Welcome, Julie. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your book.
My book is non-fiction so I am as authentic as I possibly
can be. I write honestly about my faults and failures as well as my strengths
and blessings.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I used to dress up in a Police Dog bite suit so our local
K-9 officers could train their dogs to search out and detain bad guys.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
My English teachers in high school and college encouraged me
and winning the Guideposts Writers Workshop contest helped validate their
assessment for me.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I like to read everything from my Bible and my favorite
daily devotional My Utmost for His
Highest by Oswald Chambers to scientific papers on health and Herpetology. I
love fiction like the Mitford series by Jan Karon, biographies, business
leadership books by Dave Anderson, anything by Andy Andrews, direct marketing
and sales books, and publications about horses and trail riding.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I remember that my life is none of my business and I do all
that I can to be available to do what God would have me do next. My prayer time
and my faith keep me grounded. I don’t worry because I know God is fully aware
of all that is going on in my life and I trust Him. My favorite way to relax is
to go trail riding on my Quarter Horse Kup.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Most of the people in my life are characters of one sort or
another…lively and exciting people…but they come with names already in place
since I don’t write fiction. I have been asked on occasion not to use someone’s
real name so I let my reader know if I have substituted a fictitious name.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of my blended family. When my husband Jim
and I married my little girl Amey was almost 7, his boy/girl twins, Jim and
Jenni had just turned 12 and his oldest daughter DeDe was 19. We were blessed
that the children all lived with us and with lots of patience, lots of long
talks, through both tough times and good times, we were able to build a family
unit so strong our children fully accept one another as siblings and the word
“step” never enters anyone’s mind or vocabulary. We have strong family
traditions and the love we all have for one another is as deep and binding as
any traditional family I’ve ever seen. I am immensely proud of our four
children and our twelve grandchildren.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
If I were an animal I wouldn’t be typing out this answer but
I would love to be the white horse on which my Lord Jesus Christ returns in
Revelation 19:11. To assist my King, to see the upturned faces of those who
have waited with faith and hope for His return…I can’t imagine an animal more
blessed than that!
What is your favorite
food?
I consider any good soup that has a chicken or vegetable
based broth and if full of great veggies a favorite.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
The only time I get writers block is when I have a deadline.
The way I overcome it is to have my husband write the first few lines. I was the
editor on 27 of my father Zig Ziglar’s 30 books so when something is down in
print I immediately know what I want to say or how I’d say it differently. It
makes for a great jump start. Of course it helps that my husband knows what I
want to write about on any project that I do. He has been a ghost writer for
many years now.
Tell us about the
featured book.
I wrote my book, Growing Up Ziglar: A Daughter’s Broken
Journey from Heartache to Hope, to encourage women who have deemed
themselves unusable by God; for women who have not been able to forgive
themselves for their past even though they intellectually know that God has
forgiven them and for women who want to get beyond self and serve God fully. It
is my hope that women who read my book will see how knowing God’s Word
personally and intimately will give them an instruction manual for living a
life of peace, contentment and victory. I want women to know and understand
that their lives are none of their business and that learning how to be
available, willing and obedient to do what God puts before them to do will make
them incredibly free. I want Christian women who hide the wrong they once did to
know that they are in bondage still! When we know and accept that we are
forgiven there is no more shame, only gratitude and relief and the desire to
help others know the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. I believe the purpose God
has given me is wrapped up in those verses: “Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who
are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by
God.” NKJV It is my prayer that women will be comforted when they read my book
and that they will come to KNOW, really KNOW, their Lord and Savior and the
plans He has for them.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Chapter One
Available, Willing, and Obedient
The Command I Couldn’t Ignore
That Sunday morning in the waning days of the summer of 2005 started out like so many others. Six years earlier, my husband Jim and I had moved from the bustling suburbs of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex to the sleepy little town of
It was unusual when Missy began telling me about a dream
she’d had the night before. Our church would be considered conservative by
most, and what I was about to hear was not an ordinary discussion - even among
our most colorful attendees
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I can be found at www.ziglarwomen.com
or www.julieziglarnorman.com .
I also have a blog at www.growingupziglar.com Thank you, Julie, for sharing your life and book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Growing Up Ziglar: A Daughter's Broken Journey from Heartache to Hope (Voices of Faith Series) Growing Up Ziglar (Voices of Faith) - Kindle format
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
WOULD LOVE TO WIN!! ANGELA FROM KY
ReplyDeleteI would love to win "Growing Up Ziglar". I really feel I could benefit from reading this book.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview with Julie. Thanks for this giveaway.
Blessings!
Judy from Indiana
This book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThanks
Amy Campbell
Southwest VA
In April, I went to a Masters Writing Workshop with Elizabeth Sherrill, former editor at Guidepost (and author of many, many Christian classics)
ReplyDeleteA friend told me about this book, and the Guidepost Writers Workshop you attended, Julie. Congratulations on winning, that's quite an accomplishment, though not surprising with all the work you've done in crafting your skills over the years.
This book looks like a great read!
Sarah from Texas
Enter me!!
ReplyDeleteSharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.
Please enter me for this book. I'd enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeleteBeth from Iowa
Sounds great. Please enter me in the drawing. Portsmouth, VA
ReplyDelete