A Conversation with Julia London, Author of One Season of Sunshine

One Season of Sunshine is about a woman who goes in search of her biological mother. What made you want to write about adoption?

I wanted to write about self-discovery, because I find that very interesting. Knowing who you are is a lifelong process. But people like me have an advantage—I know my family history and how that has played into who I am today. I got the idea to tackle adoption when I read an article about a woman who was visiting Austin because she had discovered Texas was where she was born. She didn’t know who had given birth to her, she didn’t know anything but that she was born in Texas, and she had come here to soak up the Texas vibe. It was remarkable to me that someone who had no more of a past than that would cling to the smallest detail to glean what she could from it. It seemed to me to be the ultimate self-challenge.

Are any of your characters based on real people?

I think all my characters have bits and pieces of people I have known in them—including a few choice fragments from me—but none of them are based wholly on actual, living people. Most of my friends and family are fairly steady people without a lot of issues to really sink my teeth into.

Jane faces challenges with two kids who are struggling with the loss of their mother. How difficult was that to write?

I think loss is a pretty universal thing, and it doesn’t matter how young or old a person it is; it has such a profound effect on our souls. Writing Riley and Levi was difficult only in that it is sometimes hard for me to write about loss, because it dredges up memories and feeling from my personal losses. But at the same time, we can all relate to it, and like love, it is something that binds us together.

What is your writing process? How long does it take you to write a book like One Season of Sunshine?

It generally takes me about nine months from the point the book is conceived to the point my editor sends it off to be typeset. I find that I am much slower in the beginning of a book. I am thinking of the plot, of the characters and who they are, and where they are going. I often throw out a lot of the writing I start with, because the characters and plot improve as I write. Or perhaps I should say it is my hope they will improve as I write. As for my writing process, there is one truth I have discovered after writing some twenty plus books: Not every book is the same, but the middle of every book is where I really begin to question my choice of vocations. The beginning and end is usually fairly clear to me, but that middle just sucks the life right out of me.

What is your inspiration when you write?

My inspiration comes from so many things it is hard to give credit to one. I find music of all kinds to be a great inspiration. A melody or a lyric can fire my imagination. Exercise is another. Endorphins fuel my thoughts—I tend to work out scenes and dialogue when I am exercising. Reading is also a great inspiration. It’s totally organic, but there is something about absorbing words from a page that help me form my thoughts and ideas. I don’t really understand how that works, but it does.

What is your favorite hobby?

I have a three year old, a husband, and a puppy living in my house. I guess they are my hobby, because they don’t leave much time for anything else. The closest I come to a hobby is running, but I would debate whether or not I could call it a hobby. I think torture is a more appropriate term. I think hobbies should be something one enjoys, and I do not enjoy running. It’s hard and it’s hot in Texas. But as hard as it is, it gets me out of my chair and keeps me challenged. I ran my first 10k race this spring, so I guess some good comes from all things after all.

What do you like to read?

I read so many different types of books. I don’t care for thrillers, and while I do like suspense, it is not usually my first choice. I am a member of a bookclub, and that group has opened my eyes to books I never would have read on my own and some wines I never would have drunk. It’s a great group. I read mostly fiction, but I read some non-fiction, too. If I could read anything at any time, it would probably be a character-driven piece of fiction. For some reason, human dysfunction is as much fun for me to read as it is for me to write.

Are you an indoor or outdoor person? Mountains or beach?

I am definitely an outdoor person. In Texas, you can play outdoors year round. I get restless if I go for too many days without being in sunlight. And I would choose mountains over beach. Water is great, but I prefer hiking and horseback riding and fireplaces to surfing and bike riding and fire pits.