Julie’s Journal
“What’s the story”
I’ve spent most of my life telling other people’s stories. It’s what drives me. Story is how I relate to the world. When Pulitzer-prize winning author Tom French speaks of storytelling, I finally feel understood. He says, “Stories are our defense against randomness. If the world is defined by the tension between…
How ‘Blasted’ Came to Be
When Luke Murphy walked into the small conference room at his real estate office, I had this odd sense that I would be writing his story. I’d been told he was a wounded warrior, but he was dressed in khaki slacks, so there was no hint of his injury. And, besides, I wrote about courageous men and women at sheriffs’ offices for nearly 20 years. It took a lot to impress me….
Luke Murphy inspires in ‘Blasted by Adversity’
Tallahassee Democrat Book Review by Retired Navy Commander Dennis Baker: This is the real deal. “Blasted by Adversity: The Making of a Wounded Warrior,” is by far the best account of one warrior’s trip to hell and back. My search is over for the map to give to those who suffer the wounds of war and desperately need someone like retired Army Staff Sergeant Luke Murphy to model how to heal and move on.
My Own ‘Encounter’
About a year ago, I was staring at my computer screen as the clock ticked. I had four days, including a weekend, to get sample chapters together for my editor. I clicked on email, which is a preferred type of procrastination for writers in pain. I had been struggling for almost four years trying to find the right “voice” for this story. There was a master’s thesis version and one for…
What Veterans Really Think About on Memorial Day
As a wounded veteran who served two tours in Iraq, I’ve been asked to give speeches at Memorial Day celebrations. It’s one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done. Veterans Day is easy. Fourth of July, a piece of cake. But Memorial Day, that’s a tough one…