- Mar 1

Interview with Julia!

Ever wanted to interview Julia? I did it for you, way back in May of 2012! 😉😜 Below are her answers! Just remember, this interview was almost eleven years ago, right after the events of The Catch! And if you’d like to get access to the revealing, and often surprising, bonus questions, subscribe by Friday, March 3, 2023, and I’ll send them to you!

Stay tuned because next month (April), you can read my interview with William – including subscriber-exclusive bonus questions!

Pretty smiling redhead wearing sunglasses and a bright red shirt.

Julia, May 2012 😉

Interview with Julia Dunphy Beale

Conducted May 2012

The Basics

Age? 36

Height? 5’7”

Weight? 120

Build? Slim.

Hair color? Red.

Hair style? Long, straight, no bangs. Sometimes I curl it or make “beachy waves.”

Eye color? Grayish-green.

Eye Shape? On the smaller side, and downturned slightly at outer corners.

Glasses or contact lenses? No.

Which facial feature is most prominent? I’m probably most famous for my big smile. I have a slight overbite, despite all the orthodontists’ best efforts. Also, I have lots of freckles.

Which bodily feature is most prominent? Besides my red hair and my big smile? I’m probably most vain of my butt. It’s pretty cute, if I say so myself. And I do. 😉

Skin? Very pale with lots of freckles, like most natural redheads!

Hands? Yes, please. 😜

Make up? I don’t wear tons of makeup, but I do usually wear mascara and some eyebrow pencil. Otherwise I’d look like Queen Elizabeth I. 😀 Also, I usually put on a little colored lip gloss or something like that.

Tattoos? No.

Type of clothes? I guess I used to dress pretty boho / vintage / thrift store when I was a teenager. Don’t get me wrong, I still loves me some good thrift store finds; and I still sew a lot of my own clothes. But I don’t think I can pull off as many of the bohemian looks any more, and I’m not even sure I want to! These days, my style icon would probably be more Zooey Deschanel, and less Olsen Twins. 😂

Mannerisms? I smile a lot. 😀

Are you more optimistic or pessimistic? I’m definitely a glass half full kind of girl, by nature.

Are you introverted or extroverted? I’m probably an “ambivert.” I’m very friendly, and I enjoy being around people. Most people would probably guess I’m an extrovert, but at the end of the day, I’d rather have a few close friends than a whole gaggle of acquaintances.

Do you ever put on airs? I sure hope not! I may have married (and divorced) a multi-millionaire, but I try to stay grounded in where I came from.

What makes you laugh out loud? So many things – I love to laugh! My sister Alison. My cousin Holly. My Uncle Rob used to crack me up all the time, Goddess rest his soul. The comedian Eddie Izzard. Monty Python. The movies Groundhog Day and The Money Pit. Human foibles.

Do you like to show affection?I love to show affection! I’m definitely a hugger. I kiss my relatives and my female friends (on the cheek). I even kiss some of my male friends. I love doing thoughtful things for the people I love. I like sewing, knitting, and crocheting handmade gifts. I love putting time and effort into planning fun surprises for people.

How do you see yourself? I see myself as a quirky oddball. One part artsy, one part science nerd. I think I’m a good person overall. At least I always mean well, and I try to do the right thing; but I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes that have hurt other people (and myself). I try not to self-flagellate over my past. Instead, I try to learn from my mistakes and use those painful lessons to do better going forward.

Strongest character trait? I’m very loving and affectionate. I’m also very tolerant and accepting of all kinds of people, except people who aren’t very tolerant and accepting. 😉

How competitive are you? I’m surprisingly competitive! It often gets me in trouble during card games. 😱

Do you make snap judgements or take time to consider? I can be spontaneous about the little things (what shall we do today?). But when it comes to the big life decisions, I ponder until my ponderer is pondered out.

How do you react to praise? I act modest on the surface, but inside I’m squealing. 😊

How do you react to criticism? I’ll admit, sometimes I get a little too butt-hurt by criticism. I really do try hard to graciously accept constructive criticism, though.

What is your greatest fear? Like any mom, my greatest fear is that something bad will happen to my kids. I’m especially worried about Paige. She inherited the family mental health genes. 😔

What is your philosophy of life? Be kind to everyone, and laugh as often as possible!

When was the last time you cried? Just the other day, when Will told me he loves me.

What haunts you? The decisions I made which parted me from Will.

What will you stand up for? My kids. Women’s rights. LGBT+ rights. Mental health advocacy. The environment.

Who do you quote? Eleanor Roosevelt, Uncle Rob, and Monty Python. 😜

Are you indoorsy or outdoorsy? Both equally!

What is your sinful little habit? I love to watch Project Runway. My fantasy is to be a contestant on that show. But that’s really not all that sinful, is it? 🤔 I’ll have to get back to you!

What sense do you most rely on? My sense of humor. 😉

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I could stop overthinking things. It’s caused me (and others) too much misery. 😢

What are your pet peeves? People who think they’re entitled to something extra because they have more money, come from a certain family, went to a certain college, live in a certain neighborhood, drive a certain car. etc. 🤮

What are your idiosyncrasies? I almost always wear a scarf and a hat, everywhere I go. It’s my trademark. 😀 👒 🧣

Do you have any pets? Of course – my fish! 🐠

Did you grow up nurtured or neglected? My parents worked all the time, running their restaurant. But I was very nurtured by my Uncle Rob and Tim.

What was your first kiss like? It was everything I ever hoped and dreamed it would be, and then some. 😊

What is the worst thing you did to someone you loved? Broke his heart, twice. 😢💔 It’s easily the biggest regret if my life.

What advice would you give your younger self? Stop overthinking everything, and stop trying to control every single variable and outcome in your life. Learn to just go with the flow a bit more, and trust that things will be fine, even if they’re not exactly what you wanted them to be.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Not really, but I will say I felt struck by lightning the first time I saw Will. Or maybe I should say the first time I noticed him. Apparently we had two classes together at Holy Cross, but he sat in the back and he rarely spoke, so he kind of blended in. Anyway, when I noticed him that first time in Cardone’s, I thought, “Whoa.” So I guess you could say I was attracted to him from the start, but it took a while for me to fall in love. It came on pretty gradually.

Are you in a relationship? Um… as of a few days ago, I guess I am! 😉

How do you behave in a relationship? I love being affectionate, holding hands, kissing… all the things. 😊 And I love to do thoughtful, spontaneous things to make him smile.

What is your current job? I just re-opened Uncle Rob and Tim’s aquarium shop, which closed over twenty years ago when Tim died and Rob got too sick to work anymore. I’m so excited to see where this goes and what I can make of it!

What are some of your past jobs? My first job was in my Uncle Rob and Tim’s aquarium shop. I pretty much lived there from the time I can remember anything at all. They taught me everything they knew, and started paying me (under the table) for my labor when I was twelve.

My first adult job was being a stay-at-home mom to my daughter Paige. I have a degree in marine biology, but those plans didn’t quite work out… it’s a long story. Anyway, after Kevin and I separated the first time, I went to work as a legal secretary and eventually worked my way up to being a paralegal. But after Kevin and I finally divorced, I decided it was finally time to do something for myself for a change, and that’s when I reopened Castro Aquarium Service.

What are your hobbies? I love to sew, and to keep saltwater aquariums! Recently, my friend Savreen helped me rediscover my love for dancing.

What is your favorite animal? Whales, and my fish. But I love all animals!

What place would you most like to visit? Ireland, the land of my ancestors.

What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? My children. Will. And a blue whale. 🐳 😍

Who or what is your guardian angel? My Uncle Rob, and my Gran.

Do you believe in the afterlife? I’d like to believe there’s an afterlife; I’m just not sure I do. I have to admit, I’d be really bummed if there’s not one. I’d like to see my Uncle Rob and Tim and my Gran again.

What are your religious views? I was raised Catholic, but I’m agnostic at this point in life.

Are you superstitious? Not really, but I do carry around this polished cross-section of watermelon tourmaline that my Uncle Rob gave me just before he died. In a book about crystal magic that I inherited from him, I learned that it’s meant to unblock barriers to the heart. He gave it to me when I first told him about Will, and my fear of falling in love with him.

What is your zodiac sign? Scorpio ♏️😱😉

What is your alcoholic drink of choice? I do loves me a gimlet!! 🍹

What or who would you dress up as for Halloween? A mermaid, of course! 😅🧜‍♀️ Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday! It’s when I get to exercise my powers as a costume designer and makeup artist. In the past, I’ve also dressed up as a fairy, Columbia from Rocky Horror Picture Show, Poison Ivy, The Queen of Hearts, Daphne from Scooby Doo, Mera from Aquaman, and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. And stay tuned for my Halloween costume this year! I’ll just give a little hint – I’m going along with my son Robert’s pirate obsession this year!

BONUS QUESTIONS!!

Would you like to read the subscriber-exclusive bonus questions for Julia, complete with surprising, never-before-revealed details about Julia and teasers for the upcoming sequel? Would you like to read William’s interview next month – including subscriber-exclusive bonus questions for him?

It’s not too late!! Subscribe to my monthly newsletter by Friday, March 3, 2023, and I will send you the March issue with subscriber-exclusive bonus questions for Julia, including: