Watson, Jules 1969(?)–

PERSONAL: Born c. 1969, in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; married Alistair Watson (a musician). Education: University of Western Australia, B.A.; Edith Cowan University, graduate diploma in public relations, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Orion Publishing Group, Orion House, 5 Upper Saint Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9EA, England. E-mail—jules@juleswatson.com.

CAREER: Novelist. Formerly worked as an archeologist. Freelance writer.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS; "DALRIADA" TRILOGY

The White Mare, Orion (London, England), 2004.

The Dawn Stag, Orion (London, England), 2005.

WORK IN PROGRESS: The Boar Stone, volume three of the "Dalriada" trilogy.

SIDELIGHTS: Jules Watson was born in Perth, Western Australia, and studied archaeology at the University of Perth before completing a second degree in public relations. She worked various jobs as an archeologist and freelance writer before turning to fiction. Watson and her husband, Alistair Watson, lived in England from 1999 to 2002 while he pursued his interest in songwriting and she worked at her writing. When Watson received a book contract for a trilogy of novels, she and Alistair returned to Australia.

The White Mare, Watson's first novel and debut volume in her "Dalriada" trilogy, tells the story of Rhiann, a Scottish princess who, upon the death of her uncle, the king, is forced to make a political marriage in order to have a child that can serve as heir to the throne. Jackie Cassada, in a review for Library Journal, observed that the "historic detail and the addition of a touch of magic and prophecy make this a strong fantasy debut." A Publishers Weekly reviewer wrote that "Watson deftly blends fact and fancy, action and romance." Likewise, a Kirkus Reviews contributor commended Watson's mix of realism and fantasy: "she's done her homework, boning up on Tacitus for historical detail and verisimilitude, but there's imagination here, too, and the work's all the better for it."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2005, review of The White Mare, p. 90.

Library Review, February 15, 2005, Jackie Cassada, review of The White Mare, p. 123.

Publishers Weekly, February 7, 2005, review of The White Mare, p. 46.

ONLINE

Aussiereviews.com, http://www.aussiereviews.com/ (July 18, 2005), Sally Murphy, review of The White Mare.

Beatrice.com, http://www.beatrice.com/ (July 18, 2005), "Author2Author: Juliet Marillier and Jules Watson."

Jules Watson Home Page, http://www.juleswatson.com (July 18, 2005).