I grew up in hot, dry Southern California, so when I had the chance to go away to college, I chose Lewis and Clark in Portland, Oregon, because I like rain and it rains there almost half the year. Then I transferred to the University of San Francisco, changed my major from Biology to English, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
I continued moving south, earning my Master’s degree (and most of a PhD) in English from the University of California, Riverside, where I stayed on teaching in the UCR Writing Program for four decades (39.7 years, to be exact). I was also an adjunct instructor at the University of Redlands, serving two years as Writing Program Director. And for about five years, I was Co- Director of the Summer Institute of the Inland Area Writing Project, bringing K-through- university teachers together to share writing strategies and explore creative projects.
So, I’m back in hot, dry Southern California; my two grown sons live in faraway places that I get to visit; and I spend my time writing fiction for kids (and still longing for rain). Fun fact: at age 50, I married my 9th grade boyfriend. My other loves are big dogs, hiking, and Tai Chi, all of which get me outside under big sky.
TRAVERTINE GULLY—Middle Grade
Winner of the 2025 SCBWI Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award
TIRFENYAN—Middle Grade Fantasy
Brett, Julia. "Going Soft." California English, Vol 16, no 1, Sept. 2010.
Brett, Julia. "Distance, Demystification, and Donne's Divine Poetry." John Donne Journal, vol 18, no 1 & 2, 1999.