Talkshow Thursday: Meet Author Julie Arduini
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. You recently
published book three in your Surrendering Time series. Where did you get your
inspiration, and did you set out to write a series, or did that idea come
later?
Julie: Thanks for
having me, Linda. The inspiration came in the early 1990’s when I first visited
the real village of Speculator in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate NY. As I
walked around, I kept thinking about characters and asking, “What if...?” Those
first questions transformed from an outline, to a few lousy drafts, so sitting
on a shelf while I married and had kids, and then in 2010, I became serious and
started learning the craft. I never thought this would become a series, let
alone publish at all. When I pitched to a small publisher, they asked and I had
ideas for a series. I never thought I’d see it through. I am an indie author
now, and I’m so glad it evolved the way it did.
LM: How do you
come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?
Julie: Most of
them are very loosely based. I watch people and situations and think though
various plots. Often characters have a similarity to me or someone I know.
LM: You have
published both fiction and non-fiction books. How is the writing process
different for them?
Julie: That’s a
great question. Both involve a great deal of thinking, but I find the
non-fiction is more emotional. One of the books is an infertility book I co
authored with five other authors who experienced infertility. I had to return
to a very hard season in my life and recall it. That was quite draining.
Fiction writing often puts me in a zone where I block out what’s around me and
enter story world, and sometimes it’s difficult to enter the real world because
I get so involved. However, it isn’t as emotional.
LM: What do you
do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set
up in a specific place?
Julie: I make
sure to read through my devotionals and pray, I really want to stay Christ
centered and make sure the words I type are truly His. I tend to write in the
bedroom as both my husband and our son work from home.
LM: If money were
no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?
Julie: I’d love
to take our entire family on a Disney Cruise. We did one with just the four of
us, but it would be fun to take the older children, their kids, my sister and
nephew.
LM: What is the
quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?
Julie: There are
so many things! I was the original wedding crasher and it ended up being at my
dentist’s wedding, and I was his patient that Monday and he asked me about it
while I was trapped in the chair!
LM: LOL! What is your
next project?
Julie: I am
finishing up You’re Beautiful, a
middle grade book in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series. The idea and
the plot/characterization comes from our teen daughter who has slight special
needs and has experienced things she wants girls to recognize and give it to
God. The first book is about a mentoring ministry where a teen girl and a
college aged mentor both struggle separately with feeling ugly. I am so proud
of her on this. This fall I return to contemporary romance with my 6 book
series on Surrendering Opinions with Anchored. Readers can find the series
prologue at the end of ENGAGED.
LM: Where can
folks find you on the web?
Julie:
Website: http://juliearduini.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini
GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini
Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG
Thank you, Linda, for the interview. I really enjoyed it!
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