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.
When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer?
I started writing creatively in the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. While cleaning, I discovered a screenplay I wrote in grad school and had a crazy idea to turn it into a romance novel. Thanks to Inkspell Publishing, that original screenplay became book one of the Trading Heartbeats trilogy. I enjoyed writing so much that I just kept going! It’s become a wonderful creative outlet, stress reliever, and joy in my life.
What inspired you to write your book?
In the fourth grade I won a classroom Young Authors Award. From early on, I was encouraged to pursue storytelling and found a career in it through public relations and journalism. In a roundabout way, it led me to creative writing.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
While I was learning how to tell a story well, I plotted out my novels chapter by chapter. I wrote six books using the plotter approach, but now that I’m more comfortable and confident in my storytelling skills, I appreciate the pantser approach much more!
Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write?
I do not have anything special that I do before sitting down to write. The only thing I regularly do is sit down with a goal in mind (i.e. finish a chapter, hit a word count, edit X chapter, etc.)
What authors inspire you?
I grew up with a healthy obsession for J.R.R. Tolkien. He gets a bad rap for his writing, but his storytelling capabilities are indisputable. And while I write romance and not fantasy, his work has inspired me in many ways.
When it comes to romance though, I enjoy reading a variety of contemporary authors including Lynn Painter, Nora Roberts, Tessa Bailey, and Katie Cotugno.
If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why?
This is an easy question! I’ll stick with romance for the rest of my career (but I’m happy to explore and try different types of romance!)
Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why?
My latest release is Chasing Love, book three in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy. I had a great time bringing Cole Johnson to life. He’s a hopeless romantic with a heart of gold but is a bit blind when it comes to seeing what’s right in front of him. He was a fun character to write and give a happy ending to!
Are any of your characters modeled after real people? If so, which ones?
I did not model any of my characters after anyone I know. Like any writer, I may have taken traits and quirks from real life people and inserted those characteristics into my characters, but that’s as far as it goes.
What music was on your playlist while writing your novel?
Unpopular opinion, but I do not listen to music when I write. I enjoy writing in silence or to the sounds of a white noise machine. While I’m a music lover, I find it too distracting when I write.
Morning person or grumpy bear?
I’m a morning person! Always have been!
Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you?
I’ve taught at a state university for over fifteen years, teaching coursework in public relations, journalism, public speaking, and cultural studies.
What is next for you?
In terms of my writing career, I’ve taken a step away from writing contemporary romance and am trying my hand at romantic suspense. I’m excited to add a new element and layer to my storytelling!
Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what?
I’m ambidextrous. I predominantly use my right hand, but can shoot pool, bat, minigolf, and play shuffleboard proficiently with my left hand.
If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or demin and tees?
After the pandemic, my wardrobe changed significantly. The lace and frills are long gone and have been replaced with sweatpants and sweatshirts (it’s a perk I enjoy: working from home in my corporate communications role!)
When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer?
I started writing creatively in the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. While cleaning, I discovered a screenplay I wrote in grad school and had a crazy idea to turn it into a romance novel. Thanks to Inkspell Publishing, that original screenplay became book one of the Trading Heartbeats trilogy. I enjoyed writing so much that I just kept going! It’s become a wonderful creative outlet, stress reliever, and joy in my life.
What inspired you to write your book?
In the fourth grade I won a classroom Young Authors Award. From early on, I was encouraged to pursue storytelling and found a career in it through public relations and journalism. In a roundabout way, it led me to creative writing.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
While I was learning how to tell a story well, I plotted out my novels chapter by chapter. I wrote six books using the plotter approach, but now that I’m more comfortable and confident in my storytelling skills, I appreciate the pantser approach much more!
Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write?
I do not have anything special that I do before sitting down to write. The only thing I regularly do is sit down with a goal in mind (i.e. finish a chapter, hit a word count, edit X chapter, etc.)
What authors inspire you?
I grew up with a healthy obsession for J.R.R. Tolkien. He gets a bad rap for his writing, but his storytelling capabilities are indisputable. And while I write romance and not fantasy, his work has inspired me in many ways.
When it comes to romance though, I enjoy reading a variety of contemporary authors including Lynn Painter, Nora Roberts, Tessa Bailey, and Katie Cotugno.
If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why?
This is an easy question! I’ll stick with romance for the rest of my career (but I’m happy to explore and try different types of romance!)
Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why?
My latest release is Chasing Love, book three in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy. I had a great time bringing Cole Johnson to life. He’s a hopeless romantic with a heart of gold but is a bit blind when it comes to seeing what’s right in front of him. He was a fun character to write and give a happy ending to!
Are any of your characters modeled after real people? If so, which ones?
I did not model any of my characters after anyone I know. Like any writer, I may have taken traits and quirks from real life people and inserted those characteristics into my characters, but that’s as far as it goes.
What music was on your playlist while writing your novel?
Unpopular opinion, but I do not listen to music when I write. I enjoy writing in silence or to the sounds of a white noise machine. While I’m a music lover, I find it too distracting when I write.
Morning person or grumpy bear?
I’m a morning person! Always have been!
Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you?
I’ve taught at a state university for over fifteen years, teaching coursework in public relations, journalism, public speaking, and cultural studies.
What is next for you?
In terms of my writing career, I’ve taken a step away from writing contemporary romance and am trying my hand at romantic suspense. I’m excited to add a new element and layer to my storytelling!
Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what?
I’m ambidextrous. I predominantly use my right hand, but can shoot pool, bat, minigolf, and play shuffleboard proficiently with my left hand.
If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or demin and tees?
After the pandemic, my wardrobe changed significantly. The lace and frills are long gone and have been replaced with sweatpants and sweatshirts (it’s a perk I enjoy: working from home in my corporate communications role!)
Tell us about one of your books.
BUY LINKS:
AMAZON- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWGPXL18
KOBO- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/finding-love-56
BN-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-love-julie-navickas/1145390300
APPLE- https://books.apple.com/us/book/finding-love/id6496372845
Blurb:
Who says you can’t find love over a plate of mushroom ravioli?
Rachel Prescott has always dated the wrong men. Each relationship begins with hope, but within months ends with “nope.” The harder she tries, the harder she fails. That is, until the new owner of Pier Ninety-Two, Miguel Rodriguez, spots her wallowing over her latest dating disaster in his restaurant.
Easily smitten with the brown-haired beauty, Miguel offers her his heart. Or at least, what’s left of it. Because Miguel has had his own troubled past finding the right woman. With the echo of lost love still haunting his heart, he convinces himself he’s ready to move on—and who better with than the spunky, sexy, and strong-willed, Rachel Prescott?
Over a bottle of wine (or two), Miguel and Rachel instantly connect. And by the end of the evening, it’s more than their shared plate of mushroom ravioli left steaming.
Best-selling and award-winning author Julie Navickas tugs at your heartstrings in her second book in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy about love and letting go of the past. Fans of KG Fletcher’s The Reining Hearts Series and Katie Cotugno’s How to Love will find a new one-click buy with Ms. Navickas’ romances. Fall in love with imperfect, but perfect for the right person.
EXCERPT
“Rachel has always believed that the deck has been stacked against her when it comes to love.”
Miguel nodded. “She’s told me, too.”
“Good. Because it’s true.”
He snorted.
“I’m not kidding. She’s dated every idiot under the sun. Shady accountants. Frat boy dirtbags. Adrenaline junkies with a drug problem.” Rose widened her eyes. “Even a commercial airline pilot who collected vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Miguel scrunched his nose.
“Yeah, right?” She giggled. “You have to trust me when I tell you, when it comes to love… it just has never worked out for her. Until now.”
The breath caught in his throat. He released Rose’s fingers and gripped the back of his neck. Running his hands through his short crop of hair, he sighed as her sweet words stung.
“We’ve always poked fun at the men she’s brought home. Just one loser after the next. But that all changed when she met you.”
“I’m not a loser then?”
Rose laughed and shook her head. “The exact opposite. You won her heart.”
His soul sang. For a fleeting second, Rose’s words sealed the pit in his stomach, but reality battled on.
“If what you say is all true and I’m different from everyone else she’s been with, why did this happen?” He groaned. “Rachel pushed me away.”
“Miguel, I’m a chef, not a psychiatrist.”
BUY LINKS:
AMAZON- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWGPXL18
KOBO- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/finding-love-56
BN-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-love-julie-navickas/1145390300
APPLE- https://books.apple.com/us/book/finding-love/id6496372845
Blurb:
Who says you can’t find love over a plate of mushroom ravioli?
Rachel Prescott has always dated the wrong men. Each relationship begins with hope, but within months ends with “nope.” The harder she tries, the harder she fails. That is, until the new owner of Pier Ninety-Two, Miguel Rodriguez, spots her wallowing over her latest dating disaster in his restaurant.
Easily smitten with the brown-haired beauty, Miguel offers her his heart. Or at least, what’s left of it. Because Miguel has had his own troubled past finding the right woman. With the echo of lost love still haunting his heart, he convinces himself he’s ready to move on—and who better with than the spunky, sexy, and strong-willed, Rachel Prescott?
Over a bottle of wine (or two), Miguel and Rachel instantly connect. And by the end of the evening, it’s more than their shared plate of mushroom ravioli left steaming.
Best-selling and award-winning author Julie Navickas tugs at your heartstrings in her second book in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy about love and letting go of the past. Fans of KG Fletcher’s The Reining Hearts Series and Katie Cotugno’s How to Love will find a new one-click buy with Ms. Navickas’ romances. Fall in love with imperfect, but perfect for the right person.
EXCERPT
“Rachel has always believed that the deck has been stacked against her when it comes to love.”
Miguel nodded. “She’s told me, too.”
“Good. Because it’s true.”
He snorted.
“I’m not kidding. She’s dated every idiot under the sun. Shady accountants. Frat boy dirtbags. Adrenaline junkies with a drug problem.” Rose widened her eyes. “Even a commercial airline pilot who collected vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Miguel scrunched his nose.
“Yeah, right?” She giggled. “You have to trust me when I tell you, when it comes to love… it just has never worked out for her. Until now.”
The breath caught in his throat. He released Rose’s fingers and gripped the back of his neck. Running his hands through his short crop of hair, he sighed as her sweet words stung.
“We’ve always poked fun at the men she’s brought home. Just one loser after the next. But that all changed when she met you.”
“I’m not a loser then?”
Rose laughed and shook her head. “The exact opposite. You won her heart.”
His soul sang. For a fleeting second, Rose’s words sealed the pit in his stomach, but reality battled on.
“If what you say is all true and I’m different from everyone else she’s been with, why did this happen?” He groaned. “Rachel pushed me away.”
“Miguel, I’m a chef, not a psychiatrist.”
