Julie Israel is a tea-drinking, boot-wearing Portlander who writes (currently YA) novels and enjoys making art on the side. As a Slytherclaw she embraces “work in progress,” a term of learning and expansion, while aesthetically loving foxes, dark stories, good rock, and vintage. Also pastries. Might be a Pacific North Witch?
Her first book, JUNIPER LEMON’S HAPPINESS INDEX, is out now with Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin. Find it, and Julie, below!
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Julie Israel 
Piacere, Bella! From one wordie to another – I love your blog! I’m guessing had we met in a meetup.com book/writing club we’d become fast friends having so much in common and plenty to talk about. 🙂 I launched myself into the blog world just this past late April and already I am thrilled at how the world opens up to millions of beautifully inspired people out there every day making this world a brighter place. I am happy to be on board this ship with you, Matey! (that’s my attempt at a slight Pirate-ish-Irish accent)
Lovely to meet you, Julianna…and what a lovely name, might I add! 🙂 I’m still getting into this blogging habit myself, but you’re absolutely right– what an inspiring world the online community reveals! I checked out your blog and love what I saw. I look forward to upcoming posts~
P.S. I didn’t know there were Irish pirates 😉
Likewise! and me neither! but there definitely should be!
I am in lust for a couple of pairs of boots at the moment! will shop soon! great site!
Thank you! And good luck in your search…you may well hit some discount summer deals :]
Thank you for passing by my blog! I love your blog, the way you introduce yourself is great. I think I may just follow your blog.
Thank you, Daniela! I quite enjoyed yours, too 🙂 Look forward to the next!
Julie, I am enjoying reading your blog and getting to know you. I love love love anything that is French, so I’m excited that you are learning the language. I’m only a high school French speaker myself…..but I would just love to pick it up again. Its one of my favourite languages. I’m a ‘newbie’ blogger too, having only begun late February and I am so glad I did. I have ‘met’ some wonderful people out there, all very supportive and encouraging. Thanks for the follow! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and having a read, Virginia! My French is self-taught so it’s pretty fragmented but I relish it 🙂 Have you studied other languages as well (I saw that you have a diverse background…do you speak Portuguese or Greek?)? If ever you feel the whim to comment in another language I would welcome it 🙂
Good luck with your work Julie…A wise man once said…”The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra”.
Thank you, Murray! And what a wonderful quote! Some of the best lines are simple aphorisms such as that…
Thanks for popping by and commenting. I love what I see here and thought its amazing, especially the colourful pictures to match with the interesting writing. I’ll be keeping a close look at this 🙂
Hi,
I am honoured to nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award! Please pick-up your award at http://danieladragas.wordpress.com/. Copy and Paste the Award to your blog and follow the rules of acceptance. I am very aware that some people do not wish to participate in Awards, and I completely respect that… no strings! But in any case, Congratulations, you have a Lovely Blog 🙂
Building a freelance portfolio you say, what kind of writing are you doing for that?
Oh, I have done this and that. Mostly what would be called commercial freelance writing. I’ve written music reviews, done web copy, even wrote a potential commercial script…it’s amazing the gigs you can find on Craigslist and other parts of the internet!
Craigslist you say! I hadn’t thought of that… Gosh you’re a busy bee though! As you said, all in the diving in I suppose. I’ve been writing web copy too for a small cosmetics firm but I’m still too nervous to send my stuff to anyone I really respect. Gets a bit nerve racking no?
Thanks for the follow 🙂 I love interacting with fellow writers and can’t wait to read more on your blog.
My pleasure, and likewise! Writers of the bloggosphere have taught (and entertained, and encouraged) me so much 🙂
Hey Julie – I just nominated you for a shameless (though not shameful) self-promoting “Beautiful Blogger” award. Please accept it as a compliment, as I really do appreciate your blog. As for how you respond, you can keep passing it along (and accomplish world peace, or something like that) or just sleep easier tonight knowing that someone enjoys your work.
Should you decide to pass it along, find out how here – http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/a-beautiful-blogger-award-am-i-blushing-or-is-my-blood-pressure-going-up/
Good luck with the book, if it is as readable and entertaining as this “about” segment -it’ll ace the best seller lists!
Many thanks– one can hope 🙂
Hey! You received a ping back the other day on your About Me page! Yeah, that wasn’t spam. I just nominated 45 bloggers for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Why 45? Well, I made up for the last three out of six. So, you’re one of them! Congratulations! You can find the post here: http://wp.me/p2TeFs-KP ! Take care.
I’ve never tried tea before…*pauses for gasps*
WHAT! *duly gasps* …EVER?
never ever
Are you a coffee man? Soda? Classic water? Truly, I am stunned. Tea is such a staple for me! Try it sometime, and let us know what you think 🙂
I used to drink soda a lot but now it’s most juice and water for me.
Hi. I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. I hope that this is ok with you as I enjoy reading your blog and would like to show my appreciation. However, please do not feel obliged to accept it.
More details are here http://julianfroment.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/the-sunshine-award/
Hi Julian! Thanks for the nomination. I’m a bit backlogged right now but I do enjoy these, and I’ll plan to participate and pass this on in due course 🙂 Congrats on YOUR Sunshine Award!
Thank you for following my blog at Virginia Views. I like your introduction and will follow you too. Dor
My pleasure, Dor– I was introduced to you by the lovely Daniela of The Lantern Post and immediately liked what I saw. Cheers for stopping by and following. Looking forward! 🙂
I love tea.
Cheers.
Jennifer
Thanks for stopping by! I’ll raise my glass of tea to you now 😉
‘long-distance doughnut detection’ – I laughed so much, you know, I think I may also have that power. 😛 Great blog, I’m having fun snooping around. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed your gander, Becky 🙂 A cheers on the pastry power…it’s a good one!
just found your blog. It is so very inspiring! Look forward to following you 🙂 Alice
Hi Alice! So glad you found me and led me, in turn, to your blog. I’ve already found some new additions for my reading list and I love your photography!
Dang, now I’m craving a doughnut. Can you help me find a good shop in London?
Oh man. The day I make it to London it will be my first task! 🙂
Now that is dedication. And I can suggest some good pubs.
Brilliant! I must say, after reading Neil Gaiman’s “Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar,” a short story in which an American visiting Britain goes to a pub, gets a cherryade and a ploughman (the only items available) and promptly decides that “the British treated food as some kind of punishment,” I was marginally intimidated. 😉 (Not really. I just love that story. …And characters that think with their stomachs!)
I’ll have to read that story. I read Neverwhere right after I moved here and got a kick out of all the references to my neighborhood. I found a pub the other day that specialized in pizza! Will have to hunt one down with doughnuts.
Neverwhere! I have been meaning to read that a while now. May just bump that up the summer reading list 🙂
All I can say is, if I am in that part of the world and in need either of book- or pub-related advice I know who to contact! (Crossing my fingers now for a doughnut pub.)
I really enjoyed Neverwhere. Let me know what you think of it.
Wow – I love this! I need more time to look at everything…I WILL BE BACK when I have more time..so far I am intrigued and excited by your blog! 🙂
Thanks so much, Sarah! Delighted to hear it 🙂