Wednesday Writers–Jules Montgomery Character Interview by Jodie Wolfe

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Character interview, Inpsirational Historical Romance, Jodie Wolfe, sweet clean romance, Taming Julia, Wednesday Writers, western romance

Today’s Wednesday Writers guests are Jules Montgomery, heroine of Taming Julia, and her creator Jodie Wolfe. I have to tell you, I read this book and loved the heroine! Jodie did a fabulous job of crafting the character and keeping her voice intact, interesting, and entertaining. If you get the chance, check out Taming Julia. I’m sure this interview will enchant you, like it did me. Welcome, Jodie and Julia!

 

Thanks, Catherine.

Both Jules and I are glad to be here today. I guess we’ll get on with the interview now.

 What is your full name? Do you have a nickname (if so, who calls you this)?

My right name is Julia Walker, I mean Montgomery. Keep forgettin’ I’m hitched now. I don’t ever go by Julia though. Been Jules as far back as I can recall.

Do you have any siblings? If you do, what are/were they like?

I had a sister but she died when I was a wee tyke. I have a big brother, Josh Walker. He’s always been protective of me, so much so that we lived along the trail all the days I remember.

How would you describe your childhood?

I don’t know how to compare it to others since it’s the only one I know, but most of it was spent hidin’ out, makin’ sure we weren’t around folks much. Josh was mighty particular about that. I did have some book learnin’ with a set of McGuffy Readers. My brother taught me how to ride, hunt, track outlaws, and other normal things like that.

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?

Like I just said, my brother taught me. He’s pretty skilled too since he’s a deputy with the U.S. Marshals.

Who were your friends, and what were they like?

Didn’t rightly have no other friends aside my brother. It’s been nice gettin’ to know Drew; he’s my husband if you didn’t know. I’ve become friends with Drew’s sister, Sarah too.

Who is the person you respect the most, why?

I’d have to say my brother since I’ve known him the longest. I’m learnin’ to respect Drew though, although he’s mighty particular with wantin’ things a certain way. Still haven’t figured him out yet.

What is your favorite food?

A prairie chicken fried up in a skillet along with some trail bread. Mmm. Mmm. That’s good eatin’.

Do you like to read? If so, what do you like to read?

I didn’t have much to read other than them readers, but Drew’s got lots of books. I came across one that was written by a fella named Jules. I think my husband said his name was Jules Verne. Apparently this fella went on a trip around the world in 80 days. Can’t wait to read more of that one.

What is your greatest strength?

Hmm. I would guess my shootin’ and trackin’ abilities. I can read the signs pretty well from the dirt. When I shoot, I don’t miss.

How do you feel about your home/living space?

I’m adjustin’ to livin’ in a house. Must say, it’s one of the best things that’s happened to me.

Thank you kindly for havin’ me here today!

Here’s a little bit more of my story. Apparently it’s a historical romance, whatever that is. It’s found in a book called Taming Julia:

Taming Julia

by Jodie Wolfe

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Here’s what happened shortly after I met Drew:  

“Josh said couples kiss after they’re hitched. Should we try it? I’ve never done it afore, but I reckon we could give it a shot.” She puckered her lips and waited.

Drew took a big step backward.

Had she used the wrong word? Jules wrinkled her brow, trying to recollect what her brother had said. Had he called it a peck? Nah, couldn’t be. That’s what prairie chickens did when they found a tasty bug.

Jodie Wolfe’s the one who wrote my story. This is more about her:

About the Author:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She’s a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at http://www.jodiewolfe.com.

 Purchase the book here.

 Connect with Jodie on BookBub, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

Tasty Tuesdays–Cooking with Jules Montgomery by Jodie Wolfe

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Beef Soup, food blog, Jodie Wolfe, recipe, Taming Julia, Tasty Tuesdays

 My character, Jules Montgomery tries to cook this recipe from The Improved Housewife or Book of Recipts with Engravings for Marketing and Carving by Mrs. A. L. Webster. It’s an actual book that was published in 1851. Unfortunately for Jules, her soup doesn’t turn out the way it should since she tends to improvise.

 

Black, or Beef Soup Receipt

For soup the shank of beef is the best joint. Cold beef steak, and cold roast beef bones, make good soup. Boil the shank, in sufficient water to cover it, about five hours. Thirty minutes before putting the soup on the table, take out the meat, thicken the broth with scorched flour mixed with cold water; season it with pepper, salt, mace, and cloves; a little walnut or tomato catsup improves it. Add sweet herbs, or herb spirit, if liked. Some boil onions in the soup; but as they are offensive to many people, it is best to boil and serve them up by themselves. Make force meat balls of part of the beef and a little fat salt pork, chopped very fine, seasoned with salt, pepper, mace, and cloves, and boil them fifteen minutes in the soup.

Here’s a sneak peek at the scene in Taming Julia:

Taming the wild out of Jules is going to take longer than I’d anticipated. Drew seized his glass and guzzled the water, ignoring the dribbles down his chin. Tears streaked his cheeks.

“It’s terrible!” Jules wouldn’t look him in the eye.

What had she put into the stew to make it burn his mouth and throat all the way to his stomach? He couldn’t lie and tell her he liked the atrocious meal she’d prepared.

“I’m a lousy cook.” Jules’s eyes blinked rapidly.

Oh, no. Not tears. “I didn’t—” Drew wiped his sweating forehead.

“You would’ve been better off…” Jules turned her head away.

“If what?

The unfinished sentence hung between them.

Jules shoved her chair from the table and made a dash for the outhouse. When she returned, her pale face concerned him. He pulled her into his arms and held her while she sobbed.

“I don’t understand.” Her body shook.

In one swooping motion Drew lifted and carried her to the sofa. He sat with her snuggled on his lap, rubbing his fingers along her backbone. A waft of the outdoors tinged her clothes, tickling his nostrils.

“What ingredients did you add?”

Her lip quivered. “It was ‘sposed to be beef soup. The recipe in the book from yer ma said to add pepper, salt, cloves, and mace. I weren’t sure what mace was, and we didn’t have no cloves.”

“So what did you add instead?”

He put his finger under her chin and tilted her head so he could see her beautiful, tear-filled eyes.

“I figured since we didn’t have the cloves and mace I’d use somethin’ called cayenne instead. I can’t rightly recall the rest of its name.”

“Cayenne pepper?”

“Yes, that’s it. I put in two heapin’ spoonfuls. Do you think it’s how I ruined it?”

Drew coughed. No wonder his eyes hadn’t stopped watering since the first bite. “Haven’t you ever had cayenne pepper? I hear they use it often in Texas dishes. It’s very spicy.”

“No, we didn’t usually have spices along the trail. Salt, if anything. Is that why it tastes so awful?”

“It probably has a lot to do with it.” He smiled and tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear, surprised by its softness.

 

Have you ever had recipes that haven’t turned out the way you planned?

 

Taming Julia

by Jodie Wolfe

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Purchase Links for Taming Julia Amazon

 

About the Author:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She’s a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at http://www.jodiewolfe.com.

 

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jodie-wolfe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913/

 

Musings from a Writer’s Brain with Jodie Wolfe

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essay, Jodie Wolfe, Musings from a Writer's Brain, sweet clean romance, Taming Julia, Western Romances

Real Settings or Made Up Ones ?

When a writer is in the process of coming up with a story idea, there’s always the choice before them of whether to pick a place that exists or come up with something from their own imagination. There are pluses and minuses for both.

I remember a number of years ago, reading an Amish story that was set in the town where I live. The author had the character come in on a bus from a nearby city, walk through the streets, meandering through the ‘slums’ before heading out of town and toward another small town. There were two big problems with that story. #1 – our town doesn’t have a bus route that comes from the city mentioned. In fact the only bus that runs is local. #2 – there aren’t any slums in our town. As a reader, it turned me off to the story because the author hadn’t done her research.

Some publishers prefer their writers to only write about real places. When writing, I’ve often had a mix of real and made up places. With writing historical romance, I try to research as much as possible when it comes to writing about a real town, but there’s always that chance that I missed something and won’t accurately convey the place and time period.

My newest story is a mix of real and made up. My story is set in Burrton Springs, Kansas. It’s not a real place, but I did loosely pattern it from Burrton and Pleasant Grove, Kansas where my in-laws lived when my father-in-law was a pastor of two small churches in both of those places. It allowed me to convey a flavor of the area without being stuck into the history of the town itself.

However, there is a part of my story that takes place in a real portion of Texas. It’s called the Narrows and is in the hill country.

The actual scene where I highlight the area isn’t a very long one, but I did extensive research to make sure I could accurately describe the terrain. My husband’s aunt and uncle live real close to the area, so they were extremely helpful with the research. Then, a couple years ago I had the pleasure of traveling to Texas and being able to witness the place for myself. As I trekked over the land, I could see in my mind, my story playing out.

As a reader, which do you prefer, real settings or made up ones?

 And now for a peek at Jodie’s book Taming Julia. Gotta love this opening. I know I do. (Catherine)

Taming Julia

By Jodie Wolfe

Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition

Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.

~*~

Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875

 Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.

 Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. He gulped. A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.

“Are you Montgomery?” Her coffee-brown gaze seared through him.

He snapped his gaping mouth shut and nodded. “Y-yes.”

“Name’s Jules Walker.” She shoved her hand into his and shook it so hard his teeth clattered. “I reckon, Jules Montgomery since we’re hitched.” She waved a slip of paper in his face. “Got the paper here to prove it. So are you my husband or not?”

Drew caught a whiff of dirt. He coughed and cleared his throat.

She peered at him as if he were a chicken with one leg.

“I’m Drew.” He managed to choke the words out. “Isn’t your name Julia?”

She scrunched her face, pushed her Stetson from her head, and allowed it to dangle from the string around her neck. Her brown hair scattered in disarray, slipping from a shoulder-length braid. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been called Julia. Like I said, name’s Jules.”

“But…” Drew let the word hang between them. No matter. “Where’re your things?”

“Got my knapsack and that there.” She pointed to the top of the stagecoach. He expected to see a trunk, but a saddle rested there instead. What kind of woman brought a saddle into a marriage? What kind of woman showed up dressed like a man? No. No. Something was terribly wrong.

 

About the Author:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She’s a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at http://www.jodiewolfe.com.

Contact with Jodie at:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe