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Julie Beard

Julie Beard is a journalist who brings her reporting skills to her award-winning, best-selling novels. Imagine investigating the weapons of the Middle Ages, the hierarchy of servants in the Georgian era, the importance of reputations in the Victorian era, or the styles of gardens in the age of Queen Elizabeth. Julie has done it all. And the latest result of her thorough research is now in bookstores. It's called Midnight Angel, a Victorian romantic suspense set against the backdrops of London's high society and the city's opium-plagued underworld.

In spite of her reputation as a "master of the craft" (Romantic Times BookClub Magazine) in the historical romance genre, Julie is equally at ease with contemporary fiction—make that futuristic fiction. Julie is excited about being one of the launch authors for Silhouette's new Bombshell line. Talk about a change of pace! She's debuting with a novel titled Kiss of the Blue Dragon, starring a 28-year-old heroine named Angel Baker, a Certified Retribution Specialist who strives to see justice done in the year 2104 when the criminal justice system has fallen apart. She falls for the hero, of course, but also has a compubot lover who is the spitting image of Humphrey Bogart. The book is fast-paced and fun.

Julie was a reporter and a news writer for ten years before turning her writing skills to more creative venues. She worked the night beat for KSDK-TV, covering everything from murders to visiting politicians to hometown parades. As a general assignment reporter, she interviewed such notables as President Clinton, Marilyn Quayle, Senator Paul Simon, and former Illinois governor Jim Thompson. As a news writer at the Fox affiliate in Chicago, she wrote copy for the legendary news anchor Walter Jacobson and Robin Robinson.

Julie also has given dozens of workshops and lectures around the country at community colleges, bookstores and writers conferences. She's conducted seminars and written articles about editing, writing, promotions, and journalism. After studying the craft of writing for nearly 20 years, she wrote the popular "how to" book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Your Romance Published. It was released as part of the "Idiot's Guide" series under the Alpha Books imprint. This comprehensive non-fiction book covers everything from plotting and editing a novel to finding an agent and publisher.

Julie, a USA Today bestselling author, has written more than 10 best-selling novels and novellas published by Penguin-Putnam under the Jove and Berkley and Berkley Sensation imprints. She is now focusing on her Bombshell series, but hopes to return to historicals in the future.

Julie graduated from Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism with a Master of Science degree in journalism. She graduated with a B.F.A. in theatre arts from Stephens College. She lives with her husband, two children and two incorrigible basenjis in the Midwest.

http://www.juliebeardbooks.com