Julie writes about finding out who you are, where you come from, and making sense of it.
Welcome
“An engaging, endearing chronicle of a woman’s quest to find her origins.” – Kirkus Review
Welcome to my online home! I’m an author–memoirist, essayist, and columnist– who writes about finding out who you are, where you come from, and making sense of it.
On this site, you will find information about my books, media events, links to my bi-monthly blog posts, and material relating to adoption. While many of my “That Girl This Life” essays focus on identity, family, and belonging, I also love to spotlight the quirky and tender moments which add color to daily life.
At 48, I was sent for a breast biopsy. This incident highlighted what closed adoption prevented me from knowing: my birth circumstances, family medical history, and genealogy. The subsequent search for my “personal story” consumed five years. I chronicle this journey in my debut, award-winning memoir Twice a Daughter: A Search for Family, Identity, and Belonging (She Writes Press, May 11, 2021). The prequel to Twice a Daughter is scheduled to release in Feb. 2025 (She Writes Press).
My newly released book Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family & Kinship (Muse Literary, November 1, 2023) is a compilation of my favorite “That Girl This Life” blog posts, essays from the monthly column I write for The Beacher Newspapers in Michiana, and other published work. I wrote Belonging Matters to serve as a companion piece to my first memoir, Twice a Daughter. It is meant to support the adoption community and to create a conversation with those not touched by adoption.
Besides being a writer, I’m a mother, grandmother, and an identical twin. Life has provided me many roles to play and experiences to share. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been filling up journals and binders with stories and reminiscences.
My wish is that you stay here, linger, and find writing that resonates. Upon leaving, I hope you take with you a fresh new idea, perspective, or topic to share with others.
That Girl, This Life
Weekly posts that focus on identity, family, and life’s quirky moments.
The Comfort of Strangers: Seatmates, Part 1
How is it that strangers often appear at just the right moment?
Stay Safe Out There
Sometimes staying safe is just not in the cards.
Love Letters
Something happens to us when we write about love…
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On January 22, Julie’s discussion with hosts, Mal & Kate, on The Funding Love Podcast aired; you can listen here. They talked about all the twists and turns that came along with her search for her birth family.
On February 5, Julie’s guest blog post about “Secondary Rejection” appeared on Elaine Coleman’s award-winning blog site, The Goodbye Baby: Adoptee Diaries. Check it out, here.
On February 15, Laura Swanson hosts Julie on her Social Work Bubble podcast where they will discuss how social workers can best support adoptees in their search for identity and belonging.
On February 16, find Julie at J. McLaughlin’s on Longboat Key. She will be signing her books and donating proceeds from the “Sip n Shop” event to benefit the Longboat Key Library.
On February 27th, Dr. Meg Meeker will host a conversation with Julie on the Parenting Great Kids podcast.
To listen to other podcasts where Julie shares about her books, adoption story, and perspectives on all things related to identity, family, and belonging, go here (the media tab on her website).
OTHER NEWS:
From now until Feb. 23rd, my book, Twice a Daughter, along with other great tales are featured in a book giveaway. To sign up for a chance to win each of these, go to this link: https://www.universalbydesign.com/seven-book-giveaway-4/