Updated About Me
I don’t know about other career choices, but authors can blink and realize their marketing information is out of date. It feels like we just posted an updated bio, only to read the book we said was coming soon has been out for a year. Headshots might seem recent, then you notice that hairstyle went out when Friends last aired. I know I mean well, but there’s more than just writing. There’s editing, re writes, back page copy, scheduling guest posts to promote the book, creating newsletters, and that’s just off the top of my head.
I realized I haven’t shared here in forever about who I am. Sure, there’s the bio I recently updated:
Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and —maybe one day—the chocolate. She’s the author of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past, and ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future. FINDING FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER is her 30 day devotional using the surrender themes and characters from the series. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. Her latest release, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL, is a book for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah. Julie blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, and also is a blogger for Inspy Romance. She resides in Poland with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities.
Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini
G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini
Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/
Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG
There’s more to me than that. Of course I won’t share every minute detail, but I thought for new readers, this would be a fun way to get to know me better. And please, don’t be afraid to connect with me on social media. I’d love to hear from you.
- I’m from Upstate NY but live in Ohio. I come from Corning, the Glass Capital of the World. I try to make settings from my story feature either state as my tip of the hat to both places. My heart is to use little known Upstate NY places so everyone can feel like they just visited and made friends there.
- I prefer wearing solid, bold colors. Growing up I felt like what I heard was certain colors were depressing or made me look pale. That may be true, but I try to find clothes that compliment my very blue eyes and now, my glasses. I feel if I have a certain look going for me with my color scheme, maybe you won’t notice the chubbier aspects of me.
- I could watch crime shows all day long.
- I’m a grandmother thanks to our adult children. When we married, his kids were part of our ceremony and we became family. I love how they accepted me from minute one.
- I am almost certain a heart can shatter. A mother’s heart. Watching her kids struggle, especially when you know it’s to grow them even though they didn’t do anything wrong.
- I can’t handle humidity well. Growing up, I was always cold. As soon as I got pregnant, my hormones changed and I haven’t struggled with cold since then. I can tolerate heat, but humidity seriously messes me up. If it lasts longer than three days, I become anxious. One of the things that has me long for heaven.
- I love to encourage and pray for people. I’m not showy about it and I try to do it behind the scenes because when the opportunity arises, it feels sacred to me. I might not always say the right thing, but I believe mountains can move in Jesus name. He’s let me watch some pretty incredible, impossible things.
- I’m not mean, but I don’t play games. If I sense manipulation or deception, I’ll walk away. Life’s too short.
- If I could travel the world, I’d still probably stay in the Adirondacks. Maybe it’s an introvert thing, but that place is peace defined.
- When I get overtired, I cry.
- I love public speaking. It’s small group connection that’s a stretch of faith for me.
- I recently discovered podcasts. Right now I’m listening to ones that grow and challenge my faith. Chip Ingram and Life on the Edge. Andy Stanley. Elevation Church. The Ramp. Gateway Church.
- If I did not color my hair, it would be white. My mom turned gray at 16. I was 25. My relatives who do not color their hair look beautiful, but they are senior citizens. My mom colors her hair and at 75, she looks 55. Go, Mom. Thank you, Feria.
- My favorite memories with my family have been the simple things like playing rock band together.
- I love snowglobes.
- I’m not good with arts and crafts at all and used to be super intimidated by them. These days I either laugh it off or pass.
- I’m quite simple. I don’t eat or dress fancy. My makeup is minimal. I would take the Fast and Furious franchise over something intellectual any day.
- My passion is to encourage women to find freedom through surrender. I believe the cornerstone of surrender is in Jesus Christ.
- I think I’m hilarious and a cool mom. Thankfully, I don’t need validation on that because it’s like crickets over here. 🙂
- My relaxation comes from browsing at the Salvation Army, hot tub with my husband, Netflix and chill.
- I can’t say no to Hershey’s ice cream. Or basically anything milk chocolate.
- I talk about coffee a lot, but I really only drink my own bullet proof recipe, one cup a day.
- I love to talk current events and politics with my mom, but not on social media. Overall, even my faith is simple. I just believe God’s got us, and I pray every day for our leaders, no matter who they are. I love what Lisa Bevere says, “May we have strong convictions and gentle opinions.”
- I want to go global. I don’t care if my writing makes pennies or millions or wins any awards. I do pray that awareness spreads across the globe of what I do so that I can visit and share. I believe my reason for existing isn’t writing. It’s once the books are out, that I’d share with women. Once finished, that small remnant and stays to talk? THAT is my purpose. To encourage them. Love them. Pray.
What would your offbeat About You list look like? I’d love to hear! If you’re on juliearduini.com, feel free to use the contact page. If you’re on social media, give me a comment. I enjoy learning about people.
