Introducing Julie’s debut novel: Magic To Memphis
Julie Starr discusses her first fiction book – and how the experience of writing relates to her work as a coach and mentor.
What is Magic To Memphis about?
It’s a tale of a teenage runaway named Jessie, living rough in America’s Midwest with just a pit bull dog for company. She’s a musician, desperate to make it big in that industry – plus figure out the mess which has become her life. She’s got it pretty tough. As sometimes happens in life, things get a whole lot worse first and her journey becomes an experience that changes her forever.
What inspired you to write it?
Writing books in the coaching and mentoring field has been a wonderful thing to do; and yet really I always yearned to write a novel. Since very young, I’ve always written stories, including a novella when I was a teenager. Jessie is a character I couldn’t ignore. Her quest to reach Memphis, to find her father – to find herself – became totally compelling for me.
Is there a central message for your readers?
The subtitle, ‘What if your life is working from the inside out?’, suggests that the state of our lives is no accident; no coincidence. Jessie meets a stranger who tells her about ‘everyday magic’, but she rejects it as garbage. Then, over time, she sees that how her life is working out has a lot to do with her choices in the moment. There’s also a playful idea of synchronicity.
Do you think other coaches will interpret the book in a different way?
Any coach will see the positive messages in there. It’s a story of taking responsibility and deciding to make a difference in your own life. Coaches have access to a pretty unique window on the world, so I’m fairly sure they’ll recognise the synergy in the messages.
MAGIC TO MEMPHIS IS PUBLISHED BY RUFF DOG BOOKS >
How did your coaching experiences inform your writing?
My one-to-one work with people helped the characters come to life, walk around in my head and then onto the page. The work coaches do is so personal – intimate, even – that we obtain a unique perspective on humanness: hopes and fears, dark thoughts, what moves us, inspires us, etc. Any story is strengthened by the characters’ ability to engage the reader’s interest, so my time as a coach really helped.
How did the experience compare with writing your coaching books?
It’s been rewarding in a different way from writing business texts. There’s a little more magic involved in creative writing, a little more ‘gosh – how did that show up?’. I stand back from the story now, with its dark and light, twists and turns, unexpected events… and I’m still not sure where all of that came from! The story began to tumble out… then stalled… then tumbled… all depending on what was going on with me and work and life at the time. For me, that’s how it is; my writing is a reflection of so many other things that are going on.
Did you seek coaching support of your own, while writing?
Without writing coaches and mentors, I simply couldn’t have done this. The difference between writing for a business reader and writing for someone’s entertainment turned out to be vast – much more of a transition that I imagined. Basically, I had to learn to write all over again, so I engaged the services of more than one writing coach. I had experience as a writer, but my skills simply didn’t meet the requirements of fiction. It’s an art; a craft honed over time and with help – so I turned to other writers and writing coaches for support and guidance. I also studied creative writing by attending courses, lectures, seminars etc. Getting tough feedback was hard, but ultimately I learnt invaluable lessons about what works and what doesn’t.
You’ve chosen to donate proceeds from your book to three charities. Why?
They’re fairly small charities in India, all of which help street children and orphans there. Funded by the generosity of others, children at risk are fed, clothed, healed and educated. An incredibly positive cycle develops, as children are supported to become independent adults, then naturally give back to the system that enabled them to live as free, healthy and productive people. A few years ago I was lucky to visit one of the orphanages on Christmas Day and that was both humbling and inspiring. Having seen first-hand the work that a handful of individuals are doing, I felt compelled to help. If you saw the conditions, realised the need, I think you’d want to help, too. Giving doesn’t need to be a grand gesture, it simply needs to be a gesture – a little goes a long way over there. The charities are: Food For Life Vrindavan, Children Of Mother Earth (COME International) and Ramana’s Garden Children’s Home.
MAGIC TO MEMPHIS IS AVAILABLE VIA AMAZON >
How has your charitable giving influenced your life and work?
It puts things in perspective when I become egoic about the apparent pressures of what I’m doing, how hard I’m working, etc. It reminds me that, actually, my suffering is either totally imagined or totally self-created. For children living rough on the streets, hungry, isolated and at risk, the pressures of life really do include survival. I don’t want people to feel bad about that, but we need to consider what we can do to help reduce suffering. I believe we all benefit from that.
How do you feel about your book now that it’s on sale?
It was an unexpected delight, and the enjoyment of it stays with me now. I’m happier for having written it. It feels like something that needed to be expressed has been expressed. Walking around with a creative urge that is going unmet is incredibly frustrating and ultimately builds up resentment – for me, anyway. I’ve already begun my next novel, which will be published in the first half of 2015.
Julie founded Starr Coaching in 1995 – and nearly 20 years later, remains passionate about creating real change for individuals and businesses. Want to know more? Get in touch.
