How Travel and Spiritual Signs Influenced Julie Kay’s Writing Journey

Author Julie Kay has dived head first into the self-publishing world. Inspired by the places she’s visited, her family experiences and a nudge from a clairvoyant, she’s embraced her passion for writing.First seen with her debut novel, ‘Not My Father’ was inspired by Japanese travel and her father’s war time experiences. But she is not limited by genre, and her next few books have shifted in theme and age range.Crikey Roo and the Riddler, her latest middle-grade publication, was a creation from her classroom. With the help of the brilliant minds of her primary school class, they helped her craft the story of the five children in Crikey Roo. It has now become a fixture in the local school library.We also talk about the importance of the book community. Julie both engages with others on social media, but also stresses the importance of in-person events, such as writing groups and supporting local libraries.Enjoy the episode!Timestamps00:00 introduction02:51 Julie Kay’s Background09:13 About ‘Not My Father’10:43 Career changes and pivoting to self publishing12:33 Julie’s writing routine14:33 Clairvoyant message17:04 Getting out of your comfort zone22:50 Crikey Roo, Julie’s next book24:50 On changing genres25:52 Most enjoyable vs hardest parts of writing31:42 Importance of writing communities36:48 How travel has inspired Julie’s writing41:45 Middle Grade writing48:45 What’s next for Julie KayJulie Kay Links* Instagram* WebsiteMG Hunt Links* Instagram* Linktree* Threads* Goodreads* TikTok* Facebook* Website* AmazonThanks for tuning in to my segment on the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mghunt.substack.com