A Book and a Chat with Julie Anne Peters

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is YA and Children’s author Julie Anne Peters. In her YA she has tackled issues such as how to deal with your first same sex crush, growing up transgender, and what it's like when your two moms' relationship falls apart.

She originally aimed her career to be a teacher however one year of teaching fifth grade showed to both herself and the school (yes she got fired) that perhaps teaching was not quite the career for her. Several more exams and careers later, as she shared with us during the program, she was working on counting the number of parts in a car… the dreaded widgets… we she realized that there must be more to life than geeking out about 4GL and the number of widgets on a car. So there and then she decided to become a writer.

So started the long and bumpy road to being a published author.
Back in the 1990’s the YA literary explosion was still to happen, so she wrote books for younger readers from “The Stinky Sneakers Contest” to the wonderfully named “Love Me, Love My Broccoli” and including the "Snob Squad" series of books.

In 2000 she wrote a book which though aimed for the younger market, there not being a recognized one for the YA readers called “Devine Normal” which through word of mouth found its way to the cusp of the YA literary explosion. That was the start of Julie’s march through the ranks YA authors.

Along the way her editor asked her to write about a lesbian relationship, and though reluctant at the time, afraid to lose her existing readership, Julie’s book “Keeping You a Secret” broke new ground. Since then she has written books that cover many varied and sometimes “controversial” issues faced by children and teens regarding sexual identity, abuse, destructive relationships and problematic family dynamics.

Her book “By the time you read this I will be dead” for instance covered follows a suicidal high school student who has been the victim of peer bullying for years.

Her latest book is “She Loves You, She Loves You Not”

Dumped by her girlfriend and rejected by her family, Alyssa is sent across the country to live with the mother who abandoned her at birth. A mother who still doesn’t seem to have room in her heart for Alyssa. Hurt and alone, Alyssa is left to create a new life for herself. Can she ever get over her abandonment issues to trust again? Can she redefine “family?” And will she open herself to the possibility of new love?

Her books are always fresh, always looking at new subjects in a format enjoyed by all sexes, ages and human situations, and I’m sure that the number of he readers will just continue to grow.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Julie Anne Peters"

Barry

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"Julie Anne Peters - She loves you, she loves you not"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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