Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in Ohio with her patient husband and three busy kids. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW), Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Jacqueline Frost & Julie Chase. Learn more about Julie Chase books here.
So, Julie, why do you write in the mystery/thriller genre?
I’m currently writing cozy mystery and romantic suspense. The former as Julie Chase and the latter as Julie Anne Lindsey. I write cozy mysteries because I want to lighten someone’s day. Sitting down with a cozy is like meeting new friends or returning to old ones. They’re a wonderful reprieve from the real world, and I try very hard to give my readers exactly that. On the other hand, when I write romantic suspense, I write to remind readers that true love exists, that we are stronger than we think, and that there are heroes in this world. I want to provide excitement and adventure, and really, I just want to give a break to someone who needs it.
What is the most challenging aspect of your writing life?
Right now, the most challenging aspect of my writing life is time. I write full time, but I also have three kids and a husband and a home and all those other wonderful things that need my attention, and it becomes hard to juggle or make room for it all. The family always comes first, of course. My kids will be grown and gone before I’m ready to let them go, so that means getting up at four AM some days and pulling all-nighters on the weekends to meet deadlines, and that’s hard but okay. When the children have all left the nest, my career will be what I’ve made of it, so I can’t afford to let it go to the gooses.
What piece of writing advice has had the most influence on you?
It’s corny, but don’t give up sticks out to me. Suck it up is also incredibly useful in this career. No one will chase your dreams for you, so whatever it is that you want, you’ve got to get started doing it. I also love the idea that if you quit today, you’ll never know if the project you’re working on was the one that would have gotten you that agent, contract or movie deal. If something’s important to you, you’ve got to keep going.
Just for Fun:
Name a favorite food you use to reward yourself.
Ice cream!
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be? Why?
I’d want to be Stephanie Plum because her life’s a riot.