Meet Our Writer—Sheila Julson

Where did you grow up? What schools did you attend? Other than a brief stint in Detroit, I’ve lived in Milwaukee for most of my life, attending Fernwood Elementary and Bay View High. As for continuing education, I’ve taken classes at MATC, UW-Milwaukee, and Alverno College.

When did you become interested in being a writer? I’ve had a passion for writing for as long as I can remember being alive. As a child, I folded and taped paper together to form little books, and wrote stories and drew accompanying pictures-it was my own line of Little Golden Books.

Besides your work for the Compass, what do you write? I primarily write short-story and novel-length fiction. After what feels like 50 (okay, maybe 25) rewrites, I’m currently peddling my latest novel around to agents. I’ve also dabbled in memoir and genre fiction. 

What is your idea of a perfect vacation? I’m more of an adventure traveler. I consider any vacation perfect when I can immerse myself in regional cultures, have a drink with the locals, or go off the beaten path.

Why do you write for a community newspaper? Each story seems to lead me to an intriguing personality or unique business that helps build a great feeling of connection with the community.

When you were a child, what did you dream about doing as an adult? I wanted to be Wonder Woman. Who wouldn’t want to fly around in an invisible airplane and hang out with Superman? Oh, and a writer.

What is your conception of bliss? Bliss would be a world where people are civil to each other and to animals-without being forced to or told to do so.

Were you a daydreamer in school? Did it ever get you in trouble with your teachers? Yes, I was a daydreamer, but what actually got me in trouble with a couple teachers was telling tall tales. The dog that ate my homework was a stray puppy I rescued from an evil troll who had lived in my alley and while accomplishing the heroic feat I slipped on a banana peel and my homework flew from my hands and right into the puppy’s mouth…the teachers never bought it.

What is your favorite cuisine or what do you like to cook? I experiment with different veggie entrees. I eat very little fast food or processed food, and I’m learning more about the slow foods movement. I agree with the concept that food should be enjoyed and shared with family and friends-not shoved in the mouth while on the run.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Not knowing when to stop with rewrites. I often reread my work and think of additional layers to add to characters or more elements to weave into plotlines. I never feel quite finished with my works. I still go back and self-critique a reminiscent memoir that had been published in 1997.

What do you do in your free time? Read, write, walk my dog, get together with friends. I also have rotating hobbies that I pick up from time to time-sewing, gardening, and some new ones I’m trying to learn. I hope to add diving to the list.

If you could change the world, how would you change it? The best commercial I’ve seen on TV in recent years was for Absolut Vodka and depicted a pending riot. When the melee broke out, the cops and the citizens fought each other with feather pillows. If only…

What writers have most inspired you? Who are some of your favorite writers? I went from a Judy Blume fan as a kid (a relative had bought Blume’s Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great for me because it had my name in the title) to Stephen King in high school to Carl Hiaasen, Carole Nelson Douglas, Michael Perry, Sara Gruen, and Nick Hornby in my adult years. I also like the works of humorists Sarah Vowell, David Sedaris, and Sparrow. And President Obama wrote a couple of powerful books before he landed his current gig.

If you could meet one writer, living or dead, who would it be? It would be interesting to talk to Carl Hiaasen not only to get his take on writing, but also because he’s a columnist for the Miami Herald and his books all have a strong messages entwined throughout regarding Florida’s overdevelopment and the environmental issues south Florida faces. I also think F. Scott Fitzgerald would have been an interesting person to sit down and have a drink with.