Q&A with Julie Cross - CLOSED

[Natalie]

Hi All

For the next two weeks, Julie Cross, the author of the recently released (and brilliant!) Third Degree will be answering our questions

Please remember to hide any spoilers

[Julie]

Hi everyone! I'm here and excited to answer whatever questions you might have. Or discuss books or GLEE or the True Detective finale (anyone see that?! omg, I'm still thinking about it) or countdown days until Tammara Webber releases another book...anything goes :)

[Roni]

How much medical research did you do to make your heroine seem like an authentic genius?

And if you had to cast the movie for this book, have you thought about who would play Izzy and who would play Marsh? :)

[Julie]

Roni wrote: "How much medical research did you do to make your heroine seem like an authentic genius?

And if you had to cast the movie for this book, have you thought about who would play Izzy and who would ..."

Very interesting questions, Roni! Medical research...I did quite bit. I even watched full length surgeries on youtube. It was hard to watch with out half covering my eyes but after several weeks of writing and research, I was sitting in front of my computer watching heart surgeries while eating potato chips.

But it's all very Gray's Anatomy, House MD, ER, as far as writing fictional doctors goes - the story trumps all other things. For example, I have a character who wakes up after a surgery really really fast and is very lucid, lol. But much of the medical stuff is based on facts...like 98% or 95%...ish.

Who would play the characters? I think my co-author on another upcoming NA project, Mark Perini, would make an awesome Marsh. He models and acts so he could pull it off. He has a relaxed laid back personality like Marsh and a big fun family.

Izzy is so much more difficult to cast...got any suggestions?

[Erica]

Did you have any college experiences that align with Izzy's?

[Julie]

Erica wrote: "Did you have any college experiences that align with Izzy's?"

Well...I didn't hook up with my RA like Izzy, but I did hook up with my Student Life Adviser, which was a similar though temporary role to "orient new freshman." Like Izzy, he was literally the first person I met upon arriving for move in day.

[Heather Anne]

Aside from all of the medical research you did for this book, as well as writing it and making it your own, what did you enjoy most about writing Third Degree?

[Julie]

Heather Anne wrote: "Aside from all of the medical research you did for this book, as well as writing it and making it your own, what did you enjoy most about writing Third Degree?"

Great question! I've always wanted to write a character who can show the dark side of genius, the struggles, the deficiencies it creates in other areas of life, the stress, the anxieties. And Marsh is the guy character I've always wanted to write as well. He's so laid back and accepting, super fun and sexy.

[Bruna]

When the next book of the letters to nowhere series will be released?

Are karen and jordan inspired in someone? How did you come with the ideia for the series?

[Julie]

Bruna wrote: "When the next book of the letters to nowhere series will be released?

Are karen and jordan inspired in someone? How did you come with the ideia for the series?"

I've finished the next Letters to Nowhere and almost finished the one after that too, lol. But I'm waiting on formatting and cover stuff plus I had a book release in January, February, and March so I'm trying to space them out a bit.

Karen and Jordan are completely fictional. The idea had been brewing since I first began writing back in 2009. I'd always wanted to write a fictional love story that also showed the world of elite gymnastics from the inside. It's kind of the book of my heart. I have a career background in gymnastics coaching and it's another passion of mine so combining that with writing, my other passion...hard to top :)