Julia George

Julia George is the pen name of a husband and wife writing team (Julia Odegard and George Kovach).

Their first novel was the award-winning comic cozy mystery "Galya Popoff and the Dead Souls" (Best of 2012 in its category on Kirkus). Then came a traditional detective novel, "Blood into Wine," set in Napa Valley. (Kirkus Reviews: “A great vintage, with an edge of barbaric murder, a hint of romance, and the smooth aftertaste of justice served.”) Julia wrote "The Mars 7," a Sci-Fi novel for young adults.

Their latest book, "Love and Redemption," is an historical novel set in Siberia. It is based on the true story of George's stepmother, Celia Klein, who was sent to Auschwitz at age 16 and survived only to be arrested by the Soviets and sent to the Gulag in Vorkuta. Based on the authors' conversations with Celia and the written memoirs of George's father, Ivan Kovach, it is the amazing true story of how they met and fell in love in one of the worst places on earth.

Kirkus Reviews called "Love and Redemption," "an impressively engaging love story."

Before Julia and George became writers most of their adventures were in the world of the theater where they both acted and directed. George also did a short stint as a talent agent in Manhattan. And he crossed swords with the Soviet KGB in Siberia. There, he met thousands of people and handed out thousands of “forbidden” books, gratis. The following year he returned to film a documentary in Siberia. George was the first American allowed to film actual Gulag camps at Kolyma. Because of their location above the Arctic Circle, they are still intact.

Together they also raised a terrific son.

It’s been a tumultuous life. Now, as authors, we get to write all the scripts, direct all the scenes, and play all the roles. Very satisfying. They live in Northern California where the sun always shines, and the absurdity never stops.