Julie C. Gilbert
New Jersey
USA
Hi, Julie! It's a pleasure to welcome one of my Vella Buddies to Vision and Verse. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
I write in a lot of genres:
- The Megan Luchek Series (mystery/thriller) - FBI agent who finds all sorts of trouble
- Scratched Off (mystery/thriller) - FBI agent vs. serial killer
- Beyond Broken Pencils (literary fiction) - school shooting
- Anotech Chronicles 1-3 (epic scifi) - a prince and a Ranger seek to save a planet
- Devya’s Children (YA scifi) - Genetically altered kids with superpowers try to escape government manipulation
- Princess Melia’s Plight (fantasy short story and graphic novel)
- The Golden City Captives (fantasy short story and graphic novel)
- 5 Steps to School Success (nonfic)
- 5 Steps to Better Blurbs (nonfic)
- Heartfelt Cases (Christian mystery) - FBI agents
- Path to the Chosen Redeemer (MG/YA fantasy) - Chosen One fantasy
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Right now, my focus has been on Vellas. (highlights)
- Assassin School (YA thriller)
- Minder Project (scifi/thriller)
- Superhero Saga (superhero fantasy)
- Casual Gamers (litRPG, gamelit)
- Dear Ann (nonfic) - letters, interviews, etc about education
What is your favorite genre to write?
Always a tough question because I love writing in so many genres. Currently, I am really enjoying Assassin School (thriller) and Superhero Saga (superhero fantasy).
Favorite food.
Spaghetti with meat sauce.
Tea or coffee?
Either is fine. Decaf light and sweet if coffee. Peppermint or a berry flavor for tea (also something caffeine free).
Pizza or ice cream?
Pizza
Wine or beer or soda or what?
Dr. Pepper
Where would you like to visit?
Hawaii - ick, but that flight. I set one of my series (Megan Luchek) there. It’d be nice to get to see some of those spots.
Favorite musical artist
Do you listen to music when you write? What?
Sometimes. A friend got me into making playlists for various books. Current listen is Casual Gamers.
What makes you laugh?
Watching my niece play hide and seek. She is two and will out herself in a heartbeat.
This is an Art and Author website, so I am obligated to ask: Favorite work of art or sculpture.
None really. Never been a fan of traditional art such that would show up in a museum and most of the sculptures I see are ugly.
How old were you when you started writing?
Just after high school, around 18.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I usually attempt a generic outline that covers the scope of the book, a stab at the blurb, and some general stuff that should happen. Occasionally, I’ll include some character notes.
Then, the feral things take the story in whatever direction they so desire.
Describe your perfect evening.
Writing, Vella promos, phone games.
Where do you get your inspiration?
For which story? Assassin School is a prequel series to the Megan Luchek series, but it’s about one of the side characters. Cassandra Mirren (the assassin) always said she didn’t have a typical childhood.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Don’t usually get writer’s block. In writing for Vella, I have 19 stories going on. Only about 4 of them are complete. The rest are pretty open ended.
The nonfiction ones are much easier to write. So, if I’m having an off day, I’ll fill the hours with some of that.
Who is your favorite author?
Depends on genre or type:
Traditional fantasy - Brandon Sanderson
Christian historical - Lynn Austin, Bodie and Brock Thoene
Christian suspense - Dee Henderson (older stuff)
Indie fantasy - H.L. Burke
Fluffy Mystery - Robin Merill
Best book you ever read.
It tends to change. I really liked one of the New Jedi Order books (ya know, the ones whose timeline no longer exists. I think it was Rebel Dream, but I can’t remember for sure.)
I also really loved The Cry of the Icemark. The rest were blah, but the first was awesome.
Last book you read.
I do a lot of audiobooks these days. Last one I finished was Nothing but Everything by H.L. Scott.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I am not a full time writer. I’m a teacher who writes on the side.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
Eh. It takes a village. My folks. I’m sure there are some teachers or coaches in there as well.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
It’d be interesting to have a sit-down chat with Jess Turpie. She’s from Superhero Saga. She’s a Super, but she was raised middle class America. So, that’s where her sense of money and values comes from.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Try Kindle Vella. It’s been amazing.
But that’s technically about publishing, not writing.
For writing, finish the project. Find some friendly strangers to beta read for you and get their opinions. Go through it and evaluate the advice. Some of it will conflict with one another.
Do due diligence for any companies or people offering you writing services. There are tons out there. Many legitimate and many not.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Linktree: juliecgilbert - Listen on Spotify - Linktree This one has all the other links, but they’re at the bottom. Here are some highlights.
Website: Home - Julie C. Gilbert (juliecgilbert.com)
Newsletter: Julie C. Gilbert Mailing List Signup (subscribepage.com)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Julie-C-Gilbert/author/B002BMB2LG
Spotify: Julie C. Gilbert | Spotify
Audible: Julie C Gilbert – Audio Books, Best Sellers, Author Bio | Audible.com (Note: Some books are moving to Blackstone publishing. That takes a LONG time. So, they’re currently unavailable.)
Assassin School Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 | Kindle Vella (amazon.com) Teen spy learns the ropes.
Superhero Saga Season 1 - Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues | Kindle Vella (amazon.com) Young Superhero reviews powers.
Casual Gamers Books 1 and 2: Jeri and the Combat Seeker | Kindle Vella (amazon.com) Teen helps his friend try to save her family’s video game empire.
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