travel – Julie Wrote a Book

Hungry Heart

I'd like to introduce you to Jim Meier, the handsome star of Hungry Heart. Oh, hello there Jim. Don't mind if I do... Those of you who have been around a while may recognize this book. Back when I wrote under the pen name Emma Foster, I released this book as five separate novellas called "The Way to Her Heart." But now I've condensed the novellas into one book, given it a beautiful new cover, and re-named it. Hungry Heart is the story of a hot LA Chef named London Demerez, whose boyfriend breaks her heart. I mean - come…

Tacos, Gardens, Sci Fi

Here I go again, bitching about eating healthy. Three of my four kids claim they are vegetarian (even though the youngest hates all vegetables and indeed, most food) so by default we are eating mostly vegetarian food these days. I only prefer to cook meat because it's easy and I don't have to think about recipes, but obviously I want to be like every other red-blooded American in January and eat more vegetables. How is it going for you? I'm not sure these Beer Battered Avocado Tacos really count as health food, but they were delicious and technically vegetarian, so let's call it a…

Harry Potter Days

Welcome to the scariest fall in the history of forever. And by scariest I mean I barely got used to summer and now school started and I need a nap. I don’t have too much to show for summer, except my kids are alive and happy and I grew a lot of tomatoes. We had a big Summer Bucket List (Beach bonfire! Make a pie!) and almost none of it happened, yet we were busy every single minute of the summer. Sometimes the bucket list is just a way to get to other ideas. We do like to have a Harry Potter…

Top Two Most Embarrassing Moments Last Week

I spent last week at the Smarter Artist Summit in Austin. If you look around the interwebs, you'll see all sorts of wrap-ups from writers who came out of their shells, talked to other people, and learned about writing, marketing, and branding. It was an awesome time, even for introverts who aren’t used to peopling. Of course I had to mess some things up. It was inevitable, and knowing me it could have been way worse. If you ever think to yourself, That Julie sure is brave! Look how she goes to other states with other people and tries…

Do It Afraid

As you read this, I am at a writing conference in Austin, Texas, sucking up knowledge and stealing tacos from a whole bunch of crazy talented authors. This is my second trip to this particular conference, and I am SO excited to see my gang again. We are planning meals and drinks and bookstore visits, and a trip to see the bats, and even karaoke. (Oh, right, like I'm really going to do that one. I'm so sure.) I was not this excited last year. I had been listening to the podcast and reading the books for a long time. Something…

Squash. A Haircut. A Hotel.

Happy Saturday, and for those of you in the United States, Happy President's Weekend. Are you taking care of yourself? We have rain predicted all weekend, so I am staying close to home. I owe the Husband a night on the town (and a cheesecake) since the flu ruined our Valentine's Dinner. Other than that, here is what I'm up to: Reading this book, and am nervous because my expectations are very, very high. I need a good read - I've been striking out with books lately – abandoning far more than I am finishing. Need some recommendations. What are…

The Tunnel Tree. Weird Things in Books. Spicy Shrimp.

Well, really. What a stupid week. I am soothed by small doses of hard liquor, large doses of dark chocolate, massive doses of books, and very select friends and family. Also, very super small doses of internet until I feel the existential dread tightening its noose around my neck. It goes like this: Ohmygodddddd the world is so awful where is my passport grab the Bug Out Bag never mind let's just stay here and die. Then Husband tells me to calm the hell down (in a nice way) and tells me to watch Tina Fey until I'm ready to stop acting like a…