“I see myself being bolder in my writing in the future and starting to incorporate other people’s stories into my blog as well.”
— Julia Aziz
A member of the Writers’ League since September 2018, Julia lives in Austin, TX.
Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?
Julia Aziz: Creative nonfiction, self-help and memoir.
Scribe: What author would you most like to have a drink with, and what’s the first question you would ask them?
JA: I had a hard time with this question because I am pretty fascinated by most people, so I’d be happy to get to know pretty much anyone! Off the top of my head today, I think it would be fun to talk with Clarissa Pinkola Estes about her ideas on reclaiming the wildness within.
Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?
JA: The Tao Te Ching.
Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers’ League?
JA: It’s great to see so many resources and ways to connect with other local writers.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
JA: That’s a good question. I think my next step is to take the risk of being more vulnerable and to share my writing more frequently. Working on a book was in some ways easier because I could write for months (and years!) without anyone reading it. I didn’t have to face the self-doubt and self-consciousness until the book was in its final stages of editing. But with the blog I just started, those demons are hanging out all the time. I see myself being bolder in my writing in the future and starting to incorporate other people’s stories into my blog as well. As for book writing, after writing a book about birth, I am now drawn to writing a book about death and dying. I am a former hospice chaplain, and I would love to share some of the beautiful teachings that experience offered me. That book may take a while though, as right now I am focused on working with women struggling with self-care in my private counseling practice, leading integrative wellness groups in the community, and raising three kids!
Scribe: Here at the Writers’ League, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one Texas-related book that has come out within the past year that you couldn’t put down?
JA: I love to read the poetry of Laurie Filipelli. Her latest book is Girl Paper Stone.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
JA: I’d love to share my website, where you can find my new blog, my book Lessons of Labor: One Woman’s Self-Discovery Through Birth & Motherhood (MSI Press: 2015) and details about my counseling practice in Austin. The address is www.juliaaziz.com
Thank you, Julia!
If you’re a Writers’ League member and you’d be interested in being interviewed for our Meet the Members feature, email us at member@writersleague.org for more information. It’s a great way for other members to get to know you and for you to share a bit about what you’re working on!
