Meet Julia Walton | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julia Walton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
There’s a C.S. Lewis quote I love. “Courage, dear heart.” Every time I find myself feeling overwhelmed or afraid of the challenges ahead I remember that courage is a choice you make every single day. It’s for the big and small decisions and it requires commitment. To me it means, “try it. be brave. This will not end you.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got where I am today by falling into a job I hated, writing three full novels that went nowhere, and getting hundreds of rejections.

Eventually I wrote my first book, Words on Bathroom Walls, out of pure frustration and the story flowed out of me.

I learned to keep going. To write whenever I had time and to stop waiting for every word to be perfect. My first editor told me “First drafts just have to exist.” Those are the words I live by while I’m trying to get a story out.

I try to write stories that capture a feeling, something that brings me back to a moment.

My current book, On the Subject of Unmentionable Things, is a story I dedicated to my kids but wrote for my teenage self. It’s filled with embarassing questions I didn’t feel comfortable asking. Phoebe, my protagonist, knows a lot about sex but also knows that her knowledge is not complete and that she can always learn more to be a better resource.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Okay, so I have kids and I live near the beach so I’d take them to the tide pools in Corona Del Mar and go bike riding along the board walk. Walk the hill behind the Newport Public Library. Get pastries and sandwiches at C’est Si Bon in Newport Beach one day and then Blackmarket bakery another day.

If we were feeling adventurous maybe we’d go to Disneyland or Knotts Berry Farm too.

But wow do I like being inside and baking cookies, drinking coffee, and watching old rom coms after the kids fall asleep.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people who made my writing career a possibility. My parents, who encouraged my love of books from a young age.
My husband Doug, who was there for every single rejection and who ultimately helped me find my voice as a writer.
My kids, for creating the chaos necessary for a well-balanced life.
My first agent, Heather Flaherty who pushed my first book into the hands of editors at Random House.
My first editor Chelsea Eberly who made that story shine.
My current agent, Jodi Reamer who continues to help me grow as writer.
My second editor Polo Orozco whose commitment and creativity strengthened everything about On the Subject of Unmentionable Things.
ALL OF MY TEACHERS.

Website: Juliawalton.com

Instagram: @jwaltonwrites

Twitter: @jwaltonwrites

Image Credits
Dave Miyamoto