Julia Carlson

My father took me on a 3-day trip to Colorado when I was 13. We did an all day horseback trek, an all day hike and ended the trip with an all day white water rafting excursion. What was my most cherished memory was the late night talks in the little cabin in Estes Park. My dad has always made time to be a dad and it was those long talks that will stay with me forever.

Writing means putting my dreams on paper. It is a way to bring what lives in my head to the page so that all readers can share in the fantasy world that is good and just. Writing is a way to bring a voice to characters who have much to tell and describe places that I would love to live in. Writing to me make sense of a senseless world.

I have always enjoyed telling stories but it wasn't until my son, encouraging me to write my stories down, that I actually thought it was a possibility. Once I started, the story poured out on the page. I thought I was done but my son told me I was far from done. He is my biggest supporter and an excellent thought partner.

I write for fun and though I wish I could do it full time I am not in a position to do so at this time. I decided to self-publish as seeking representation is a time consuming and tough to navigate. I did participate in #PitMad on Twitter and sent five inquiries but I only had one response who felt I needed a better pitch! I am sure if I gave more time to seeking representation I might find success but self-publishing has been very rewarding so far. I have over 50 people who have read my novel (even readers outside my extended family!) and some very nice reviews. I have the next wo books in the works and if I happen to find success and this becomes my full time gig, I will look to conventional publishing as a possibility in the future.

I worried that people would think my novel was rubbish! I worried that people wouldn't like the characters who I feel very close to and protective of. I thought that the reader might be confused with the use of Hawaiian Pidgin, which was intentional, and would be turned off. However, after my son closed my book and looked at me with a huge smile, I suddenly didn't care what anyone thought anymore. Seeing my son beam with pride was all I needed.

I grew up watching Splash, Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, and thought I was a mermaid as a child. After moving to Hawaii in 2002, the story began to unfold in my head. I worked as a teacher and then Assistant Principal at Kea'au High School on the Island of Hawaii and learned so much from my students. Each of my characters were inspired by either a student, faculty member or family member. My husband, a Swede, gave me the idea of the true Haole and the plot took off from there.

My Dad recently asked if I could send a family tree as Kai has a very large extended family. Though I worked off an outline, the story navigated itself and i was just the vessel taking it where it wanted to go. In my next novel, I will have a family tree as well as a visual of the Big Island, Maine and Scandinavia. Sometimes seeing it gives relevant context.

I would say the most crucial component is character development. I wanted the reader to not just know the characters but cheer them on as they embarked on their quest for young love and redemption.

Representation. I often am drawn to novels in which I can see myself or wish that I possessed some of the characteristics. For example, if the lead is not a perfect 10 and instead tall, a little heavy, and has imperfections, I'm all in. I love when an author has a little more imagination and allows us to see our own imperfections are not all that bad.

I worked for 20 years in K-12 public education. I loved the students, faculty and staff and families over the years. I have learned so much from each of my roles and I feel honored to lead many great schools and districts. My experiences have taught me that life in high school hasn't changed much from when I was young. There will always be the Pomaikais and Leilanis. There will always be the new kid, Kai, who is just trying to fit in. There will be the protective Principals, like Pele, and the adoring fathers, Keaka, who if you hadn't guessed is written after my own sweet papa.

I love that even though I am 6'3, I feel completely comfortable moving to music. It doesn't matter the kind of music, as long as it has a good beat you will see me moving. Swimming to me is dancing in the water. No matter land or sea, you will always see me dancing.

In my experience, teaching students with differing abilities is the hardest job on the planet. It is why too many institutions "dumb down" curriculum. They believe to give less is to help pass students by. Just because a child has a differing ability does not make them less intellectual. Early literacy and interventions are key to the success of all students.

I always tell my boys that life is like a roller coaster. Sometimes the lows last a little too long but then you are top of the world, screaming in joy, and able to see with new perspective. Know that life is full of highs and lows but the ride, in the end, is worth it. Enjoy the roller coaster and cherish the fact that you have a seat and get to experience it all.

One reader from Northern Ireland wrote to me that she couldn't stop re-reading my novel. She asked what she could do to speed up the next book as she "needed" to be back in my fantasy world. She totally gets me!

Fantastic! I have met some amazing Indie Authors who have mentored me and become friends. We read each others rough drafts, "talk story", and support each others growth. I never thought there was this world of amazing writers who were so supportive and nurturing. I feel so fortunate to be in this Hui.