Surrendering The Good, The Bad, and Maybe One Day, The Chocolate with Julie Arduini

Today, I want to welcome Julie Arduini, an amazing author. I met Julie through ACFW, and she is an amazing author, woman of God, and a dear friend. So, let's get to know her a little bit, shall we?

Joi: How about a small bio?

Julie: I love to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. I’m the author of the Amazon bestseller, ENTRUSTED, and upcoming ENTRUSTED and ENGAGED. I also shared my story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. I blog every other Wednesday for Christians Read. I reside in Ohio with my husband and two children.
.
Joi: Why did you start writing? How did you start writing?
Julie: I was always writing, even before I knew how to write I was scribbling on pieces of paper. I believe God created me to write. When I finally got serious about it years later, graduated from the Christian Writer’s Guild and started submitting to FaithWriters.

Joi: How did you select your genre?
Julie: I think it selected me. I always read contemporary romances and as young as middle school I was the girl on the bus passing out daily papers updating friends on the latest perils in what today would be a sad middle school soap opera. I don’t consider the genre superficial as it’s faced that criticism. Instead, I feel it’s an open door for me to share Surrender Issues and of course, chocolate!

Joi: What is your writing day like?
Julie: Things are different this year as I my husband has a new position that allows him to work from home, and I am branching out in what I do and how I do it. This year I bought the iBloom planner and that really helps me stay on track. I start with devotional time and prayer, move into reading emails, updating a couple social media sites, and then I have a specific task. I’m either in research, writing, revising, critiquing other works, or marketing. I try to get as much as I can done before school gets out. If I’ve been interrupted a lot, I’ll probably get back at it once everyone goes to bed.

Joi:   How do you organize your writing? (outlines/note cards/post-its)
Julie: I use yWriter software to plot, organize research, character notes, etc…

Joi:  What's the most surprising thing a character has “told you”?

Julie: That through his death, he was going to make a way for others to pursue their dreams.
Joi: That sounds pretty deep. I look forward to reading more about that in your book!

Joi:  Do you have a list of characters that you're saving for future use? What kind of information do you keep on these characters.
Julie: Yes. Through yWriter I have a character database of past, present and future characters. I use names, setting, what book, their choices, if they are minor or major characters, their surrender issue, chocolate preference, what they look like.

Joi: What does your work space/office look like?

Julie: It changed this year. My husband now has the office so I work out of our dining room. I’ve made my things portable so I can set it aside and things can look neat again. I have a great view of the woods and enjoy watching birds as I think.

Joi: What is your go-to snack when writing?
Julie: I do enjoy a Dove bar or some Hershey kisses. However, I try to steam carrots or eat a salad.

Joi:  If you could only recommend one NOVEL, what would it be? Why?
Julie: That’s so hard because I’d love to show you my Goodreads page and tell you to read them all. However, since you said one, I’ll go with WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Kristin Billerbeck. I felt like Ashley Stockingdale gave me permission to write a sassy heroine who could be beloved. Jenna Anderson in ENTRUSTED was created after realizing it was okay to be funny, bold and strong even if everyone in the world was telling me chick lit was dead.

 Joi: If you could only recommend one CRAFT book (writing, no crocheting), what would it be? Why?

Julie: Thank goodness you don’t mean crochet! Easy. FROM THE INSIDE OUT: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You! By Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck. They were so generous with what they have learned and shared all of it. My copy is a mess. I go back to it time and time again.

Joi:  What else would you like to share with the readers?

Julie: I’m committed this year and beyond to have consistent resources available to help audiences find freedom through surrender. Whether it’s my Adirondack series, new books coming, or speaking, learn more by visiting http://juliearduini.com. I invite readers to subscribe to my monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities at JULIE ARDUINI: SURRENDER ISSUES AND CHOCOLATE as well as my weekly encouragement email, SUNDAY’S SURRENDER AND CHOCOLATE. I appreciate you thinking of me for this interview. Thank you, this was fun!

*************************************************************

Jenna Anderson, sassy city-girl, plows—literally—into Speculator Falls with a busted GPS, arriving in town as the new senior center director. She has only one goal—that of belonging no matter how out of place she appears and how angry she makes town councilman and grocer Ben Regan. Her new life is so rural there are no traffic lights, and when she learns her car isn’t equipped to handle the mountain terrain, Ben’s grandmother offers her late husband’s vehicle, further alienating the local businessman. As she endears herself to the seniors at the center and creates a vision full of ideas, programs, and equipment, she ruffles Ben’s plans to keep Speculator Falls void of change, including the store his grandfather built. The two work through community events and shared heartbreak only to face off in a town council meeting where Ben publically rejects her proposal for the senior center, causing Jenna to react out of her fears about belonging. She returns to Ohio where she realizes she needs to surrender her plans for the center and fears about belonging and trust her Heavenly Father when facing fear, change, loss, and love.

Julie Arduini is a wife, mom, author, reader, blogger,and amateur nature photographer. And of course, chocolate eater.  She encourages you to surrender the good, the bad, and maybe one day, the chocolate. Find out more about Julie at http://juliearduini.com/, her Amazon Author Page, and across social media (links on her website.)