Interview with Julie Peters, Author
E-mail Interview by Lisa Lodholm Gilman

Author Julie Peters lives in Denver and has been writing since 1989. Writing is her third, and arguably most successful, career after teaching and then computer programming/science. Each of her fiction books has a personal connection. You can read more about her at www.JulieAnnePeters.com.

Is the third time, indeed, the charm (as in careers)?
I’m not sure yet. I become disillusioned with this business so often and keep throwing in the towel. The work is demanding, creativity is fickle, competition is fierce, everyone and her hairdresser is a critic. Then I’ll get a letter like the one I got from Johanna who said, “You deserve the best in life, Julie Anne Peters. Your book, Keeping You a Secret, kept me from doing the worst thing I could have ever done. Suicide. The book made me see that if I’m gay it’s ok and love yourself for yourself and be proud of who you are. So thank you for your work and for keeping me alive.”

You never think you’re saving lives with literature. But writers do touch lives. As a reader, I know it for a fact. Books are nurturing, self-affirming, and life changing. The work of a writer has more socially redeeming value than say, counting widgets, which was my second career choice. I may still try out for Pope.

Having been "inherently unqualified to be a writer" (from your website) at the time you first picked up a Bic, why did you think you could do it? How does it feel to discover your true calling?
I figured if Hemingway could do it, why not me? It was pure arrogance to think I could be a writer. Or maybe ignorance. I find I’m always working to balance my self-confidence with debilitating attacks of self-doubt. But I pride myself on my courage to try, my faith and trust in my abilities, my determination, self-discipline, and willingness to grope around in the dark until I find the light switch. For those who declare, “I can’t NOT write,” my response is, “Yes, you can. Try it. You’ll like it.” There are many, many career options that don’t make you insane or neurotic. I can’t think of them right now, but they’re out there. I blame my mother for teaching us kids that we do could anything in the world we set our minds to. I took her literally.

I never felt writing was my calling until Keeping You a Secret was published. My e-mail inbox began to fill with hundreds and hundreds of letters. This book, a young-adult lesbian love story, evoked more passion and response from readers than all my previous books combined. Young people wrote to tell me how much they loved the characters; how the coming out story paralleled their lives. They wrote about their fears, uncertainties, trials, and triumphs. So many young readers yearned to fall in love the way Holland and Cece did in the book. It was obvious (and painful) to hear that young people needed their love validated and honored, recognized as real and natural.

Older readers wrote and thanked me for writing Keeping You a Secret. They expressed their regret at not having more mainstream gay literature available to them when they were growing up. I heard from straight people, too--young and old--who identified with the ostracism and harassment issues in the book.

Suddenly, my worst fear was realized. I was a gay author. It took me a while to embrace that (at least a week); to get beyond the limitations I felt it imposed on me as a writer. But readers have convinced me that my writing has a more powerful purpose, a higher calling.

I feel an enormous responsibility toward my work today. Every writer who writes for young audiences should, but this is a little scary. Tomorrow I’m putting in my application for McDonald’s.

What brought you to Colorado?
My family moved here from Jamestown, New York when I was five. My father was a traveling salesman, of sorts. He worked for Montgomery Ward (remember Monkey Ward?), then bought a Gulf gas station. I have fond memories of hanging out at the gas station after school, drinking free soda pop and getting high on gas fumes.

You mention on your Website that the voices in your head were a big motivation for you to write. Do you still hear voices? Any new characters talking to you?
(Previews would be great!)
My partner warns me, “Never tell people about the voices, okay? It makes you sound psychotic.” But yes, I do get the voices. Visions, presences, and visitations. I’m invaded by characters who wake me in the night and take over my subconscious. They fill my head with chatter and I have to piece together their needs. I write to write the voices out of my head.

I have a book coming out next year about a gay girl who falls for a straight girl--story of our lives. The theme centers on the emotional and physical distances between people that can never--and should never--be crossed. The book is set in a small town in Kansas and it’s the first time I’ve integrated setting with character and plot. Currently, I’m working on a new book with some 30 characters. It’s a noisy mental metropolis up there.

Do you ever have blocks? How do you get over them?
My blocks have been my reluctance to write certain stories and delve into more substantial themes. A lesbian love story? Please. That wasn’t my idea. My editor, Megan Tingley at Little, Brown, requested that I do it and I told her she was crazy. I said, “Are you crazy? Really, are you insane?” In the next breath I asked, “Would you publish that?” She said, “Absolutely.”

I thought Megan had a death wish for me. I resisted for a year. Even after I wrote Keeping You a Secret, I refused to submit the manuscript. It was the encouragement of my partner, along with the promise of my agent and editor to answer all my hate mail, that finally drove me to it.

Then Luna showed up in my head--this transgender teen--and I questioned whether I really was psychotic. A transsexual? Please. Night after night Luna would wake me and demand that I write about her. I couldn’t quiet her voice. Luna was the strongest, most vivid physical presence of a character I’d ever had come to me. And the most insistent. But how could I tell her story? I didn’t know anything about being transsexual. (In case you’re not aware, gender variance is not the same as sexual orientation.)

For months I put Luna off. Finally, she got to me. Not only my need to write her out of my head, but also to understand why she’d chosen me.

I know now. I’ll tell you if you ask.

Do you have an agent? If yes, how has this impacted your work and success? If no, have you tried? Do you want one?
Yes, I have a valued and treasured agent named Wendy Schmalz. Wendy was a partner with Harold Ober and Associates when I went looking for her in 1996, I think it was. I’d had three books published, but I was scraping bottom financially, and marketing my work was consuming vast amounts of time and energy. I felt I needed an agent to help me grow a career.

Wendy is now an independent agent (because I made her so rich--ha!). I consider her a business partner and a friend. Over the years she’s championed my work, given me solid business advice, and taught me how to maintain my integrity in this industry (although I often feel I’m listing to one side). Wendy buffets my sails.

What award and review have meant the most to you?
I’m always encouraged (and surprised) when readers like my work. Every award, every reader, plays a significant role in my evolution as a writer. Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys, Rainbow High) believes readers and writers create a cycle of empowerment. I agree wholeheartedly. As much as writers inspire young readers to read and write more, readers’ enthusiasm for our books inspires us to work harder for them.

Which doesn’t answer the question directly, but positive reinforcement revitalizes everyone’s life and work. Reader awards, literary recognition, critical acclaim--they aren’t the reasons I do it, but I’ll gratefully accept the encouragement they provide. I promise to apply the good vibes to my next work-in-progress.

What one thing has impacted your writing and/or writing career the most?
Equally important have been the support and commitment of my critique group, and the long-term mentorship of my editor. I could never have traveled so far without the help of generous, brilliant, astute, caring, rigorous, invested readers. Evolution is possible only when you surround yourself with people who share your passion and vision.

What's one thing you learned the hard way that would have made a big difference had you known it early on?
My version of this question is: If I knew then what I know now, would I have bailed? I don’t know. I might’ve taken that course in hospitality management for my dream job at McDonald’s. I feel I’ve learned everything the hard way. What’s difficult in life is relative to who you are and how much you can endure. I’m working on a graduate degree from the school of hard knocks. But who isn’t? In the end the fulfillment comes in knowing you’ve earned the right to frame that diploma (or letter of acceptance or starred review or state reader award).