AccessRomance interviews author Julie Leto.

AR: Thank you for spending time with Access Romance this month, Julie, and celebrating the release of your second Marisela Morales book, "Dirty Little Lies." How did you come up with the character of Marisela in the first place?

Julie: I had just read Alisa Valdes Rodriguez's DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB and was intrigued by her Latina characters. Since I'd never been very in tune with my Latina side (having grown up much more close to the Italian side of my family though my paternal grandmother and a favorite aunt were Cuban-American), I found the whole idea of exploring that ethnic side of me intriguing. Also, I'd been itching to write a real kick-ass heroine. I loved the characters Eve Dallas and Anita Blake. Bombshell was just launching. I wanted to do something along those lines, but with my own gritty, super-sexy spin. Thus Marisela was born.

AR: The book is the second in the series. What have been the challenges in writing a continuing character vs writing those whose stories are completed in a single book?

I don't think I have time to list all the challenges! Let's just say many more than I expected. Probably the most challenging was deciding how much to include from the previous book. The plot of the previous book doesn't matter except in how it shaped the relationships between the characters, which are very complex. I tried to give short recaps and my editor shortened them even further. I think it's very snappy now. You don't have to read one to appreciate the other, but I think all series books are enhanced by reading them in order.

AR: Tell us about those various ongoing relationships in the series. Frankie and Ian. Max. Do you also introduce new characters in this book who you will be revisiting in book three?

Julie: Oh, the relationships! It's funny because the Marisela books are not romance novels in the strictest sense (you can't really have a happily-ever-after in a continuing series) but the relationships are as key to the story as the suspense. Frankie and Marisela are still toying with their sexual relationship, but the emotional relationship isn't progressing at exactly the same speed for both characters, which leads to conflict. The relationship between Marisela and Ian undergoes the most marked change in this book, which sets me up nicely for books coming down the pike. Max is just, well, Max. If all goes as planned, his relationship with Marisela will be fleshed out more in Talk Dirty To Me, the next book. And then there are relationships with the women--Brynn Blake, Lia Santorini, and the villain of the book, Yizenia Santiago. It's very layered.

AR: What are the advantages/disadvantages to releasing this book in mass market instead of trade format? Are there plans to reissue "Dirty Little Secrets" in mass market, too?

Julie: I can only see advantages, well, except for the fact that quite a few new readers discovered me in the trade format who may not be aware of the switch to mass market. Otherwise, I think readers will like the lower cover price. I write books that have a strong mass market appeal (or at least, I hope I am!) and so I do believe the mass market paperback is the best place for me. It will also help my romance readers find me more easily. As for plans to reissue Dirty Little Secrets, there is talk. A lot depends on how well Dirty Little Lies does.

AR: You had a Blaze release in August, "The Domino Effect." Will you continue to write for Harlequin as well as for Pocket? Is it difficult juggling schedules between two publishers?

Julie: I'm working on another Blaze right now. I love writing for Harlequin. The company gave me my start and I absolutely would be devastated not to be involved with all the wonderful evolution of books going on right now at Blaze. For as long as I can, I will try to juggle both series. It is difficult, but it's the price to pay for having an opportunity to do what I love. I'm getting pretty darned good at juggling.

AR: Since you do write both long single titles and category length books, do you prefer one over the other?

Julie: No, I don't prefer one over the other. It's like comparing pumpkin pie to ice cream. Both are wonderful desserts, but different in texture and taste. Switching back and forth gives me a chance to fulfill a lot of my storytelling needs. I'm very grateful for the chance to do both and supply books to both category and single title readers--as well as all the cross-over readers.

AR: Some of our readers may not know about your plotting group. Tell us a bit about the PlotMonkeys.

Julie: Oh! There's too much to tell and too much that's confidential, LOL! Seriously, the plotmonkeys are best discovered at our blog: http://www.plotmonkeys.com. Short version--we are four Temptation writers who clicked and connected early in our careers and have been best friends since then. We (Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison, Leslie Kelly and I) started plotting together about five years ago, jetting once a year to a neutral location to brainstorm our books for the year. However, now that we're all busier, we're starting to meet twice a year and that doesn't even count all the time we spend on the phone. We support each other as writers and as women, mothers and wives. I can't imagine my life without these women. I admire them and depend on them more than I can say. And damn, we have a great time together, too!

AR: Thank you for visiting with us, Julie. Is there anything else you would like to share with the Access Romance readers?

Julie: Just to thank them for reading the interview and invite them to visit with me at my Marisela blog or over at Plotmonkeys. Oh, and to ask them to send a friend over, too. That's alway fun!

Interviews Index > Julie Leto (September 06)