Originally published July 21, 2022

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What happens when a legendary romance author daydreams in church and accidentally plots a thriller? In this archival interview, Julie Garwood shares the surprising sparks behind fan-favorite books, her love of Scottish settings, and why she only ever kills the bad guys.

We trace Julie’s start from a serendipitous Russian history class to medieval romances, the Buchanan family across centuries, and the real-life moment that inspired Heartbreaker. You’ll also hear how Grace Under Fire came together, plus the comfort-read philosophy that guided her work. Perfect for romance, romantic-suspense, and cozy-mystery readers who love HEAs and strong heroines.

Note: This conversation was originally recorded in July 2022 while Julie was promoting her last published novel, Grace Under Fire. Julie Garwood passed away in the summer of 2023. We are honored to share her words and celebrate her legacy.

📚 Books Mentioned

• Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance (Medieval)
• For the Roses by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Western Historical Romance
• Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense; Buchanan series
• The Secret by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance; Scottish Highlands
• Ransom by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance; Scottish Highlands
• The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense
• Grace Under Fire by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense; Buchanan series
• A Girl Named Summer by Julie Garwood — Buy on Amazon | YA/Contemporary; family dynamics
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens — Buy on Amazon | Literary/Coming-of-Age Mystery (Julie’s TBR)
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⏱️ Time Stamps 

[00:00 ] – Welcome + co-host Addie; Julie’s early writing roots

[01:00 ] – A Russian history class that sparked medieval romance love

[04:00 ] – First sale: A Girl Named Summer and YA origins

[07:00 ] – Western pivot with For the Roses; writing where the story fits

[08:00 ] – London church “I know” sermon → the seed for Heartbreaker

[11:00 ] – Buchanan family: from medieval (The Secret, Ransom) to modern RS

[12:00 ] – The Ideal Man: opening scene, plotting while at T-ball games

[14:00 ] – Football story, daydreaming → segue to Grace Under Fire

[15:00 ] – Grace Under Fire: setup, Michael & Grace, Boston→Scotland stakes

[17:00 ] – Writing joyful suspense; HEAs and only killing the bad guys

[18:00 ] – Book recs & TBR: Where the Crawdads Sing, Jodi Picoult, Grisham, Roberts

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