As a news writer for a TV station in Chicago, Julie Beard is bombarded every day with real-life stories of murder, crime and corruption.
But late at night, when the rest of her family is asleep in their Park Ridge home, Beard is writing tales of love and romance that always have happy endings.
“I’m essentially a very loving person and have a hard time coping with some of the sad stories I do at work,” said Beard, 37, the mother of a 17-month-old boy, Connor. “I like coming home and writing a story where love conquers all.”
Her 10 years of late-night writing, which sometimes leaves her falling asleep at the computer, have not been in vain. In fact, her first published novel, “Lady and the Wolf,” recently landed a spot on the Waldenbooks Romance Best Seller List.
“Lady and the Wolf” is a medieval romance set in 14th Century England. It centers on a young woman who promised her dying brother she would enter a convent to pray for his soul. But her father has arranged for her marriage to a man others say is a murderer.
Lady Katherine Gilbert discovers her new home, Blackmoor Castle, is laden with heated family politics. Not only must she avoid looming danger, but Katherine must find a way to love Stephen, her betrothed, without sacrificing the deathbed promise.
The 322-page book is now in its second printing.
“It was a dream come true,” said Beard, who worked on the book for seven years. “It was a major achievement.”
Though Beard has had a successful career in journalism, her original ambition was to become an actress.
Beard appeared in several television commercials and training films for companies including Sears and Southwestern Bell Telephone. She also performed at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Beard’s interest in medieval history was sparked 17 years ago while studying in London for her degree in theater arts from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.
She had been traveling and fell in love with the countryside of the United Kingdom. The land, coupled with the works of author Mary Stuart, who wrote several books on King Arthur’s life, inspired Beard to write about England’s medieval period.
Her first book, an unpublished 60-page historical fantasy called “Lady of the Forest,” focused on a woman with healing powers who lives in the forest.
The story was not sophisticated enough for publication, Beard said; it lacked complex characters, and the plot was too simple. But there was also less of a market for medieval history 10 years ago.
“The fans are asking more and more for medieval romances,” said Linda Abel, publisher and editor of The Medieval Chronicle, a bi-monthly newsletter based in San Diego that offers articles on the Dark and Middle Ages to readers worldwide.
“It used to be that it was hard to find a medieval romance on the shelves,” she said. “As word started to spread that that’s what the fans wanted, the books started appearing.”
Beard is a member of the Chicago North Chapter of Romance Writers of America, a group of writers who meet twice monthly at the Des Plaines Public Library to critique each others’ works.
As her interest in writing increased, her interest in acting started to decrease.
Not wanting to abandon either talent, Beard began dabbling in broadcasting as a way to combine the skills.
In 1983, she started her own talk show called “Around Chicago” and broadcast interviews with local officials and business people to 20 communities throughout the Chicago area from the Continental Cablevision studio in Elmhurst.
Realizing she would need to further her education if she wanted to get serious about broadcasting, Beard enrolled in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where she graduated in 1989 with a master’s degree in journalism.
Meanwhile, Beard started hanging out in libraries doing research for, and then writing, “Lady and the Wolf.”
Her first job as a television reporter was with a station in Green Bay. A year later, she accepted a similar position in her hometown of St. Louis.
While speaking at a romance writer’s conference in St. Louis nearly three years ago, Beard met an agent and an editor, both of whom expressed interest in her latest novel.
“I think what really caught our eye is the way her dialogue sparkled, and the history never subsumed it,” said Evan Fogelman of Fogelman Literary Agency in Dallas. “I think she is more adept at handling dialogue than a lot of historical romance authors.”
Six months later, Beard sold the book to New York-based Berkley Publishing Group, which recently asked her to complete two more medieval romance novels within two years. After several revisions, “Lady and the Wolf” was published in June.
“I always felt that her writing and her voice in writing was very compelling,” said her husband, Dale Johnson. “I’ve always enjoyed reading what she wrote.”
In 1992, Beard became pregnant and moved to Chicago to be with her husband, who had been pursuing a business opportunity here.
Beard now writes evening news for Fox News on WFLD-Ch. 32. But she will continue working on her two newly contracted books.
She plans to call her next book “A Dance in the Heather.” Set in the 1400s, it will focus on the conflict revolving around King Henry V and the persecution of the Lollard heretics.
“To me, writing is magic. It’s not a science, it’s an art,” she said.
“I am in a wonderful time in my life; I feel very fulfilled.”
