julie navickas
Hello and welcome. We are so excited to have you here today. I know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you. Please tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs before moving to Bloomington-Normal to study at Illinois State University. I received my bachelor’s degree in public relations and liked ISU so much I decided to stay! I earned a master’s degree in organizational communication and then thought it would be fun to dip my toe in a new discipline. My second master’s is in English studies with an emphasis on book history and 16th century marketing tactics.
When I’m not writing, I’m in the School of Communication at Illinois State University teaching writing for public relations, magazine production and design, or public speaking.
I’ve toyed with the idea of becoming an author since winning a young author’s award in the fourth grade, but never actively pursued it. But when COVID-19 forced Illinois into lockdown for three months, this mom of three needed an outlet to maintain her sanity. And thus, I Loved You Yesteday was born!
Now onto some fun questions! If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow?
I’d prioritize the things in life that make me happy. I’m a sucker for saying “yes” to just about anything, and rarely do I find enjoyment or fulfillment in the things I say yes to.
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!
Seeing the words “we’d like to publish your book” in my inbox brought out some pretty incredible feelings! But outside of that dream, I’m an avid traveler and have visited Paris, France a number of times. The most incredible place on earth is standing in front of The Raft of the Medusa in the Denon Wing of the Lourve.
What television sitcom is most like your family? Why?
While it’s not really a sitcom, I’d say Family Guy – poor (and sometimes tasteless) jokes aside, the Griffin family mirrors the make-up of mine pretty well and my husband always has some weird scheme or idea that causes chaos. We’ve actually watched Family Guy so many times my husband and I have a daily goal to quote the show at least once. We typically meet that goal before 8AM!
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
As cliché as it sounds… writing! I work three jobs and am a mom of three kids that are four years and younger. When I can get through my daily to-do list, my reward is writing. It’s the sole moment in the day that’s 100% for me – and no other.
Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author. Did you always want to be an author?
In the fourth grade, I won a young author’s award for my thrilling tale involving vegetables plotting an escape from the fridge. The seed to become an author was planted, but sadly it took about twenty-five more years before that vision crystalized.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
I will forever be a high-fantasy nerd. You can’t keep me from J.R.R. Tolkien. I’ve read The Lord of the Rings more times than I can count. I also deeply appreciate J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and am patiently waiting for George R. R. Martin to wrap up A Game of Thrones.
Outside of fantasy, I’m quite obviously a fan of contemporary romance, falling back on tried and true authors like Nora Roberts, Linda Lael Miller, Katie Cotugno – and sometimes I even dip my toe into the paranomal with authors like Jeanniene Frost.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
My Rocketbook. My mind moves a mile a minute and I bounce back and forth between plot lines, character arcs and future ideas so quickly, I need a place to jot down my smattering of thoughts. The Rocketbook makes it easy to scan my notes right into my working document.
A glass of wine doesn’t hurt either.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
I haven’t been here long. But from the time I have spent, I can say with certainty that the writing community is one of – if not the – most supportive groups of people. Everyone cheers you on!
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs before moving to Bloomington-Normal to study at Illinois State University. I received my bachelor’s degree in public relations and liked ISU so much I decided to stay! I earned a master’s degree in organizational communication and then thought it would be fun to dip my toe in a new discipline. My second master’s is in English studies with an emphasis on book history and 16th century marketing tactics.
When I’m not writing, I’m in the School of Communication at Illinois State University teaching writing for public relations, magazine production and design, or public speaking.
I’ve toyed with the idea of becoming an author since winning a young author’s award in the fourth grade, but never actively pursued it. But when COVID-19 forced Illinois into lockdown for three months, this mom of three needed an outlet to maintain her sanity. And thus, I Loved You Yesteday was born!
Now onto some fun questions! If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow?
I’d prioritize the things in life that make me happy. I’m a sucker for saying “yes” to just about anything, and rarely do I find enjoyment or fulfillment in the things I say yes to.
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!
Seeing the words “we’d like to publish your book” in my inbox brought out some pretty incredible feelings! But outside of that dream, I’m an avid traveler and have visited Paris, France a number of times. The most incredible place on earth is standing in front of The Raft of the Medusa in the Denon Wing of the Lourve.
What television sitcom is most like your family? Why?
While it’s not really a sitcom, I’d say Family Guy – poor (and sometimes tasteless) jokes aside, the Griffin family mirrors the make-up of mine pretty well and my husband always has some weird scheme or idea that causes chaos. We’ve actually watched Family Guy so many times my husband and I have a daily goal to quote the show at least once. We typically meet that goal before 8AM!
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
As cliché as it sounds… writing! I work three jobs and am a mom of three kids that are four years and younger. When I can get through my daily to-do list, my reward is writing. It’s the sole moment in the day that’s 100% for me – and no other.
Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author. Did you always want to be an author?
In the fourth grade, I won a young author’s award for my thrilling tale involving vegetables plotting an escape from the fridge. The seed to become an author was planted, but sadly it took about twenty-five more years before that vision crystalized.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
I will forever be a high-fantasy nerd. You can’t keep me from J.R.R. Tolkien. I’ve read The Lord of the Rings more times than I can count. I also deeply appreciate J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and am patiently waiting for George R. R. Martin to wrap up A Game of Thrones.
Outside of fantasy, I’m quite obviously a fan of contemporary romance, falling back on tried and true authors like Nora Roberts, Linda Lael Miller, Katie Cotugno – and sometimes I even dip my toe into the paranomal with authors like Jeanniene Frost.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
My Rocketbook. My mind moves a mile a minute and I bounce back and forth between plot lines, character arcs and future ideas so quickly, I need a place to jot down my smattering of thoughts. The Rocketbook makes it easy to scan my notes right into my working document.
A glass of wine doesn’t hurt either.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
I haven’t been here long. But from the time I have spent, I can say with certainty that the writing community is one of – if not the – most supportive groups of people. Everyone cheers you on!
Tell us about your latest release.
Blurb:
Secrets always have a way of coming out.
Mavis Benson made a huge mistake. Scratch that - colossal mistake. Twice. Sleeping with her high school sweetheart’s twin brother definitely wasn’t part of the plan… nor was falling in love with him.
But that wasn’t the only complication Mavis faced. When an unplanned pregnancy upends her life at sixteen, Mavis skips town to spare boyfriend, Josh Templeton from the fallout. With only a letter of apology left in her wake, she disappears, but not before confiding her secret to Josh’s brother, Austin.
When Austin resurfaces in her life years later, he brings the past to Mavis’s doorstep. Josh wants her back, Austin isn’t willing to surrender, and the path to happiness isn’t clear. Caught between both men, Mavis must choose between the brother she broke her own heart for and the brother who picked up the pieces.
Excerpt from I Loved You Yesterday:
The meadow was overgrown. Tall grass infiltrated the once beautiful open landscape that held so many precious memories of his youth. Josh stood amidst the weeds, his shoes sinking into the wet soil beneath his feet. With each step forward, the grass tickled his bare calves and mud caked to the bottoms of his tennis shoes, each step heavier than the last. What happened to this place?
But he knew what had happened. Time was the enemy. Ten years had disappeared – each day, each hour, each minute had ticked away – taking him further from Mavis and the love that blossomed among the wild California poppies in this very place so long ago. It felt like a dream, as if perhaps it never really happened to begin with. She had been gone from his life for so long Josh wondered if any of it was ever real. A lifetime had passed, each season bringing with it the fading edges of a memory, disintegrating at every corner.
Josh took slow deliberate steps through the overgrown brush, his hands skimming the tops of the dying grass. Nothing looked the same, but there was no mistaking the overwhelming rush of excitement that reverberated throughout his body with each step forward. She was here; her soul lingered in the heavy, damp air. Her essence caught up in the whistle of a songbird in the treetops above. She’s still here. We’re still here.
The sun broke through the gray clouds, each ray illuminating the thicket around him. Josh raised his face to the sun and felt the warmth surround him. He closed his eyes and grabbed on tightly to the memory this place held. His mind conjured each wild orange blossom to bloom. The ghost of her laughter wrapped tightly around him in the morning breeze, the joyous sound squeezing his heart. It hammered against his rib cage – threatening to break free from his chest. Josh heard her name escape his lips, the taste of her on his tongue as “Mavis…” caught in the wind and disappeared.
His eyes popped open, the green and brown hues of the brush pulling his momentary exhilaration back to reality – each orange poppy from his memory faded in color one by one.
“It was real,” he whispered to himself as he pulled her note from his pocket. He stared at her message, brushing his index finger across the loopy handwriting. Each letter – in each word – looked choppy and disjointed as if her hands shook while she penned her feelings. What happened, Mavis? Why did you leave me? The question had worn on his mind many years ago. There were nights it took on rhythm, like a song stuck on repeat. Asking it again, today, with no more clarity, was replaying a well-worn record.
How did you decide on your story plot?
In 2008, I took a graduate level course in the art of scriptwriting. I wrote this trash fire of a script, but oddly enough the characters and story stayed with me well beyond the conclusion of the class. When I challenged myself to write a novel, the obvious choice was already in front of me because the characters were dying for their story to be told in a better format.
How did you choose the location for your story?
I’m a Chicago girl at heart, so I knew part of my story would be there. But I needed something a bit more exotic to balance out the Midwestern city life – my mind went to the ocean and fictional Rosewood, California found its way to the page.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
I’m a sucker for a happy ending (it’s why I read romance novels!). Because I Loved You Yesterday is a love triangle, only two of my characters got their happy ending. My favorite scene is actually the epilogue – it offers the promise of happiness for the odd man out.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieNavickas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieNavickas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julienavickas/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julienavickas/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/134518278-julie-navickas
Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!
I adore interacting with readers, so please comment, review, and contact me. I promise to always respond!
Blurb:
Secrets always have a way of coming out.
Mavis Benson made a huge mistake. Scratch that - colossal mistake. Twice. Sleeping with her high school sweetheart’s twin brother definitely wasn’t part of the plan… nor was falling in love with him.
But that wasn’t the only complication Mavis faced. When an unplanned pregnancy upends her life at sixteen, Mavis skips town to spare boyfriend, Josh Templeton from the fallout. With only a letter of apology left in her wake, she disappears, but not before confiding her secret to Josh’s brother, Austin.
When Austin resurfaces in her life years later, he brings the past to Mavis’s doorstep. Josh wants her back, Austin isn’t willing to surrender, and the path to happiness isn’t clear. Caught between both men, Mavis must choose between the brother she broke her own heart for and the brother who picked up the pieces.
Excerpt from I Loved You Yesterday:
The meadow was overgrown. Tall grass infiltrated the once beautiful open landscape that held so many precious memories of his youth. Josh stood amidst the weeds, his shoes sinking into the wet soil beneath his feet. With each step forward, the grass tickled his bare calves and mud caked to the bottoms of his tennis shoes, each step heavier than the last. What happened to this place?
But he knew what had happened. Time was the enemy. Ten years had disappeared – each day, each hour, each minute had ticked away – taking him further from Mavis and the love that blossomed among the wild California poppies in this very place so long ago. It felt like a dream, as if perhaps it never really happened to begin with. She had been gone from his life for so long Josh wondered if any of it was ever real. A lifetime had passed, each season bringing with it the fading edges of a memory, disintegrating at every corner.
Josh took slow deliberate steps through the overgrown brush, his hands skimming the tops of the dying grass. Nothing looked the same, but there was no mistaking the overwhelming rush of excitement that reverberated throughout his body with each step forward. She was here; her soul lingered in the heavy, damp air. Her essence caught up in the whistle of a songbird in the treetops above. She’s still here. We’re still here.
The sun broke through the gray clouds, each ray illuminating the thicket around him. Josh raised his face to the sun and felt the warmth surround him. He closed his eyes and grabbed on tightly to the memory this place held. His mind conjured each wild orange blossom to bloom. The ghost of her laughter wrapped tightly around him in the morning breeze, the joyous sound squeezing his heart. It hammered against his rib cage – threatening to break free from his chest. Josh heard her name escape his lips, the taste of her on his tongue as “Mavis…” caught in the wind and disappeared.
His eyes popped open, the green and brown hues of the brush pulling his momentary exhilaration back to reality – each orange poppy from his memory faded in color one by one.
“It was real,” he whispered to himself as he pulled her note from his pocket. He stared at her message, brushing his index finger across the loopy handwriting. Each letter – in each word – looked choppy and disjointed as if her hands shook while she penned her feelings. What happened, Mavis? Why did you leave me? The question had worn on his mind many years ago. There were nights it took on rhythm, like a song stuck on repeat. Asking it again, today, with no more clarity, was replaying a well-worn record.
How did you decide on your story plot?
In 2008, I took a graduate level course in the art of scriptwriting. I wrote this trash fire of a script, but oddly enough the characters and story stayed with me well beyond the conclusion of the class. When I challenged myself to write a novel, the obvious choice was already in front of me because the characters were dying for their story to be told in a better format.
How did you choose the location for your story?
I’m a Chicago girl at heart, so I knew part of my story would be there. But I needed something a bit more exotic to balance out the Midwestern city life – my mind went to the ocean and fictional Rosewood, California found its way to the page.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
I’m a sucker for a happy ending (it’s why I read romance novels!). Because I Loved You Yesterday is a love triangle, only two of my characters got their happy ending. My favorite scene is actually the epilogue – it offers the promise of happiness for the odd man out.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieNavickas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieNavickas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julienavickas/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julienavickas/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/134518278-julie-navickas
Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!
I adore interacting with readers, so please comment, review, and contact me. I promise to always respond!
