Get to Know Me Tag (Writer’s Edition)

Here are the rules of the tag:

• Link back to the original creator (that would be Savannah Grace Writes) and the person who tagged you. (Huge thank you to Lauryn Trimmer!)
• Tag 11 other bloggers to join in.

Alright, now let’s get started with the tag!

Vital Stats and Appearance

Name (or Pen Name): Julia Witmer

Birthday: November of 2002 🙂

Hair color/length: Shoulder blade (ish) length, blonde hair

Eye color: Brown (with a little bit of green, every now and then)

Braces/Piercings/Tattoos: N/A.

Right or Left Handed: Right.

Firsts

First novel written: I can’t remember which novel was the first novel I wrote. I do clearly remember writing a children’s book about a dog that had the habit of getting into too much trouble, which I titled “That Dog!” and wrote when I was some age under seven. However, I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember, so to place exactly which one was the first is…not an easy task.

First novel completed: When I was nine or ten, I sat down with my mother and wrote a book with her (which I can’t remember the name of for the life of me). It was a complete rip off of “The Secrets of Droon,” but it was what got me started on writing fantasy fiction and real, actual books. I can’t remember if I completed it with her or not (if not, then the first would have been “Latelyne” when I was eleven), but it was definitely the start to my serious writing journey.

First award for my writing: I have actually never won an award for my writing, that I can remember. I haven’t entered many contests since I was a kid, and I wasn’t exactly a child prodigy when it comes to the craft.

First publication: “A Wilted Willow: A Land Lost, But Not Forgotten” was the first story I published. I published it independently through Amazon when I was 16 years old, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine to publish by the time I turned 16.

First writing conference: The first (and only) writing conference I attended was the One Year Adventure Novel writing conference when I was seventeen.

First query: I haven’t queried any of my work, and don’t currently intend to…but I’ll let you know if that changes!

Favorites

Favorite genre: Fantasy, through and through. I love the variety you can find within the genre, and a lot of the fundamental elements of it.

Favorite author: Jill Williamson or C.S. Lewis!

Favorite writing music: Lately, I’ve been listening to the “Howl’s Moving Castle” theme song on repeat while I write…works wonders.

Favorite time to write: Anytime I actually feel like it, which has been rarer lately. Although I do find that I’m most productive in the mornings, nowadays!

Favorite writing drink/snack: Either tea or coffee – no preference either way.

Favorite movie: How am I supposed to narrow that down? I’ll just give you a list of the top ones, in no particular order:

• Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Peter Pan (2003)
• Treasure Planet

Favorite writing memory: In 2021 I launched “A Wilted Willow: Revised & Updated Edition” and went live on Facebook with my mom to celebrate the launch. It was so much fun, and it’s a favorite memory of mine.

Favorite childhood book: “Gregor the Overlander” by Suzanne Collins.

Currently

Currently reading: Uh…I just got married and moved to another state, so…I haven’t really been reading anything. Sorry to disappoint!

Currently writing: I’m working on editing “Everending” still – and getting closer to finishing every day.

Currently listening to: “Annie’s Song” by John Denver. It was my husband’s and my first dance song, so it holds a special place in my heart. I’ve also been listening to “Gilded Lily” by Cults because it makes me think of one of my characters.

Currently watching: So many movies, not really any TV shows. It’s impossible to narrow it down, I think.

Currently learning: I’m on break from school, but I’m still taking in any new information on social media and marketing that I can because I thoroughly enjoy it!

Future

Want to be published: Yes! I want to publish again by 2026.

Traditional or indie publishing: Indie! I hate the idea of a publisher taking my work and changing it however they want to, or giving it a bad cover, or…oh, the list could go on. There are SO many benefits to both traditional and Indie publishing, so I see nothing specifically against traditional publishing for some. But I really enjoy doing a lot of that kind of stuff myself (or hiring it out to a person of my choice) so I think Indie would fit best.

Wildest goal: I don’t feel like I have too many wild goals, but probably one of the wilder ones is that I want to try a Kickstarter launch at some point in my writing career…we’ll see if it happens!

Tag List

Anyone who wants to join in, please do!

Thanks so much for reading!