Interview With Author Julie Simmons
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Education degrees from Memorial University. I currently reside in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada with my husband of 30 years, Rodney. My passions in life (besides my husband, of course) include musical theatre, Disney, and Christmas. I have been the host of On The Marquee, a musical theatre themed radio show, since 2017, which is now syndicated in Canada. I also teach classes in musical theatre to adult learners. I have been legally blind since birth and am a peer support volunteer with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). That’s How You Know is my first novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called That’s How You Know. Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write a book. The issue was that I could never come up with a storyline. Finally, the idea came to me in a dream in January of 2023. Yes, I always wondered if that was a real thing. I’ve heard creative people talk about getting ideas for books, movies, songs, and so on in dreams. Well now I can tell you that it really does happen. I dreamed one of the scenes in my book, and within a week, I had a fully formed story in my head. I wrote a detailed synopsis for myself and then I sat down to write the novel at the end of January. I wrote all day for about a month and before I knew it, I had the bones written in that time. Then I spent months re-reading and revising it until I realized it had developed into something I was quite proud of. I published it through Amazon KDP in less than a year on December 1st, 2023 at age 51. So it just goes to show that it’s never too late to realize a lifelong dream.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always write (and do most everything for that matter) with the radio on. I sit at my computer and stream my favorite local top 40 radio station while I work. My husband cannot understand how I can do this. He needs silence when he’s trying to concentrate.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite author is Jodi Picoult. She just gets right in there with controversial issues and her books make you think. She doesn’t shy away from anything and she does an amazing amount of research on her topics, even putting herself right into the heart of things by shadowing and interviewing people who work in the various fields or who have experienced first-hand the situations of her characters.
I’ve also been reading Danielle Steel since I was a teenager. Her stories are just lovely. It’s as simple as that. My guilty pleasure was always Jackie Collins books.
What are you working on now?
I’m full-time marketing my book right now. I’ve learned that self promotion is HARD.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve learned that using social media groups that specifically target marketing your books are useless. It’s me and hundreds of other people doing the same thing. People go to those groups to market their books, not to find things to read. Also those groups are only fodder for all the spammers pushing marketing services who invade your inbox dozens of times a day. I changed my approach when I realized this wasn’t working. Now I follow authors and interact with readers on groups where readers go to discuss books they are reading, books they want to read, or look for recommendations for books. It’s not about talking about your own book, it’s about just interacting with people and joining discussions, talking about what you like to read, and so on. This increases your visibility on social media, grows your following, and then, hopefully, they will be intrigued by you and seek out the things you’ve written. The disappointing thing is when it doesn’t result in sales. But it’s a process and takes a lot of time and patience. I like to talk about the two “Ps” of marketing: Patience and Persistence.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s not for the faint of heart and if you’re in it for money, you’re in the wrong business. Money is a good benefit, it it comes, but you have to be in it for the creative process and the joy of getting your work into the hands of readers. Reviews don’t come easy, and it’s not the people you think will be your cheerleaders who will actually be the ones who will champion your books. The people closest to me have not necessarily been my biggest supporters. It’s been people I haven’t seen since high school or university, my neighbor, people I was only casually acquainted with, who have been my champions.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I got this from my father-in-law and it actually made its way into my book. “Worrying is like paying interest on a loan you haven’t taken out yet.”
What are you reading now?
Only the Brave by Danielle Steel
What’s next for you as a writer?
I really don’t know, to be honest. It took me my entire adult life to get the idea for my first book, and that came to me in a dream. I’ve informed the Universe that I’m wide open for new inspiration, so I guess I’ll see what happens.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My favorite book is Maestro by Auden Dar, so I’d bring that. Maybe Chances and Lucky by Jackie Collins. Something informative, like a history of musical theatre book, and something by Humble the Poet. His books are so insightful.
Author Websites and Profiles
Julie Simmons’s Social Media Links
Author Interview Series
To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!
If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.
If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.