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On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, Julie Conrad talks about the latest release in her Sarah Jane Raymond trilogy, Swansong, and what inspired her story.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed author Julie Conrad about her life and career, the Sarah Jane Raymond book trilogy, and what inspired her third installment, Swansong.
Hello, my name is Julie Conrad and I live in Cheshire with my husband and Pomeranian dogs. I love the outdoors, fitness, gardening, supporting animal charities, painting and of course writing fiction.
I studied for a BA(Hons) Social Science and a CQSW. Social work qualification in London where I lived for five years, I worked as a social worker at three London boroughs. I moved back to the North West of England where I continued my career in the Greater Manchester area.
The last eight years prior to retirement I was a Regulatory Inspector for what is now the CQC. My studies, training and work involved psychology and psychotherapy, which have always been of interest to me and still are.
I knew I wanted to write a book in my early twenties. I wrote a little but had to focus on my degree and career to earn a living.
In 1990 I decided to write a book. I wrote two novels, High Places and Demons. My ambition was to be a published author. These two novels were put in a box for thirty years. There was no option to self-publish in the 1990s.
At the beginning of lockdown I decided that this was the opportunity to work on the two manuscripts and have them published, having lay dormant for thirty years.
My latest novel is the final book in my Sarah Jane Raymond trilogy. It has taken eighteen months to write all three books, Sarah Jane Raymond 1 subtitled Georgette.
SJR 2, subtitled A New Life, and my new book SJR 3, Swansong. On average it has taken six months to write and publish each novel.
I had an overwhelming need to continue Sarah’s journey, she was a complex woman who had drawn me into her world as she has done my readers. I enjoy writing psychological thriller/dramas. Getting into the characters mind set. As this was the third book in a trilogy the character’s personality traits had been established, the reader already on a journey with a woman whose need to control at all cost.
People set out in life with hopes and dreams, some achieve them, however, the reality of the dream is not always as it is expected.
The biggest challenge writing this book was considering how the reader would respond to the main character, Sarah’s ruthlessness, and psychological cruelty towards her young daughter, and other siblings in her charge.
The inspiration behind my protagonist is naivety of youth. Rose tinted glasses inspired the main character, Sarah. A teenagers dream and fantasy of being swept off her feet by Mr Right. Sarah gets the dream man and lifestyle with the promise of happy ever after, but the reality is very different.
The inspiration behind the antagonist is parental hope and expectation invested their children. Georgette, the first born, is a disappointment to both parents due to her unattractiveness and lack of ability.
The inciting incident in the book occurs in book one, where Sarah is subjected to a life changing experience. Georgette becomes Sarah’s scapegoat of everything that is wrong in Sarah’s life, she is the embodiment of Sarah’s fears and desperation.
The conflict in the book rests with the two sides of Sarah’s personality, Jeckle and Hyde character.
I never plan or plot prior to starting a novel. I begin by writing about a character, usually female and the story develops. Once in the creative zone I marvel at where all my ideas come from.
I employ a freelance copy editor to edit the manuscript. After which I line edit myself.
Anyone wanting to write a story, I would suggest they just start writing, either long hand or on a laptop. Don’t worry about spelling or gramma at this stage, simply get into the story.
I am currently 43000 words into a new book, very different from SJR, but it is about people, their lives and how change and circumstances effect their journey.
I am very proud of my accomplishment to write six books since the end of 2019. I feel this was my time to be creative and become the author I always wanted to be. It has been worth the wait to be given the time and opportunity to both write and self-publish.
All my books are available at Amazon, Apple and all other online book retailers and to order at any bookstore.
My website is www.julieconrad.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/Julieconradnovelist
https://instagram.com/julie_conrad_novelist
PIXEL TWEAKS
www.pixeltweakspublications.com
My book list is as follows: High Places, and the sequel, Justice. Demons, Sarah Jane Raymond trilogy. SJR 1 Georgette. SJR 2 A new life. SJR 3 Swansong.
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