Welcome to the Coffee Chat!
If you have young readers in your life or are young at heart, you're going to love today's guest author, Julie Herman.
Nice to meet you, Julie! What may I get you to drink?
JH: I’ve never quite learned how to like coffee. I am, however, addicted to large mugs of tea served with milk and stevia.
Ally: Not a problem. While I get our drinks ready, please introduce yourself to readers.
If you have young readers in your life or are young at heart, you're going to love today's guest author, Julie Herman.
Nice to meet you, Julie! What may I get you to drink?
JH: I’ve never quite learned how to like coffee. I am, however, addicted to large mugs of tea served with milk and stevia.
Ally: Not a problem. While I get our drinks ready, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
A lapsed Master Gardener, Julie Herman lives on a small organic farm outside Houston where she and her husband ride herd on the ever-shifting population of the farm. At last count they had two retired quarter horses, a cat, a shrinking flock of Cream Legbar Chickens, (darn that fox!) and the creature that lurks in the pond. Julie serves as a Chief Horse Management Judge for the United States Pony Clubs and on the board of Writespace, a Houston area writers’ treasure trove of resources.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I spent the year between my sophomore and junior years in college working as a Nanny in the US Embassy in Moscow. Some day that adventure will work its way into a book."
Contacts:
MysteryGarden.com | FB @JulieWrayH | T: @JulieWrayH | JulieHermanWrites@gmail.com
A lapsed Master Gardener, Julie Herman lives on a small organic farm outside Houston where she and her husband ride herd on the ever-shifting population of the farm. At last count they had two retired quarter horses, a cat, a shrinking flock of Cream Legbar Chickens, (darn that fox!) and the creature that lurks in the pond. Julie serves as a Chief Horse Management Judge for the United States Pony Clubs and on the board of Writespace, a Houston area writers’ treasure trove of resources.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I spent the year between my sophomore and junior years in college working as a Nanny in the US Embassy in Moscow. Some day that adventure will work its way into a book."
Contacts:
MysteryGarden.com | FB @JulieWrayH | T: @JulieWrayH | JulieHermanWrites@gmail.com
INTERVIEW:
Ally: What type of book did you bring with you today?
JH: BURNED is a middle grade mystery, best for ages 8 - 12. (And all horses lovers!)
Ally: Tell us about your main character and why readers will care about her.
JH: Sophie is every young girl I met when working with Pony Club members. They are passionate about their horses, their friends, and their families. Sophie isn’t a quitter, whether it’s getting back on the horse after a fall, or taking on the job of helping to clear her mother’s name.
Ally: What was your journey to publication, including bumps and missteps?
JH: I was lucky enough to sell three adult mysteries back around the turn of the century. (Just love to say that!) Then I had a spate of rejections, and I quit writing. Several times. Fortunately, characters wouldn’t leave me alone. I finally began submitting again a couple of years ago. The result is that I transitioned to the middle grade audience — not surprising since that is the age group I work with the most when I teach horsemanship to Pony Club kids.
Ally: How much and what kind of research did you do for this book?
JH: I am lucky enough to have been raised in Kentucky, and there was a riding stable within biking distance of my house where I worked during high school. I also volunteer with a non-profit, the United States Pony Clubs, that allows me to play with both the youth members and their ponies. For awhile our family collected horses like other people collect baseball cards. Sadly, most are gone now due to old age. Living, breathing ‘horse’ is second nature for me.
Arson? Way out of my experience. But one of my cousins had a friend who is a fire-investigator in Bel Air ,Maryland, close to where the book is set. He was tireless in answering questions! What a wonderful resource he turned out to be.
Ally: I assume there are horses in your book. Are there other animals? What part do they all play?
JH: The setting for BURNED is a Pony Club Center. Centers are a barn that has been approved by the United States Pony Clubs. They are known for both solid horse riding instruction and an emphasis for safety. Queenie is the instructor at the Center and she has a barn full of dream lesson horses we would all be proud to own. Children who ride get an unbelievable boost in self-confidence. Horses are powerful animals. Imagine being able to tell a thousand pound creature what to do — and they listen! Sophie also has a wonderful dog that loves pancakes.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JH: I am working on STOLEN, the second in the series. Jack Pacetti, a twelve-year-old Army brat, discovers that horses provide a much-needed safe-haven when his mother is deployed to Afghanistan. Jack’s fragile peace shatters when his favorite horse, Flash, is stolen. Jack and new barn friends Sophie and Yasmine scout for clues to the missing horses. Can they bring them home?
No idea when the publisher will bring it out, but it’s due to my editor in January.
Ally: Let's talk about you. Answer these quick get-to-know-you questions:
Ally: What type of book did you bring with you today?
JH: BURNED is a middle grade mystery, best for ages 8 - 12. (And all horses lovers!)
Ally: Tell us about your main character and why readers will care about her.
JH: Sophie is every young girl I met when working with Pony Club members. They are passionate about their horses, their friends, and their families. Sophie isn’t a quitter, whether it’s getting back on the horse after a fall, or taking on the job of helping to clear her mother’s name.
Ally: What was your journey to publication, including bumps and missteps?
JH: I was lucky enough to sell three adult mysteries back around the turn of the century. (Just love to say that!) Then I had a spate of rejections, and I quit writing. Several times. Fortunately, characters wouldn’t leave me alone. I finally began submitting again a couple of years ago. The result is that I transitioned to the middle grade audience — not surprising since that is the age group I work with the most when I teach horsemanship to Pony Club kids.
Ally: How much and what kind of research did you do for this book?
JH: I am lucky enough to have been raised in Kentucky, and there was a riding stable within biking distance of my house where I worked during high school. I also volunteer with a non-profit, the United States Pony Clubs, that allows me to play with both the youth members and their ponies. For awhile our family collected horses like other people collect baseball cards. Sadly, most are gone now due to old age. Living, breathing ‘horse’ is second nature for me.
Arson? Way out of my experience. But one of my cousins had a friend who is a fire-investigator in Bel Air ,Maryland, close to where the book is set. He was tireless in answering questions! What a wonderful resource he turned out to be.
Ally: I assume there are horses in your book. Are there other animals? What part do they all play?
JH: The setting for BURNED is a Pony Club Center. Centers are a barn that has been approved by the United States Pony Clubs. They are known for both solid horse riding instruction and an emphasis for safety. Queenie is the instructor at the Center and she has a barn full of dream lesson horses we would all be proud to own. Children who ride get an unbelievable boost in self-confidence. Horses are powerful animals. Imagine being able to tell a thousand pound creature what to do — and they listen! Sophie also has a wonderful dog that loves pancakes.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JH: I am working on STOLEN, the second in the series. Jack Pacetti, a twelve-year-old Army brat, discovers that horses provide a much-needed safe-haven when his mother is deployed to Afghanistan. Jack’s fragile peace shatters when his favorite horse, Flash, is stolen. Jack and new barn friends Sophie and Yasmine scout for clues to the missing horses. Can they bring them home?
No idea when the publisher will bring it out, but it’s due to my editor in January.
Ally: Let's talk about you. Answer these quick get-to-know-you questions:
- a. Favorite tv show: Old: Buffy the Vampire Slayer — watched this with my daughter when she was in high school. Opened a lot of doors for discussion! New: This Is Us. I’m a sucker for shows that provide both laughter and a good boohoo.
- b. Favorite accessory: I have a scarf with appliqués on it that I adore. If only it weren’t so hot in Texas that I never get to wear it!
- c. What comes to your first - character or plot? Character.
- d. Favorite place to write: Anywhere far away from the laundry room, kitchen, and other sources of domestic goddess distractions.
Burned by Julie Herman
Genre: Middle Grade mystery
Sophie would be the happiest girl in the world if she could spend every day hanging out with her friends Yasmine and Tanner, and riding her beloved horse, Cricket. But she stands to lose all of that and more when her mom is accused of theft and arson. As the evidence piles up and friends turn away, Sophie scrambles to clear her mother's name--and soon finds herself in the middle of a hot mess.
"For mystery lovers, horse-mad readers or those who enjoy a good story about friends and family, this is the book for you." -Sara K Joiner, children's/teen librarian, author of AFTER THE ASHES
"BURNED, Julie Herman’s new middle-grade mystery, is a horse-lover’s dream, with a suspense-filled story that moves faster than a racehorse. Twelve-year-old Sophie is a strong female character who’s determined to uncover an injustice, even though she may lose her favorite horse, Cricket—and possibly her life. Couldn’t put it down!" --Penny Warner, Author of award-winning THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB series.
Amazon Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Burned-Julie-Herman/dp/0997457538
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