Hi I'm Julia, and I'm glad you are here.
I live in Litruwita (Tasmania), with my three teenage daughters. I am an academic and lecturer in the field of education with a background in sociology, housing studies, and community sustainability.
valley of the shadow
Michael, my husband of nearly 28 years, died suddenly and unexpectedly in the late winter of 2021. This book is a short collection of poetry and prose that captures honest reflections about life, loss and love in the year after his death. It is a book for those who have known grief. It is for those who are grieving. It is also for anyone curious about loss or grief, or seeking to understand something about its presence in the life of others.
Praise for Valley of the Shadow
If a single book can be beautiful, visceral and also hope-filled, then Valley of the Shadow is it. Julia invites us into her very personal experience of loss and grief and does so with candour and grace. This is a book to be read slowly and savoured.
—Andrew Hamilton, author of The Future is Bivocational.
Words fail to capture the rawness, vulnerability and beauty expressed through this set of exquisite poems and reflections. Julia gives us a rare and privileged window into the reality of grief - both humbling and equipping us for our own inevitable journeys. Thank you, Julia, for your invaluable offering.
—Sarah Hudson, Associate Pastor Spiritual Formation, Stairway Church.
Julia is a true poet who captures the full spectrum of human emotions with stunning beauty and vulnerability. Her book has inspired deep reflections on life, loss, and love, uplifting my spirit towards God and the hope that shines through even our darkest moments.
—Daniel Sih, award-winning author, TEDx speaker and podcast host.
With a touch of poetic genius, Julia paints a portrait of love that defies even the boundaries of death. In the depths of her beautiful heart, Mick remains a vibrant presence, and through her poetry he is brought into ours. Through this book, we are all reminded that of the three pillars—faith, hope, and love—love reigns supreme.
—Alan and Debra Hirsch, authors of numerous books on missional spirituality.
Anchorage
To continue to explore creativity and document life in its various trivialities, joys, losses and loves, I will be posting poetry and prose on my Blog, Anchorage.
