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 Smorgasbord  News
Events
Charities
Gotta Shop!
Bits & Pieces
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEWS Right now, Julie's most exciting news is the launch of her new website. Yup! You're looking at it! Click links, explore, and let us know what you think! Thanks for visiting! Julie's novels now available in ebook from www.diesel-ebooks.com.  EVENTS August 4, signing in San Antonio, Texas (details to be announced) August 4, 7pm signing at Borders Book at the Domain in Austin, Texas August 15 to 17, Armadillocon, Austin, Texas October 12, Richardson, Texas, Buns & Roses Tea You can add Julie as a MySpace friend to get notices of upcoming events (including book releases). CHARITIES A note from Julie: I'm an active supporter of Love Without Boundaries. In 2006, an auction I sponsored to benefit LWB and to fund medical care for orphans in China raised over $8,000. The money was earmarked specifically for medical care, with a percentage going exclusively to fund the repair of cleft lips and palates, a cause near and dear to my heart. Thanks to all the authors, editors, agents and Hollywood folks who donated! Click here to learn more about Love Without Boundaries or to donate directly. Also, the income from each and every purchase from my Café Press store is donated to LWB or Half the Sky, another charitable organization that I support. In addition to other things, Half The Sky provides preschool opportunities to little ones living in orphanages. Our daughter, Isabella, was in a Half The Sky preschool at the Chuzhou Social Welfare Institute in China. Adopted at three, Isabella came home with wonderful gross and fine motor skills, and we are certain that is in large part due to the love and care she received at Chuzhou SWI and through the HTS program. HTS documented her growth and development, and we will be forever grateful for the records we received about her first three years. My family sponsors a little girl through Half the Sky (still waiting to get the details on this precious child), as well as Sarah, a little girl in the Anhui province, through Love Without Boundaries. Here is a picture of this precious little girl, who is still nervous in her preschool class, but is making great progress. 
In reading her most recent report, I was brought to tears. She didn't want to leave her shoes at the classroom door because she was afraid (according to the ayi, or nanny) that some other child would take them. Oh, the memories! For weeks after adopting Isabella, she would throw a fit if anyone tried to take off her shoes (and at first, she slept in them). Even more, though we bought her two new pairs on our first day with her in China, she would only wear one, apparently unable to comprehend that they both belonged to her. She clearly liked one better and didn't want to trade them for the inferior pair! It was a big day in our lives the first time I saw a pair of Isabella's shoes lying casually in the living room. Now, I'm doing good to convince her to wear shoes. Usually, they end up in the basket of her tricycle. (And, dang it, I'm tearing up again!) If you'd like to sponsor a child like Sarah, follow the links. You can help change a kiddo's life for as little as $20/month. Sponsorship Opportunities at Love Without Boundaries (and click on one of the circles at the top: donate now, or get involved) Sponsorship Opportunities at Half The Sky (and click on "You Can Help") GOTTA SHOP The proceeds go to charity, so pull out your wallet and support a good cause. Autographed Copies of Julie's Books Subject to availability, you can obtain a signed copy of Julie's books direct from Julie, for the cover price plus shipping. Email Julie to determine availability, then pay by check, money order or Paypal. Café Press Can't live without a Slay Your Demons t-shirt? Desperately need a www.superherocentral.com coffee mug? Dying for a Play.Survive.Win mousepad? Café Press is coming soon, so check back! BITS & PIECES This is where you'll find the infamous "everything else"—all sorts of cool things that, gee, we didn't know where else to put them. Temptation's Child The Harlequin art department found a model with a remarkable resemblance to Julie's hubby when they created (at editor Brenda Chin's request) this cover for Temptation's Child, a faux book celebrating the then-upcoming birth of Julie's first child. Had Don been moonlighting as a cover model? Brenda gave the cover to Julie at a surprise shower thrown by the Temptresses in New Orleans at the 2001 RWA conference. 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Spy Who Loved Me Check out this fun first pass at a cover for The Spy Who Loves Me, drawn by the artist who did the original covers for the James Bond books. Although everyone (including Julie) thought the cover was way cool, the ultimate conclusion was that it wasn't enough of a romance cover, and the artwork was changed (to what is also a great, though different, cover). 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sign So, here's the story. In The Prada Paradox, the heroine is walking with her friend in Beverly Hills. This text is in the book: I know it's not cool to be in love with your town, but I really do love Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills most of all. I mean, there's an island of tall trees right in the center of Wilshire. Clearly, this is a town concerned about aesthetics. Why is it there? Because Julie's wonderful friend who took pictures of Rodeo Drive for her saw it and thought it was such a hoot he sent a picture. Julie thought it was such a hoot it had to be included in the book. So far, so good. A fan emails Julie and asks her if she has a picture of the sign. Obligingly, Julie emails one back. And then months pass. One day, Julie gets a package in her PO Box with no return address. She opens it ... and pulls out The Sign. She has no idea who sent it, but can't help but wonder if that curious fan went out to Rodeo Drive one night with a screwdriver and a flashlight ... Where's the sign now? Hanging in my office above my desk. Seemed the appropriate place for a Total Crisis Panic sign. 
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