Hi everyone,
I’ve been quiet for a while.
Part of that was life being busy, but honestly, most of it was because I disappeared deeply into writing my upcoming novel, Who We Used to Be.
When I’m working intensely on a story, especially one centered around relationships, identity, and the quiet ways people change over time, I tend to retreat inward a little.
I start noticing things differently, not just in my characters, but in people, in relationships, and even in myself.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how change rarely happens all at once.
Most of the time, it happens quietly.
We wake up one day and realize a friendship feels different. A relationship has shifted. Someone we once understood clearly suddenly feels far away from us. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes it’s necessary. Most of the time, we don’t even notice it happening until we’re already standing on the other side of it.
Those are the kinds of emotional truths I’ve been exploring in this novel, and they’re also the kinds of things I want to share more of here moving forward.
Not just updates about books or writing, but reflections about story, relationships, identity, creativity, and the ways our lives evolve beneath the surface.
I’ll still be sharing thoughts about writing and storytelling, of course. That part of me isn’t going anywhere. But I think this space is becoming a little more personal, too.
And hope you'll agree that it's a good thing.
I’m excited to reconnect with all of you as I move closer to releasing Who We Used to Be later this year.
I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes thoughts, reflections, excerpts, and updates in the coming months.
And if you’ve stayed subscribed during my silence, thank you. It truly means a lot.
Before I go, I wanted to share something with you first.
Since you’ve stayed with me through this quiet season, I thought you might like to be among the first to see the cover for Who We Used to Be.
This story has lived in my head and heart for a long time, and seeing it finally begin to take visual shape feels surreal in the best way.
I hope when you look at it, you feel a little of the atmosphere and emotion I’ve been trying to capture in the novel itself.
Warmly,
Julia
