to see those comments, because no one likes comments like that directed to themselves, but you also have to take those comments with a grain of salt. If people you know and respect (like Ilona and Gordon) say they like your work, then continue on, because there will be more people like them out there who like what you write. As Ilona has stated, they get some hate mail and otherwise unhelpful commentary, but (hopefully) a lot more of us speak out in their support (at least on this forum) to offset that other type of mail.
So if Ilona and Gordon say you’re good (even if they’re biased) then I say, go for it!
Well, these days it’s gone way beyond “haters gonna hate.” More like “haters gonna get you stalked, doxxed and fired.”
I’m with Brandi: I’m never going to do anything to get seen by other people either. It’s just not safe. No dream I have is worth ruining my life over it.
I like Julie too. I don’t get the hate.
Hello,
I felt sad hearing that there were hate mails about Julie (any character from Ilona Andrews). Writing Hugh’s and Kate’s story without giving off the vibe of same person trying to sound different should truly be appreciated especially when the story lines intersect. Making us like Hugh after all he has done and the emotional downs he took Kate is truly commendable.
Personally, I find it really hard to find books which are so well written and fun as these. Thanks a lot and I hope these characters come back with more stories in future.
I know that you guys are truly gifted and hope “tomorrow” comes soon 🙂
I am so disappointed to hear of all the hate mail you get for Julie! I find her hilarious personally, perhaps they expect her to be a mini Kate? To wish bad things to happen to a character however is a little extreme and probably reflects more on them than the fictional character you have created. I hope to have a Julie novel some day.
Those of us who have had a teenager can totally relate to Julie. In fact, at times I thought that Julie was far too responsible for her age, but I put that down to her trauma. Sometimes when bad things happen, kids grow up fast. Still Julie is a great character. I do hope someday you revisit her as an adult.
I am appalled that people/fans would write you Julie hate mail. I have to admit that Julie is not my favorite character either, but that has more to do with age, I’m just not that into YA books. That being said, I loved Magic Stars. And regardless of what you write, I am going to buy it and love it. So you should just stop reading Julie hate mail and get on writing whatever you want.
At heart I am a romance reader, but these days I mostly read UF and PNR. Sometimes I find it difficult to draw clear lines between the two “genres”. I really like my UF to have some kind of romantic element/interest and at the same time I prefer my PNR with a strong backstory arc (especially if it is a series)
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I enjoyed all of the stories that were centered around Julie so far. I find the fact that she generates her own hate mail encouraging; it means she has substance to the readers, and they think of her as a person, not a plot device. Now, poor what’s-his-name, the wizard from the Hazmat; he’s still a plot device. 😉 Julie is a reason to tell more stories in that world; people identify with her character, and remember her. And in a long series, that’s what sells books; characters as the develop.
Aww, I love Julie. She is truly adorable and relatable. She shows her heart only in private and to whom she’d really trust. She has a lot to deal with and truly knows love with Kate and then Curran and she knows it and flourished despite all the odds. She rocks.
I’m a fan of Julie. I love her part in Magic Stars, so I hope there will be a future for them.
But to be honest I will read everything you write.
Love your work; can’t fathom the haters. Brandi, go for it!
Wow, people hate Julie? I am sorry to hear that because I think she is a great character as she is and was hoping to see her grow up and become even greater. What is more surprising to me, though it probably shouldn’t be, is people telling authors what or what not write.
Also chiming in as a Julie fan, just so you know we’re out here. 🙂
I was boggled to find out you get Julie hate-mail…
“Right, because despite writing 12 books set in this world, all of which succeeded in being entertaining, we will lose all of ability to tell a compelling story just because Julie is the main character.”
You made Hugh hero-ish, you can do anything.
Absolutely correct! And I forgot to mention in a previous post how much I appreciated the sarcasm!! It was great.
What the heck is wrong with people??? Write what you want to write! Your vision and creativity has brought us such great characters and storylines. You create it and your fans will buy it. Anything that team IA writes is an auto-buy for me. Even if it’s a Hugh novel… and what a treat that was. I was actually looking forward to a spinoff that includes Julie, Derek and maybe Ezra in the cast. So my two cents… Screw ‘em and write it!!
Huh. I totally did not expect that! Julie is one of my favourite characters and while I didn’t expect her to be everyone’s favourite, I didn’t expect so much hatred either.
When you feel up to writing her book I’ll definitely buy it!
? Notre Dame. I really hope they can fix or replace what’s damaged. I was there in high school and still remember the awe and wonder I felt walking in and exploring.
The first thought I had when I read the bit about Julie was people are stupid. I love her. I love her relationship with Kate and always hoped for a continuing of this world with Julie as main character. I don’t get it how people always have to put their negative opinion about everything out into the world. They can’t be happy otherwise it seems. This is a real bummer for me, but it get it. Still hate them all – lol!
Sorry, but I don’t understand anyone disliking Julie, let alone “hating” her. She is loving. smart, and open to helping others. Given her past history, she’s practically a miracle. I’m hoping for a HEA with Derek for Julie, so please ignore those persons of negative thoughts. FYI: When Hugh’s story was announced, my first thought was “No Way!”. He was cruel, not to be trusted, and without any redeeming qualities. But I waited and kept my opinion to myself, hoping the storyline would show me the error of my thinking. Consequently, yes, I bought the book, have re-read it several times, and quite thoroughly enjoyed Hugh’s part in Magic Triumphs.
I cannot believe people actually write hate mail about Julie, then again I will never understand hate mail, period.
Normally I am not the commenting type(this is my first time commenting on your Blog even though I have been following it for years) but I had to respond when I read about the hate mail you received.
The first time Julie was introduced I was still skeptical about her and did not particularly like the character, that only lastet a couple of chapters though and through the KD series I fell in love with her and grew fonder every book. I love how much depth and realistic qualities the KD characters have and Julie is no exception, maybe one of the most complex and interesting ones. Especially because of her decisions and actions, which maybe do not always seem best, how she deals with the consequences and conflict afterwards is what counts and makes me appreciate her deeply .
I sincerely hope you find yourselves in the mood to continue in the KD world seeing it through Julie’s eyes, even if it is 10 or 20 years from now, I will read it and most definitely love it.
Thank you sooooo much for KD and all your other books.
You and J.K Rowling are my all time favourite authors.
You are awesome!
I personally love Julie and would really enjoy seeing her in future books. I don’t understand some people. Julie developed so much over the KD series. She is inspiring, multifaceted, versatile and interesting. I love all of your female characters. I like that you make them different from the normal form; they are like real people which makes them way more relatable and exciting. Thanks for all the cool books you’ve already written and all the awesome ones to come!
I would not stoop so low as to write hate mail, but I really didn’t like Julie. I don’t hate her, it’s just her character was not for me. So I hope that she doesn’t get a series, I don’t know if I could read about her anymore. But I would LOVE to read a series with Erra as the heroine. Now that woman has a story to tell.
Total, absolute “Yes!” to all of the positive Julie Commenters. Was really looking forward to the continuation of the Kate World with Julie as the lead character. Sincerely hope that you reconsider.
Even if she does get a series, nothing says you have to read it. The rest of us will be over here reading about Julie while you’re off reading something you enjoy. I hope.
OMG! This makes me so mad and SAD you get hate mail over Julie 🙁 I could just smack some readers.
((((((hugs)))))) to Brandi. I hope she continues with her writing. I’ve liked what snippets we’ve seen.
Another love Julie camper here. I can honestly say I don’t understand the hate she gets – I wouldn’t have assumed she got any hate. She’s one of the best written young/growing characters I’ve ever seen, and I was very much looking forward to seeing her take on bigger challenges. Maybe because in adult novels child/teenage characters are kind of expected to be…drapery? And when the drapery talks and has opinions and does things, people don’t like their textiles getting out of hand? Unless they’re playing on the trope of the evil child…which you’re supposed to hate?
Maybe she’s too…non-YA for people? Female YA protagonists tend to follow a certain model recently [I think], that of being morally-strong, but usually physically weak or dependent. And while Julie has morals, those morals are not the Black/White of YA novels, they’re the gray morals of growing up in an apocalypse. She’s also definitely not weak or dependent anymore.
One last thing:
If, as a reader, you don’t like something, that doesn’t mean you get to dictate what happens in the story or what a novelist writes next. That’s the author’s choice. You don’t have to like Julie or any other side-character in a novel, and you won’t be forced to read any books with her as the main protagonist. There are some authors who I really like for one book series, but don’t read their other series because it’s not my cup of tea. That doesn’t mean shame or hate-mail is ever an appropriate reaction. It means I go find a different cup of tea.
If you so desperately want to dictate how a story goes or what gets written, take up the pen yourself and write your own. Ilona and Gordon are not your personal authors, they are not machines. They write because they love the grind and are good at it, and we are lucky enough to see the worlds they create. Pressuring an author will never work out how you want it to because writing is hard. If you take away the passion that drives an author by heaping hate, you won’t get a story that you’ll love.
I am sorry for calling this out and potentially hurting some feelings, and I know I risk getting banned or taken down by posting this, but some reader’s presumptuous attitudes took me completely off guard, and I felt the need to respond [even though you already did in your post]. I am so sorry that you receive hate mail.
I would like to endorse Rachel’s second post. I too believe that authors should write the story/ brew the tea their way and if we readers find it’s not to our taste then we can find another cup of tea or brew our own. We should never send hateful feedback to the author.
Julie is not one of my favourite characters so I wasn’t initially eagerly anticipating more Julie stories. On the other hand, to my mind, Erra leapt off the page as a character and I found the development of Julie going off with Erra an intriguing idea and I thought it would provide a fascinating premise for a story in the KD world so I hope you do revisit the idea at some stage and not let the naysayers’ negativity spoil it for you. Julie has some growing and maturing to do and Erra has some changing to do to fit into the new world so I think they would complement each other on the journey. I am confident the result will be terrific.
I am also intrigued by your comment that Ascanio is “ at core a simple character”. Somewhere ( in Magic Triumphs or Hugh 1?) you mention he will one day be Alpha. I then reflected that in the Boudas the female ( especially Aunt B , to a lesser extent Andrea) is the political and strategic leader. It seems to me that when Andrea and Raphael hand over the Alpha role that, if Ascanio is to be a successful Alpha , he will need a female partner who has the smarts of an Aunt B. I hope one day we get that story.
+infinity
I like Julie. I don’t love her because she is a teenager and they are hard to love sometimes. I had high hopes for her spin off though! I think it would be amazing to check back in with her as an adult. Also, I think Erra should reappear. If you can redeem Hugh, Erra will be a cake walk! Maybe Erra and Roman? ?
Dont listen to the Julie haters! And I libe everything you write. I am a huge fan of the way your characters interact. Please continue!
Love*
wait … hold on … you get hate mail about Julie?!?!?!?
Most of the time I can see the other side of an argument. Hating Julie? It boggles the mind.
So I love Julie she was spunky! I will buy that series whenever you get around to writing it don’t let the haters of the world win is how is see it. A question did you ever have a character you wrote that didn’t turn out how you wanted it too?
Oh and really would like to see what her and Erra would get up too. How she would influence Julie .
I am another huge fan of yours who also cannot understand why anyone would write to an author and tell them that they hate a character but unfortunately there are too many entitled people in this world. I too hope that you will write about Julie and her adventures in the future, I would also love to read more about Erra, she has evolved so much from her original appearance in Kate’s life. Please try to ignore the haters, any author who can turn Hugh from a villain to a flawed hero needs to write about anything that they want to express. Thank you for all of the worlds that you have given us.
You are great, creative writers. Love your books, and I have read thousands of books. I read very fast.
Don’t understand how anyone could be so judgmental and vicious about any of your characters. Julie is complex and has grown so much. She had a truly horrible childhood and yet she survived and became a strong, independent person. She was a teenager and exhibited the normal teenage angst.
Get over it.
You are great authors and I look forward to reading anything you write.
Really looking forward toSapphire Flames.
And I am so glad that the Rose window , all that priceless stain glass ,was saved. It was so devastating watching the fire .
Glad no one was hurt. Those brave firefighters and first responders. Bless them.
I like Julie so looking forward to her story. Absolutely love the KD world characters.
i’m a julie hater, and a dali hater and an elara hater. i’m female and i love kate daniels and i’ve read 95% of your work so i’m not a woman hater. like most people i like entertaining characters, and sadly those 3 mentioned above bore me to tears. even when they are trying to be funny and quirky it’s so forced and predictable it’s a fail. i don’t like all male heroes and villains. my avg good reads rating is around 2.9 so i clearly love dishing out 1 star reviews. it’s not about gender but entertainment – coz i read to be entertained. at first i thought it was coz i don’t like whiny rebellious teenager characters… but that’s not really the case. i’ve read brandon sanderson’s skyward and the MC there is wow, aggressive and abrasive personality-wise but it was a solid 5-star book. so i dunno how to explain why i hate julie lol.
I don’t mind that you are a Julie hater. Just don’t send me emails about it. 🙂
It’s interesting isn’t, how some characters just are polarizing. I’m kind of meh on Dali for herself, but paired with Jim she works for me.
Elara on the other hand I simply adored. She’s wily and kind of manipulative.
I have grown to not like Jim but have always liked Dali. 😀
I’m so sad to hear that people write hate mail for Julie (though I suspect this is par for the course for teenage girls, and I observed this with both Outlander, and Game of Thrones.) I love Julie and really hope to see her get her own series. After everything she’s been through, she deserves to be a main character.
I’m very sorry that you receive Julie hate mail.
I would enjoy reading books about Julie when you feel comfortable writing about her.
As always, I love your work!
-Raina
Momma always said patience was a virtue. Many are willing to be patient for a Julie series. I LOVE her character. And all the characters that interact with her that then themselves get influenced by her (even those older and “wiser”). So many layers. And in regards to people who dare to tell you what to write about…hubris much? Glad you guys have tough skin or a great ability to detect BS.
I was truly shocked when I read that you got Julie hate mail. W.T.F… So people get nasty about a young, orphaned, Traumatized female not being cookie cutter perfect? Smh… I personally think she did pretty good at not being a hot mess. (Yes, I do realize she is “just a character in a book,” but if she can get hate mail, then I can defend her. )
Annnyyyway, you write it, I will buy it. I bought the Hugh story and I pretty much hated him until I read it. If you can redeem Hugh, then I have faith that you can pretty much do anything you put your mind to.
Just in case a flood of good and cheerful comments can change your mind: Julie rocks! I really liked how nuanced her character is and her interactions with everyone seem very believable and realistic, in context of the universe. <3
1. Notre Dame!!!!! I am still upset.
2. I would LOVE to see the KD world with Julie as the main. I find her incredibly intriguing.
2.a. You guys would write it wonderfully.
2.b. I love Kate/Curran but I loved every character in that series except for the villains who I loved to hate.
2.c. Hugh…you even made me like Hugh.
2.d. I above all want more Derek!!!!!
2.e. Bahahaha! I would love to see what happens next with the pack when Jim/Dali step down. Squee oh the lovely pack.
2.f. you guys would be writing it….yes I know I mentioned that already…but seriously….you have never written anything I didn’t enjoy!
2.g. if by some miracle I ever win a lottery can I pay you directly for that series. Joking aside. Sigh for the unlikeliest scenario of me winning a mass amount of money.
2.h.sigh, squee, sigh.
3.thank you for your dedication to characters, world building and fans.
Julie is awesome. I love every character you guys write, *especially* because they don’t all magically agree with the main character. Also, I hope Brandi publishes her book! No pressure at all, but if she does, I’d love to read it.
Part of me is really shocked about the sending of Julie hate and part of me is shaking my head with a muttered “typical.” Not every character is for everybody, but the idea of telling the creator of a character that you don’t like them and don’t want to see them anymore seems extreme. I also feel like the AL have long ago proven themselves when it comes to their books. There hasn’t been a single one I have loved and enjoyed, I trust them complete and know I’ll enjoy any book they write, no matter who’s the main character or how I’ll feel about them personally at the start of the series. And as a bonus, I happen to like Julie and am excited about a possible future series with her!
🙂
*facepalm* I meant there “hasn’t been a single one I *haven’t loved and enjoyed.” Stupid typo. I have loved and enjoyed ever single last work I have found by the AL.
I’m so sorry you receive hate mail. Because it’s hate mail, and people should have more sense than writing it. We know that each character you write is a labour of love. It is unavoidable that some people will like more some characters than others, but why should they harass you about it?
Personally, I like Julie. She feels and act in a way that makes sense for a teenager with her background.
As for the UF market, while my brain knows that if you say the market is saturated, you have the knowledge to state so, as a reader, I found it hard to digest, since I am always looking for some good new UF and failing miserably (Amazon suggests me billions of self-published books, but 90% of them are meh or or worse and the process of going through them is exhausting.)
I’m sorry to hear that about the Julie books. I was looking forward to ANYTHING that kept me in that world. But I totally get why you feel that way. Don’t let anyone bully you into something that takes the love out of what you do!
Julie is low-key one of the best characters, I’ve waited years for you to tell her story and will continue to wait. I’ll buy it whenever you’re ready to sell it.
Can’t believe people hate on her.
Wow! I am shocked that many people hate Julie! I love her. I really hope the future holds a book (or more) for her. I was so excited by the idea of a bk w/ her & Erra. Also, really would love to see her & Derek more (like in the Gray Wolf Series). Is that going to be a series or just stay at 1 novella? Oh, & the Dragon… Yu Fong, I think? I would like more on his back story & interaction w/ Julie. Hopes & dreams…
Yes! I want more dragon boy too, but I couldn’t remember his name. ?
Breann- I had to think REALLY hard to remember! Lol!
I’m sorry you’re getting Julie hate-mail. I found her leaving a note and running off really hard on to take because I kept worrying about Kate and how she would take it (I know I would be frantic if my kid packed up and left). I am still, however, really interested in Julie’s story. Hopefully someday in the future, her story can be written. Just the small bits we’ve seen are really interesting.
I love Julie, just saying. I’ll buy any book you write, because IF you write it the characters are strong enough to carry to book. I wish people didn’t feel the need to try to school authors in their craft. Grr.
Totally and completely agree —- but I love Julie and I also totally love Derek. A perfect duo on many levels.
Me also, aside from the fact that I would read any book by you, I am looking forward to reading about Julie’s adventures when you get around to them.
Me too I have no idea there was so much hate.
Wow. I’m so disappointed to hear that there are people that send you hate mail!!
I love everything you write! I hope you don’t let these people get you down. I rarely comment but felt I should, to try and offset their negativity by stating that you are my go-to authors whenever I want a wonderful story and have reread your books many times!
Thank you for your books!
I loved Julie too.
I can’t imagine liking Hugh enough to want to read a book about him, but I WILL read it because I trust you as authors.
Iron & Magic was absolutely brilliant, and Hugh is now one of my favourite characters! & I hated him as much as I was supposed to in the KD world.
I agree with Maura, I absolutely hated Hugh. I saw him as a one dimensional stereotypical bad guy. I was wrong. Iron & Magic was amazing, Hugh wasn’t one dimensional, he had “layers”. If the authors could bring that much out of Hugh, I absolutely would love to see more of Julie. Julie is already a complicated character with ample room for growth.
I didn’t hate him, but I thought of him as a garden-variety sociopath and couldn’t understand why some readers were fascinated with him. In his own book, where we actually get into his head, he’s a much more interesting character. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in Hugh and Elara’s story, and also Julie’s book if it ever happens. And all I can say is that if Hugh gets a book and Julie doesn’t, there’s no justice.
I can’t believe people don’t love Julie!!! She is one of my favorites… I have totally shipped her and Derek in my heart.
I would love to hear about her adventures.
I hope that one day you change your mind and tell more of her story
Thank you for sharing your gift with us
I have enjoyed watching Julie grow with the series. I really enjoyed the Julie and Derrick book, and the snippet
So love Julie! I feel like Julie is the child we watch grow up. I’ve read her book twice so far.
I love Julie!! She was a character with a lot of depth, and as with most adolescence, she evolved and grew into someone remarkable. I don’t get the hate.
Julie hate mail? What a dick move! I just don’t get it. She’s clearly a teenager, she’s figuring stuff out. Anyway, I would totally read a Julie book!
I liked Paper Stars well enough, and I would read more.
I love, love, love Julie! I have continued the series in my head many times with Julie as the protagonist… and Derek as a love interest. My mind can’t do her justice. I will wait, hope, and pray that you can pick up her story
I love you guys so much! I like Julie a lot, and I don’t really understand the haters. Here is my question: Why bother even reading reader comments? I think (but really have no idea) that if I put my work (any type of work) out for the world to see, I would never, ever read people’s comments. Ever. People are nasty and mean. Why expose yourself to that negativity?
Julie and Curran’s relationship is one of my favourites. I don’t understand the mind set that makes people write to an author and complain about their characters. Gail Carriger was saying that it had happened to her, somebody telling her how much they hated one of her characters, to her face. Incredible. So rude.
And also, since it looks like it’s going to deprive me of The Adventures of Julie and Erra, what motherflufflers. I truly hope you reconsider, but I really understand if you don’t.
I agree with this comment completely! I absolutely love Julie. I gasped so loud my son asked if someone had died. I told him it felt like it. Julie and Derek are great. Just her by herself is the best. I loved Magic Stars. Julie has gained so much with so much pain. I feel deeply for her. I loved her so much and I just want to say that I greatly appreciate anything you put out. I read all your extra free stuff and wait like crazy. I am doing my best of patient waiting because I know anything you give is going to be EPIC. I sure hope your daughter publishes hers. I would love to read hers too. If I don’t like someone’s work, o am not going to be mean in any way. There will always be other’s who will like it. You can’t please everyone. It would be too much to try. Just be yourself. Those that love you will stay. Thank you again for all you do!!!!!!
Yes, to OMG Notre Dame! 🙁
I don’t get hating Julie either. Like you said, she’s been through so much, but is still a decent person at the end of it. I would like to see more about her and Derek. He’s another one that has come through Hell and survived. They seem like they are just itching for an HEA! I’ll keep hoping for more from the KD world, but I love the Hugh book and I’m looking forward to book 2. Thank you AuthorLords!
+1
Who sends hate mail about a fictional character to the author? All that proves is that you all write so realistically that some people perceive her as a real person. I like her character and would love it if she got her own story somewhere down the line. Toss out all your hate mail, it’s not worth the paper it’s written on, except maybe as fuel for your fireplace. Keep up the great work!
P.S. Prayers that Notre Dame is rebuilt and restored.
+1
I’ll buy anything you write, cause I really didn’t like Hugh, and you made me give him a second chance.
Julie really doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeves, as in, she often came across as rather ungrateful with everything Kate has given her. But I don’t hate her, she was dealt was terrible hand, had crap dumped on her, and it hails when she tries to go home. But Magic Stars came across well, in Magic Triumphs, she had a much lesser role, but she showed a lot more maturity and became a lot more like-able. I have no doubt you give us another book, it too will be epic. Much like Warlord’s Price….
1. Notre Dame, at the beginning of Holy Week. Devastated, but encouraged by the worldwide response.
2. Love Julie, would read anything you wrote with her as a character.
3. People be cray-cray. Emailing you about hating a character is delusional, and a sure sign of having too much time on their hands.
4. Roman would be awesome to read about. His whole relationship with his family is massively compelling.
5. Who am I kidding, I will read anything you all want to write.
6. My absolute favorite undeveloped story line is the Nalini snippet. I dream about winning the Mega Millions and throwing money at y’all to commission a story.
7. Also, Rowena. But see #5.
8. Brandi should absolutely publish. There are more of us than there are of the a@#$#@$. (That may not be literally true, b/c there are A LOT of a#$##$#. But the BDH does buy a butt-load of books so we have that going for us, which is nice.)
9. Also, another Jim and Dali story would not go amiss. But see #5.
10. Are you all excited for the Elsweyr chapter in ESO? I’m holding off building a new healer in anticipation of some awesome Necromatic healing skills.
11. See #5.
I really like #5 and #6 too.
I am amazed that you get hate mail about any character, let alone Julie. What type of person writes hate mail about fictional people? Now Hugh, he was a character whose story I resisted for quite a while because I couldn’t see how he could be redeemed. But once again you wrote a wonderful story and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.
First of all, I love Julie. Second, why would anyone send you Julie hate mail? (Or any hate mail?). I don’t get it. If I love your book, I will buy it and tell all my friends about it, and buy your next book too. If I don’t like it, I’m not going to send hate mail, I just might think twice before I buy the next one. What is up with people?
OK – just want to point out that your writing is SOOO good, people get worked up about characters so much to write hate mail!! It’s because you guys are genius. I LOVE Julie – I LOVE how you make your characters so human! Of course, I love you guys so much that I’d probably beat up anybody who would write you hate emails lol. I’ve started pushing your books on my friends. My husband is starting to get worried…..however PLEASE don’t let stupid people influence your thoughts (I REALLY want a book series on Julie….she’s kind of my spirit animal). LOVE LOVE LOVE all your ideas and personally, I think you all can’t do anything wrong. That is all.
I will join in the lovefest- I believe in you as authors and will read whatever you publish! Sorry you have received negative emails. Derek and Julie have so much potential that I had anticipated following, but you have to follow your muse where it takes you!
I am so sorry that people hate Julie. I have always found her fascinating. She and Erra together oh my. Sometimes, OK often I think the internet brings out the nasty underbelly of people who think they have a right to share their nastiness. I am glad that you curate your replies. You need to write what you need to write and those trolls can stick it in their ear. Take care and I hope that you, figuratively, have the hide of an impenetrable dragon.
I found myself feeling very defensive of Julie as if she were family. She is a teenager who has seen some bad stuff, cut her some slack.
I didn’t like Hugh at all but I still gave his book a chance and I ended up changing my mind about him.
I would love a series with Julie as the main character! She grew throughout the Kate series and has more growing to do. Boo to all the haters!
Maybe a free series with her later down the road like you did with the Innkeeper series? (Seriously, hoping for anything.)
Super sad about Julie. I loved her and found her very realistic. I liked how independent she was. I’m more horrified that people sent so much hate that poor Brandi had second thoughts. I’ll buy anything you guys write, but man, not gonna lie. I’m bummed there’ll be no Julie/Derek/anyone else adventures.
Anyways, good luck with all the work ahead!
Cannot believe hate mail regarding Julie, I liked her character and she really is just a kid. Ughh, cut her some slack
I like Julie. Whenever her story comes together, I’ll most definitely read it.
I think it’s completely vile that you get hate mail about *anything.* Some people, apparently, have no manners and no perspective. Personally, I’d read a phone book if you wrote it, and I’m pretty sure all my GoodReads reviews of your work say so.
Asking for a friend…
If we start sending email full of Julie love. We might get books faster?
Hearing there is Julie hate mail breaks my heart, people are so weird. Please know I love Julie, I always hoped she and Derrick would be a true couple as they seemed great together especially if they were with the Rose of the Tigress lol.
Thank you for your hard work. I have read Kate series several times a year and reread the others a time or two. I will always buy and read your hard work. thank you!
And to the Haters, Get a life!!
I couldn’t stop watching Yanxi either, so I totally get you!
Hating Julie or writing hate mail concerning Julie is not understandable to me… I totally felt for Kate when she was worried, but the books were from her perspective, so duh. I would have loved to see the fulmination of the awesomeness that is Julie combined with the badassery she is gaining with every experience, but I’ll first anticipate that grown-up-leveled-up-evolved-to-even-awesomer-state with Catalina <3 I'll read anything you guys write, so I'll be happy no matter what 🙂
I have read through each of the series so far, starting with Kate Daniels, and absolutely loved them. The last to be read was the Innkeeper set. I think I couldn’t quite see the potential in a story line about a magical, cosmic Earth inn as compared to the others, but so love these authors I had to give it a read. Well, silly me, the Innkeeper series is by far my favorite! From the unique concept and workings of an Inn, to the characters, to the many possible directions for future books in the series, I am absolutely captivated. I am in awe of the writers’ imagination, creativity and skill. Many thanks!
#1) Yes, Notre Dame. And this week, of all weeks…
#2) I love Julie!
#3) Brandi – Haters are gonna hate. No matter what you do, or what you don’t do, there will be critics and you will be criticized. So don’t let that stop you from writing or publishing.
Ilona you and Gordon have a real mix of both the most amazing fans and the most horrible ones!
I honestly can’t understand why people think they’re entitled to contact any author to hate on their characters. Personally I’d love a Julie series (she’s a fascinating character!) & I’ll keep my fingers crossed you one day decide to go ahead with it but I won’t hassle you either way. If you ever happened to write a series I wasn’t interested in (I should point out that’s extremely unlikely, I mean a Jim series would be a tough sell but I enjoyed his and Dali’s novellas so I’d still buy it LOL) then I can always choose not to read it. That doesn’t mean I get to dictate what you write, the world is yours, the characters are yours and you can do whatever the hell you want with them.
I’m so sick of entitled readers contacting you just to complain about ridiculous crap! I’m sorry you have to put up with that rubbish and I apologise on behalf of all your real fans that you have to deal with the idiots!
Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now but I wanted to say that whatever you decide to write in the future is 100% your choice but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll continue to see more of Kate’s world with other characters at the lead. The Julie spin off you mentioned sounds brilliant to me so I hope by the time you’re done with Hugh & Elara that perhaps you’ll be inspired to go for it after all 🙂
I am shocked about the Julie hate mail. On several levels- one, that the content was so awful that it elicited this intense reaction from rational, sensible people; and two, that it was Julie who inspired such ire.
When Hugh’s book was released I was curious to see if I could put my anger at him (I hadn’t quite gotten over Aunt B at this point ?) aside and go along for the ride. A few chapters in and I was hooked. That’s the power of the narrative. But I own my own concern/reservation in reading. But to actively promote such hate about any character as you’ve described baffles me.
Thank you, author lords, for all that you do to keep doing “that voodoo that you do” ?
Just chiming in with the Julie love! That said, you guys will know if/when you’re ready to return to that world, and characters often need time to grow up more. I have a whole Julie/Derek (embarrassing, but I can’t remember how his name is spelled because I’ve been listening to the series more than reading it) ‘ship in my head.
Looking forward to Maud, Catalina, and Hugh/Elara! Good luck with the edits when your brains have a chance to reboot.
And again, Julie rocks.
Crap! I was SO looking forward to reading what would become of this very special girl once she has grown into a woman…
There is hoping you will change your mind!…
Kate and Julue were fine, IMO.
I love Derek and freely admit I wanted to smack Julie more than a few times for how she treated him. I always suspected I wasn’t alone in not favoring Julie. But hate mail is crazy.
Have considered approaching the story more like Hugh where we’d get hear Derek and Julie’s pov? I feel Julie needs a character to soften her edges and that’s definitely not Erra.
You must know a Conlan book would be a huge seller.!!!!
Yes, please to the Julie story. She is a fascinating character because she is so human. While I join others in saying I would love to see Erra’s ideas of mentoring a modern teenager, I like your idea of skipping ahead 10 years. Ignore all the haters and go with your heart and write Julie as YOU know her. We will happily buy all the books!
I honestly don’t understand why anyone would “hate” Julie, then go so far as to send hatemail about it. I mean, I do understand in the sense of ‘humans be like that sometimes’ but otherwise.. it just doesn’t really make sense.
As far as criticism… I don’t necessarily think it’s about negating the choices of a female character, or the idea of heroines not getting slack. I do think that writers tend to write from experience, and that your experience with teenagers may not be the same as everyone else’s. When thinking about myself, for example, I know that my friends and I didn’t drink, do drugs, smoke (cig or weed), have sex, or otherwise ‘rebel’ in the sense of the cultural archetype often seen in media. And so I think that for some who may disagree with her behavior do so because it seems odd/unusual/they wouldn’t do that.
The teens you write about, or when talking about how YA addresses teens (the example about noticing flooring in a party bus/RV comes to mind) are not all the teens (obviously. I’m not claiming you claimed that you’re the absolute authority at all). Or even all American teens. And for people who are overly invested or who feel unrepresented, or who felt a connection to a character but then had their illusion shattered they might be disheartened.
All of this is to say that I still don’t agree that anyone should get hatemail about it. There’s criticism and respectful disagreement, and then there’s harassment and entitlement. I just wanted to offer up a perspective that I think exists and isn’t about a kind of backlash against a female character for being female.
Yes – this is where I come from as well. I don’t particularly find Julie to be a “typical” teenager and not particularly likeable – but then again I don’t expect to like all protagonists (hell, I don’t even like all people) and that part of what makes it easy for me to be caught up in that layer of reality you bring to your world-building.
Darn. That sounded like a really good book 10 years after Magic Triumphs. The world you created in the KD series is fascinating to read about. Hope you revisit your decision.
I also think Julie and Derek would be a great book and would love it if you continue in their world. Why in the heck do people write hate mail for a fictional character? How bizarre.! If you don’t like a book then don’t read it. That said, I love all your writing and look forward to whatever you do next. Write what you want and I (and many others) will read it. Go Ilona and Gordon!
From a non-American, could someone translate the initials for me? I know most of them.
HEA=Happily Ever After
NY=New York
KD=Kate Daniels
UF=Urban Fantasy
OMG=Oh My God
PNR=?
MS=?
OG=?
Thank you
PNR = paranormal romance
Thank you Pilar. They make sense when explained.
Other acronyms found in the comments.
ROFLMAO=Rolling on floor laughing my ass off
IA=Ilona Andrews
FYI=For your information
YA=Young adult
LOL=Laughing out loud
BDH=Book devouring horde
IDK=I don’t know
PA=Personal assistant?
WTF=What the f”””
HL=Hidden legacy
IMHO=?
PM=Prime minister(AUS) /?
IMHO – In My Honest Opinion
PM = Private Message (like sending someone a PM on Facebook)
OG – originally a rap term “Original Gangster” but often a shorthand for “Original”. Commonly used to refer to someone who is not a gangster, but is considered highly skilled in a particular area.
MS – could be several things but since it was in the context of “pitched my first MS” and the person is a writer I assume it means Manuscript
Thank you Simone. It makes things easier to understand.
UO=?
I love Julie!
Julie’s character grew and changed so much. She was a child that survived tragedy. Loved her character (and would love a Julie/Erra book). When you run into a hater, just remember that some people hate fresh air and sunshine!
I do not understand the Julie hate. She was written as an angsty teenager with a troubled past. Was she a perfect kid? Hell no, but honestly neither was my actual teenager. I like the complexity of your characters. Kate of book one is not making the same choices as Kate of book 10. I don’t always like any characters choices, but I understand them because the writing is fantastic. I will buy whatever you guys write because you have proven yourselves as world builders and storytellers and I love what you produce.
Also, I want to second the guy that fantasizes about commissioning stories if he ever wins the lottery. I think I am going to add this to my list of fantasy expenditures for my lottery winnings as well.
I personally like Julie – I could probably love her with a bit more exposure. When you are ready to write about KD world again, if you ever are, I hope I will still be here to read it, no matter who the characters are. (Not a spring, or even summer, chicken anymore.) While I wait, I will happily read whatever you two put on paper. I will definitely try Brandi’s book, too, because it’s in my best interests to read authors that are younger than I. They are more likely to out live me!
I don’t get the trolls, but hypothesize that perhaps they are the “entitled children” of the internet. If they can’t get good attention (praise and adulation for their mere existence), they will go for bad attention (hatred and insults for what they post). The best way to get hate back is to dish it out in big, smelly piles of insult and negative comments – so they do.
You can’t make them happy. They don’t want to be happy. The only way to discourage them is to not give them what they want. Just ignore their existence. It will send them absolutely bonkers.
They don’t like Julie. Too bad – she’s a kick-ass character and they will miss out on great stories. They’ve chosen their own punishment.
Suffer, guys.
I also adore Julie. I didn’t realize people might hate her☹️. I guess I’m one of those people that like “real” characters who act in ways I can’t predict. I would love more from the KD universe and Julie in particular but I’ll understand if you guys choose to never revisit her?. Just know that you have my support for whatever that’s worth.
I love Julie and every book you write in the Kate Daniels world!
So sad that the books featuring Julie have been put on hold ? I can’t understand why people feel the need to write hate mail…not sure they live on the same planet as the rest of us.
Poor Brandi, I am sure it’s hard enough to get a book together , then having to worry about negativity is too much for some people.
Looking forward to Hugh’s next book, take as long as you need…it’s your book after all.
Terrible to watch Notre Dame burning, it’s such an iconic building, the beautiful stained glass windows lost now – a tragedy for France
In Julie you have written a complex, nuanced character that is still growing and finding herself. If you have got readers who are emotionally investing in the story and reacting that strongly then you have done an awesome job of bringing the character to life.
Just as in life not everyone is going to love everyone else, so too with fiction.
However, writing hate mail? Dick move peeps. Remember, it is “only” fiction (though I will honestly devour anything you write and totally buy into the stories you tell) and for me, as a reader, part of my enjoyment of your writing is to sit back and see how you guide us emotionally through a story arc. For instance, I hated Hugh just as much as you wanted me to in earlier KD books, but reading more of his story in Iron and Magic I came to see his world view and be really interested in where his and Elara’s story goes from there.
I love Julie. I love Derek. I love . . . well, you can see where I’m going with this. Write! Tune us all out and write. You don’t need our opinions. Not really. All you need is for us to buy the book. Ok, you need to publish the books so that we can buy them. Everything else, including your appearances before a book comes out, is icing on top of the icing on top of the cake. I love your blog posts but I’ll live if you stop blogging and just write your stories. And I, like everyone else here, will buy anything you care to publish. Because you two are the Masters!
I am an old guy and I really like Julie and Derek as characters and my reaction to the haters is “F**k ’em”! I can guarantee I will look forward to, and buy, any book with Julie, by herself and or/with Derek
That’s my reaction too, at the moment, which is why I have to hold off, since I don’t want to bleed in.
With you, dude.
They’ve chosen their own outcome.
Too bad.
I finished all the Edge books, but ditto it never did anything for me, either.
I enjoyed Innkeeper but it’s Arland and Maud who grabbed my attention in those books and I LOVED sweep more than KD, UO, I know.
Hidden Legacy actually captivated me more than I expected. I re-read it multiple times and still laugh out loud or sigh at romantic Rogan. I’m not even a big Catalina fan but find myself longing to return to that world and revisit that cast of memorable characters.
I love Julie’s character! I will definitely devour any novels or novellas or short stories or snippets with Julie and friends. I don’t want to see her suffer more (main characters do have a tendency to suffer before getting a HEA), but I am greedy enough to hope for more Julie stories when the time is right. Poor Julie.
All I have to say is that I ADORE Julie, and I sure hope that series comes out someday.
I’ve been really curious to see who Julie grows up to be. She’s managed to hold on to the ability to open her heart – what an amazing strength she has. I hope you have a chance to recuperate and consider changing your mind.
I cant believe they hate Julie. And may have cost us books with kate and curran as secondary characters because of their stupidity. So sad i was really looking foward to julie and erra’s story especially after the short story with the eyes ‘its ok i took his’ love it
Ok, I’m now over my mad from earlier and have got over the urge to knock peoples head together so maybe they’d get some sense and stop hating, and have progressed to sad “However, I’m not going to do it”..big sigh and tears
Now of course the questions, so if Jim is thinking of retiring would Derek be a candidate even though he left with Curran? Can he re-enter the Pack?
I adore Julie. To me, Julie was the start of Kate’s family and putting down enough roots to stay and fight even though she wasn’t nearly ready. Shame about the Julie outline, maybe later. I adore your books BECAUSE they have family/community they are trying to save; looking forward to Blade and all the rest 🙂
Who is Blade?
I love Julie too and really enjoyed Magic Stars with Derek and Julie. I was hoping you would continue the Grey Wolf series, but that doesn’t look to be in the cards. I hope sometime in the (near) future, that you take up Julie’s story when you have a fix on it and feel you can do it “right.” Of course you will do it justice – you two are great world builders and write engaging books with characters that illicite strong emotional attachment (and I guess some hate too). I really enjoy your work. 😉
I love Julie, always have, so I’m baffled by the hate mail. Really, some people should get a grip. Writing hate mail about a brave, strong, fictional character? Way more time on their hands than I have available!
Ditto
Ok. I am freaked out peeps hate on Julie! Freaked Out. Absolutely flabbergasted!
Brandi, publish your work! Haters hate, but if they pay to read your work . . . Than they paid to read your work.
“One Bad Apple (Don’t Spoil the Whole Bunch, Girl).” Osmond Bros. ?
I love Julie. She reminds me, in some aspects of my youngest granddaughter, who is stubborn and has her own style and who, at nearly 8,shows signs of planning to move the world. (At lunch this weekend she told me she was going to be an astronaut and go to Mars. I told her astronauts aren’t just astronauts but some sort of scientist too usually. So she’s going to be a microbiologist astronaut. And she knows what a microbiologist is. She told me she’d bring me a rock from Mars.)
RE: Hating Julie
My sister is a Star Trek TNG person, which is why I know that Wesley Crusher inspired an unwarranted amount of hate as well. My best guess was that he violated some primal construct people had created in their own reality. He was a genius, but he was also well balanced, happy and popular. He wasn’t socially awkward, or angsty, or broody, or a nerd, except for normal teen-age stuff. The false corollary that violated was the belief that if THEY were socially awkward, angsty, broody, etc it was OK because that meant they were super smart. If you are smart, you MUST be a nerd. It is some sort of weird rule.
I recognize that one because I watched my own very smart brother successfully “dumb down” his persona to fit in with the crowd he wanted to be a part of in high school. I have never seen anyone work so hard to appear less intelligent, competent, and creative than he actually is, while still getting the highest test scores in the city for his graduating year.
I don’t know what personal world-view Julie threatens because I like her and find her interesting. But the only reason I can see to vehemently hate a non-evil character (enough that you have to write the author about it) is because she violates your self-image in some fundamental way.
I understand what you are saying Kate as I am a Star Trek fan too. I was more voyager then TNG and people could not comprehend why I liked to watch voyager.
I am not sure either why people hate Julie enough to write the authors but everyone is different. If i do not like an authors work i do not buy it. Simple as that. When i go to a movie supposedly based on a book i like, i go to matinee as i have learned the hard way that usually the movie’s only commonality is name .
An example that comes to my mind would be President Trump of USA. Some people think he walks on water. Some people think he is devil incarnate. Some people have no opinion. Different strokes for different folks. But still same character. Shrug.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the thought provoking blog.
I’m also a Star Trek fan as well (thanks mom). I liked some episodes of the original series ( Amok Time, the Trouble with Tribbles, and the one with Khan and his people being rescued from the Botany Bay) and the Next Generation. However, I really liked Voyager (especially when Seven of Nine became part of the crew).
For whatever reason, there are some people who are intimidated by strong people. By strong, I mean they know who they are as a person and no matter what comes up in life, nothing will change their belief in themselves. Julie is very strong. If there is a book in the distant future with her as a main character, I would read it. ?
All the Star Trek series, but especially Deep Space Nine. Darkest of the series, but that gave the characters more depth, and more “morality on the grey-scale” than the other series. And the Capt. Sisco/Bajorans/Cardassians balance of power was always fun to watch.
I’m also a “Voyager” fan and I always have to say so with a kind of apology, because people hate on it so much.
I look forward to Julie’s book when it is ready!
That’s an astute observation.
Well stated, Kate!
I had the feeling that readers might unconsciously feel resentful of Julie for taking a bit of the attention away from Kate Daniels:
In Magic Burns, Julie starts out as an obnoxious street kid with an interesting magical ability. Kate Daniels doesn’t completely succeed in protecting Julie, and Curran ends up having to rescue both. That kind of rankled because we’re so invested in Kate’s success.
In future books, there are a number of scenes where Julie somehow shines a light on Kate’s imperfections. That is what children do, they watch and learn, and then make you see yourself through their eyes. You don’t always like what you discover. I thought it was very astute of the authors, and it added great dimension to Julie and to her relationship with Kate and the other characters.
I would love a Julie series, however I do understand why she is getting hate mail. Women/female/teens seem to have a different standard for other females…( me included sometimes)
Still, I do hope time changes your mind and perhaps one day you will give the Julie series a shot. Thanks . for creating a great world for us!
I don’t understand the ‘hate on Julie’ but since you are the one reading the mail, I guess it’s a good thing you do. I was actually looking forward to seeing what she learned from Erra (& her mother) as they rode off into the sunset together. I’ve found that recently Julie was showing a much more mature understanding of Kate’s motivations and *really* enjoyed when Curran would throw in those little life’s lesson’s for her ie the argument about why she needed a different horse. Watching Kate experience motherhood b/f Conlan’s birth was a good thing for both her & Curran, I thought. Hopefully, the time will come soon when you feel right about writing this trilogy. I, for one, will look forward to it!!
+1 I don’t really understand the hate on any character, nor do I understand the rabid crushes. Yo, it’s fiction! If you don’t like it, close the book and move on. It’s a mark of excellent writing that we care about the characters, but let’s not lose sight of the difference between what is real and what is not.
Brandi use the delete button. I do a lot of gardening and landscaping. When asked what I do if someone does not like what I’ve done in my personal gardens. My answer is “I give a nasty grin and tell them too bad go home.” You can never please everybody.
Hostess: Would you like to see the gardens?
Guest: Yes, thank you, I would.
(Even if the arrangements are not your style, the proper response is: I did not know that zinnias came in so many color combinations.)
And you won’t have to invite them to your next barbeque!
I didn’t think I’d like a Hugh based story and I love it! So, I’m sure a Julie story would be great. Personally, I’d like to see more of Roman. Also, great insight into the genres!
I love Julie also. Would love more Roman too. Heck anything. The only characters I don’t like are the totally evil villains. I don’t even hate Roland.
Sad to hear about the Julie-hate. I like her; I’d read her series, if published. I understand why people get mad at characters they don’t like. They represent something the reader dislikes in real life. But to complain about their behavior to authors as if they were a real people? If they feel the character is poorly constructed by the author, that’s different. But that doesn’t sound like the case here. I suggest to anyone who wants to be angry at an fictional person to go read Lolita.
Brandi: I imagine you’re getting plenty of encouragement from the OGs, but as a reader, I say please publish your work. I’ll be your first reader.
I’m really hoping that Julie and Derek get together eventually. Please don’t let the haters stop you from working your magic on a Julie story. The rest of us will definitely buy it. Thanks for doing what you do. The two of you are my favorite writer(s).
I think a novel about Julie would be great. She gets on my nerves sometimes but that’s ok.
I don’t need to find a character likable all the time to enjoy a story about them.
+1 Kate and Curran get on my nerves too sometimes. They’re still great characters in great stories.
I adore julie! Its amazing she situation never made her bitter and angry. Honestly she’s my favorite kind of female heroine and i wouldnt change her at all.
I am saddened and amazed that you received hate mail of any kind, let alone people thinking it is in anyway acceptable to dictate to authors what happens to certain characters. I think I could understand it if people were just kabitzing back and forth with each other, and expressed their dislike of a certain character. But to indicate to the author that a character of their creation should be removed from their work because that individual reader dislikes the character, leaves me dumbfounded! First, if a reader has a problem with something or someone written by an author, then they have the choice of not buying the author’s work. Buying an author’s work does NOT give a reader free reign to dictate to the author what they should write!!!! I do not know how you block out the hate and negativity. Kudos to you for having a much thicker hide than I would have. Your books are your creations, and I think it is just natural to feel protective of our creations. To have people sending hate and negativity to such talented authors as yourselves makes me wonder what far less talented authors get!! I hope that Brandi doesn’t allow hate and negativity to prevent her from publishing her own work!! Brandi, I am sure you will have far more people supporting and encouraging you than you will spreading hate and venom. Do not let the nasty people of this world hold you back in any way! Publish!!! ❤️
I am heart-broken to hear that you have received so much Julie hate-mail. You two have crafted a beautiful character who has persevered through so much, and felt like a real teenager. I’ve been looking forward to reading her future adventures, ever since the end of Magic Triumphs and I am glad to read that your plan for her was to come back 10 years later. She needs that time, to live and learn of herself.
I thank you for consistently creating heroines with flaws, with realistic emotional responses and I am sorry you received such grief for it. I hope someday you feel ready to pursue Julie’s story. Despite the hate mail, I know there are lots of others who would happily read it.
I am trying to imagine a world where some people have nothing better to do than to write you hate mail over Julie. My mind reels. I would like to step up and countermand some of that hate mail by stating how much I adore the character of Julie and would LOVE (the opposite of hate) to read more of her story!!!! Maybe there are just too many passive Julie-lovers. I confess I have been one up until now but no more. In addition to being a devoted Julie lover, I also stand strong in supporting you in writing whatever the heck you want to write, that is fun and gives you pleasure as well as makes you tons of money. Your instincts are strong. I trust you both. But also, maybe you could have killed Curran half way through BUT the rest would have not been as good so I am glad you didn’t. #grin#Julielover
I agree I would have been devastated if we lost Curran…
Please just remember when you get some hate about a character; most of your readers are quietly sitting back enjoying your books and looking forward to the next one. When I’m happy I don’t have a need to comment, and your books always make me happy. So needed in this hate filled world right now. So please ignore the haters. I’d love to here more from Julie.
Julie is an awesome character. I’d love to read the next part of her story when you’re ready to tell it. Long time member of the Horde who rarely writes, but Julie hate mail is just wrong.
I don’t hate Julie. I did dislike her, particularly in the earlier books, simply because I thought, for such a smart girl, she made some dumb decisions. Running away from school and walking home was a dumb decision. Trying to spy on Roland, a man who has been reading body language and playing politics for thousands of years, was not too bright either. The thing that I disliked most about her though was how she was always deliberately betraying Kate. She freed Curran from his cage to see Kate fight in the arena. She tried to spy on Roland. She knew about Hugh and though her reasons for not telling Kate were sound … if Andrea had done it instead of Julie it would still seem like a bit of a betrayal.
I think she has a tendency to overestimate her abilities, even more then Kate does. She doesn’t look before she leaps. That’s not a teenage thing. I think she’s just over confident without the necessary abilities to back up her plan. She walked through the wilderness with no wilderness skills. Just some knives. She had no real plan as far as Roland was concerned either. She just seemed to hope that he wouldn’t be smart enough to realize she was spying.
That being said, despite my griping, I still read all her short stories. I like the Julie/Derek dynamic and would buy a book starring her just to see if she matured at all. She seemed to be getting better as the books progressed and though I didn’t like her decisions I still have hope that Julie maybe, changed as she got older.
I think you bring up some really good points about why people might dislike Julie [Julie fan, here]. The examples you point out and your comment about her overestimating her abilities all seem to center around the overconfidence of youth. My brother is very smart, but it didn’t stop him from trying to run away from home when he was younger, and he doesn’t live in an apocalypse. Teenagers think they know everything – probably why Julie tried to spy. It’s interesting to me that you point to all of these dumb decisions as your reasons for disliking her, but I wonder how much of that dislike is based on what you *want* Julie to be, rather than what she is – a rebellious teenager who does, deep down, lover her mother. Lots of other characters make dumb decisions that affect Kate in bad ways: the Order screws her over on multiple occasions [Andrea included in this], Jim leaves her in precarious positions almost constantly, Gastek in the beginning won’t give her the time of day let alone help when Atlanta is burning down, Andrea keeps Hugh’s existence secret, etc. So I really am asking, what is it about Julie’s dumb decisions that is so unlikeable?
” She doesn’t look before she leaps. That’s not a teenage thing.”
Actually it IS a teenage thing. The brain doesn’t fully mature with regard to impulse control until, *on average*, 25 years old. Average means some sooner, some later, most around that number. This is settled science by now with many years of research behind it. Kids who have consistently good impulse control as teenagers are outliers. More power to them, but don’t imagine they’re the norm. That does justice neither to them nor to the average kids.
More importantly how did you like the C-Drama? Worth a watch?
I wasn’t a rebellious teen, and I didn’t like when Julie ran away, simply because I don’t understand the motivation behind it and how leaving her family had a higher value than staying. That being said, I think Julie is smart, strong, and has a strong personal code of ethics. I would very much enjoy finding out what kind of woman she becomes. (And the Derek ship, of course!)
All THAT being said…WTH?! Like, how dare people be mean to y’all! And also, listen, y’all have enough drama and stress without Julie. If y’all get to it sometime, I’d be thrilled, and I thank you for the explanation of why it isn’t forthcoming, but I totally get why you’d rather not. With you 100%.
Love for Julie to balance some of the hate.
Julie… I can say that I don’t always understand her motivations, but that makes her a more intersting character. We always got to see Julie from Kate’s perspective, rarely Curran’s or Andrea’s. I would like to learn about the way Julie thinks, and deals with her own issues(which I have reason to empathise with). Illona, Gordon, when you’re ready to write about Julie, I hope that the BDH will be ready to know her, too.
I am excited for Iron Covenant II. Elara and Hugh have an affectionate vemon which has me cackling while reading.
Some people are just hard to figure out. And some people have forgotten the lessons in manners they learned in grade school. (Sigh.)
I’m on the pro-Julie bandwagon: hope to see more stories when they are ready!
For Brandi: Many theater people I’ve worked with say they try to avoid reading the reviews, because everyone has an opinion, and some are not complementary. In the end, it’s the audience we work for, to tell a story that will be worth the time they have invested in coming to the theater. Trust yourself and your work. Do your best, and know that a lot of people are cheering for you!
Thank you, House Andrews, for all the magic you share with your readers!!
Whoa, I’m… honestly shocked people don’t like Julie as a character. Sometimes I actually kind of liked her more than Kate because she seemed a bit more relatable/human (and I loved reading about Kate).
If you ever do decide to write her story I will definitely read it!
I will also jump in and say, I love Julie. She is strong and tragic, in the Kate books she’s both a child and someone who’s grown up quickly, and she smart. She has a cool special skill that doesn’t make her ‘super strong’ but that doesn’t mean she’s a push over either. I actually really like that she doesn’t wear her heart on her slevee. The end of Kate was a mix of hopeful and tragic for Julie and that made me want to root for her even more. I totally get the taking step away from KD and working on other things for a while, but I’ll be keenly awaiting the day we hear Julie comes back to us. 🙂
I was never a huge Julie fan but I never even dreamed of writing to you to explain my reasons why. I think she served her purpose in the second book and Kate did a huge favor by taking her on as a ward. I get she’s a traumatized teen and she finds it hard to relate to her peers. Hence the running away from school and such. But I found Julie lying to Kate about talking to Roland really out of character and to try spying on Roland, a centuries old wizard… how dumb do you have to be? Really. So when Julie left at the end of the last book because Kate finally issued an order to her she couldn’t disobey during battle… I was sort of like “Yeah good riddance.” Kate is a mom of a half human/half Lion child, she’s got no time for Julie’s drama and lying. I have other issues with her storyline I won’t go into because there is no point but I never found her to be one of the strong, standout characters of KD world. There are other characters I am more invested in and want to know more about.
But if you ever did write a Julie trilogy, I would probably read it (at least give the first book a try). I love the KD universe. 🙂 Who knows, I might become more invested in her character.
Respectfully, that wasn’t how I read Julie’s motivation in leaving. In the epilogue, Julie says J’s not leaving bc Kate exerted her will over Julie’s. She’s leaving bc she doesn’t want to be a locus for the drama and self-recriminations Kate will impose upon herself.
Also, Julie is ready to forge her own path. As a mama of two peeps, if we want our chicks to fly, then they’ve got to spread their wings. Even if it breaks our hearts when they fly the coop!
Guess I’ll jump on the “wait I dig Julie” train. Because people are always more vocal about what they don’t like, and creators can’t help but take negative feedback to heart.
I like how Julie never forgot where she came from. How she grew and became strong without letting herself be a Kate clone. Y’all did good work.
Btw I also love Era, she cracks me up, and obviously has some of her own soul searching to do.
I find a lot of indie romance today lacks substance…so I’m always on the lookout for UF/PNR. I really wish authors and readers would stop writing or looking for the next FSoSh***. The world of well developed authors, genres and storylines is very small… talk about needle in haystack. So whatever you guys write I will read because I know I will get my fill of great well thought out stories and characters…. and dont get me started on the horrid way women write a male POV…. it never works.
Wow. It floors me that people would send you hate mail about Julie. I know we all have our favorites but hate mail about a character who has been through so much and came out the other end stronger and sure of herself? Yikes. I enjoyed Magic Stars and the Julie short story very much. I loved seeing her viewpoint and am sad to hear we may not get more Julie stories, but I understand.
I’m sorry and/but IS NOT THE STORY OF YANXI PALACE SO FREAKING GOOD?!?!
Yes, it is.
Please reconsider a Julie trilogy. Julie pissed me off with some of the stupid things she did but she was a teenager and as we all know teenagers, even fictional ones know everything and leap before they look. Thank you for making her character realistic enough that I wanted to smack her but still love her. I truly believe even the people who didn’t like Julie as a teenager would still buy her first book if only to see what has happened with the other characters and I have enough faith in your writing skills that they’ll enjoy her character as an adult and continue reading her story. If you can make us understand and ultimately like Hugh you can write anything.
Wow! That really surprises me that you would get hate mail for a character in a book. There are characters that I don’t like but I cannot even imagine writing an author and complaining. It would be interesting to find out if it is the same demographic that dislikes Julie.
Brandi – I hope you publish your work, don’t let mean spirited people hold you back.
Just wanted to add my Julie love. She’s BY FAR one of my favorite characters in the entire KD universe and I’m sorry you get hatemail from a bunch of misogynists (that includes internalized misogyny!)
I really liked Julie. I read her as “real” and therefore more relatable. I’m not a candy coated sugar female character person, I don’t believe it.
I too love Julie, and the people that have problems with her are pure haters who should realize that cookie cutter characters are boring. I would love to see her grown, and navigating her life, so if you ever get back to it, know u have a bit of an audience. If not, and you want to tell a story with Conlan, and just slide big sis Julie in there on occasion, I’m down for that as well. Honestly, I’m down to read anything u write.
I’m another person who loves Julie. So sorry to hear that anyone has given you grief about her.
Me, too. Some people have problems telling what’s fictional and what’s real. For instance anyone remember the romance in the twilight series? Could not believe how many people thought that romance should also be same for actors in real life.
I like Julie and with my background/history, see things differently. My dad was in the army–I changed schools 8 times during the school year. The older you are the harder it is to make friends especially when you’re shy. Kids like routine and familiar things around them to feel safe and all is right in the world.
Also looking forward to more Julie stories and seeing how she has matured.
I’m so disappointed to learn that after such a successful series (and one of my all time favorites) that some random haters are possibly keeping me and the rest of your fans from getting more of the Julie/Derek storyline. It’s one thing if you aren’t feeling it or need a break from the characters, but I would hate for you to think that the majority of us wouldn’t love to see more of the KD characters. Sending many thanks to you and love to Julie & the gang!
Per usual, it’s your writing so you get to choose when and if you want to write about a particular character. I’m not that big of a Julie fan, but then I really wasn’t a Hugh fan until I read Iron and Magic. I was NOT expecting Hugh’s character to be developed the way you did it. Now I’m looking forward to the the next Hugh book. I am sure you what you write about Julie will exceed any of my expectations.
Loyal fan here:). I’m a true “I love everything you write” type, and I don’t see that changing. I love Julie the same way I love all the KD characters. I, like you, feel like she’s punished by some for not being the purely obedient, perfect child. She’s a teenager who has been through hell, and has become an interesting young adult. I would LOVE to read the story of her and Derek! I was looking forward to it, but you have to feel it to write it, and right now people have sucked some of the pleasure out of the process for you. I understand, but I don’t understand readers, supposedly “fans” sharing their hate for a character.
I was amazed at what you did for Hugh, and I know that you can write about any character you choose and make it wonderful. I look forward to ANY book/story that you choose to write in the future.
My husband has been receiving cancer treatment for the last 2 years. He is doing great!! I have found great comfort in reading a few select authors over and over again. YOU are at the top of that list. I have “comfort read” so many of your books through this time, and they have helped me through some rough times. Know that you have helped one of us through a dark time and back to the other side. Thank you!
Sorry for what you and hubby are going through but glad you have those comfort reads to escape to and find some recharge time.
All the best on the long journey.
So sweet:). Thank you. He’s doing so well and we feel like we are going toward “normal”. We keep our fingers crossed and savor everyday.
Gah! Typed the name wrong… fumble fingers!
Julie is one of my favorites. I’m so glad she’s a part of the KD series. Also, absolutely shocked anyone would dislike or hate her character. We love her at our house. We were sincerely hoping for more Julie stories. Sorry for any and all hate mail. That stinks.
I love Julie, and I’m sorry some trolls might prevent us from that storyline.
My favorite aspect of your stories is how creative and interesting your worlds and your characters are! Along with lots of hair raising action! I thought the short story about Julie and the student who was also a dragon was interesting and I enjoyed it, but it was the fascinating characters surrounding Julie that I found the most interesting. But Julie was the needed hub of the wheel. I am confident any book you write about Julie I would enjoy. I never thought I would read and enjoy a book about Hugh but I did and enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to the second book.
As for people writing you hate mail about a fictional character – Wow, there are a lot of wackos out there. Don’t let the Crazys out there drag you down.
Thanks so much for sharing your wild imagination with us.
You are so generous to answer these writing queries and to let your fan base know some of the stuff you have to put up with.
Not liking a character is one thing but being so vitriolic about it is beyond my comprehension. Read past it or don’t read it at all. Wanting her to die? Ah well that says something I suppose.
I hope Brandi decides to try despite all that.
That said – I thought Julie was a great character who showed strength, sass, vulnerability, confidence and lack of it across the books. Lest we forget she was a teenager who had been through the mill.
She (to my mind) adored Kate but their relationship was built with a lot of layers and not all of them comfortable. Plus…Derek! (sigh).
When you feel the time is right for Julie’s story those who don’t want to read it shouldn’t and those of us who will have waited will enjoy it immensely.
Take care.
Waittttt….people hate Julie? I loved Julie! I’m totally baffled by this. I mean, she had her moments as a bratty kid…but she WAS a kid. She was so realistic to me. And I think she grew up really well too. Hopefully in the future we get a chance to read more about her – though I understand the waiting until you can do her justice.
As for Brandi – tell her she must write! Okay fineeeee maybe not must….only if she wants to. But still, from my selfish POV she should. We need more writers out there! Readers love writers. Today I was at an event for work and the speaker asked us to consider our answer to “I can’t imagine a world without XX company.” Think about that – can you imagine a world without writers – a world without books? *Shudder*. No thank you. Here’s to hoping Brandi goes for it. I know it’s probably pretty scary – but I think I feel comfortable saying the BDH (at least the majority of it) will be in full support of her!
I LOVE Julie!! I am completely dumbfounded that you would receive Julie hate mail! Your summary over your (former) plan on a book for her sounded absolutely amazing to me. So “BOO” to the haters! I’ll buy anything you write in the KD Universe. Or any universe for that matter.
I don’t understand some people. I love Julie. I think she show a lot of love for Kate in a strong tough teenager way. I would love to read her books.
I’m breaking my strict no commenting rule because I want to say how much I love Julie and was looking forward to reading her story after the snippet on the blog. It makes me sad to think that some people hate her THAT much. I love Julie’s relationship with Kate. Too many books have a main female character who is surrounded by only male characters and has few/no female friendships. Another character I’d love to see again is Roman. Hopefully you guys change your mind someday!
I love Julie!! When I read ur post like this, about people saying crap it makes me want to blow up ur email w positivity. But also makes me want to shake u and tell u to stop listening to stupid people!! Please please please write more in the KD world. So much more. Love all your worlds but KD will always be my fav!
I’m surprised that there’s so much Julie hate. I was really looking forward to how her story would progress. Also looking forward to more Derek. Obviously you guys have churned out a lot of work the last few years, but I’m excited to read what you come up with when you’re ready.
+1, and Omg, Notre Dame!
+1
Ditto – I love Julie, and I’m appalled by that hatemail. Girls and women are allowed to be JUST as complex and imperfect as boys and men, and she is honestly an incredibly mature teenager in the KD series (for totally plausible reasons).
I totally understand why you don’t feel like writing her story right now, but I selfishly hope you one day will, because I’ll devour it.
PLUS 1000!
Ditto !!!
I agree
Couldn’t agree more. I love Julie. She is so brave. Would be truly wonderful to read more about her. And about Derek. Love him too.
I will read anything you put out in this world, and the plot for your julie series definitely sounds intriguing.
Thinking about it, I don’t love or hate her. But I guess the one trait the most defines her is rebellious, which I imagine can be grating for some, tho definitely not call for hate mail. And perhaps she hasn’t had as much chance to prove the courageous side of that, the way ascanio has through his fighting and almost sacrificing himself.
It would be super interesting to see how much changes or remains the same, and where the relationships fall, in 10 years. I’m ready for Derek to get some love in his life. Barnabas and Chris need to get married. Whenever you’re ready to write it we’re ready to read it.
Yes! Love Julie, love all the KD, HL, Edge and IKCs characters—even the villains. So want an Era/Julie novel. And, as ever, I NEED a Luther novel. Luther with Roman would be exceptional! Love.
Oh no! Clearly we should have been writing Julie love mail all this time, because she kicks a$$!! Please, please reconsider and write her books, and sometime soon. I know I’m not alone when I say that we really do love her.
Wow, I would never have thought Julie would receive hate mail. That’s amazingly disturbing. I keep reading that we’re losing that quality of empathy and maybe this is part of that. Still can’t get over a fictional child getting hate mail!
Hi guys, this is my first post, but i was so sorry and mad on Julies behalf, that I have to speak up as well…I wholeheartedly agree, that Julie’s character is awesome and it is really tragic, that a fictional kid character gets hate mail! Who does that? I do so hope you reconsider the Julie spin off, I was so looking forward to seeing how things develop with Derek, Erra and everyone…and shame on the hate mailers…have a great Eastern
+1111111
Totally agree. Surprises me that Julie gets hate mail.
I agree and Julie and Derek to me are a match made in heaven. I don’t understand hate mail, if you don’t like it then don’t read it. No- one puts pressure on us to buy books if I don’t like a series or author I don’t buy them. Keep up the fantastic work.
I agree. Julie has always been a favorite of mine, I’ve enjoyed seeing the glimpses of her story and love her friendship/maybe one day more with Derek!
So sorry people are sending you hate mail, that must be really hurtful over something you’ve created! If you’re able, don’t take it to heart. She’s a lovely character and would love to see more of her one day, if you decide. If you don’t, she is still a lovely character.
I will definitely bought Julie’s story, she is very brave, strong and interesting, I hope you decide to write her story.
I didn’t mind Julie. She wasn’t my favourite character or anything but I usually don’t care much for kid characters so that was not suprising. I would really like a Julie/Erra book tho. Cannot imagine how much fun an adult Julie under the tutelage of craxy aunt Erra would have been. The Kate Daniels- world was my favourite so far, so I would love to see more of it (and Erra, please, lot of Erra)
“However, I would think any feedback would be useful to guide you in making the most monetarily remunerative decisions.”
And that’s where you are wrong. Remunerative decisions (monetarily is redundant here, since remunerative means financially rewarding, so one or the other, but not both) are guided by statistics. Telling me that you won’t buy a particular book means nothing to me. Now if a particular book sells 20,000 less units, that’s an indication of a trend.
“I would much prefer a series of short stories of Kate as a merc, or a “small business owner”.”
Which would be a less prudent financial decision, when factoring in time and price point.
I love you, really, I do……….
Perfect Reply!
More positive vibes, I love Julie. I do not get where the hate mail is coming from on that at all. I am going with the “children can’t be their own people” group being the haters. Boy are they in for a surprise when they raise teenagers!
I remain baffled at the entitlement shown by many of, well, us.
I was pretty sure i’d enjoy basically anything you wrote, but your ability to redeem Hugh cemented that theory for me.
I’d love julie’s Story!
100% agree!
I suppose in a twisted way the hate mail…stupid as it is….is a compliment to how real your characters all are and how invested your readers get in your worlds.
Speaking for myself I was desperately wanting a ‘Julie’ book/s not only to see how she continued to develop but also to see all the other character I love so much. I am really interested in seeing more about Roman and Desandra (one of my, many, favourite characters) and Nick and Erra and …okay my list could just go on to list everyone.
I totally understand your position and we love your books and people so much because they are real…if you are writing ‘to order’ the books wouldn’t be as amazing.
But if you felt the urge to just give us a brief paragraph giving an idea of how all the characters lives progress I’d be very happy…just saying…a postcard maybe.
I was interested in a possible Nick/Desandra fling.
Exactly! I thought the same thing. How can people have no faith in the authors ability to write a good book and make Julie a character we can love (if you don’t already), when they’ve achieved the heroic task of making us love Hugh! I think Julie is written pretty realistically, and that’s probably the problem. Teenagers, as we know, can be very annoying people, but they are also lovable and interesting! Also, we would get to see all the other characters we love. I think that people who throw hate shouldn’t get what they want. It’s like children throwing tantrums.
Wonderful blog today. Thanks for sharing so much!! I think that Julie is cunning and wise. Follow your gut! By the way I love all the worlds you have dreamed up and written down for our enjoyment. You and Gordon are definitely devoted to your craft. Glad you had fun in Paris. Have you decided on other places to explore? I still want to go to the jazz festival in Montreux, Switzerland and the arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland , and lastly eat lobster and enjoy driving in a convertible in Nova Scotia sometime during the month of July. It’s fun to dream, plan, and GO!
Really don’t understand the Julie hate. All characters develop and I really appreciate your writing. If I remember correctly there were some who didn’t like the idea of a book about Hugh and I have been anticipating the next Hugh book.
Just please keep writing.
I’m not interested in Hugh but I dont hate him or would ever say to the author that because I hate him she shouldn’t write her book. That’s ridiculous
Agreed! The haters shouldn’t get what they want. They’ve got a lot of nerve, never mind selfishness, telling the authors not to write a book about her. Geez.
To jump on the feedback bandwagon: JULIE IS A GREAT CHARACTER. The fact that people take the time to crap all over a character is ridiculous. I enjoyed the short story (Magic Stars) that you put out, it was just that, short, but Julie certainly held up well on her own. It is too bad that you had to put the trilogy on hold – and I really hope you will enable go back to it later!
That being said I love the Hidden Legacy world too 🙂
Not going to pressure you to write Julie’s series before you are ready but know she has a fandom. She has an amazing ability to perceive people and their motivations but also looks for the best in them, plus she a cool back story. We will be here ready to read whenever you pickup her story.
I saw a report that said incidents of racism had increased dramatically since 2016. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same was true of sexism as well. Perhaps in a few years society’s opinions will become less sexist and you will be able to write Julie’s story as it deserves to be told.
Hate for Julie? Seriously? That alone makes my brain squeak. Just getting over a cold that is going on for the last three weeks and I’ve been trying to get a video done about my new sword. Finally got the lights and camera out only to discover that of course there is no charge on the camera battery. So got it all set up and will be a tomorrow night thing. Never done a video like this one so it will be a new experience. Always learning something new. I will be glad when Sweep of the Blade is ready but only when you want to deal with it. Too much rushing around is not good. We’ll be ready to devour it when it does come out. 🙂
Let’s put aside the fact that she’s fictional (Hello, people. She’s not real.) and talk about the fact that these people want harm and/or death to come to a child. Especially a child that has not had the easiest of lives. That is wrong on so many levels that I can’t even comprehend it. I hope those negative people read all the positive comments.
SHAME! ON! YOU! HATERS! To wish harm on a child is despicable. I can only guess that maybe they feel she “betrayed” Kate? I thought her choices were from a place of love (trying to protect her the best she thought she could) or asserting some independence.
Who has time these days to write hate mail anyway? Either get a life, a hobby, a job, or a GOOD cause. Lots of organizations need volunteers. Not only will it likely make you a happier person, maybe you’ll become a more understanding person as well.
Maybe you could get a volunteer email screener? They could sort out all the hate mail into sub-folders according to who/ what they hate. Then you 3 wouldn’t have to read them, unless you so chose.
Brandi, do whatever makes you the happiest and do your best to ignore the negativity. ((Hugs))
Sorry for the long post.
I love how you said this. Couldn’t have said it better and you cut to the heart of the issue right away – that this is a (fictional) child. And who has all this free time to write hate mail!
Yeah I’m with pretty much everyone else on here- who has time to sit down a rant hate mail at an author? I didn’t really feel one way or another about Julie until magic stars and then I really liked the potential I saw In her. Honestly I would love to see her an Derek and Erra venture off into the world away from Atlanta. The Kate books really centered around Atlanta for the most part but the world building was so great I would absolutely love to see some different parts of it through their eyes. Cameos of Kate/Curran/ and the gang would be cool but Julie and Derek already have so much potential to grow even more as characters given the wider world to play in. I liked Hugh (not as a person in KD- obviously he was a terrible human being). He made a fantastic villain so I was curious not horrified when Iron Covenant was announced as to how y’all would finagle him into a sympathizer character. Y’all hit it out of the park with him so I can only imagine the amazing thing Julie and Derek can become.
I love the character of Julie. I think it’s not well advised to base decisions on strange people’s opinions. Brandi , stick with it and go boldly. You can do this.
Why do you listen to the whiners? You write wonderful books! I love all the worlds you’ve created. Some I like more than others, but I still read all of them over and over. It’s hard for me to understand that attitude about Julie, I find her independence delightful. My main goal in life was to raise strong independent women and I’m proud to say I did.
Thank you for your kindness to one of them when she stood in line with her three month old baby at Comic-Con to get wildfire autographed for me!
You’re very welcome. 🙂
Some of these people who are now clamoring for the next Hugh book were the same ones who threw a massive hissy fit when the original April Fool’s joke came out and they were all outraged that our beloved Authorlords would take time away from the stuff THEY wanted to read to write something that they obviously would HATE.
As if the BDH should get to choose how the ALs spend their writing time, number one, and as if the ALs aren’t a better judge of what sort of story they can make interesting than the BDH, number two! If the readers were such a great judge of such things, ALL of us would be writing best sellers daily ourselves.
I will always feel as if the Hugh series was born out of a sense of “let me SHOW you what happens when you try to tell us what to write”—- and Thank God for that as I LOVE the first of the Hugh and Elara books and fully expect to love them all.
My rambling point here is: I hope the ALs keep their own council on what they will write and who their characters will be and I am just going to sit back and trust them and enjoy their work as I ALWAYS do. I’m rereading the Hidden Legacy books again. LOVE!
And, P.S., I think Julie would be an awesome POV character! She isn’t Kate, but then she doesn’t have to be to be a great lead character for a series. She’s awesome and she always has been.
I’ve been hoping for a Julie series ever since reading Magic Stars a few years ago – she is so sassy, capable, and resilient! And I really want to know what happens to her later on. No pressure; I’d hate to seem entitled or anything, but if you do decide to continue her story I will eagerly read it!
Ok. People. Insert heavy sigh here.
I mean, I hate lima beans (why do you exist, paste filled gross things!) but I feel no urge to write lima bean farmers hate mail.
I wonder if there is something about the combination of artistic endeavor and monetary transaction that turns otherwise reasonable people into harpies. I am a musician, and there is a phenomenon of bizarro comments that sometimes happen related to a concert (I am guessing it’s the same for all performance art). I am not talking about general musical comments, or enthusiastic compliments. I am talking about overt comments to the actual performer about the physical looks of a performer, the quality of their performance, or any other little thing bizarre thing.
Have the interwebs made writing a performance art? Would hate-mailers have bothered if they actually had to the put pen to paper?
I would join you in a Lima bean mail protest to those evil farmers. The emotional distress from being forced to eat those things as a child has burdened me for years. ?
If you are faced with lima beans and don’t want to upset the cook, the answer is lots of butter, freshly ground pepper and a little salt. Enough butter makes anything edible. It would probably work with olive oil or bacon grease.
Wow, you are *so much* nicer than me. I loathe lima beans and resolutely refused to eat them or peas when I was a child and still can’t stomach them. Can remember several occasions where I was left at the dinner table with those dastardly things on my plate because I hadn’t eaten them and wasn’t allowed down until I did. Hah! My mother learned early just how stubborn I can be. (I outwaited her; she gave up after repeatedly finding me asleep at the table.)
I’ve finally, at age 50, discovered that fresh peas are acceptable, lima beans, however, still are not.
You also need to add sugar to lima beans. A good amount. And cook them with some side meat for flavor. They are yummy, if you cook them right
Lima beans, *best description ever*, thank you.
+1 to you, -1 to lima beans.
😀
Rose
I love how complex and layered Julie’s character is, same as Kate. Both of them have gone through difficult situations as children and have emerged stronger for it but in vastly different ways. I’m seriously mad that other readers have written hate mail about Julie, what has Julie ever done to them? I’m sorry that what they’ve said have put you off on that planned trilogy about Julie but I’m here for whatever you write next because I think it will be awesome.
I love Julie and I think that you are writing her as a very realistic character. I am eagerly awaiting her book/series but, I have to admit, I eagerly await all of your books. Thank you for the Q&A.
I love juile! Her and Derek are complicated and fun. Please write juile someday!
I was really looking forward to a continuing story staring Julie! Look what a great job you did with Hugh’s story. I’m sure that Julie’s story would be awesome as well. I hope you eventually feel up to writing it.
“However, I’m not going to do it.”
Guys, you crush my heart.
Why do you even read hate mail anyway? It makes me sad that you would listen to entitled haters and let them take away your joy and fun in writing.
I think of those people as seagulls. While you stand at the shore and admire the waves and the beautiful sunrise, they come along, crap all over everything and fly away. Now you still have all that beauty but you now have to deal with the layer of layer of seagull crap which is covering everything. But there are other birds who would love to admire the sunrise with you.
You guys are authors and as such, you are artists. You create worlds, people and magic. Not everyone loves art equally but for those who do love it, it means the world. Please do not let those seagulls crap all over you. There is a sad little bird sitting on the other side of the world right now and hoping you will ignore those idiots and do and write whatever you guys want to.
+10000
Zirraella, you put my feelings into the perfect words.
Authorlords, your worlds and characters bring joy to many. Take care of your passion and don’t let the flame go out because of a vocal minority.
Brandi, write and publish your stories. It will brighten the life of your readers and make a positive impact on the world. Haters will hate, but your fans will be forever grateful. Follow your heart and don’t let other people stop you.
Sending all of you positive vibes and virtual hugs.
Am I the only one that loved the short story about Julie’s school? I had wanted more of those and was glad to see one of the characters in the last book.
Cheryl, you are not alone. It was a great short that allowed our ALs to further develop Julie and show her in a different situation.
Julie rocks.
I love Julie! Her tough experiences have made her strong but she is still vulnerable and caring. I can’t believe that people are writing you hate mail about her. If you have nothing nice to say, shut the hell up. Ugh! Such bad manners. And the gall.
I loved Magic Stars and really really would love to see more Julie, Derek and Kate’s family and all the awesome side characters (especially Andrea and Raphael). Power struggle in the Pack sounds really fascinating and dangerous. And I loved the snippet you posted about Julie wandering the world with Erra, facing an old mad threat and loosing an eye. And Roland being all grandfatherly. Who’d have thought.
Sadly you are not alone with untypical female characters getting hate. Here’s an article posted to Smart Bitches, Trashy Books about the crap Nalini Singh fans spout in fan forums and sites about 3 of her characters (two who were cold on the outside, and one who has had sex with other men instead of just waiting for her One True Mate):
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2019/04/in-defense-of-unlikable-heroines-a-case-study-of-three-heroines-from-nalini-singhs-psy-changeling-series/
Just chiming in to say that I too, would love to read more about Julie. I have come to like her more and more and she has grown up, and really loved the short story about her at school, where we got to see more of her choices when Kate wasn’t around. She’s an interesting, complicated, smart young woman. I liked that she went to get Hugh in KD 10, and would love to know more about how that went down. So, basically, if your interest in writing her story waxes once again, I will eagerly purchase and devour it.
Julie, as a teen, is already strong, independent, intelligent, and ready to kick butt. As a young woman, I can see her rival Kate, if not even surpass her at some point (at total bad***ness).
I would love to read Julie’s story. The romantic in me hopes Derek will be her man, but I can deal if that doesn’t work.
Hopefully, you will feel the time is right at some point.
I cannot believe people are hating on Julie! I love her and want to know more about her story! Guess we will just have to tell you more how much we love her.
Who THE F**** wants to hurt Julie? Haven’t you ever known a hurt kid? A strong woman who was strong because she HAD to be when she was young? IMO she was one of the most well written characters, because she wasn’t what anyone wanted her to be, she wasn’t fitting into a trope, she was her own woman, damnit.
Who are these people. I want to explain things.
I love Julie. If you ever change your mind, I’ll be buying multiple copies to make up for the fools.
I love Julie. ♡
I don’t understand what motivates someone to contact the author to hate on a particular character. What’s very frustrating is that those of us who would love to see more books on other characters (such as Julie), and hopefully we are the silent majority, lose out on something that would undoubtedly be a great read. And all because some folk want the world to revolve around their own particular likes and have the very bad manners to give you their unsolicited opinion. Perhaps these malcontents would prefer to write their own stories were absolutely everyone behaves exactly how they want all the time (and what an exciting read that would be I’m sure!).
Maybe you could have an online poll so your broader readership could give you feedback. If nothing else it might balance out the impression that some characters are universally hated. I’m very sorry to hear that these miserable people have driven you to abandoning your writing plans for Julie and others. Still, I respect your right to go where your fancy takes you – even if it means missing out on more goodness.
It’s been said many times before in the last few hours, but I feel I need to say it as well, just to balance out all the hate mail. I absolutely LOVE Julie and have been anticipating her own series for a long time. She’s one of my favorite characters, next to Derek and I’m hoping to see them both again at some point!
When I read ‘Julie hatemail’ I actually spit my coffee on the monitor.
I’ve had a number of “wtf?” moments in my life, but I believe this one officially takes the cake.
I’m still tasting the expression. Julie hatemail. wow. I can’t even…. I don’t know whether it is the arrogance of people who have never written anything, but think they know the AL’s business better than the ALs, or the fact that they are incapable of appreciating the complexity of a character like Julie… or whatever.
I just do not understand those people. At all. (I would add that I am probably too old, but truth is, I distinctly remember feeling this way about certain people all the way back to kindergarden.)
So, one thing I wanted to say: please, dear ALs, keep writing the exact stories you want to write and never listen to hate mail. Ever.
People who write hate mail have never created anything out of nothing, ever, in their lives – and are never going to. All they can ever do is stop others, who are capable of creating. That is tehir contibution.
The best thing anyone can do, IMHO, is ignore them completely (even when it is emotionally difficult to do so.)
Please just keep writing. Your writing will just keep being succesful, because it is excellent. That is the simple truth 🙂
I would absolutely love a Julie book that picks up later in the KD universe. In fact, I would be willing to buy two books (one for myself and one for my daughter who is also a huge KD fan) to make up for the haters who say they won’t. (PS: I’m pretty sure that they would buy whatever you wrote anyway. But I would buy it because I love it so much.)
Ilona,
It is a tribute to your magic that lesser mortals get emotional about the characters you create.
You have to pity someone, though, who has so little control over their own lives that they feel the need to influence someone else’s fictional character.
First of all, it’s terrible that you guys get hate mail, especially when it’s on a scale big enough to discourage Brandi from writing her own stuff. Please take this message as one voice of encouragement and support, and go forth and publish <3
I'm especially sad the hate mail has caused you guys to reconsider writing about Julie, because she's been one of the big things that made the KD universe and your books so enthralling, so few UF deal with kids and their growing up in a violent world. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed that one day inspiration and motivation strikes again.
As for any other works in the KD universe also being indefinitely put on hold, I assume this also means that the novella about Barabas and Christopher is axed? Because I love them so much, and was so excited that there was going to be more insight into them.
I hope you and Gordon both get all the brainspace back, and again, all the love and support for Brandi, for doing all the hard work moderating and assisting must be, and for all her future publishing endeavors!
Wow! Hate mail?? I am sad that you have to cope with this in your writing lives. ?Thank you for everything you do and particularly for the fact you keep the blog going as well as writing books, book tours etc.
On a separate note I appreciate the fans that translated the acronyms. I struggled with HEA when I first read that one let alone some of the more obscure ones. Occasionally I assume it is not being American, but maybe it is just my age!! ?
I’m sorry to hear you get Julie hate mail (people are weird!!). I always thought she was a really well written character who helped to show a more compassionate side of Kate. I will thoroughly enjoy reading a story about her if/when you choose to write it.
I love Julie please don’t listen to the haters they always like to ruin it for everyone:
Love Julie.
Love your work.
Love all your characters.
That people can write hate mail about fictional characters is terrifying. I hope they get a life, eventually.
Sending out hope for more Julie, Derek & Conlan stories at doe point.
Now I understand why a lot of celebrities don’t read their social media posts at all. They post things, but never read the responses.
Ilona and Gordon – please don’t read your hate mail! Those people don’t deserve your time. There are WAY more readers that would love to read about Julie, myself included. I understand that you can’t write something if the joy of it isn’t there. I’m sorry that happened to you. I will always read everything you guys write.
Wow! I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that some people hate on Julie. I’m a mother of daughters (not dragons) and quite enjoy her development through the books and would love to see more of her story if you’re ever inclined to delve into it. I think the issue is that people who like/love something are less inclined to voice their opinion than those who have a strongly negative reaction. It shouldn’t be that way, but sadly it is.
Have fun storming the castle!
I don’t like Julie most of the time. But, I don’t hate her, either. Towards the end of the series, I found myself accepting her. I just assumed that as the Author Lords continue to write about her that I will eventually like her. Like how I really couldn’t stand Hugh and really thought hard about buying his book. Because I knew that they would make Hugh more human, then I will end up liking him. He did so many bad things to Kate and friends, that I just didn’t want to ‘forgive’ him. I did buy the book and … I still don’t like him. =) … But to send hate mail towards Julie??? Really? She didn’t do anything to deserve such hatred.
When you write about the email and web based interactions you have with readers I sometimes wonder how much more you are prepared to put up with before you focus solely on writing and reduce all fan communication to generic release info. I enjoy your blog and am always pleased to get an email but would understand completely if one day you just had enough of all the crap and closed down your email, twitter, blog etc and stopped interacting with your fans. I hope you don’t but sometimes I just can’t see that you’re getting much from it…. Reading hate mail, wading through comments criticising your writing and responding to casual rudeness is certainly not what I would enjoy doing.
In my job (and probably everyone else who reads you blog) this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated – I’m really disappointed that people seem to feel you don’t deserve to do your job without being harrased and annoyed.
And this is why we can’t have nice things.
I have difficulty understanding the impetus behind taking the time to write a stranger hate mail about fictional characters. I’ve disagreed in the past about what authors have done with certain characters but have not nor would I ever try to tell them what to do with their intellectual property. I elect to stop buying the books I object to when sufficiently unhappy. So simple and no hard feelings.
I am absolutely convinced that much of this behavior and sense of entitlement is a result of the internet era – I feel that the anonymity and instant gratification in digital communications are motivating factors. After all, typing out a quick response takes mere moments. Whereas if someone had to gather together writing supplies, envelopes and stamps they’d either not bother (being less inclined to put forth any effort) or else even angrier overall because they do in fact have to work at it.
Sometimes you just can’t win though I’m very sorry to hear about its impact upon you, Ilona and Gordon.
I cannot understand hate mail. Appreciation and disappointment are one thing but actual hate mail seems a bizarre and excessive reaction. Moreover I don’t understand the viewpoint that Julie is anything other than Julie, a completely interesting character in her own right and not a 2D bit part. Then again I am autistic and for things like this people just make me more confused than ever.
I, for one, LOVED Magic Stars with Julie and Derek (especially as a pair) and very much want to see more of them both. I do hope you get back to them before too many years pass. I will be waiting and I will buy it. I adore both characters. But Julie was a street kid. She’s tough and she can wait for her chance, when necessary.
Magic Tests (Julie story) was good, too. So was when Curran had to deal with her in the silver cage scene POV. I have loved Julie since she was crying in Kate’s apartment and hitting redial on her phone so that Curran showed up because Kate was “dying and the undead were coming.” Not to mention when Derek’s face got all scarred and at the age of what… 11? 12? she told Derek some girls wouldn’t mind. Like… her! I always love the Julie scenes in KD books.
Julie is an awesome character and I have to say that people who waste time hating on a character in mail to the author are a wee bit cracked. I am glad you have a book partially blocked out already. I loved the snippet where she had a new eye. I would very much love a series about Julie that continues the KD world. Besides, There are so many other questions. Do Jim and Dali get kids is a big one. SEEING their kids would probably be hilarious. I am pretty sure I’ve read every KD world bit of text you have produced.
Oh and HOORAY for next Iron Covenant book THIS year! Even if I have to wait and get it for myself for Christmas!
P.S. Don’t forget to update the release schedule here on the site when you have a moment!
Wow. I really don’t get why people would hate Julie. Maybe it’s cause I love an underdog, but she has come such a long way with so many strikes against her in her life. I loved her short story and really hoped to see more develop between her and Derek as well as to get glimpses of her relation ship with Conlan. Reading about your plans for the continuation of the storyline ~8 years down the road made me giddy with happiness and weepy at the idea that it may never get written. 🙁 I’m shaking my fist at the haters…
I love Julie. She is awesome. What teenager don’t go through phases, adopted or not. I want to see her have a story when you guys are ready. It will be fantastic.
First and foremost, y’all please take a breath and a much needed rest. Your schedule would kill lesser beings. It’s no wonder your brain is on strike. I think most of us who love your work would agree we want you healthy and happy, living long productive lives.
On that note, when I read you actually get Julie hate mail, I thought, “What is wrong with these people?” For one, hate mail is just wrong and two, Julie is such an amazing character. As a survivor of childhood trauma and the mother of two daughters, i can honestly say, y’all nailed her. She’s deep, complicated, and most importantly, believable. I would love to see how she matures, and what hopefully happens between her and Derrick, who is also a deep, complicated, believable character, and the the next Beast Lord, (grin)
Love your work and hope your brain recovers soon. REST, PLEASE.
Another I love Julie vote.
I love a survivor.
Make them eat their words.
++1
I understand a lot about Julie and hope for a good challenging life for her. She does the best she can with the cards she’s been dealt! In fact, the Word says that to whom much is given, much is required. That fits Julie❤️
I think people get too possessive of authors and want to dictate what they do. I love the fact that I don’t control the story. This writer has the imagination and skills to capture and hold my attention for years and multiple books and series. Any reader trying to direct stories is really off the mark. Write your own and go for your own success.
And I love the character of Julie. I’m pretty sure you guys can have anyone you want to carry a book.
Best wishes for continued stories. Crazy world.
I love Julie! Please don’t let a minority of whiny people dictate what you write.
+1
“The haters gonna hate, hate, hate. Shake it off, shake it off.”
Hi. For what it’s worth, I just wanted to put my vote towards Julie (or any character in the Kate Universe). In fact it’s two votes, one from me and one from my teenage daughter who loves Julie.
Ok. Now I can go back to being my shy silent self .
Hi,
I don’t know if you are interested but I would love to read a Julie book/ series. I think she’s goig to be a very interesting main character. She has a strong personality, she is a good person but also I think she will be a dangerous girl just like Kate.
So if you ever wat to publish ghe books/series about Julie I think it will be a succes.
Have a great day!
I have to +1 every positive comment here (including the Lima bean one). As a strong personality, tall, attractive woman with a history of depression (you would not know it if you met me) who made the decision not to have children (depression and dyslexia why pass that on?) I have experienced haters all my life. I do not understand the rudeness.
I don’t understand the library assistant director who, last week, dissected every one of my job interview answers for an entry level library position (I have over 7 years experience at libraries of every type, but not one as large as where I applied). I only know that I recognized the instant hatred in her bearing and comments (and they were the ones who were over 20 minutes late starting the interview).
Characters like Julie remind us that what we go through on a daily basis, while bad, could be so much worse and the sheer perseverance through that level of crap helps the rest of us on our daily journey. I guess my point is, hate mail sucks, as do people who feel free to say mean things to your face. Our strength is in dealing with it, moving on and enjoying what we do.
I was moved by Kate’s angst as she struggled with saving Julie and trying to keep her unaware of just what she had done so that Julie could live as normal of a teenhood as possible. That is love. Julie’s story deserves to be written, I know I was looking forward to it (and prepared to drop into the world of young adult fiction again to get more of the boarding school stories, the characters were amazing)!
All the stories deserve to be written, there is an audience somewhere! Good luck to all of the creators out there, what you are doing is worthwhile if it pleases you, pleasing others (and making money at it) is really just a bonus!
“I don’t understand the library assistant director who, last week, dissected every one of my job interview answers for an entry level library position (I have over 7 years experience at libraries of every type, but not one as large as where I applied). I only know that I recognized the instant hatred in her bearing and comments (and they were the ones who were over 20 minutes late starting the interview).”
Wow, Kristal. I hope you’re not needing a job so badly you’d take that one. Sounds like a really toxic work environment!
God bless you with a new job in a wonderful, supportive work environment, Kristal!
In this crazy world, libraries are still a place of peace and knowledge. My first job out of college was as a library assistant in the UCLA Music Library. I loved the job but my boss was horrible. I transferred to the Law Library as the Night Supervisor, and my boss there was the best boss I have ever had (and I am now retired). Libraries are wonderful places and I sure you will find the right fit. (an interesting aside, after I left the Music Library the next three people who took my position quickly resigned, and my boss was removed from a supervisory position. The karma train happens, its just a question of when.)
100% agree on the interesting characters and situation in the boarding school. I really got captured by them. Really would like to read more about them, with or without poor hated Julie.
Their loss. Pheh! ::passes tea:: You will find an even better library.
Oh the tease! Sounds like some amazing books w/Julie and all that is going on in the future if the KD world. I am sorry that there are actually people who take the time to send Julie hate mail. That is so sad. I am firmly in the ‘would-love-to-read-the-Julie’ books camp. Just your little glimpse into the possibilities has wetted my appetite for more. Waiting for the day that you reconsider! Love your writing and Thank You for providing endless hours of enjoyment to this fan.
I ❤️Julie
Another love Julie vote. She needs to be able To reunite with kate. Not going back as before but a real talk and a new relationship between 2 grown ups would be possible, instead of step-daughter/mother.
I would classify myself as a reader who has not been interested in Julie. I have no objections to her character, I’m just not interested in main characters that are teenagers or children. That includes all genders and backgrounds. That being said, I’m very taken aback to hear that people are actively wishing Julie ill!
However, I would be very happy to read a Julie book set 8 years after the last Kate. Julie would be well into her twenties and I would be far more interested in her character arc at that age and moving forward. All this to say that I hope you will get a chance to develop the Julie series in the future. I’m very keen on the proposed outline!
I agree with you. I don’t think I would have really wanted to read (for example) a story about Julie and Red, because they were just kids; also because Red was terrible. BUT – I’ve enjoyed every word Ilona Andrews has published, so if they came up with a Julie / Red short story, I’m sure I would read it and enjoy it.
But now? HELL YEAH! I’m DYING to read the adventures of Julie and Erra!!!
Yes, I found Julie a lot more interesting once we learned she was descended from that special group of magical horse people whose magic was treasured by others.. and aside from the “rocky start”… Erra has always been a stand out character for me. I don’t know. I’d love to speculate on what I think would be fabulous to happen, lol, I’ll just keep it to my own imagination though! I’d read the adventures of Julie and Erra… it’s a cool idea since Erra is back to square one. She gets another chance at a lifetime … in any event, pretty excited for whatever comes next. I loved the first Iron Covenant…Elara another mysteriously awesome woman character…
I am so sorry you get such venom over Julie. She had a bratty teenager phase, but isn’t that the default setting for teens?
I really hope the inspiration for her strikes again. I like what I’ve seen so far.
And it’s terribly disheartening to hear that Brandi is rethinking her writing! I know you can’t really exist in a bubble and feedback/backlash will affect you, but I hope that Brandi does decide to give her writing a shot at an audience.
Chiming in so a normally silent opinion can maybe cancel out some of the negative.
Thanks for all you do – Brandi, too!
Rose
Ditto to all of that. Brandi I really liked the snippet you gave us, please don’t give up. With any art form there will be those who don’t like it and for some reason have to be mean about it. I’ve never understood that. Its art, just say sorry that’s just not for me, move on, and leave the artist alone.
I kinda wanna sock the anti Julie people right in the face bc I feel like the poor kid has been through enough and now they’re picking on her. Lol I was really looking forward to the Julie series. I wanted to watch her grow up and find her HEA and some measure of peace and her place in that incredibly complicated world. Maybe someday. I get that y’all are authors and as artists if the headgame isn’t happening then the work ain’t happening. If you’re an accountant it doesn’t matter how you feel bc 2+2 will always equal 4. But as an author if your heart ain’t in it the words won’t dance. Y’all have the mad skills to pull anything off. But you gotta wanna. I respect that after that much hate mail, you don’t wanna. So I wanna punch the haters in the nose. Lol *sigh* Maybe someday. In the mean time I’ll be happy and excited for anything you chose to gift us. Thank you for sharing your talents.
I love Julie and would love a Julie book!! However, I respect your decision to write what you will. No matter what you guys choose to write, I know it will be magnificent and magical 🙂
Loved your response to the reader question about Julie. I am so sad to hear that you receive hate mail about her… just shows that you are brilliant writers to have readers so passionate about your characters. I know you will continue to write from your heart.. and I think a book based on a ‘future’ Julie, would be intriguing.
I will admit that, as someone who doesn’t love teenage characters, I was initially put off by Julie. However, I grew to love her very quickly, and her story arc became one of my favorites. She is a character with so much depth and potential, and I love how we got to see her grow up over the course of the series. Her presence also gave Kate a relationship that is more complex and nuanced than a friend or romantic interest, and I appreciated that because it allowed us to see more of Kate’s character as well. I am so sad that people have been so vocal about their dislike for Julie. I would love to see a book about an adult Julie!
+1
Never listen to the haters, they are the loudest because their opinions mean the least. You have legions of fans that are quiet, and love your entire world including all the characters that live there. Julie can and does hold her own, and is one of my particular favorites. Ignore the minority of haters, and remember the silent majority.
I would love to read more about Julie— so fun to see her as a grownup after all she has been through. Maybe more Derek too?
My thoughts exactly, Micaela!
I have to agree with all the other Julie lovers. I’m so sad that some people are so freaking rude. So what if you don’t want it? Who gives you the right to say such nasty things to strangers? Strangers, by the way, who have given years of their life to entertain you, you vitriolic ingrate. I’m so sad for you guys that you had to be recipients of the bile.
I am also, on a selfish level, sad that we won’t get Julie because of those jerks. I would have been with KD universe down each and every side character’s stories. Mostly I’m sad that someone maliciously attacked your love for something and made you love it less. Some people just suck.
Wow, the Julie news is disappointing. I thought it was a given she was getting her own stories with that set up at the end of the last Kate book, and a bunch of my friends on Goodreads thought the same and we were all looking forward to it. The internet is fabulous in some ways, but I’m starting to think it’s going to be the end of us all, the hate sems to be growing exponentially, people really are getting more and more nasty by the day. The last couple of years has really frightened me.
+1, Vickie.
I like Julie and love the idea of the book! I am a voracious reader and while there are characters I might not like, I can’t imagine complaining to an author about it. Thank you for sharing your stories!
Another vote for Julie…AND Derek!! I’ve been very interested in their relationship, even before Grey Wolf.
Also, I’m including herewith another e-punch in the nose for all those Julie haters. Honestly…I’m not gonna say “what is this world coming to?” But really…what IS this world coming to, that people feel free to (or even have TIME to) spew venom about a fictional character? I’m petty sick of this New World of Haters.
I was hoping someone would mention Magic Stars. I really enjoyed that book/novella/short story/whatever, and hoped for a follow-on story. I thought Julie and Derek made a great team. That’s why I was a little torn at the end of Magic Triumphs because Derek didn’t go with Julie and Erra.
Please ignore the trolls. Anyone that writes an author to flame their work deserves no respect; they must live a sad, lonely, and hateful life. There are plenty of authors I don’t like; I just don’t buy their books. Please ignore them and only listen to your worshipful fans, and write more books!
I’m sorry so many people don’t like Julie. I know that I am looking for a much healthier vision of how women should interact with the world than the one our culture gives us. And I think explorations with characters like Julie can lead us in a good direction.
I personally would love to see a Julie book. I think she has developed into an interesting character and I really wanted to see her find her HEA. I am so sorry the haters put you off, but respect your decision to leave us hanging indefinitely. Hopefully you guys will eventually decide to write her story. Thank you for the any hours of entertainment you have given me.
I loved julie, i loved watching her grow, i loved that she was kate’s kid like 5 minutes after she took responsability for her. I loved her and ascanio sniping at each other. I loved her and derek and would love to see the, togther as a proper couple. I loved her potential, and couldnt wait to see what kind of woman she would become. I speak for myself, my mother and my friend who got us addicted on this series, when i say we would have loved a julie series. Ignore the haters, they have an empty hole in their lives and think they need to make other people miserable in order to validate themselves. Please dont kill the series, when your in the right head/heart space write it, we are all willing to wait.
Well put, Robyn! I so agree. I loved the potential set up in GREY WOLF.
Ilona, I read a LOT. You two have built such an original, fascinating world. Maybe the haters are wanna be writers who are jealous of your creativity. Too sad.
Brandi, please be heartened by our support. Take your time and Love it.
I don’t understand haters: go too far and wars start and never end. What a waste.
I love all the new ideas our Author Lords come up with! It is always exciting for me to delve into their creations. While my personal favorite series is the INNKEEPER books, I think any Julie series would be just as intriguing. My test for quality is “How many times will I savor this book, again?” = MANY times for your books!
I just want to see if kate and curran ended up having more kids ?
I hope you guys will find the place you need to feel comfortable with writing a Julie series. Haters gonna hate, and like many review platforms sometimes it’s only those with negative things to say that make the effort to tell you about their feelings rather than those with positive things to say. There are a huge number of us out there that would love a Julie-based series and are always hoping for more stories from the Kate universe. Either way, you run the show as the writers and we’ll take whatever we can get from you 🙂
I hope you guys will find the place you need to feel comfortable with writing a Julie series. Haters gonna hate, and like many review platforms sometimes it’s only those with negative things to say that make the effort to tell you about their feelings rather than those with positive things to say. There are a huge number of us out there that would love a Julie-based series and are always hoping for more stories from the Kate universe. Either way, you run the show as the writers and we’ll take whatever we can get from you 🙂
I love a heroine who has survived over a traumatic past without giving into bitterness or hate- that’s our Julie. She’s strong and empowered without losing her humanity. I would totally enjoy a book with her as the lead. Let’s see what she can really do.
I just want to add my vote for a book (or books) on Julie! I love her sooo much and would love to see what she would become. She overcome so much and has all the potentiel to be a beautiful and strong woman. I loved the novella you did of her at school.
If some people hate her (I, personally, don’t understand why), they just have to not read her book. As simple as that.
I’m super glad that you were able to see Notre Dame.. I’ve heard so many things about it and to hear the news and see the photos.. It was very shocking, but I am relieved to see some of the aftermath photos.. Maybe it won’t be so bad.
Julie rocks and she totally deserves a series. Loved the way you’ve handled her sass and growing up. She’s been a very good character with an excellent emotional growth. Yes, my money will be in pre-sales for her series.
You are amazing authors and I LOVE JULIE! Seriously, I was introduced to your series by my big sister telling me, you’ve got to read these books. The author writes realistic kids and teens. Haters need to stick it.
Disappointed to hear that Julie’s story isn’t on the horizon, but y’all are making the only decision that gives Julie the respect she deserves. Hopefully it won’t take 8 years, but it makes sense that if she needs to grow by close to a decade, then it may take some time in your and Gordon’s minds to let Julie mature so you’ll have the insights and perspective to do the story she deserves.
As for the whiny, bigotted, haters, I won’t bother to acknowledge them with a comment. They don’t deserve any attention.
Hello Author Gods & Brandi (demi god in training???)
I re read your books regularly because of how good you as a team have put together the universes in which you write.
Regardless to whether I love or hate Julie as a character – she is your inspiration from your world. I would hope that you would write her story so the people that love your books would come to know her on an expanded level.
So please please please write it – so that you YOU get to tell a story about a girl that has a crap start to life and has fought for the right to get stronger, surround her self with new and amazing family, maybe find love and all the other stuff every girl/woman/person hopes for when things go sideways.
Notre Dame- glad you got to see it. I have only seen it in movies and art history books and slides, (yes in my college day they were slides); when I saw the news of the fire I too, briefly wished I was made of stone. There is one photo they keep showing of the alter, with the cross shining surrounded by destruction which gives me hope. Whether you are a Catholic, or a humanist we need Notre Dame to rise again.
I am baffled by the Julie hatred. One of the outstanding facets of your writing is the depth of characters in you books. Seeing Julie grow from starved street urchin to complex loving young adult was meaningful. I really hope to see more of Julie and Derek.
Brandi, I enjoyed your snippet and look forward to your book, you have a gift, don’t let them trample it.
This is another Love Julie vote.
I read everything you and your husband publish. I would love more Julie and her school mates, or better yet, Julie and her love interests.
hehehe
I just can’t understand it – how can one send a message to the writer about his/hers hate of one of the characters? If I don’t like the book, I just don’t buy the next one. I can also write a negative review, explain why I didn’t like it. But to email the writer with such a hateful thoughts?
The harsher assessment of heroines is another thing… There is this quote of Madeleine Albright: “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women”. THere is so much to say about this…
And I love Julie, just like she is. Because she is (was) a kid, she made mistakes, she tried, she searched her own way, she tried again, she didn’t give up and she became a woman of her own. Not a copy od some idealized heroine.
I love Julie! I am heartbroken to hear that her story might not continue. I want to see what happens to her and Derek so badly (Ascanio too). Please do not let the words of a few haters put you off from what could be an amazing book!
I am sorry Julie is getting hate mail. It was through a novella featuring her at school that I found you and the Kate Daniels world. Your writing is amazing and if we can come to care about Hugh, haters should come to care about Julie. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Yet another +1 for any Julie books. Rest, recover from the hate, and know that we will be here waiting for you. Not in a creepy, ‘stalk you from the bushes until I get my book right now’ -way, but in a supportive, ‘love everything you write’ -way. 🙂
Incidentally, this makes me wonder about the overall hate mail you get. I’m guessing it spikes when a new book comes out. You probably don’t have time to analyze the data (and I definitely prefer having more books), but the nerd in me is intrigued to see who the most hated characters are… Is Julie in the top slot? Though I guess I should prefer that there be no data as that would mean you receive no hate mail. Ethics, drat you.
Oh Wow! How can anyone hate Julie? Maybe it’s because I am a younger reader and binged the first three books in one setting and I read those when I was really struggling with my life and identity, but her relationship with Kate always made sense. Maybe it’s because I’ve always had at least one younger brother roughly her age when the books come out, so I have sympathy for teenagers. IDK.
Julie is one of my favorite parts of the Kate Daniels series. Seeing her grow up made the world feel more real than just having Kate’s personal arc. All good books/series have the protagonist change and grow, but not all do as well with side characters.
You’re the Authorlords, so you do awesome you, which sadly equals no Julie . . . but WTF??? to all Julie haters!
I don’t know if you will make it this far down but if you do…..
I love Julie, first off I love kids and adults who think for themselves. Julie is smart, funny, kind and STRONG. She is the perfect heroine in training.
Julie is not a pushover and I have been patiently waiting for Julie and Erra to ride off into the sunset and set the world on fire.
The world needs more strong women. I have a 12 year old daughter and fourteen nieces who need strong female characters to follow in literature. Julie is a character like Hermonine or Anne( Anne of Green Gables) that they could have a chance to see grow up and mature into a woman through character development. That is such a rare thing for any female character let alone a strong independent female character with healthy family relationships.
Please continue her story, I am deeply invested in her as a character.
I read all of the comments. 🙂
Another pro-Julie vote. I particularly love the idea of popping back into the timeline 8 years down the road to see how things look.
I know there’s many already, but another Julie vote! Not that I think you need it – I’ve always liked that you two stick to your guns on what you write. Totally understand that you need to do Julie justice so will be patiently / unpatiently waiting. 🙂
In general though, I guess I’m still always shocked about things like hate mail, especially the ones who wish violent death to a character . I’m mostly a lurker myself and rarely post a comment on a blog, much less email authors with opinions unless it’s to gush about how I loved their work. Discussions and sharing your opinion in other forums is all good, but direct (hate) mail to the authors just seem excessive.
Last note: if the Authorlords can turn around Hugh, then Julie shouldn’t be a problem. But then again, I never disliked Julie, so….
I like Julie. I liked her since we first met her as a kid.
I think she has a lot of space to grow and become even more interesting. I hope you can write her story one day. I think she’s been underestimated a lot because she makes the characters she interacts with look brighter, but she’s really strong on her own.
I would love to know her as a grown up woman.
I disliked Hugh tremendously in the Kate Daniels series. And I think that was the intention with him being the antagonist for several books until Roland made his appearance in person. I was supposed to hate him because I only knew him through his attrocious actions.
When I read that there would be a book about Hugh I was against it at first. Why would I want to read a book about a horrible person like him? But this was exactly the reason the book made me curious. I thought the authors must have an agenda, a way to redeem him. With Hugh hitting rock bottom this was the only moment such a change in character would make sense.
So I was really curious what would happen but did not really expect to change my mind about him. I most certainly never expected that his actions and behaviour would be explained so well that it now made sense. He is in no way a knight in shining armor now (that would be unrealistic), but I understand him and he is a human being now that has room for character growth and I look forward to seeing him grow. Now I actually like him.
That was only possible because I was ready to be surprised. And that is the talent of a great author – to be able write a story I was not sure I would like beforehand. People who leave no room to be open to conviction will miss a lot of good stuff. But that is their problem. But when they want to force other people to convert to their opinion that’s just not ok. Where’s the problem of simply not buying a book about a character you don’t like if you can’t get out of your own way to be pleasantly surprised instead of “warning” the author best not to write about that character?
So even if I would not like Julie (and I totally do, she is a great character), I would read a book about her, because you are great authors and I believe that you would deliver a great story and endear the character to me – as always.
+1
I just have to say that I am so very glad that you write. Period, You have a gift and it should be presented in whatever manner you want, about the things that you dream up, and about what you want to convey. I, personally, will always pick up something with y’alls name on it. I have the choice not to read it if it doesn’t speak to me (which has certainly not happened yet) but I am so glad that you have the choice to write without my oversight, comments, and lack of imagination to hinder you! “Writing is the painting of the voice.” -Voltaire seems applicable here!
I honestly LOVE Julie and was so excited to see the setup at the end of KD for a Julie/Erra team up, possibly with Derek? I’ve honestly been somewhat disappointed when she’s only in small parts of the book, because her character has probably been the one with the most obvious, quantifiable growth, and she’s phenomenal!!
I love that her strength isn’t dependent on Kate or Curran or anyone’s permission, she does what she thinks is right to protect those she loves JUST LIKE KATE… So I really don’t get the hate?
One thing I love and want to thank you guys for and another reason I love you guys so much is your inclusion of characters of colour and letting them just be people with feelings and failings and all of it. It’s really nice seeing myself reflected in characters that aren’t merely plot devices to advance the main character’s storyline. I don’t think many people realise how distressing that is for readers of colour, so thank you for never doing that.
Another Julie fan here. Would love to read more about her & her wolf. 😀 A short story or novella would be lovely.
Of course, I’ll happily read anything you guys write . . . and have. Several times over.
I’m so disappointed that there is little to no chance of a Julie book. I’ve loved the bits and pieces of her interactions with Derek and the potential love interest. Also so sorry to hear people can be so harsh in their opinions. If I don’t like a character I just don’t read that book I don’t jump all over the author for writing it. I hope something changes your mind but I understand you mental health is way more important. Thanks for all you do love your writing
Going to add my small voice to the conversation: I LOVE Julie and would be thrilled to read more adventures about her. I was stunned reading your blog post and genuinely can’t understand the hate towards her as a character. She’s survived so much and its been a real joy seeing her grow and come into her power throughout the KD series. I love her relationship with Derek and was hoping to see that developed further. I saw real potential in her pairing with Erra, and the snippet of a story you posted a while back from a future adventure just stoked my appetite for more. It is of course entirely up to you guys whether you ever write a Julie story, but I for one would LOVE to read it.
I get that different readers will not necessarily love the same characters, so whatever, but what I really don’t get is hating Julie so much that you’d waste your time emailing an author over it. To, what, manipulate you?
On Julie’s behalf I offer a song: Hate On Me by Jill Scott
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw3Z8Oa7E3Y
I look forward to anything you write about Julie in the future, whenever the spirit moves you, and Derek too.
I really enjoy Julie as a character especially if she is presented as a mature woman, which she would be given the time line you’re presenting. I hate to ask because I know you have a lot on the go but I hope you haven’t forgotten “Technomancer.” I was looking forward to reading more about those characters. (Please tell Brandi to never let Trolls make your decisions for you, fly little butterfly!)
I agree, I enjoyed the Technomancer snippet immensely and hope more will come someday. Don’t let the trolls get you down.
I agree, I find her so interesting. Her history and resilience is amazing, and she understands Kate in a way many don’t- and loves her too. Sometimes women tear into characters that hit too close to a personal sore spot. Julie has so much happening, but mostly I love her complex relationship with the other women in her life. The ending of triumphs with erra is one of my favorite moments. Erra is also a character I’d love to read more about, to see how she tackles her second life and choices she makes without her brothers direct influence. Just in general I love all the female characters.
PS. A short story of how Erras mum would also be amazing.
Agree one hundred percent.
People hate Julie? Because she is a well-written character with her own thoughts and motivations, and realistic tendencies?
I don’t get it. Sure, I get annoyed by characters (TSTL usually). If they’re annoying enough I quit reading that series. But hate mail and wishing them death? If I had faith in humanity this would be truly a disappointment to hear.
I agree with you. Julie is a very complex character and she is well done. I would like to say I am shocked that people actively wish she would come to harm in a book and have written hate mail about it. But unfortunately I am not surprised, just saddened.
I’m shocked. I don’t get it at all. Unless these are people so consumed by In-Shinar that they can’t imagine ANYONE treating her as a mere mortal mother. Hate- mail about Julie is just a total lack of brains!
I find it odd that people hate her so much. Sure there were times she needed a slap upside the head (gently), but I always saw her as just a typical teenager. She would have been boring if she was always biddable and never tested the waters or learned things her way. Even when she made you sigh, it was obvious she loves and respects both Kate and Curran.
Let her ferment in your brain for a bit, but if you decide to write her story, I will absolutely read it. All the haters can just miss out. You guys have never let us down with a story yet. Surprised us yes, but never disappointed. You have such amazing talents as writers who can doubt you? I mean, you redeemed Hugh!
P.S. What is the Story of Yanxi?
Omg I would love to see Julie as the main character. Aside from the fact that I have yet to read anything by you guys that I didn’t enjoy, I’m shocked you get so much hatemail about it. Maybe some day, but until then I will very much enjoy re-reading what you have already written, and anything else new you guys put out.
I love all your books! I’m so sorry people are writing those hateful emails to you guys. Julie is a great character and I love her interactions with the others in the books! Keep up the good work!!!!
+1
I really like Julie and would happily buy a book about her. Haters gonna hate. Their loss.
It makes me sad that you get Julie hate mail. I adore her and would totally read books with her as the lead.
I know you think Ascanio is simpler at his core than Julie, but I think he’d make a great main character for a short story in that anthology series by John Scieszka, Guys Read. My newphews hate to read but had a great time reading the “guy” stories that Scieszka curated for his anthologies. I think Ascanio would be a great character that would appeal to young males who don’t like to read (tho Gordan would have to write him since it’s stories for guys written by guys). As a female, I found the series fascinating since it made it so clear that, while I was one of the guys back in high schools, I was never a guy and just somehow got honorary status while being nothing like the guys.
I’m really surprised about the Julie hate. I think she’s a great character and really added to the series. There was a moment when she started meeting with Roland when I thought ‘oh know she’s going to go to the dark side for power and Roland’s attention’. But then felt it was fab that Kate respected her enough to make her own decision and for Julie to develop independently.
I hope the mood will take you to write a follow up Julie book and I hope Erra is in there too – would love to see what she does with herself!!
Thank you for your books.
Plus, I adore Julie and if you write more books about her I would absolutely read them. She’s had a hard life, but she has wonderful role models in Kate and Curran, and I would love to see what she grows up to be.
My wife and I started foster parenting about 8 years ago (it would take an act of God for us to get pregnant), we eventually adopted our last placement (now OUR awesome daughter and two amazing boys!). Their father is now in jail for the rest of his life. I write all of this so you know where I am coming from. Julie is Amazing and reminds me of our now 11 year old daughter.
So… I’m a huge fan, so is my favorite wife after she started reading and I think you nailed the best of what can happen for traumatized kids. Tell the haters to pound sand, Julie is awesome!
–
Comments by Nathan, spelling errors courtesy of Google Autocorrect
“So… I’m a huge fan, so is my favorite wife after she started reading ”
Nathan, do you have more than one wife?
LOL
Lol, no. She my one and only. Somehow swipe +autocorrect turned amazing into favorite. Although she is certainly my favorite.
But I want to reiterate, Julie rocks, you write her accurately as a resilient traumatized kid, and haters are idiots.
… I mean… It’s not like you have any other strong female characters, no…
The people complaining about teenage snark Julie clearly never met me as a teen. I would have killed me and buried me in the deepest bog I could find. I can’t understand people who complain about characters like that. I really just can’t.
Lol Same here. I was queen of sarcasm
Right!!!! Oh my sarcasm! Oh! I was such a beast of a teenage girl.
How many pro Julie emails do I need to send to counteract the negative? I stumbled upon your world with the Sweep series when my daughter was born and spent the last 10 months reading all your works to stay awake while breastfeeding. I just finished all the KD and was really looking forward to a Julie series & more Aunt Erra. And more of Derek in a Lone Wolf series. Thanks to both of you for sharing your talents and getting me through a rough patch. Looking forward to everything on your release schedule.
I too read many, many books while trying to stay awake nursing! I felt that if I fell asleep holding him, he won. ? It’s actually what converted me to digital books. I was a die hard paper book person, but it’s hard to read those in the dark. ?
I also read so much Ilona Andrews while breastfeeding (also literally while in labor). But the best was reading Magic Triumphs when my toddler was a similar age to Conlan. Go back and revisit that book when your little one is starting to walk and talk, it will crack you up (and make you grateful not to have a superhuman toddler!).
Me too!!! I found Ilona just after i had my first daughter and shes been with me all the way till my third ?. I can relate completely with kate and conlan lol!
Seriously? I love Julie. I feel like she is a very realistic character and has a well developed personality. It really reflects her age and experience. In fact, I think Julie is quite mature all things considered. It would be a bit creepy if she didn’t take at least some issue with Kate’s ability to literally control her! Please please ignore the haters. Julie is such a strong and important character and I would love to read her book ❤️
Who are these people who hate Julie? I love Julie, and the Julie-Kate interactions always make me snicker. She is absolutely believable to anyone with a teenage daughter. In fact, her alter ego lives at my house…
Love Julie – I have one of my own. I have an ex-daughter-in-law who is lucky my Julie doesn’t carry Tomahawks! I’m so sorry that dark sad trolls have sent you hate mail. Like my” Julie” your Julie is loved and wanted! So Please ma’am/sir may we have some more?
Just wanted to say I love Julie as a character! She is incredibly complex in the best way. I would love to read more stories with her as the main character if you choose to write them. Hope these words help counteract the hate mail. 🙂
How strange! I can’t find the comment I wrote yesterday. However, I wrote it on my iPad instead of my computer so anything could go wrong. Boo hoo though, as it showed up as the second comment on this blog and I felt really good at getting in so soon!
I would be very happy to read books about Julie. I liked her.
Hugh, though? At this stage I can’t see how I could ever like Hugh! I believe in the nasty character you wrote in the Kate books. Still, I have faith in you authors that when I get the book (and I will when it’s out in paperback) then my whole mindset will change on that one.
Diane D., I felt the same about Hugh going into Iron Covenant, and guess what? Unsurprisingly, IA changed my mind about him by convincingly showing hugh’s motivations, thoughts, and actions in a new light. You won’t be disappointed.
Thanks Leslie. I’m looking forward to the paperback. (Hardbacks are too heavy and a strain on my hand, but the wait is frustrating!)
I would love a Julie-centric series. I don’t get the hate. She’s complex, and she was also so YOUNG throughout the KD series. But she grew up so much, and grew out of many of her more frustrating behaviors. I’d love to see her as an adult.
Please ignore the fools out there ragging on Julie. I for one would love to see more stories set in the KD world. I have enjoyed every story of yours that I been able to get my hands on, and I think I’ve read them all. Basically if you write it I will buy it
I adore Julie. I, being HS age, felt like she seemed like a version of my friends, if they had experienced what she had. And I absolutely agree with her on the tomahawks- they strike me as easier to gain fine control over, with the shorter haft/blade, and have the heft and width of the blade to add force to blows that may be difficult for a woman otherwise.
I never comment on things like this so I must feel very strongly about what I want to say. You guys are the best. Your stories give me hope and love and comfort and excitement and belief in the good things in life. Your main characters aren’t perfect (which is great because otherwise I would not relate to them at all) but they are good at heart.. Even some of the bad ones (like Hugh). I would love to read more about Julie and whoever else you might come up with in your oh-so-wonderful writing style. I even like your blog posts 🙂 I appreciate the snarky humor, the real and honest commentaries and even the stuff about knitting patterns. It always brings a smile to my face when I see a post from you. Keep ’em coming!
I will never understand why people take the time to write an author to tear them apart about their work. I agree with the previous commenters. Julie is a very complex character. I can’t imagine how Kate would react if someone essentially enslaved her (I mean she would probably kill them) even if it was to save her. Julie handles the situation with more grace than I would and she is half my age when she finds out. I would love to have a Julie story but I understand that writing her story is not in the cards for now. I will just keep re-reading your books and wait as patiently as I can for anything new y’all produce. I love everything you write. You are my favorite authors and I just want to send some love your way!?
Exactly this! I am very hopeful that some day there will be more of Julie’s story. Just imagining where the story could go makes me excited! For now I’ll just ravenously read everything you write. ?
Totally agree!
Well said! Julie’s adventures would be amazing. A whole new power set to explore, new relationships, but still in the same awesome KD world. Win Win Win.
I think Julie interacting with Erra would be a blast. I am holding my breath for Derek just, um, happening to show up during their travels. Possibly, maybe, like coming up with something where they could interact with other packs or Hugh or maybe the survivors of Roland’s forces. That’s not a clear summary at all, but put me firmly in the Julie is Going to Do Something Awesome faction. I hope y’all write it down.
I know its been said but I feel the the need to chime in here. Ignore the haters, I absolutely love Julie, she is such a badass!! The world you have built with the KD series is amazing (I have always been in awe of your guys’ world building skills) and seeing it from a different perspective is awesome. I know you have a lot going on so it will be a long time coming but I hope the reactions to this post has given you the heart to write her books at some point.
Also, it seems like your emails have been like yelp reviews. When you love it you don’t feel the need to say much but people who want to complain are loud as hell….
Like others, I was surprised about the hostility towards Julie. I have always loved her character. She is so well realized and has such depth. Likewise, I am sure that you would make her a fantastic main character. I am happy to read whatever you write and hope you can always write what makes you happy
What a nice why to say it PK! “always write what makes you happy”
Are these the same people who never thought you could write a book with Hugh d’Ambray as a likable “hero”?
Team Julie here!i would love to see a series based on her. I totally don’t understand the haters at all!
Going to add my voice to all the Julie lovers. She is such a wonderfully complex individual developed from a deeply traumatic childhood; it couldn’t have been easy being Kate’s kid, either, even separating out the whole blood-slave thingy. Julie is such a fascinating person that I hope you will give her time to show us how she’s grown after the final battle.
I’m really sorry that the haters have been so nasty. I hope you don’t them get the last word.
This is spam left on the blog by popular demand due to its hilarity – Ilona
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He has a permanent solution to any type of problems such as:
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OMG I know this spam is going to get deleted but part of me wishes it won’t, it is too funny. I can’t stop giggling. Ilona should use this in one of her books somehow.
+1
I would think that they could pay someone to proofread their spam. ?
I know, right? But meanwhile…. seriously?!?! Hahaha heehee hee ha, oh my sides hurt! That spam is HILARIOUS!?
Too funny!!
Gonna have to go ahead and echo that Julie has been one of my favorite characters ever since Kate and Julie shared a low country boil. In fact I think adding Julie really elevated Kate’s character, it raised the stakes and made her more relatable. It boggles the mind that someone would take the time to email an author about killing off or hating a character. I mean, I guess I get hating a “love to hate” character like voldemort. Don’t people have better things to do with their time? Anyhoo, let me just say that I am so stoked for a Julie/Erra buddy cop novel a la lethal weapon. If it ever happens. But those two are two of my fav characters and I’ve always loved Erra even when she was killing Kate’s mule. Which i’ll never forgive her for. She is so flawed but so relatable. Thanks for always giving us such good stories and Sorry you have to deal with so much crap from people.
I hope Brandi will keep with her goal to be a writer. Yes, there may be venom, but as long as there is an audience who appreciates your work, you can ignore the nay sayers. You can’t please everyone, so just go with what makes you happy. (^_^)
Julie books. I’d buy them because I know the writers deliver a consistently fun and entertaining story no matter who the characters are. That said, if the writers aren’t into it, then more power and time for the stories that light their fire. For me, it’s all good as long as I get more story! Legacies, Edge, Atlanta, Inn Keeper, I’m down with all that. You write, I’ll read and crow with delight with whatever book or short story gets published. I liked Julie. But I like all the other characters and will read them.
I love Julie and would be so happy to read a book about her. I hope over time, you will decide to write a book about her!
Love Julie! Love you guys! Love all of your stories! Don’t give up Brandi! The haters can go suck rocks.
Personally, I really enjoy Julie as a character and was looking forward to seeing her grow into herself and her power. The ending of KD 10 gave me goosebumps of anticipation. I understand your reasoning, but if you do decide to write that trilogy I will definitely be buying it.
I love Julie! She may have been annoying at times but I know as a teenager I was definitely annoying and a pain in the butt! At the end of Magic Triumphs I was so happy with the prospect of a series with her and Erra. I hope at some point you feel able and want to tell her story again! Until then I will continue buying and rereading everything you write!
Julie was Kate’s first child although adopted Kate and Curren raised her At the end she is still a teenager and we have all been there at some point in our lives As a character I have enjoyed watching her grow and expand her universe She has made mistakes as we all have. Anything you write I will read. Some of your characters at times I would like to take and shake until they pass out but usually they come around. Hope to see more of Julie, Derek , the Pack and the People stories even if they are shorts. Hope you have some time to relax for a while.
Another case of crabs in a box…I hope you write what you want always… Reading her blog, I doubt Nora Roberts is driven by what some of her readers say about her characters. I imagine it would stymie the whole writing/ creative process and NR is a writing machine. Thank you for sharing your insights and I hope this year brings you even more success! The unpublished Sweep of the Blade was far and away, my favorite, and I hope, when released it surpasses all sales predictions. Happy Easter!
I love Julie as a character – I don’t always agree with her actions, but that’s part of what makes it enjoyable. I appreciate that she’s a character with depth and motivations behind her actions, but that she also makes mistakes… the fact that she isn’t always super warm towards Kate is actually one of my favourite things about her. There’s no “right” way to respond to what she went through… and I feel like Julie’s less than textbook way of dealing with those things or expressing gratitude makes it easier to appreciate that people do respond to things in different ways, and somehow validates it for other people that react atypically situations in their own lives.
I will read any Julie book that you publish. She was so realistic and funny. (The scene where she is so distracted and can barely do staff work with Kate because she’s distracted by the big dance with the pack and she has to help her friend pick an outfit was so well written)
I will read Roman too, I really hope Roman gets a book. I’ve been wanting his book since he and his Eyore pajama pants made an appearance in Raphael and Andrea’s book. He’s funny too. (You’re asking ME to marry you? Me? The dark pagan god priest? I’m never asked to marry anyone. My cousin will be so jealous! I’ll turn into a wedding planner because this wedding is so happening.)
Ignore those idiots who hate the Julie character. They are just jealous they can’t write anything as amazing as you and feel better about themselves by sending hate mail. They are pathetic.
I love Julie and would definitely read any books or short stories about her. Just saying.
I loved Julie’s novella, and have been hoping for more! I think people who send hate mail about an adolescent character (or any hate mail. Why is that necessary?) may need to revaluate their life choices. I have read just about everything you write, and I would devour a Julie centric series!
I love Julie and hope that you don’t let the haters win. I have loved all your books and plan my vacation days around their release, I hope to someday do that for a Julie story.
Just adding to the Julie love because we must counteract the horrible hate email! Sign me up as first in line to get her books! People are so narrow minded sometimes.
I too enjoy Julie, she’s been through a lot and is growing into herself. When you’re ready to write her story I’ll assuredly buy it!
Meh.
Julie’s complex. Like all of your characters. It’s what makes your books so damned good. I hated how Jim treated Kate, but I appreciated the fact that he was his own person with his own motivations and priorities. Jim is an amazing character. Fully fleshed. Like Julie. How boring would a book be if everyone in it were Yes Men?
You keep doing you and writing whatever the hell you feel like writing and, not to be all cheesy and shit, the Horde will keep buying and reading. We appreciate you. We appreciate the work you put into your characters and stories. There’s a saying that goes something like “give them what they need, not what they want “. You have that down pat. Thank you.
I’ve had a shitty week. My kids got sick with fevers one after the other. I’ve been exhausted and frustrated and just deflated like a used balloon. But reading your description of Gordon doing the emperor wave in your last post had me cracking a smile. I’ve also Googled Yanxi Palace to see if it was my cuppa. It isn’t. I grew up watching HK/C/TW-DRAMA and have been scarred for life by the Inner Court’s machinations. I think I was in kindergarten or first grade when I watched a consort replace another’s newborn son with a skinned cat, driving the mother to commit suicide by jumping into a palace well — but not before she went stark raving mad. Good times. Anyway, I thought it was weird, because dramas featuring Qianlong Huangdi are 99% lighthearted comedies or romances since he’s known as the fun loving “cool” emperor. I’ve had a thing for Qianlong (or as much as one can for a long dead historical figure) since a 90’s HK-drama painted him as the suave playboy type so watching him in Yangxi and how he deals with darker shit might be worth it.
Sorry for rambling. Thanks for the posts/updates. I look forward to them. They always brighten up my day.
I was so absolutely shocked to read that you get hate mail for Julie. I love her character so much and her relationship with Kate. Their relationship is complex and teenagers can be a bit bratty, but that’s what makes it so good…the realness of it. I was so hoping she’d get her own story. She’s matured and grown so much, it would be a great story to read. I’ll just be patient and keep my eye out for any changes on that front. Still shocked though.
I was also surprised to read you get hate mail over Julie. But strange people will do strange things and I hope it won’t keep you from continuing to write stories about her because I would love to read them! I thought Julie’s character was really thoughtfully written and reflected that teenager stage where sometimes they are so incredibly annoying/alienating/infuriating but then they suddenly shine with their inner strength and the love they have inside.