Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie C. Gilbert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Julie C. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I write under Julie C. Gilbert and Ann Y. Mouse. My LLC is Aletheia Pyralis Publishers.
The middle initial in my name gives it a tad more distinguishing power since there are several other writers who are close to that name.
When I started to do teaching interviews I didn’t know if I’d have to keep it a secret from my day job, so Ann was born. For some reason, I kept sticking an e on the end of anonymous so that became a thing too.
I needed a name for my company when I went to the BookExpo in New York City ages and ages ago. One of the meanings for Aletheia is Truth (it’s Greek). Pyralis in Greek means fire. So, the company name means Truth of fire (eh, probably very loosely translated).
Julie C. , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a writer and a high school chemistry teacher. Took a convoluted path from bio teaching to chem teaching in a private school to chem teaching in a public school to chem teaching in a different public school.
Started writing when I was just about to enter college. Found out that writing and teaching pair well together.
I’ve always loved many genres, so I’ve typically written in many genres.
A few years ago, when Kindle Worlds was a thing, I got involved with Toby Neal’s Lei Crime Kindle World. That opened up a new world of writer friends and taught me that I like messing with blurbs. So, my author service-y side was born.
I also did some manuscript critiques for a few people. I don’t advertise that side much because I’m really picky about what I read.
No matter how many genres I write in or work in, the unifying theme is clean/kid friendly. That means closed door scenes (or none) and minimal curse words. Some situations warrant strong language, but casual cursing has always been a turnoff for me.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I have always enjoyed supporting other artists and seeing how they interpret my words. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with about a dozen voice actors and narrators to bring most of the collection to life as audiobooks.
I’ve also gotten to commission character art and comic books. It’s immensely satisfying to be able to work with traditional artists to see how they interpret the things I’ve written.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I like to think that I have two careers: teaching and writing. There’s not much in the way of advancement with teaching unless one is willing to jump to administration. (No thanks!)
Writing is not a fulltime gig on its own, but I have made what some consider a livable wage with it. I keep both careers because it gives me the freedom to do what I like without the financial strain and pressure of having to release certain kinds of stories on a set schedule.
I have a lot of self-imposed deadlines for Kindle Vella, but they’re just that, self-imposed. There’s no threat of not eating or paying rent or whatnot.
One of the key milestones has been making good money with Kindle Vella this year. The bonus structure is unpredictable but making money with it is still very much doable if you are willing to work hard and release a lot of episodes and keep up with the social media side.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliecgilbert.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliecgilbert_writer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieCGilbert2013/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/juliecgilbert
Image Credits
Rachel Rossano Tim Sparvero