Julie Thomas

Biography

I live in Cambridge, New Zealand. For the last 25 + years I have worked in the media, radio, TV and film and in 2011 I 'semi-retired' and now I write fulltime. I started writing when I was about 8 and have written professionally and personally ever since. I live with my very intelligent and affectionate cat. I love reading, music of all types, cooking, walking, watching streaming TV and being with family.

My first novel, "The Keeper of Secrets" is published as a Trade Paperback under the William Morrow imprint and also as an eBook.
My second novel "Blood, Wine and Chocolate" is published by HarperCollins and is available as a trade paperback and also as an eBook. It is a murder mystery, full of black humor, great wine and scrumptious chocolate.

My third novel, "Rachel's Legacy" (which is a sequel to "The Keeper of Secrets") was published by HarperCollins as a trade paperback and as an eBook.

The third installment of the Horowitz Chronicles "Levi's War" my fourth book and the last of the trilogy, is also published by HarperCollins and is available as a trade paperback and an eBook.

The first book of the Lochmorland and Romanov saga "The Bear and the Thistle" is now available as an eBook and a print on demand. It features two intertwined families during the first half of the twentieth century, one Scottish and one Russian and covers the years 1917 to 1941. War, shellshock, a flu pandemic, the jazz age and the politics of the 1930s as the world tumbles inevitably towards another war. This one is fought in the skies over Europe and ends in a tragedy that resounds through the hills of Lochmorland. Book two is coming!

I write from the heart and the subjects of my books fascinate me. I spent 7 years researching 'The Keeper of Secrets' and it was a labor of love.

Smashwords Interview

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
When I was about eight years old I used to start novels about Russian princesses called Tatiana who rode in troikas through the snow and wore huge fur coats and Faberge jewels. But inevitably the 1917 revolution came, and they suffered a terrible fate. Then, as now, my stories had to make historical sense and I couldn't write a story where Bolshevism simply didn't happen.
What is your writing process?
I am semi-retired so I write when I want to. There is a huge amount of research that goes into every scene and sometimes I do it in advance if I know I'll need it but sometimes I just verify and read around whatever topic pops up. There are always a few real people (usually deceased but known to history) and it is a point of pride to describe them accurately.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Julie Thomas online

Twitter: @JMThomasauthor
Facebook: Facebook profile

Series

The Lochmorland and Romanov Saga
Two aristocratic families, one that traces its bloodlines back to Robert the Bruce, and the other who are members of the extended Russian Romanov Imperial family, intersect during the chaos of the first quarter of the twentieth century. There is a battle for succession, the bloody deserts of the Sinai, shellshock, revolution, wayward children and the politics of the 1930s as the world tumbles inevitably towards another war. This one is fought in the skies above Europe and the resultant tragedy echoes across the lowlands of Scotland. This saga, in three books, traces the triumphs and disasters of the two families from 1917 to the present day.
The Bear and the Thistle
Price: $5.95 USD.

Books

The Bear and the Thistle
Series: The Lochmorland and Romanov Saga. Price: $5.95 USD. Words: 113,890. Language: English. Published: March 1, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » United Kingdom
Two aristocratic families clash tragically during the first half of the twentieth century. One is Scottish nobility with bloodlines echoing back to Robert the Bruce. The other is an Imperial Romanov family fleeing the new Bolshevik regime and certain death. Throw in a serious case of shellshock, a bi-racial marriage, world war, a deadly flu and 1930's politics and the fight is on!
Our Father's War
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 31,180. Language: English. Published: October 4, 2011 . Categories: Nonfiction » History » Military
My late Father, Hal Thomas, was a Spitfire pilot in WWII, in England and the Middle East. He was called up in 1939, trained in New Zealand, sailed for England in 1940 and learned to fly a Spitfire. He served for four years and as he grew up, he wrote letters home. After the war he wrote some more, chilling and descriptive words. These are them.
Stirred Not Shaken
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 17,880. Language: English. Published: September 15, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
A book of five short stories. Some are witty and frivolous, some are poignant and one is based on my Dad's diary as he sailed to the UK to be a Spitfire pilot in 1940.

Julie Thomas' tag cloud

1920s    1930s    cia    cocktails    death    europe    food    holocaust    james bond    letters    looted art    murder    north africa    nzraf    pandemic flu    planes    raf    raf squadron    romanov family    russian revolution    scottish historical romance    sea travel    spies    spitfires    world war 2    world war ii    wwii