Come the Spring (Clayborne Brothers) - Tapa dura

One force that shaped Julie's life and work is her Irish heritage. "The Irish are great storytellers who relish getting all the details and nuances of every situation. Add in the fact that in my family I was the 6th of 7 children. Early in life I learned that self-expression had to be forceful, imaginative and quick," Julie says.

Julie Garwood's phenomenal success is not only a result of her outstanding writing ability, but also her determination. Her early elementary education was interrupted by illness, and as a result, she didn't learn to read until she was almost 12 years old. She's been a champion of literacy ever since -- as a tutor, a classroom storyteller and an author of two children's books. Julie visits schools as often as possible to talk to children about the joys and rewards of reading. "I treasure the written word," she explains, "and I want everyone to love books as much as I do."

Julie Garwood's first historical novel, Gentle Warrior, was published by Pocket Books in 1985. Since then, her popularity among readers has grown with each new publication. She is currently working on her next novel.