Character Spotlight ~ Nicole Baart's Julia De Smit

And today the spotlight shines on...........................................................Julia De Smit

If you haven't read Nicole Baart's beautiful stories, you are truly missing out! Nicole writes evocatively and poetically. Hope this spotlight inspires you to pick up her books and soak them in!

Over to Nicole and Julia:~

Appearance:

Julia is a sort of “every-woman.” She’s medium height, slender but not skinny, and pretty but not beautiful. Julia thinks she’s very plain,

but don’t most women feel that way about themselves? Her hazel eyes, dark waves, and perfect skin are lovely. Since she’s only nineteen, she has that in between appeal--she’s not quite a child, not quite a woman, but there are hints of both her past and her future in her evolving appearance.

Strengths & Weaknesses:

Julia is strong and smart. The various tragedies of her life have forced her to forego idealism at a young age, but that doesn’t mean that she’s jaded. She has a realistic understanding of what she can expect out of life, but she’s not afraid to dream either.

One of Julia’s weaknesses is her perception of herself. Like many women, she has a hard time seeing herself accurately. She doesn’t give herself nearly enough credit.

Quirk:

Julia may not have many definable quirks, but she definitely finds herself in unexpected situations. Between trying her hand at smoking, accidentally killing an innocent animal, stealing street signs, and making up a completely absurd and implausible lie about her estranged mother, she manages to stumble her way through a messy young adulthood. I’m making her sound like a terrible person, but really she’s very innocent, very sweet… She’s just hurt and searching in all the wrong places for healing.

Your Inspiration for the Character:

Julia is, in many ways, the sort of person I could have been as a young woman. The Lord blessed me with a wonderful childhood and adolescence, and I didn’t have to wrestle my way through heartbreaking misfortune. But I’ve often wondered what my life would be like if I had lost a parent or felt the pain of abandonment… Julia is the product of those musings. I think she’s tenacious and lovable in spite of her almost sarcastic outlook on life. Her tough exterior is definitely a defense mechanism.

Background to the Story:

Julia is essentially orphaned at the age of sixteen. Her mother abandoned her when she was eight, and her father died of cancer when she was a teen. This coming-of-age story is about Julia wrenching hope and a future out of a life that seems unsalvageable. It’s about starting over and finding beauty amidst the ashes.

Thanks Nicole ~ really loved these thoughts on Julia :) Can't wait for your next novel.

On Thursday, join me for a spotlight on the Elizabeth and Noah, Jamie Carie's characters from her award winning debut novel, Snow Angel.

You are in for a real treat!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of After the Leaves Fall and Summer Snow

Interview with Nicole

Visit Nicole's website and blog

Buy Nicole's books at Amazon and Koorong