Although now living in Newcastle upon Tyne, Julie's working life started in Middlesbrough (as Julie Philpot), with nurse training in many hospitals. Children would feature strongly in this early working life, where, as a staff nurse on Paediatrics at Middlesbrough General Hospital, many shorter, simpler stories began, often to distract children from unpleasant procedures. When writing, Julie is surrounded by bookcases of inspiring children's books and reading more has played an important part in learning to write. This debut novel and the characters in it have allowed the crafting of a story with pathways about the past. She is currently getting to know many more characters that have been waiting in the wings and planning what they are going to get up to for further stories. Finding out that it is never too late to become an author has opened another exciting journey in life.