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If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a brand-new novelist takes a big, brave swing—tackling history, identity, community, and book bans all in one story—this episode is for you.

Today on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by Julie Snider, a retired public school teacher near Sacramento who now writes both fiction and nonfiction with a big-hearted focus on social justice and connection. 

Julie’s debut novel, Chapel Bay Secrets (released January 2026), is set in a small town where the secrets don’t belong to just one person—they ripple through an entire community.

Julie shares how the seed of this novel was planted years ago, when she visited the site of the Tule Lake Internment Camp in Northern California. She describes walking through cold, dirty barracks and feeling shocked that Japanese American incarceration during World War II wasn’t something she’d been taught growing up. 

That moment stayed with her—“like an arrow through my heart,” as she puts it—and eventually became part of the emotional backbone of her story. As Julie researched further, she also learned more about intergenerational trauma, and how the impact of incarceration can be carried through families for decades.

From there, Julie built a “layer cake” of characters and issues—centered on her protagonist Brenda Cato, a Japanese American lesbian librarian whose mother was incarcerated. Brenda is grappling with grief on the anniversary of her mother’s death, and she’s also searching for a father she never knew—because her mother died without telling her who he was. And then there’s the catalyst that brings everything into sharp focus: Brenda is suddenly facing a book ban at her library.

Julie talks about how the intensity of book bans in the early 2020s fueled her anger as a former educator—and how she did her homework by connecting with librarians and staying informed through the research shared by others in her network. 

Even with heavy material, Julie intentionally brought in humor, warmth, and everyday life—quirky characters, a best friend with a sharp sense of humor, and yes, a romance that blossoms when Brenda meets someone on a run. 

Julie also shares her process behind the scenes: color-coded timelines, lots of revision, and the moment her developmental editor told her, “I can’t believe you made it to the end.”

We talk self-publishing, cover design choices (no faces—so readers can imagine!), and Julie’s belief that books are written and shared in community. If you love thoughtful, genre-blending stories with heart, history, and hope, you’ll love this conversation.

Learn more about Julie and her work at https://juliesniderauthor.com/ and subscribe to her Substack, Impermanent Joy.