‘Queen of historical romance’ Quinn sounds off on book banning at Hoover library talk

Julia Quinn: from Fan Fiction to Bridgerton‘s Queen

The Hoover Library Theater was buzzing with anticipation on Friday night as fans packed the venue to hear from Julia Quinn,the celebrated author behind the wildly popular Bridgerton series that captivated the world on Netflix.

While quinn’s captivating storytelling and world-building undoubtedly drew crowds, she began her evening by taking a stand against book banning, a cause close to her heart. Quinn donated her speaker’s fee to Every Library, an organization dedicated to supporting public and school libraries.

““The vast majority of Americans do not believe in book banning and do not agree with the book challenges happening today, but the people who are trying to challenge and ban books are really, really loud, and they show up,” Quinn saeid. “You need to be aware of when there are school board meetings and town meetings about libraries and library boards so you can show up as well and you can let them know that you disagree, that you think one parent with an agenda does not have the right to decide what your children read,”

Quinn acknowledged the insidious nature of book banning efforts, often cloaked in the guise of protecting children from inappropriate content.

““I don’t want children reading inappropriate stuff, but nobody’s putting “Fifty Shades of Gray” in the kids’ section,” Quinn said. “Our librarians and media specialists are highly, highly educated. Many, if not most, of them have master’s degrees, and their job is to know about the books, to read the books, to read the trade journals about books, to know what’s out there so they can curate a collection that’s appropriate for their patrons.They know what books go in the kids’ section. They know what books do not go in the kids’ section.”

Beyond the concerns about age-appropriateness, Quinn highlighted the dangers of limiting access to diverse voices and experiences.

“If you feel that is inappropriate and you don’t want your children to read it, that’s fine. That is your job as a parent to look into what your child reads, but you don’t get to decide what my child reads, Quinn said. “I trust the librarians. I trust the media specialists who are trained to curate collections. I don’t trust a random parent with an agenda.”

Quinn, whose real name is Julie Pottinger, shared her personal journey from a childhood fueled by a love of reading to becoming a literary sensation. She credits her passion for books to the library she walked past every day on her way home from school, grabbing as many as she could carry.

““I was the kid with the flashlight under the blankets,” she said. “I was the one who was always reading.”

Her journey took her from writing her first romance novel at the age of 12 to navigating the intricacies of the publishing world and ultimately finding success with the Bridgerton series.

Speaking about her unexpected breakout success, Quinn said: “The TV show debuted during the pandemic, which was the perfect time for my stories. We were all trapped, and we were all starving for human connection, and Bridgerton was a show that was all about human connection.Everybody wanted to find something that was joyful, that had some drama but was all about the happy ending.”

For Quinn, the journey has been a whirlwind of experiences, from the thrill of seeing her characters come to life on screen to the joy of connecting with her fans.

““It’s really kind of lovely and wonderful and surreal,” she quipped about her newfound fame, adding, “I’m finally the cool mom.”

Quinn also addressed the phenomenon of fan fiction, praising it’s creative spirit while also highlighting the importance of intellectual property rights.

“I love that people want to do it, and I love that people are so inspired by the show and the books that they want to write fan fiction,” she said. “I think it’s a great compliment,and I think it’s a wonderful outlet for people’s creativity. But you can’t infringe upon somebody’s intellectual property in that manner,” she said, citing the case of “The Unofficial Bridgerton musical” which ultimately led to legal action from Netflix.

the Southern Voices Festival continues today (saturday, Feb. 22) with a lineup of celebrated authors, including Kimberly Brock, A.J. Finn, Chris Pavone, Steven Rowley, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Stacy Willingham, and Tommy Tomlinson.

Julia Quinn’s appearance at the festival proved to be a highlight, inspiring readers and fellow writers alike with her passion for storytelling and her commitment to making books accessible to everyone.

How does Julia Quinn view the role of fan fiction in relation to intellectual property rights?

Julia Quinn: From Fan Fiction to Bridgerton’s Queen

Julia Quinn Stands Against Book Banning

At a recent event, celebrated author Julia Quinn, renowned for her Bridgerton series, took a stand against book banning. She donated her speaker’s fee to Every Library, an organization supporting public and school libraries.

“The vast majority of Americans oppose book banning, but the vocal minority can overshadow public opinion. We must attend school board and town meetings about libraries to let our voices be heard,” Quinn said.

Quinn addressed concerns about age-appropriate content: “Our librarians are highly educated and trained to curate collections. They know what’s suitable for kids. If you disagree, that’s your parenting role, not yours to decide for everyone else.”

from Fan Fiction to Literary Sensation

Quinn shared her journey from a 12-year-old writing her first romance novel to the success of the Bridgerton series. Her passion for books began at the library she passed daily on her way home from school.

“I was the kid sneaking under the blankets with a flashlight to read. Now, seeing my characters come to life on screen is surreal,” Quinn said, laughing about her newfound fame.

Navigating Fan Fiction and Intellectual Property

Quinn praised fan fiction as a creative outlet but emphasized respect for intellectual property rights.

“I love seeing people inspired by my work, but it’s important to respect others’ creative rights. The ‘Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’ incident was a reminder of that,” shesaid, referencing Netflix’s legal action against the musical.

Q&A: Julia Quinn on Storytelling and Accessibility

Archyde: What drives your passion for making books accessible to everyone?

Julia Quinn: Everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in stories and to explore new perspectives. Libraries play a crucial role in ensuring all children have access to diverse books.

Archyde: If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?

Julia Quinn: Read widely and write every day. Find your unique voice and don’t be afraid to let it shine on the page.