Middle grade author Julie A. Swanson joins the Spotlight to discuss her latest novel

Author Name: Julie A. Swanson

Book Title: North of Tomboy

Book Genre: middle grade historical, coming-of-age

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Publisher: SparkPress

Welcome, Jule! How would you describe North of Tomboy?

Despite her oppressive Midwest Catholic upbringing on a rural Michigan lake in the early 70s, a shy, gender-confused fourth grader, Jess Jezowski, finally manages–through the help of a baby doll she turns into a boy and who then becomes sort of like her alter ego–to express the boy side of herself. But “Mickey” proves to be her little Frankenstein…

What sparked the idea for this book?

My childhood, feeling different from everyone else, misunderstood, and wanting to explain myself to people, finally express how I felt.

How long did it take for you to write the book? Did you do any research?

I started writing this book over 38 years ago, first as a picture book. But after taking a couple courses in children’s literature, the first of which was aimed at finding out what type of writing you’re best suited for, I quickly found out that that I wasn’t meant to write short things, that writing picture books is not only much harder than it looks, but that I also wanted to go deeper than you can in a PB. Yes, I did lots of research. The story is set in the early70s, and although I lived through that time as a kid, I didn’t remember the details of what was going on in the news and all–when Happy Meals first came out or certain toys, etc.–and I wanted to get those details right.

What drew you to writing a novel aimed at a middle grade audience?

Well, I’ve always loved middle grade books, and I read the most at that age–in fifth grade, I read hundreds of books. That was also when I could’ve most used a book like North of Tomboy. As I said answering the question above, at first I thought this was a picture book, but I learned that I was not a PB writer, was better suited for novel writing–middle grade and/or YA …It was suggested to me more than once that this story could be YA or adult or memoir, but I couldn’t find a story like this when I was a kid, and I was really looking for one like it. Young adults and adults have already made it through this part of their life; kids in middle grade are right in the middle of it and could use any help they can get. They could use the support of knowing they’re not alone, that they’re not the only person in the world to ever feel or think as they do.

What’s your favorite part about writing/being an author? What do you find challenging?

I have two favorite parts of being a writer. One is at the very beginning of a story when I’m just pouring it out and having the fun of writing everything I want to say/tell the way I want to say/tell it–not having to think of editing it. And the other part is at the very end, when the story is out there in the world after all the hard work of writing it, and you hear back from readers who liked your book, who really connected with your story. That is so meaningful because that’s my goal from the very beginning, to share something and hope it helps someone or is enjoyable to them.

If you were speaking to someone who hasn’t read your writing before, why should they want to read North of Tomboy?

Well, I don’t like the word “should,” but why might they want to read it, what about it did I find interesting that I would spend such a long time writing it? I think of North of Tomboy as a peek into a kid’s brain and soul. I tried to be as honest and vulnerable as possible, to really remember how I thought and felt back when I was Jess’s age and hold nothing back, no matter how hard it would’ve been at the time to reveal the way I felt/thought to others at the time. I wanted the story to be innocent, with few pretenses, just kind of the raw, blunt truth of who Jess felt she was. For me, personally, I love those kind of stories, where you feel like you’re reading about a 100% authentic character, even if he/she is an unreliable narrator. I don’t mind someone being unaware or mistaken or confused, so long as that’s their true level of consciousness at the time and they’re not intentionally lying or exaggerating.

Fans of which authors or books might gravitate toward your book?

Fans of Kacen Callender (Hurricane Child, King and the Dragonflies), Lin Thompson (The Best Liars in Riverview, The House that Whispers), Kyle Lukoff (Too Bright to See), Alex Gino (Melissa), Jess Callans (Ollie in Between)

What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

I hope that they get that the world–and your gender–isn’t as black-n-white as some might make it seem it is, or “should” be. You don’t have to be a girl or a boy, either masculine or feminine. You can be both at the same time, in some ways masculine and in other ways feminine. Or you can be masculine sometimes, and feminine other times. You can also feel like neither. You don’t have to find a label for yourself. And if you do, or have already, you can change your mind! Things aren’t set in stone, fixed and decided for all time. People often change. So be patient, don’t rush to a judgement on yourself, feel like you have to decide who or what you are at 10 or 11 or 12 or whatever age you might be. And don’t let anyone tell you what you are, or that who/what you are is wrong. Don’t feel you have to be fake to be “right” (for them). Be right for you, be true to yourself. Be the way that makes you feel good inside. Every morning just wake up and be who you honestly feel you are that day. If that changes, if you feel differently, if you one day know, that’s fine. But you don’t have to know exactly or have a word for what you are either. You can just be your own kind of girl or boy, or neither or both, or just your own weird indescribable but loveable you! A person, a human–a brave, growing, living, always changing YOU.

What about the writing/editing/publishing process has been the most surprising to you so far?

How difficult it is to get published.

Any words of wisdom you give your pre-published writer self (or to a new writer)?

Be ready to be patient! Don’t expect to make much money, but it will still be worth all the time you put into it. Trust your own instincts when it comes to editorial advice on what your story should be; only you know.

What are your interests outside of writing and reading?

I like being active outside, creating things, and spending time with my family. When I say “active,” I mean taking long walks and bike rides, swimming, doing yardwork… When I say “creating things,” I mean anything from drawing to painting to glass tile mosaic projects to woodworking to working with clay, DIY home improvement projects…

Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it. 

Right now, I’m working on cleaning up the next book in this series that I’ve written, of which North of Tomboy is the first. In that story, Jess is in sixth and seventh grade. I’ve also got a few other non-writing projects going, the biggest and most time consuming being designing a new house we want to build.

What was the last book you read? What did you think of it?

Snapdragon, by Kat Leyh. What an interesting and strange story. Although graphic novels aren’t usually my thing, I really liked this one. At first I thought the girl on the cover was some sort of half-deer, half-kid creature (again, not my thing, but I decided to give it a try because I’d read that there was something gender-related about the story), so I was surprised to find out it was just a girl who has some puffy hair she puts up in creative ways and not antlers of some sort. There is a deer in the second half of the story, but it’s not like Snapdragon identifies with the deer. Anyway, everything about this book is original and fresh and unexpected. I can just about guarantee that you’ve never read anything like this. It’s one-of-a-kind, both in terms of characters and plot. Hard to describe without giving away more than I want to…

Where can readers find you? 

My website–https://www.julieswanson.com

My blog–https://julieaswanson.wordpress.com

Facebook:

my Personal Page–

https://www.facebook.com/julie.a.swanson.9/

my Author Page–https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559291484296

Instagram– https://www.instagram.com/jules9swanson/

Bluesky– https://bsky.app/profile/jules9swan.bsky.social

*I have some podcasts/radio shows coming up, might be able to post them on my website or blog soon.

EVENTS

Leelanau UnCaged, an outdoor art festival in Northport, Michigan, on Saturday, September 27th from 11 am. to 10 pm. I’ll be sharing a table with fellow author Barbara Stark-Nemon. https://www.leelanauuncaged.com

The Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL) Fall Conference in Williamsburg, VA, November 5 – 7

Williamsburg Lodge

310 S England St 

Williamsburg Virginia 23185    

Tel. 757-271-5635

I’ll be presenting Thursday, November 6 from 1-1:45 pm, and signing books right after at 2 pm. It sounds like there may be chances to do book-signings on the other days as well.

*I have other events that are still in the planning stages (bookstore, library, and school author events), visit my website Events page for updates: https://www.julieswanson.com

Thank you, Julie! North of Tomboy is out now.

North of Tomboy

For fans of Kacen Callender, Lin Thompson, and Kyle Lukoff, comes a middle grade novel set in 1973 about a child who feels more boy than girl and is frustrated that people act blind to that when—except for her stupid hair and clothes—it should be obvious!

Shy fourth grader Jess Jezowski turns the tables on her mom when she’s given yet another girly baby doll for Christmas. This time, instead of ignoring or destroying it, she transforms it into the boy she’s always wanted to be—a brave, funny little guy named Mickey. Making him talk, Jess finally lets the boy in her express himself.

But when Mickey evolves to become something more like an alter ego whose voice drowns out her own and the secret of him escapes the safety of her family, Jess realizes Mickey’s too limited and doesn’t allow the boy part of her a big enough presence in the world. She must find a way to blend him into her—so she can be that side of herself anywhere, around anyone.

Jess tries to wean herself from the crutch of Mickey’s loud, comical persona, and to get her family to forget about him, but she struggles to do both. What will it take for her to stop hiding behind Mickey and get people to see her for who she truly is? Based on the author’s experience growing up on Michigan’s rural Leelanau Peninsula in the ’70s, North of Tomboy includes artwork throughout.

Author Bio:

Julie A. Swanson grew up on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, the setting for this story. As a kid, she enjoyed exploring the great outdoors, building forts, playing pretend games, writing and illustrating poems and stories, woodworking, sports, art, and reading . . . but she could never find books about anyone who was as uncomfortable being a girl as she was, who loved a sport to the extent she did, or who had a Polish last name like hers (Polakowski). So she decided she would one day write those books. Now an author of middle grade and young adult novels, Julie lives in Virginia.