United.

I used to have the news on in the background as I would get ready in the morning.  My mom always did, and I guess I felt something nostalgic about it- like it was something you did when you’re a grownup.  However, over the past few weeks- I have really hesitated to even turn it on.  I knew it’s not going to be good.  More deaths.  More hate.  More conflicting opinions resulting in longtime friends and even family members turning against each other.  The same thing carries through onto social media.  It’s overwhelmingly dismal.  I find myself having to step back and focus on what is directly in front of me- the welcomed monotony of endlessly reminding my kids to brush their teeth (and yes, even shower) every day.  I almost welcome the chaos of getting three kids out the door, because it’s a happy stress.  Not the feeling of devastation for mankind that is coming through from the media.

Then, last week I went down to Dallas.  My publisher, Tactical 16, was sponsoring and participating in an event to raise money for The Lone Survivor Foundation.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I knew there would be a softball game with a mix of celebrities and veterans.  Matthew McConaughey and TobyKeith were the headliners.  I knew to bring my books.  I was armed without expectations, but knowing it had potential to be a great time.

The night before the game I was introduced to Tim Klund (the organizer of the event), Ryan Weaver, and Cristina Coria- and each of them blew me away with their amazing personal stories.  Weaver is a combat veteran, Gold Star Family member- not once- but TWICE, as he lost both his brother and brother-in-law in combat.  His journey of rising to a successful country music star is unlike any others. 

Coria is a retired veteran of the police force.  She has survived many things in her life to include tragically losing her father at the age of 12, being hit (and temporarily paralyzed) by a drunk driver, and a gunshot wound that she barely escaped with her life.  She went on to become a guest on the reality TV show Survivor. 

What captivated me the most with both of these two was their enthusiasm and kindness.  They were survivors.  They had been through the ringer.  And all they wanted to do was to help others that were going through an even more difficult time.

The next night I set up my table of books and began meeting and speaking with many of the guests in the audience.  After the game, the night continued on, and I met the players- celebrities and veterans.  The theme was resounding.  Everyone was here for a reason.  They all had stories.  They all had endured some of life’s greatest hardships, but it didn’t break them.  And they were here to make sure no one else would break.

At one point, I looked out from the top of the stadium at the audience and the players under the lights.  It was a complete rainbow.  They all stood together- black, white, Hispanic, Asian- all colors and nationalities, from all parts of the country.  Everyone had a story about how they got there.  Everyone had ties to or were there to support the military in one way or another.  The veterans weren’t in a war overseas anymore, but they were still fighting for their brothers and sisters standing next to them.  They were still fighting for the people of our country.   

The event served as a huge reminder that we were all united, simply under Red, White, and Blue.  And in a world where so many of the bad stories have become the focus, they gave me hope. 

 

And the Story Continues Here...

As my memoir has officially been released in paper/hardcover and e-books, I will wrap up this blog with a link to the book behind the blog as well as pictures from the release party.  I cannot thank everyone enough for all of the great support.  Get your copy of the story here: 

 http://amzn.com/1943226083

     I grew up in Deer River, MN - a one-stoplight town of 903 people. Two weeks after I graduated high school way back in the old days (1997) when everything was in black and white, I enlisted in the Navy in a combat aircrew position that had just been opened up to women. At first we were mistaken by tiny hairless men. Quite a few people told me I was crazy and I would be back home before I knew it. Some of the old WWII veterans patted my shoulder, and nodded, wishing me luck. My dad, fearing my safety, begged me not to go. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into - which probably was best that way. I just knew I didn’t want to fail.

     Spoiler alert - I didn’t go off and become a war hero. I didn’t save the world. I didn’t win the Noble Peace Prize or even receive the perfect attendance award (I was runner-up); however, I did serve my country, met some lifelong friends, flew over 1300 hours in a war-fighting machine, kicked some submarine ass, and learned a few lessons (the hard way). This book is a compilation of short stories and those lessons learned.

     If you are looking for Steinbeck or Dickens, you probably should put this book back on the shelf and keep looking. However, if you are looking for random entertaining stories that begin with conjunctions, contain cheesy metaphors, and improper sentence structure- well this, my friend, may be the book for you. You may laugh. You may cry. You may want to dance on a barstool next time the opportunity arises. I’m not a writer, I’m a story teller. And this is my story.

I will continue keep my site updated at www.juliamaki.com and will be available to answer questions/comments to the best of my abilities here:  capturingthestory@gmail.com

I hope it inspires, informs, and entertains you.  Always remember- there isn't anything you cannot do!  Dreams come true every day.  Who's not to say today is YOUR day?!

I have the most amazing friends!

My Mom

With Anna, my BFF

The VP-8 guys

My old SS-1 "Rugged"

With friend and fellow military blogger, Dog Tags And Heels

And don't forget- I have books for the little readers out there. 

No, not this book.

These ones:

All my best. ~J.

The E-Books Have Arrived!

The E-Books have arrived!  Well in the virtual, mystical world known simply as “Amazon.”  The paperbacks will be released January 12, 2016.  What a perfect way to bring in the new year!  

What They Don’t Teach You in Deer River is just in time to be your perfect holiday travel companion on your e-reader- for those long car rides or delayed flights.  And it is also perfect for those nights spent by the fire sipping eggnog.

My dream has come true.  I finally published my novel- and it only took me 13 years!!  So now I can officially say now that my life is literally an open book.   At least a portion of it anyways.  After reading this book you just may know way more than you ever wanted to know about me!

Ooh, and one more thing: [disclaimer] This is a book about Navy sailors.  Some words may be descriptive- and not just amazing adjectives.  (Though there are some pretty fabulous adjectives.) Some stories may involve strippers.  (But only the nice strippers, of course.)  If you are easily offended, you may want to skip this one and read the ‘G’ version:  My Mom Hunts Submarines. 

And so it goes…

I grew up in Deer River, MN- a one-stoplight town of 903 people.  Two weeks after I graduated high school  way back in the old days (1997) when everything was in black and white, I enlisted in the Navy in a combat aircrew position that had just been opened up to women.  At first we were mistaken by tiny hairless men.  Quite a few people told me I was crazy and I would be back home before I knew it.  Some of the old WWII veterans patted my shoulder, and nodded, wishing me luck.  My dad, fearing my safety, begged me not to go.  Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into- which probably was best that way.  I just knew I didn’t want to fail.

Spoiler alert- I didn’t go off and become a war hero.  I didn’t save the world.  I didn’t win the Noble Peace Prize or even receive the perfect attendance award.  (I was runner-up) However; I did serve my country, met some lifelong friends, flew over 1300 hours in a war-fighting machine, kicked some submarine ass, and learned a few lessons (the hard way).  This book is a compilation of short stories and those lessons learned.

If you are looking for Steinbeck or Dickens, you probably should put this book back on the shelf and keep looking.  However, if you are looking for random entertaining stories that begin with conjunctions, contain cheesy metaphors, and improper sentence structure- well this, my friend, may be the book for you.  You may laugh.  You may cry.  You may want to dance on a barstool next time the opportunity arises.  I’m not a writer, I’m a story teller.  And this is my story.

Get your copy here:

http://smile.amazon.com/What-They-Dont-Teach-River-ebook/dp/B019EWS7LS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450362994&sr=8-1&keywords=julia+maki

Ah, Rejection.

Being extremely new to the publishing world- and when I say new,  I'm like a hot shiny penny right off the press. I can admit it:  I have no idea what I'm doing.

I have the stories in my head (along with other important information like baseball stats and historical short people).  

So I put the 'stories' on paper.  I parent them.  I caress and nurture them until they are grown and mature enough to send away.  I polish them up to look their very best and bid them adieu- hoping for a kind world to take them in with open arms. 

Sometimes it happens.  Sometimes it doesn't.  The majority of the time I receive the sweetest little 'We love you, but you suck' rejection letter.

I'll take the letter to my desk in my personal library.  I will sip a single malt scotch on the rocks and chew on a Cuban cigar, all the while developing my plan to take out all of the talented writers in this world.  

No, no, I'm only joking now.  I do not have a personal library.

I have decided that there is nothing worse than trying to sell yourself.  I'm not a salesman.  I cannot barter to save my life.  In fact, I have often offered more money if I felt that someone is selling me something for less than its value.  

The marketing part of writing a book is just not for me.  I'd rather give my stories away if I could afford to do so.  I'm not looking to make money- just to come out even and tell a story that is burning inside of me to whomever will listen.  My family.  My cats.  Random school children I see at playgrounds. 

But alas, publishing companies are not keen on the idea of not getting a return on their money invested in publishing cost.


Now, since I had not sold myself- er- marketed myself in a few weeks, I decided that yesterday I'd give it a shot at the quaint little Aviation Museum near my place of work.  The museum's gift shop is full of everything aviation and Navy related, and run by a little old man in his 70's along with his little old wife.  According to him, she was the boss.  He just kept the shelves stocked. 

I had already sold him a dozen copies of My Mom Hunts Submarines to carry in the store.  I wanted to see if he would be interested in my second book that just came out, All Hands on Deck! Dad's Coming Home!  (Overkill on exclamation marks?)  And naturally, I thought that the Aviation Museum would be the best place to sell books about the military.

When I arrived, one of the volunteers ran off to get the little old man.  I browsed the store, killing time as I waited.  And there it was- in the children's section, only 3 of my books remained!  I was ecstatic!  I had sold 9 books!  A small but very important victory.

I thought perhaps he would even want to buy more of My Mom Hunts Submarines too!

I met him with a smile as he walked into the room.

Sweet Old Man:  [sincerely smiling] Oh, hello there.

Me:  Hi!  I'm Julia. [holding out my hand for him to shake.]

Sweet Old Man:  Oh, yes, yes.  I remember you wrote the book.

Me:  Yes!  [whoa, simmer down now.  Don't look crazy excited.  I simmer down and clear my throat.]  
I did write the book.  I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop in and see how the book was doing.  Oh, and if you're interested, I actually wrote another one.  This one's for the dads in the Navy.  [see how I slid that in there all smooth like honey]

Sweet Old Man:  [Looking down and shaking his head]  Well, you know.  I'm having a hard time pushing the books of yours that I have.

Me:  [Confused...]  Oh really?  Well... I saw that you only had 3 copies left.  Do you have the rest of them in storage?

Sweet Old Man:  Oh, oh no.  I don't keep them in storage.  You gave me 6 copies, right?

Me:  Well, actually Sir, I gave you 12.  I still have the invoice-

Sweet Old Man:  Oh, that's okay.  Yes, well my wife, see, she's the boss.  I just keep the shelves stocked.

Me:  Uh-huh.  [ I nod.  This is not new information.]

Sweet Old Man:  [holding hand to ear and getting so close I can smell his aftershave]  You'll have to speak up honey.  I'm 75 years old and I have a hard time hearing young ladies like yourself.

Me:  Oh yes sir.  I understand.

Old Man:   Those are nice earrings you have.

Me:  [That was... random.]  Well thank you very much.

Old Man:   Well dear, how about this.  How about I throw one of these new books of yours on the table here next to the old one and we'll see how it does.  If I can sell it, well then, I'll buy some more from you.

Me:  Okay... [I guess it's better than nothing.  I'm thinking he's not going to pay me for that book he just threw on table.]

Old Man:   I know you're just trying to grow your business.  It's not easy to write a good book.
 
Me:  Um, yes.  [Unsure how to take that]

Mean Old Man:  Well, common now.  It was sure nice of you to stop by.  [gives me hug]

Me:  [Perhaps he's not completely mean- just honest.  Ugh, why do people have to be so honest?]  Well thank you very much, Sir.  [realizing he can't hear me, I increase my volume]  It was good to see you again.  I will stop in again sometime.

Not-So-Bad Old Man:  Yes, dear.  Stop in again sometime when you want to buy something.
[Again not too sure how to take that one...]

And so I left, feeling slightly perplexed.  Did I get rejected again?  At least when the big companies do it, they spell out YOU SUCK.  Well more or less. 

This entire endeavor of writing and marketing has been a slow, and slightly painful learning process.  Okay, really painful.  I'm definitely developing nerves of steel.  Like most everyone, I have no idea if I'm going to be living on the street someday, trying to sell tattered books made out of yellowed notepads from my bicycle basket. 

If we are not careful, we all can let the "you're just not good enough's" get us down.  It can make us want to quit and be realistic.  Go get a practical job.  But for some reason, I just can't be practical.  Not about this, anyway. 

I still have my day job- which is good or else I'd be starving. That's practical, right?  But I believe that one just never knows what may lie around the next corner.  In a single day, our lives can change, and all of the rejections will finally make sense as they have led us to that point.  And maybe then I can quit my day job.  Maybe.



“A boo is a lot louder than a cheer.”
― Lance Armstrong

“When you're following your inner voice, doors tend to eventually open for you, even if they mostly slam at first.”
― Kelly Cutrone, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You

Book Give Away!

I'm cleaning house today- making room for the new!  So... I have 25 of my books, My Mom Hunts Submarines, that I would LOVE to give away!  Whoo-hoo!  Calm down, everyone.  Just calm down.  

I will send a book to the first 25 people that email me their story.

   

Everyone has a story!  Just let me know who you are and why you might enjoy this book for you or children you know.  Email your story and mailing address to julia_ann78@hotmail.com.  

And please feel free to share what you think- good, bad, or ugly.  But hopefully good.  Pretty much, anyways. 

But seriously, who passes up completely FREE stuff?

 Really, there is no catch.  

Except you must give up your first-born and wash my car every third Wednesday of the month.

And remember- there isn't anything you cannot do- so go do something fabulous today!!  

All Hands on Deck Disclosure

Oh happy day!  My 2^nd book is about to go to marketing!!

Written for military children of deploying parents.

And perhaps it’s the former sailor in me, but after I proofread the copy the publishers sent to me in its completed book form, my mind couldn’t help but wander after reading this sentence…

“There are times when we go very long

stretches without hearing from my dad at all.

I always wonder what he could be doing out

there on the ocean for so long...”

And then it occurred to me.

I can only hope I’m not contributing to subconsciously ill-shaping our country’s youth.

Perhaps there should be a disclosure.  Though it's too late to place on the book itself- please spread my warning and exercise extreme caution when reading this seemingly harmless book to your children.