Julie Simmons, author of That’s How You Know, dreamed up her debut novel at the age of 51. A lifelong lover of musical theatre and Disney, she hosts On The Marquee, a musical theatre radio show. Set on an Alaskan cruise, her novel combines her passions and personal experiences. Julie has been legally blind since birth and volunteers with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Her characters are inspired by her life, including her husband Rodney of 30 years. With her first book, Julie invites readers into a world shaped by love, music, and personal growth. Discover more about Simmons in our interview as she shares insights into her process, passions, and inspired dreams.
How did you breathe life into your characters and craft their unique journeys?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to write a novel. The issue was always coming up with a plot. Then, at age 51, the idea for That’s How You Know came to me in a dream in January of 2023. I always wondered if it was a real thing when I’d hear creative people talk about getting ideas for their work in dreams. Now I know from experience that it really does happen. My characters are very dear to me and quite personal, and I don’t think any others will hold the same place in my heart as Charles and Tori.
Tori has a lot of my own qualities, and I always say that I gave her all my screw ups and anxieties. Like me, she has extreme performance anxiety, which she battles every time she performs. She has major body image issues and struggles with self-love. She doesn’t look like me at all. She has the physical appearance I always wish I had. Charles is very much my husband. He also doesn’t look like my husband, but his sensitivity and kind nature are truly his. Many of the sweet and loving things he says are things that have come from my husband’s mouth.
Here’s a fun fact. I gave Charles the physical appearance of a character from a TV series I love. This particular character happens to be the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in all of my 52 years on this planet, bar none, so I gave him that character’s name – Charles. I’m not going to give it away, but maybe some readers might be able to figure out who it is.
What’s your secret sauce for getting into the creative zone? Do you have any writing rituals that spark your imagination?
I wrote my entire book while listening to my local Top 40 radio station. I’ve always worked best while listening to music. In fact, my book is very musical and has a huge playlist of songs that can be found in the novel. Some of the songs that were popular while I wrote made their way into the book as they played on the radio while I wrote. The book also contains a lot of musical theatre songs, as well as classic popular tunes.
How did your personal experiences and education shape the world of That’s How You Know?
My passion in life is musical theatre. I’ve hosted a radio show since 2017 (which is now syndicated in Canada) called On The Marquee. It’s all about musicals. This is a world I know VERY well and it features prominently into my novel. My characters are performers working as entertainers on an Alaskan cruise and are very much a part of the world of musical theatre.
Why did you choose the rugged beauty of Alaska as the backdrop for your story? What inspired you to set your novel on a cruise?
I’ve done the Alaskan cruise twice on Disney Cruise Line. While on the cruise, I went to presentations from the performers in the stage shows on the ship. That, along with my musical theatre background, allowed me to write with first-hand knowledge about how entertainment works on cruise ships. Because I had been to Alaska twice, I thought it was obvious to set the book on an Alaskan cruise because I know it so well.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as an author, and what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Your family and friends, the people closest to you, will not necessarily be your audience. It has been a little disappointing to me that some of the people that I thought would be my biggest supporters really have not been. The other side of that coin, though, is that sometimes the people who do come out as your biggest cheerleaders are not the ones you expected. For me, it’s been people who only know me casually or friends I haven’t seen since high school or university. It’s important to find your audience and go to the places they congregate. You’ll realize that your closest family/friends aren’t your supporters, but you’ll find strangers out there who are.
Which character from literature has left an indelible mark on you, and why do you admire them?
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite literary character. This book rocked my world when I studied it in tenth grade, and then when I was a high school English teacher, I had the pleasure of teaching it to tenth graders. It was a total full-circle moment for me. I just adore Atticus and everything he stands for. And what’s really interesting about how the book is written is that you never get Atticus’ POV. It is written from the POV of a young child, so everything we know about Atticus comes from his child’s observations of his words and actions, as well as the things that others say about him. Harper Lee truly achieved something wonderful in the POV she chose. We see it all through the eyes of an innocent child as she discovers the cruelty of the world and some of the people in it, but also the kindness of other good and decent people.
What books fueled your passion for storytelling and ignited your desire to become a novelist?
I grew up reading authors like Danielle Steel, Judith Krantz, and Jackie Collins. Collins was always my guilty pleasure, and I was reading her from the time I was about twelve (way too young to be reading Jackie Collins). In recent years, I’ve discovered Jodi Picoult, who has become my absolute favorite author. Her ability to meticulously research any issue she is tackling in her books and craft an amazing story that makes her readers really think about their own stand on various issues is second to none.
Could you tell me what readers can expect from your next literary adventure? Are you already working on a new novel?
Well, as I said, I struggled my entire adult life to get an idea for a book, so I don’t know if lightning will strike twice, but I’ve recently gotten another idea for a second novel. It’s very early days yet, and I’m working on formulating it in my head right now. Once I solidify it a bit more, I’ll start writing an outline and synopsis. We’ll see where it goes. It has to do with identical twin men and their love for one woman, betrayal, deception, secrets, and forgiveness.
We can’t wait to see what Julie Simmons creates next! Her unique voice and heartfelt storytelling shine in That’s How You Know. Be sure to add this exceptional debut to your must-read list.
Wanna read more stories based in Alaska? Check out this article.
Be sure to browse our Author’s Corner Spotlight: Female Authors bookshelf on Bookshop.org for more book recommendations by women authors!
