The Making of Julia's Song with Elyse Pierce (Guest Post)

Elyse Pierce is one of the authors participating in the Win With eBooks event for March. Several authors have come together to offer a Buy One, Get One Free promotion on their eBooks as well as a chance to win some Amazon.com gift cards. The promotion is running from March 15 - 18 and you can find all the details at winwithebooks.com. Today I would like to welcome Elyse to Library Girl Reads & Reviews to talk about creating Julia's Song ...

It all started with a news story almost 15 years ago. I was pregnant with my oldest son. I was watching something on television (don’t ask me what, I can barely remember what I watched an hour ago.) All of a sudden, a reporter came on to report that Princess Diana had died.

Like many people throughout the world, Princess Diana’s life intrigued me. I remember getting up early in the morning to watch her wedding on television. I was only 12 years old. I was glued to the broadcast – fascinated by the story of this beautiful woman who was about to become a real life princess.

I distinctly remember when both William and Harry were born. I remember seeing pictures of their first day of school. I remember pictures of Princess Di dressed in beautiful gowns. Pictures of her beautiful smile.

But I also remember other pictures. Pictures of her in the gym with not so nice captions. Pictures of her standing next to Prince Charles looking utterly miserable. Pictures of a woman whose eyes begged for privacy.

I so admired this woman who was a great mother, role model, and philanthropist. At the same time, I felt sorry for what she had been through since becoming a member of the royal family. I thought “What if...”

Suddenly the idea for Julia’s Song came to life.

It took me 15 years to actually write and publish Julia’s Song, but the message and memory of a beautiful woman are not forgotten.

ABOUT JULIA’S SONG:

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were to suddenly become famous? Could you handle life in the spotlight?

Julia Alexander is a quiet girl from a small town. When she meets the love of her life, she is unaware of just how drastically her life is about to change. Suddenly thrown into the limelight, her life is no longer her own. Relentlessly followed by the paparazzi, Julia is forced to make tough decisions about fame, love, and relationships. Just how much would she be willing to sacrifice to regain her privacy? Is reclaiming her life even possible, or is it too late?

EXCERPT:

“Julia!”
“Julia! Over here!”
“Julia!”
The screams from the sidewalk outside pierced my ears before the car rolled to a complete stop.
My hands fumbled, as I reached for my compact. I quickly dabbed on some powder and ran my fingers through my waves of brown hair.
“Good enough, let’s get this over with.”
The glass shield separating me from the driver began to descend.
“Are you ready Ma’am?”
“Yes, thank you.” I tried to mask my unease; grateful no one other than myself could hear my heart racing. I smoothed out my grey wool skirt and waited.
The driver turned off the engine and got out of the car. I sat up straight and took a deep breath as he opened my door.
A sea of flashbulbs blinded me. I could feel the familiar forced smile overtake my face as I stopped to pose for the cameras, grateful there were velvet ropes separating the multitude of photographers and reporters trying to get close to me.
“Julia, what is your reaction to this latest round of accusations?” A voice yelled from my left.
I turned abruptly on my heels, facing the direction of the voice. I could feel the heat rising to my face.
“I try not to pay attention to petty rumors.”
I turned back around to the right and addressed the waiting crowd. “Thank you all so much for your support.”
I waved before turning back to the left, trying to brush off the last question. I waved once more and headed into the stately building.
The large entryway was quiet. I felt the cold marble against my back, leaning against the wall, relieved to have escaped the media relatively unscathed. A moment of calm, so foreign to me now, briefly took over.
The double doors at the end of the hallway creaked open, breaking the silence.
Susan peeked out from behind the doors. “Oh good, you’re here. They are ready for you now.”

ABOUT ELYSE PIERCE:

Julia’s Song is Elyse Pierce’s debut novel. Elyse lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three children, and two cats. She enjoys crocheting, gardening, spending time with her family, and promoting children’s literacy.

Find out more about Julia's Song at www.granddaisypress.com
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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.