We recently connected with Julee Balko and have shared our conversation below.

Julee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’d love to tell you about my latest novel The Me List. It all started with an idea. I love self-improvement. Could I write a fiction book with an element of self-improvement? Could a list change a character’s life and inspire readers to make changes to their own?

The answer is Yes. The Me List is a touching tale about the complexity of friendship, the importance of reserving judgment, and the rocky path that life takes as we get older. Full of snark and heart, this journey of self-improvement has flawed characters that readers can relate to. The book ends with instructions on how to make your very own Me List.

I’ve already heard from many readers who have started hiking, yoga, a new class, and started letting go of toxic relationships all because of The Me List.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, my name is Julee Balko and I’m the author of two women’s fiction novels with a third on the way! I enjoy writing about interesting characters and complex relationships.

The Things We Keep was my first novel. I started writing it after my mother passed away because I was thrust into a world of grief that no one talks about. And I wanted to change that. This book was especially written for women and men who are a part of the sandwich generation – those who are trying to take care of their aging parents while balancing parenting, a job, and multiple glasses of wine.

My second novel The Me List just came out this past January! The Me List combines humor with self-improvement and a touch of heartache. The Me List tackles personal growth, family relations, and friendship. And it answers the question can a list change a life? It’s been inspiring readers everywhere to put themselves  at the top of their own lists.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an author is hearing directly from readers about their own personal stories and how my books have inspired them to make a change, let go, or embrace something. All of my books have a lot of heart to them and so to know readers connect with them is the best feedback an author can get.

I wrote my first book The Things We Keep because I felt so alone in my grief and didn’t think any fiction book captured the journey well. I knew I wanted to change that and write a book that could be an outlet for anyone going through grief and of course, get a good book-reading experience too. When readers started writing about how the book made them feel heard in their grief, I was so humbled. I edited that book after my father had passed away, so the grief was very real and I think readers could feel that.

For The Me List, I knew I wanted readers to get inspired. As women, we take on so much. Our list for everyday life is never-ending. There are lists for kids, school, work, home, and dinner. And we often forget ourselves. I wanted my book to remind the reader not to forget themselves. That’s why I put a page where they could make their own list at the back of the book! But when I saw a reader make a video with all the things she put on her own Me List, I couldn’t stop crying. Seeing real change in real people’s lives felt so amazing. Books are powerful! I hope I get to write lots more of them.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I came on social media a few years ago with one goal to get published. No really. I read an article about a pitch contest for writers on Twitter (now x) and I thought that would be an interesting way to get in touch with agents and publishers. I had already started querying and was looking for other avenues.

My day job is a freelance writer so I’d just write whatever was in my head at the time. I was myself. And I quickly gained followers. So that’s my advice. Just be you. Be honest. Show your weirdness.

After my first book came out, I ventured into other platforms like Instagram and TikTok. There’s always a learning curve. I learned canva which is a design program that makes it easy to make posts. And I just embraced that social was a part of being an author. I don’t put pressure on myself or say I need to make a number of posts. I just let my life dictate the content. My cats and dogs sure seem to get more attention than I do. (My cat wearing a tux is still going viral on TikTok.) I love my animals and they’re a huge part of me. That’s why there’s a rescue dog in The Me List.

Social is the one place where I can control what’s said about my book. Look at it as an empowerment tool and you’ll start to see it differently.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.juleebalko.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juleebalko/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091462188154
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julee-balko-a3a80a110/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/misplacedcomma2
• Other: TikTok @juleebalko