Story & Lesson Highlights with Julie Navickas of Suburbs

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Julie Navickas. Check out our conversation below.

Julie, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. This past summer, I signed with my literary agent, Chip Rice of WordLink, Inc.—and it was a moment that filled me with pride. What makes it so meaningful isn’t just the signing itself, but the journey that led me there.

For nine months, I was in what many writers call the “query trenches.” I had poured my heart into three manuscripts, sent out more than 300 queries, and experienced all the near misses—requests for partials, fulls, and kind words from agents who ultimately passed. It was a season of persistence, resilience, and honestly, a lot of self-doubt.

Then, almost on a whim, I entered a Twitter (X) pitch event called #QuestPit. Out of thousands of pitches flying through the feed, one of mine caught Chip’s attention. That single “like” on a tweet became the thread that pulled everything together. After a follow-up conversation and a full manuscript request, he offered me representation.

That “yes” meant more than validation—it was proof that all those months of perseverance mattered. It reminded me that every rejection, every revision, and every late night spent writing was leading me to this opportunity. Signing with an agent wasn’t the end of the journey, but it was a milestone I’ll always be proud of, because it embodies the values I try to carry with me: grit, patience, and faith in the work.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Julie Navickas, a contemporary romance author represented by Chip Rice of WordLink, Inc. I write heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories that balance humility, humor, and heroism. My Trading Heartbeats and Clumsy Little Hearts trilogies have been recognized with a Literary Global Book Award, five first-place BookFest honors, and finalist nods from both the American Writing Awards and the Clarion Award.

Outside of the fictional worlds I create, I teach writing in the School of Communication at Illinois State University and work in corporate communications at COUNTRY Financial. With master’s degrees in organizational communication and English studies, along with a bachelor’s in public relations, I bring both academic and professional experience to my storytelling.

What truly sets my work apart is the perspective I’ve gained along the way—a former educator turned storyteller, I write with wit, warmth, and emotional resonance. My characters are genuine, the stakes are tangible, and each story is grounded in the brilliance of everyday love and redemption.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
In 4th grade, I received a Young Author’s Award for a short story I wrote called The Escape from the Fridge—a quirky little tale about vegetables banding together to avoid their fate of being eaten. It might sound funny now, but at the time, it was life-changing. That award was the very first time someone told me I was good at something, and it gave me a sense of confidence and purpose I hadn’t felt before. Looking back, that moment was the spark—it planted the seed that grew into my career as an author.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I wouldn’t call my early journey in small press publishing “suffering,” but it was certainly humbling—and it taught me lessons that success alone never could. Starting out that way gave me a front-row seat to the realities of the publishing industry: how to navigate edits, manage expectations, and most importantly, strengthen my storytelling craft. It showed me the value of resilience, of celebrating small wins, and of continuing to write even when the path forward wasn’t glamorous or guaranteed.

Those early experiences grounded me. They reminded me that success isn’t just about accolades or landing the “big yes”—it’s about growth, persistence, and the willingness to learn from every stage of the journey. Without that foundation, I don’t think I’d fully appreciate where I am today as an agented author.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
For me, it’s the belief that one day I’ll publish with one of the Big Five publishers. That’s been a dream since the very beginning of my author journey, and it’s something I’m committed to pursuing for as long as it takes. This month, my first romcom, Love & Honeybuns, goes out on submission, and I feel ready—ready for the process, ready for the waiting, and ready to see where the story lands.

I know the road to traditional publishing is rarely quick or easy, but I believe in my work, my characters, and the stories I want to share with readers. That belief, coupled with persistence, is what keeps me moving forward. Whether it happens tomorrow or years from now, I won’t stop chasing that goal.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I believe wholeheartedly in giving my all, even when the applause fades—because that quiet, uncelebrated stretch is often where real growth happens.

In my own journey, I vividly remember the electric thrill of launching my debut novel I Loved You Yesterday—celebrated with sold-out book tables, excited friends, and a room alive with applause. But what came next was the opposite: the messy middle. My second and third book launches were met with near silence. The loneliness, doubt, and invisible effort that followed could have silenced me—but instead, they refined me.

The messy middle isn’t glamorous or Instagram-worthy—it’s the stretch where motivation will wander, where consistency must step in, and where you keep showing up even when no one’s watching. That’s where the discipline is built, the stories are sharpened, and the self-belief is forged—without external validation.

What that taught me is simple but powerful: yes, I can—and I will—give everything my best, even when it’s quiet. Because mastering that silence, owning that unseen effort—that’s what turns writers into something stronger and stories into something unforgettable.

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Image Credits
Photography by Erin B.

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