Julie Brown is the author and creator of the literary composition; The Brownstone Series. 
Throughout the series, Julie explores the spiritual landscape of our world. Ancient teachings surface in this modern-day romance giving us profound insights, linking the human and the divine. 

Having lost my brother, my hero, at the age of 17, I thought the world I lived in was cruel. Fear set in. I set my camera down and walked away from my childhood dreams. A few years ago, I was rifling through old photos, letters and newspaper clippings of my brother's life. He clearly had passion, the very thing I had been lacking. When I was finally willing to acknowledge my grief without judgment, I began to study ancient teachings brought to life by some of our greatest writers. My curiosity could not be quenched and the obsession began. I posed some of my most difficult questions about life and the hereafter. 

Armed with little experience other than a degree in Religious Studies I took on the task of writing. My characters quickly came to life. I had to know what happened next. I was surprised the story unfolded into three books. Not only that; I started taking pictures again. This time through a new filter, a beautiful perception of the world around me. 

Desperate for a change in scenery and determined to live a simpler life, Julie moved to Vermont with two invaluable possessions, her laptop and her Nikon camera. It was there that she published, the first two novels in the Brownstone Series.

My creative process

After the mysterious death of her parents, Lili moves to New York City with her brother, Grayson, to pursue a career in dance. The brownstone represents the security we all long for. It is not just a home to rest your head, it is a community of people supporting one another. That is something we can't live without, each other. 

Lili is best known for her generosity and her natural instinct to help others but I enjoyed writing her darker side. It was important for me to explore those aspects of her personality. We all carry light and darkness within us but making choices when you don't see the light is a tricky thing. Hopelessness in my opinion is the darkest place that exists and I discovered through Lili's journey it is often conquered through enlightened forces. I won't lie to you, Lili had to face her demons, which I portray as her own thoughts about life, but as soon as she did and accepted responsibility for her perceptions she was on a new path. 

Her financial status makes some of my readers believe that because Lili has money she couldn't possibly have any problems. We discover how untrue that is. You can have all the money in the world but when your passion dies it loses the usefulness that it was intended to have. The money will maintain her existence but without inspiration it will not help her create something new and that's really what she needs to survive. 

Terence Begley is a character I named after an elementary classmate. I never intended for Terrence to have much of a back-story. He was a secondary character that served one purpose only, to love our Lili. Yet, when I began to write, all of these Irish characters kept popping up. Before long we know his family and embrace them as our own. 

Keith Brown is a character I created and named after my brother.  Keith worked in the diverse performing spaces of Minneapolis, St Paul as an actor, director, stand-up comedian and ensemble theatre member.  He died when he was 30 years-old. Keith was full of life and passion.  He played the guitar and had the voice of a songbird.  My fondest memories of Keith involved his humor and his impersonations. He was hilarious. His personality was contagious and you just felt good being around him. 

Keith went to college in Buffalo, New York earning a Bachelor's in the Arts. I imagined him having lunch with friends and wondered what they would be discussing. Many of my reflections were formed into chapters at the pub. Especially the Shakespearean chapter when he calls Lili out in front of a restaurant full of people. 

Keith cracks me up in this book just like he did when I was young. I'm thankful that today I can look back on his life and find myself filled with complete joy at his memory. Although my grief has shaped the person I am today I wouldn't trade if for anything. If I had, this book would have never been written.