We had the good fortune of connecting with Juliet James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juliet, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
This is hard because there are so many amazing books out there, but Summer Sisters by Judy Blume is a personal favorite. It’s one of Judy Blume’s adult novels. It is also the very first hardcover book I ever bought. I was working with toddlers in a daycare center at the time, and I wasn’t making a lot of money by any reasonable measure. However, I’d just moved and gotten a significant raise from my previous job (same type, different state and center). So it was a splurge (it helped that it was 25% off at the time!).

Why I love it, though, is the same reason I loved Judy Blume as a kid. She writes the things so many of us think, but so few of us will ever dare to share with anyone, let alone write. Her writing is always raw and real. The characters feel like people you know by the end of a book of hers, and their anxieties, idiosyncrasies, etc are always relatable to at least some degree.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write about things that matter to me. Much of that has to do with activism related to weight bias/stigma. A major challenge in all of this has been being honest, but also remembering that I don’t owe anyone pieces of myself. I can share what I choose, and I do not have to share every detail of my life. I owe that to my first editor at HuffPost Personals, Noah Michaelson. I was oversharing in my original piece, and there were details that were very raw, and yes, very honest… but also more personal, and not really anyone’s business. Noah helped me by editing that piece in a way that really helped me to honor my desire to be honest, while also protecting parts of myself that I didn’t even realize I needed to protect.

I also love taking photos and sharing them, whether of just regular life or of our travels or our family. If you follow my Instagram, you’ll see a mix of these photos, plus activism, and a LOT of pics of our adorable dog Yogi. I love to cook when I am up to it. I’ve had fibromyalgia for 20 years as of November 2021, and I share a lot about life as someone with chronic pain – and the struggles that come with that.

Life in a body that society reviles isn’t always easy. But I love my life. I love my husband, I have wonderful friends, I live in an absolutely breathtaking place and I do work that matters to me and that I love.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Denver Zoo – It’s such a beautiful zoo, and the staff is great. We did an up close encounter with the resident llamas Jorge & Fernando for our daughter’s 30th birthday this year, and it was an awesome experience.

The Downtown Aquarium – it’s really cool! I had a lot of fun when we visited. Feeding stingrays was a neat experience.

A visit to the Blue Bear – it’s just so iconic and a must see!

Denver Museum of Nature & Science – it’s a great place to go as an adult, but also has a lot of fun activities for kids.

A concert at Red Rocks – We saw Kacey Musgraves there in 2019 and it was a perfect summer night. She was amazing. The acoustics are incredible, naturally, and the setting is just spectacular.

Outside of Denver, but a drive over Kenosha Pass – that first time you see South Park is just breathtaking, and I cannot imagine ever getting tired of it (despite having done it dozens of times now).

Meow Wolf Denver – because I have not been yet and I’m dying to experience it!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be who I am today without the help of two teachers and mentors, Jean and Barbara. I also have to thank my husband Thomas, because it’s his love and encouragement that allows me to freelance. He reads everything I write and listens to any podcast interviews I do. He’s my most honest critic and my biggest fan, and I couldn’t ask for a better support system.

Website: https://iamjulietjames.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjulietjames/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-james-589641169/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IAmJulietJames

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julietjamesofficial/

Other: https://linktr.ee/iamjulietjames

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.