JULIE K. ROSE
Historical Fiction Off the Beaten Path
IN THE PRESS
"The elements in Oleanna that I loved are present in Dido's Crown: a strong sense of place, wonderfully deep relationships between the characters, and a heroine who is both classically 'strong' and also delightfully human...The story opens rather explosively and moves at a brisk clip; between the locale, the plot's who-has-double-crossed-who? mysteries, and rather fierce women, I was reminded of Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, and Raymond Chandler (but with modern sensibilities). Muslim and gay characters are fully realized in a way they weren't in '30s and '40s films and literature, and our femme fatales don't fall apart with one smoldering look from an alpha male...Dido's Crown is an exciting adventure story with surprisingly rich and deep emotional threads and glorious descriptions of exotic Tunisia. It's the kind of read that demands a weekend, because you won't want to stop."
UNABRIDGED CHICK on DIDO'S CROWN
"This is a novel of quiet depth that evokes strong imagery; it is a story that is stark and humble and at the same time, finely drawn. The awe-inspiring scenery, the backbreaking work, and, at the same time, the appeal of and sense of belonging the women feel for their home are brightly painted through the author’s judicious use of language. A beautiful story."
HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW on OLEANNA
"Combining religious and secular elements, history with mystery, and plenty of internal conflict, this agreeably suspenseful story centers on the Romanesque Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene in the quaint French village of Vezelay, once a major medieval pilgrimage site...Throughout the manuscript, a consistent smattering of French and vivid descriptions of the architecture heighten the authenticity of the setting and together with the fast pace creates a highly enjoyable French mystery."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY on THE PILGRIM GLASS
ABOUT
Julie K. Rose is an author of historical fiction, fascinated by stories and settings slightly off the beaten track.
From 12th century Burgundy in The Pilgrim Glass, to early 20th century Norway in Oleanna, to 1930s Tunisia in Dido's Crown, she has a deep love for history and a terrible case of wanderlust.
Her love of language, history, and art history led her to degrees in Humanities and English – and a lifelong passion for creativity.
Julie lives in the Bay Area with her husband and rescue cats.
NEWS & EVENTS
In 2020, I launched Love What You Love, a podcast about people's passions. Get to know my fascinating guests at lovewhatyoulovepod.com!
The audiobook version of Dido's Crown is now available on Audible, amazon, and iTunes. I'm so thrilled to have worked with such a wonderful narrator. You can listen to a sample on any of those sites, or the full first chapter on YouTube: youtu.be/Cd7KRAXBYGQ