A Conversation with Author Juliane Weber
Today, I’m delighted to host Juliane Weber in the library for a chat. You are very welcome, Juliane, please tell us a little about yourself.
Thank you for having me on your blog today, Pam. I’m a scientist turned historical fiction writer, and author of the Irish Fortune Series. My stories take readers on action-packed romantic adventures amid the captivating scenery and folklore of 19th century Ireland.
I was born in Germany but spent most of my life in South Africa. I now live with my husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?
I write historical fiction set in 19th century Ireland. Although I really disliked history at school (!) I now love learning about the past in historical fiction books, imagining how people might have lived in days gone by. It’s this fascination that drew me to writing historical fiction myself.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?
Yes, I love reading and am rarely found without a book in hand in my spare time. As mentioned, I love reading historical fiction but I do also read lots of crime thrillers and am happy to explore books in other genres if they sound interesting.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?
I am a self-published author. While it was a difficult route to take at the beginning of my author journey I now enjoy the freedom self-publishing gives me. I like being in complete control of my work, from the content of the books themselves and the design of the covers to the way the series is marketed.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?
The biggest influence on my writing has been Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series of books. As a fan of her work I found myself googling her some years ago, only to find out that she was a scientist turned novelist. Having been an avid reader all my life and being in the middle of my science degree at the time I thought: wouldn’t it be great if I could also be a scientist turned novelist one day? Although it took some years before I actually started writing anything, it was her story that inspired me to try it in the first place.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?
Yes, I believe it has. Although I was born in Germany I moved to South Africa with my family when I was four years old and lived there for most of my life. South Africa is a land of contrasts, with extreme poverty and extreme wealth existing side by side, a situation that is similar to the conditions that prevailed in Ireland in the 19th century. I believe that having grown up in South Africa, and travelled elsewhere in Africa, has given me a better understanding of such contrasts than I might otherwise have had and allowed me to describe the extraordinary situation in 19th century Ireland in what I hope is a sensitive fashion.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?
Something I read some time ago and has resonated with me ever since is advice given by my favourite author, Diana Gabaldon. When asked how one goes about writing a book she said to do whatever gets words on the page (or something to that effect). I think this summarises perfectly that not all techniques work for all writers and that there isn’t a single way to write a good book. For example, there are those who insist an outline is essential before writing a single word but this approach doesn’t work for everybody as some authors come up with the story while they’re writing it (including me). So I would say, the best advice I’ve received is to find out what works for me and to simply do that.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
I don’t really have a favourite time of day to write as such. When I started out I wrote whenever I had a free moment, including late at night, but now I do most of my writing in the mornings when the kids are at school.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?
If I weren’t an author of historical novels I would probably still be working as a medical writer, which is what I was doing before. I realised during my studies that I preferred writing about scientific research to doing the research myself, and ended up falling into a medical writing career. Although I’m now writing novels, not scientific articles, in some ways I am still carrying on in this vein, as I enjoy including scientific titbits in my books.
Please tell us about your latest published work.
My new book will be published later in the year. It’s called Amid the Oncoming Storm and is the third book in the Irish Fortune Series. It continues the story of Irishwoman Alannah O’Neill and Englishman Quinton Williams as they try to make a life for themselves in 19th century Ireland, a land plagued with injustices and hardships. Trying to help those in need, they’re unaware that an unimaginable disaster looms—the Great Famine that would forever change the course of Irish history.
Thank you so much for chatting to us today, Juliane.
If you’d like to know more about Juliane and her work please check out her social media links below.
Website: www.julianeweber.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulianeWeberAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliane._.weber/
