SEPTEMBER 2025

Blue skies and long drives…

Hi there!

It’s me, Julie Johnson, back in your inbox… which must mean another month has somehow slipped away from us.

It’s finally fall, though it doesn’t quite feel like it yet. I’m old enough to remember when September meant crisp 60 degree days, chilly mornings, brisk evenings… Sweater weather, if you will.

No more.

I regret to inform you that this week, Massachusetts held steady at a balmy 75 degrees. Heck, it hit 80 over the weekend. I’m still driving around with the top down in my convertible. The leaves have barely started to change colors. Perhaps that’s why my brain is struggling to process that we’re nearly in October already.

In this month’s newsletter, I’ll cover what I’ve been up to lately (I took a trip!), give you a glimpse into my upcoming plans (I’m going on my first ever book tour!) and chat about a few of my recent reads.

I’ve got an iced dirty chai on deck, mellow morning sunshine is pouring in the kitchen windows, and I’m ready to dive in. Pull up a chair, my friend. Let’s get down to business…

Before we dive too deep, I wanted to mention that today is the last day to enter my Goodreads giveaway to win a signed hardcover copy of THE WIND WEAVER, along with a beautiful character art print of Penn & Rhya and custom bookmarks. Two copies are up for grabs. Good luck!

[ OPEN TO USA ONLY ]

When it comes to books, this month has been a mixed bag of new and old. Working on my next project while simultaneously marketing those that are already out in the world… The dreaded tightrope all authors must walk between creation and self-promotion in order to stay afloat these days.

The truth is, unless you are a legend like Suzanne Collins or Nora Roberts, you can’t just drop a title and expect it to be an instant success. (Or… I certainly can’t.) You have to be more than just a writer. You must also be a graphic designer, an advertiser, a PR guru, a sales force… aaaand apparently also a really good lip-syncer, if you expect to go viral on TikTok.

(I wish I were kidding.)

Thus, to succeed in the world of publishing, I think you have to be a little bit insane. You need a delusional amount of internal motivation to keep going, day after day. Because, god knows, there will be stretches where the external motivations fade, the voices cheering you on grow quiet, the groundswell of support dries up. And when that happens, the only one left is… well…

You.

(And potentially your cat, who really can’t relate, and is deeply unconcerned by your myriad boring, human existential crises.)

I know the importance of being your own biggest cheerleader. That doesn’t mean I’m immune to feeling like a failure sometimes. I’ve commiserated with many author friends about the fact that you can be objectively, measurably successful, with big splashy book deals and steady reader buzz… and yet still somehow feel like a total flop at least 65% of the time?

Despite the success of THE WIND WEAVER, I’ll admit, earlier this month I felt the imposter syndrome and self-doubt starting to creep in. I allowed myself to wallow for a few days. And then, I looked myself in the eye and said:

Okay, Julie, so your book didn’t go viral, and it doesn’t have as many reviews as you’d like, and your print run wasn’t enormous, and you worry no one will even know about book two coming out because, frankly, it feels like your publishers have forgotten you exist…

What the heck are you going to do about it?

I’m going to hustle my ass off, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going to give up on this trilogy, even if it feels like screaming into the void. I’m going to keep marketing, keep commissioning character art, keep advertising even on the days it feels pointless.

I’m going to be my own cheerleader, damn it.

That said, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate every single one of you who is out there cheering too. Who has sent me messages or tagged me in reviews or offered me a glimmer of support. You guys are an amazing reminder that I’m not alone, and it’s not pointless, and that my words matter.

The best way to support an author is simply to scream from the rooftops about your favorite books. Tell your friends. Leave reviews on Goodreads or Amazon or your platform of choice. Engage with their cheesy marketing posts on Instagram.

Your support really can change the course of an author’s career. (Or even just their day, which sometimes matters most.)

PS: if you are able to pre-order THE SEA SPINNER to show my publishers it’s worth promoting, that would be absolutely amazing. If you can’t pre-order at this time, I totally understand. Maybe you could request it from your local library, instead?

I don’t drive much. (For many years, when I lived in the heart of the city, I didn’t own a car at all.) As a full time writer I’ve always worked from home, and as an introvert I’m quite happy in my own company most of the time.

So, if I’m not driving somewhere specific — running errands or visiting friends or shipping out signed books at the post office — my pocket-sized Mazda Miata sits idle in its spot.

What do my driving habits have to do with books, you ask?

(Don’t worry, I’m getting there.)

There is one glaring exception to my overall lack of automotive activity. When I’m drafting a new book, I drive a lot. There’s something about being behind the wheel that gets my brain moving.

If I hit a plot hole or get snagged on where my story is meant to go next, I climb into my sporty little two-seater, put the top down, and simply… go. No particular destination in mind, no taking the same route twice. Just me and a stretch of road, driving until whatever scene I’m stuck on comes clear.

September had a surplus of long drives because, as I mentioned in my last newsletter, I’m working on a new book — a duology, actually — and starting to make some tangible progress. The world is coming together in fun, unexpected ways. The story is dystopian and dark. The characters are messy and problematic and deliciously fun to craft.

I’m hopeful I’ll be able to achieve my goal of completing the first draft of this manuscript by the end of the year. (I foresee many more drives in my near future to make that happen.)

Between my writing days, occasional wallowing sessions, and long drives, I also did manage to sneak away for a long weekend at the start of the month. I visited the gorgeous island of Martha’s Vineyard which, despite being located in my home state of Massachusetts, I’ve somehow never managed to visit before.

The Vineyard was absolutely beautiful. Colorful and charming, full of historical architecture, friendly locals, and pristine beaches. I ate a ton of clam chowder (“chowdah”), bought fresh oysters directly off the back of a lobster (“lobstah”) boat, and had ice cream for dinner because I’m an adult with free will. I was only there a few short days, and am definitely determined to make a return trip next summer.

In other news, I snagged tickets to see Josh Johnson, one of my favorite comedians, when he passed through Boston. It was a much needed night of laughs.

I’ve also been doing a lot of shopping, planning, and scheduling for my upcoming trip to Europe. I’ll be going on a book tour — my first one ever! — in France and Germany for a good chunk of November. I’ll be gone for nearly three weeks. (The packing struggle is real!)

I’m beyond excited to visit new places, meet my foreign publishing teams, and of course connect in person with my readers. I’ll have many more details to share about the tour in my next newsletter.

In September, I didn’t read nearly as much as I did over the summer. In fact, I purchased more books than I actually cracked open. My physical TBR is borderline outrageous. (Oops!)

I finished the hauntingly bleak Pulitzer winner The Road by Cormac McCarthy, devoured the twisty turny thriller Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell in one sitting, and slogged through the Facebook-centric memoir Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Just this morning, I started Bunny by Mona Awad, which I’ve heard is delightfully weird and darkly funny, so it should be right up my alley.

I didn’t watch much at all. My brain has not been in the mood for television lately. Maybe it’s just me, but I increasingly find myself reaching for my phone instead of paying attention to the screen whenever I start something new. I think this is in part because I don’t want to get invested in anything that has a 90% chance of being cancelled after a single season… or a three year wait between them…

I’m about a decade late to the party, but I discovered the slightly soapy but highly entertaining show Revenge on Hulu, and have made my way through two full seasons. (Remember when TV shows were 22 episodes per season, not 8 measly ones?)

Otherwise, I’ve been trying to fill the creative well — and rewire my shattered attention span — in new, non screen-related ways. I’m taking an art class to improve my sketching skills.

Yes, I totally suck so far. But it’s fun to dream of one day being able to bring my own characters to life, not only with words but in a more visual medium.

Okay, I’m tapped out of rambles and in need of a chai refill. I hope October treats you well. It’s usually my favorite month of the year, full of pumpkins and picking apples and bonfires and spooky vibes… Let’s hope it lives up to my (exceedingly high) expectations.

Until next time…