Get To Know Me Better

My writing space

As an author, I spend most of my day at the computer writing, promoting and keeping up with social media. As a reader, I enjoy getting to know the authors’ whose works I’ve read. I do this mostly through Facebook. I’ve met many people and made some great friendships. This is important to me. Why? Because I enjoy meeting people and getting to know them outside of their author persona. Which got me to thinking—it’s important for readers to know something about the authors they like other than the books she’s written. Author interviews help to form a bond between reader and author, so for this month’s post, I thought I’d share a little more about me to create more of a personal bond between you and me.

The hubby and me at the rodeo

Many know I’m originally from upstate New York, so when I make snarky jokes on Facebook about New York’s weather, it’s because I can relate to the heat and humidity and the cold and snow. I married my hubby two years after high school and accompanied him on his twenty-year career with the Air Force. We’ve been stationed in Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado and Virginia. Through his work and mine, we have met a lot of nice people and still maintain those friendships today. The best job I ever had, outside of being a mom, wife and author, was as a collection agent for the Air Force while stationed in Jersey. My boss had tremendous faith in me and gave me several responsibilities above my pay grade. One such responsibility was to work with the legal department. I got to know a few of the lawyers very well, and they got to know and depend on me, so much that when I was out of work for a month due to illness and a case came up, they waited for me to return instead of relying on a coworker, who was just as capable as me, to testify.

Eleven Mile Canyon, CO

Colorado was the nicest duty assignment as far as scenery and way of life. The Jersey shore is pretty in spots and has the best lemonade (I think it has something to do with the salt air) but the Rocky Mountains are breathtaking and rich with history. It’s little wonder we retired back to Colorado to raise our son. Speaking of the kiddo, I had him later on in life, which was a good thing. It gave the hubby and me time to ourselves and time to become financially stable to raise a child. Quitting work to be a stay-at-home mom was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’ve been home for over a decade and honestly, I wouldn’t go back to a 9-5 job for anything. I really like being at home and being here for my son.

Loretta Lynn

I’m a child of the 80’s, leg-warmers, big shoulder pads, even bigger hair and rock/pop music. Before that, I was raised on country and western. Loretta Lynn and George Strait are my favorites. I spent most of the 90’s as a concert junkie, as country music came into its own back then and was everywhere, even in New York City! I saw everyone I wanted to see, with the exception of Alan Jackson, because where I was he wasn’t, but the hubby saw him when Alan gave a free concert at the Pentagon after 9/11. I remember dragging the hubby off to see Vince Gill, and when Vince started to jam on the guitar, the hubby was impressed. (He’s not one for country. He prefers his rock and roll.) Sammy Kershaw earned a laugh or two from the hubby and Garth Brooks earned his respect. And Billy Joel, the NY boy who made it to the bigtime, was a night neither of us will forget. And the kiddo—well, he loved Heidi from Trick Pony when he was little, so I snagged backstage passes and took him to meet her. At four years old, he was speechless and could only stare up at her. Heidi was really sweet and knelt down to chat with him for a minute.

Nova

The things I love the most outside of family and home are  Nova (our 85lb German Shepherd) iced tea, my truck and my slippers. If I could wear slippers to the store and out in the snow I’d be happier than a bear hibernating all winter. Nova has a weird attachment to my slippers; she uses them as a pillow and growls if someone comes near them. Sage is my favorite plant, horses and dogs my favorite animal and currently NCIS L.A. is my favorite drama and The Big Bang Theory my favorite comedy. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara are my favorite actors. Veal is my favorite food, and grey and purple my favorite colors. Sticky notes are my best friend. I keep a weekly schedule of all I need to accomplish, and I enjoy hearing from you. Visit my website for a link to contact me (www.julielence.com). And the last thing to tell you; I am one of the most boring people you’ll ever meet.        

5 Things I love About Colorado

Schenectady's Stockade Area

I was born and raised in upstate New York. Schenectady is home to General Electric, Union College and the Stockade Area along the Mohawk River, which is the original settlement for Schenectady and where my husband grew up. Throughout my childhood, I always had a love for horses and John Wayne’s cowboy movies. The Hollywood icon introduced me to ranches, cattle drives, saloons, women in long dresses and everything else connected to the ‘old west’. It was my dream to live on a ranch and have a barn filled with horses. Alas, I married my husband right out of high school and accompanied him on his twenty year career with the Air Force. He’s now retired from service, and while we don’t own horses and a ranch, we do live in the west.

Cheyenne Mountain

One of the hubby’s duty assignments was to Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs. Before he had received his orders, I had been working on my Weston Family Series, which takes place in fictional Coyote, Colorado, and I couldn’t wait to see if my imagination surrounding Colorado was true. It was, for which I am thankful. More importantly, the five years we were here, we fell in love with the area. When it came time to decide on a location for retirement, we chose Colorado Springs. New York was a close second. Our families are back in Schenectady, but having a young son, Colorado was a better choice when it came to schools, employment, staying close to a military installation and overall environment. We’ve lived here for 11 years and below are a few of things I love about Colorado.

Pikes Peak

The Rocky Mountains.  My first time driving to Colorado Springs was September 1993. I still remember seeing Pikes Peak from sixty miles out. Anxious, excited; the peak looked so close I couldn’t believe I had another hour to drive before reaching it. Today, I have a clear view of Pike’s Peak from my front porch. It’s really something to watch a storm push off the peak and move across town to my neck of the woods.

Antelope

The Antelope.   It might be silly, but I do enjoy seeing the herds of antelope. About a mile from me is somewhat open land and the antelope graze with the cows. It’s always a treat to see the male guarding his herd, or to see twenty of them running. They are pretty, and if I could, I’d have one for a pet.

Yucca

Yucca and Sage plants. I’m not one to toil in a garden, but I do like Yucca and Sage and they grow everywhere out here, including in my yard. Just over the Continental Divide Sage is in abundance. The plant sprouts like weeds, and when they flower in the fall,  they are pretty. So is the Yucca when it flowers in early summer.

Sagebrush

The Climate. Spring is anywhere from 70 degrees and sunny to snow, rain and wind, and sometimes all on the same day. Summers can be hot and humid (though not as humid as New York) and winters, for the most part, are mild. The mountains block many a snow storm from pummeling Colorado Springs, and 30 degrees, with the sun shinning in a cloudless sky makes for a beautiful day. We do get a few cold snaps during winter, with temps falling below 0, but we’re quick to rebound.

Buena Vista, Colorado

The history. During my school years, American history was the only genre I enjoyed in History class, specifically, America history relating to the 1800’s. I liked learning about the people who forged their way west and the inventions made to make life easier. Today, I enjoy traveling the state and learning of Colorado’s history. From the mines in Cripple Creek to battles with the Native Americans to Buena Vista, formerly known as Mahonville and the setting for my current work in progress, I’m eager to see, explore and discover something new to add to my knowledge and my work.