Project Backlist: Juliana Stone

Project Backlist: Start Your Journey with Juliana Stone’s Crystal Lake Series

Welcome to Project Backlist, Buzzing about Romance’s guide to must-read backlist books! This week, we’re spotlighting Juliana Stone and her hit series Crystal Lake.

New to Juliana Stone? Start with The Thing About Trouble, Book 1 in the Crystal Lake Series, where you’ll meet Cam and Blue. The small-town Michigan setting serves as the perfect backdrop for their evolving relationship. The juxtaposition of Cam’s fresh start and Blue’s glamorous yet troubled existence creates a rich tapestry that draws readers in. With every page, we feel the stakes rise higher, as both characters confront their fears and the risks associated with vulnerability.

Curious for more? Check out our exclusive Q&A with Juliana, where she shares insights on the series and its inspiration!

Meet Juliana Stone

Discover bestselling author Juliana Stone’s world as she shares her captivating stories, love for baseball, books and music. Join her on this exciting journey filled with laughter, travel, and the belief in happily-ever-afters.

Get to know Juliana-

Amanda: What initially drew you to the romance genre as a writer?

Juliana: I’m not sure if my mother’s love of romance shaped my own, but I do know when I discovered her Harlequin romance novels, I became obsessed with love and happily ever after. I read a lot, and when I discovered paranormal romance, I was at a place in life that allowed me the time to write. So, I wrote what I loved and the first romance I sold was paranormal. Since then, I’ve branched out into small town contemporary.

Amanda: You have been publishing for quite a few years now… is it hard to keep your ideas fresh?

Juliana: Yes and no. I mean, romance at its heart is about conflict, overcoming that conflict, and finding the kind of love that lasts. So that’s pretty basic. However, coming up with something fresh and new for each novel can be a challenge, but I am not reinventing the wheel. I’m presenting characters, who I hope mirror my readers. And there are so many situations and types of people, which have different ways of thinking and doing things, that even if a trope has been used before, a unique couple makes it fresh.

Amanda: Can you share any writing rituals or habits that help you stay focused and productive during the writing process?

Juliana: I’ve always treated this as a job. A privilege to do so and one that I love, but a job, nonetheless. When I’m on deadline I set a word count for each day, and I try my best to hit it. I’m a pantser, so sometimes I need to get in the car and drive, and I can generally get over a hump and figure things out if need be. I also need complete quiet. I can’t have music playing, or background noise.

Amanda: What challenges do you face when writing romance, and how do you overcome them?

Juliana: Along with every writer on the planet, there is the business side that can be soul sucking and time consuming. The social media, interactions with readers, the expectations of readers etc. With romance, in particular, readers are so invested in series and authors, and with social media sometimes the lines become blurred. And we’re human. It’s hard to live up to those expectations. A lot of authors can’t produce 4-5 books a year. Or sometimes life happens, and books are delayed. I hate disappointing the folks who support my career. So not sure this is all specific to romance, or just generally the same for all authors.

Amanda: How do you handle romantic tropes and clichés to keep your stories fresh and engaging for readers?

Juliana: I guess this is something I don’t really think about. My series generally follows a family. I do love the dynamics of brothers and sisters and family members that are flawed. I just kind of go with things, and hope that my characters shine and engage my readers.

Amanda: Romance readers often have strong preferences when it comes to tropes (such as enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, etc.). Do you have a trope you love to write, and if so, what about it appeals to you?

Juliana: My favorite trope, and one I’ve used many times, is second chance love. I don’t know. There’s something beautiful about a couple who are torn apart, either at their own hands or outside forces, and then find their way back to each other.  I love working through whatever trauma they endured to finally get to their HEA.

Amanda: What is one thing you want your readers to take away from your books when they are finished?

Juliana: This is easy 😊 I’ve always felt that a good book should make you laugh, cry, smile, fist pump, and tingle (in all the right places).

About the Series:

Amanda: What inspired you to write your earliest novels? Were there any particular themes or tropes you were drawn to?

Juliana: My earliest novels were paranormal romance. I’ve always been a storyteller. I think a person is born that way. And I’ve always been artistic with music and writing etc. My first novel, His Darkest Hunger, was inspired by my love of Christine Feehan’s books. I fell in love with the genre and decided I could write one.

Amanda: How do you feel your writing has evolved from your first release to your most recent books?

Juliana: Working with my first editor at Avon and their whole team taught me a lot about pacing and word choice. I think I’ve gotten better at that, as well as dialogue. 

Amanda: What about this series/story that holds a special place in your heart? Why do they resonate with you?

Juliana: The Crystal Lake series came about after another series that took place in this small, fictional town was finished. I realized there were still stories to tell and old friends to visit. The town itself kind of mirrors the small town I grew up in, and I love that. It’s probably why I can’t let go of small town romance. They’re intimate and comfortable and sweet and annoying and hard, just like real life. 

Amanda: Which of your characters in this book or series are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out to you?

Juliana: I love all of them. In book one, The Thing About Trouble, Cam opening his heart and home to a young child, while falling in love with a woman who has a lot of baggage. But overall, I think the couple from Shake the Frost, Ethan and Emily stand out. They’ve got loads of stuff to overcome. Tragedy. A baby. Unwanted feelings. I loved writing them.

Amanda: Have there been any books from your backlist that you feel didn’t get as much attention as they deserved?

Juliana: Honestly, I don’t think so?

Amanda: How do you approach balancing standalone novels with series? Do you find it easier to revisit characters in a series, or do you prefer writing new stories?

Juliana: I’ve written all my series with the idea that a reader can pick up book three and have no issues reading it without reading book one and two. However, I do revisit characters, and the town is also basically a character, so if you read the books in order, I think you would get more of them.

Amanda: Are there any particular lessons or themes in this series that you feel still resonate strongly with readers?

Juliana: I think love, when presented well, resonates with everyone. In book one, Cam, a bachelor, opens his home and heart to a little girl whose mother has died. In the last book we have an age gap, with an older woman/younger man scenario. At the heart of everything is love, and love is something that will always resonate.

Amanda: What was the most challenging book in this series to write, and what did you learn from the experience?

Juliana: Finishing up the last book was tough. Covid had just become a thing, and my kids had all come home. The world was in a weird place, and I felt it. I couldn’t wait for that book to be finished and published.

Amanda: Do you ever see yourself revisiting (second gen or expanding) on this series/story’s characters in future projects?

Juliana: I think I might be back in Crystal Lake one day! For sure 😊

Amanda: How do you stay motivated to create new stories after having such an extensive backlist?

Juliana: It boils down to a few things. I love writing. Creating stories and towns and people. I always get excited to start a new series because it means I have an entirely different family/town to work with. Right now, I have a series with small town vibes set in Montana and I’m having a blast with it. I did take some time off from writing—covid and family stuff made it difficult and for my mental health I had to step back. But I always knew I’d write again. I also dabble in a few different genres, and I think that helps to keep my mind working the way it needs to work. I also make time for myself and do my best to keep all that outside noise where it belongs. I don’t pay attention to the negative stuff, because there’s a lot out there. And I READ. Reading a good book always makes me excited to get back in front of my desktop and write!

Thank you so much to Juliana for taking the time to answer our questions. Happy Reading!