I started my writing journey as a reader. I went from Enclyopedia Brown to Nancy Drew, and then discovered Miss Marple. Who introduced me to Hercule Poirot. From there I explored the Golden Age of mystery writers, loving the puzzle.
I’d always loved writing, but about 25 years ago I decided I wanted to write a book. I took a few writing workshops, but had trouble with my stories. They were, frankly, boring. At a break in one of the classes, someone asked me why I wasn’t writing a mystery. “Whenever we talk about books you mention Elizabeth George and Elizabeth Peters.”
Something clicked that day. I dropped a body in my story, and I haven’t looked back since.
For years I worked on a series that mirrored my own life, about a woman who worked in the theater. At that time I was programming Memorial Hall, which includes Sanders Theatre, at Harvard University. I’d never been a performer, but had fallen in love with theater in college. It took a while, but I found a way to work in the field I loved, supporting other artists in their work. When I say that I worked on those first books for years, I do mean years. A writing journey is about learning at the beginning, and that learning takes a while.
A writing journey is also about finding your community. That happened about twenty years ago, when I joined Sisters in Crime. I’ll never forget my first meeting, when a published author asked me about my own writing. What a thrill, to be taken seriously. And to meet people who understood my path. Early on I started to go to conferences, like Malice Domestic, as well.
My first publishing credit came in Level Best Books’ Thin Ice, a 2010 short story anthology. I also had short stories in the 2012 Dead Calm and 2013 Blood Moon anthologies. And still I worked on A Christmas Peril, that first book.
2013 was an important year. I was invited to join a group blog, The Wicked Authors. My fellow bloggers all had new contracts, and books coming out within the next year. I didn’t, but they included me, for which I am so grateful. The Wickeds blog is still going strong. When we started, combined we had two books published. Now we’ve got over 50. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
In 2013 I got the opportunity to write a series about a clockmaker in western Massachusetts. An editor at Berkley had the idea, and they were looking for a writer. I submitted a proposal, and was given a contract for what became the Clock Shop Mystery series. As part of the deal, I needed to come up with a pen name. I chose Julianne Holmes. For a brief moment, my mother had considered naming me Julianne Holmes Hennrikus, but my grandmother had convinced her it was too long, so I became Julie Anne. Anyway, that’s where the first JH name came about.
Holding Just Killing Time in my hands was thrilling. Just Killing Time was followed by Clock and Dagger in 2016 and Chime and Punishment in 2017.
Eventually, A Christmas Peril was accepted for publication by Midnight Ink. Midnight Ink was a wonderful mid-sized publishing company that was perfect for my Theater Cop Mystery series. They released A Christmas Peril in 2017, and With A Kiss I Die in 2019. Unfortunately, Midnight Ink ceased publishing in 2019, so I’ve been working on rereleasing both of those titles on my own, and finishing the third. I released those books under my second JH name, J.A. Hennrikus.
My third JH name is Julia Henry. My first Garden Squad Mystery, Pruning the Dead, was released in 2019. The second, Tilling the Truth, was also released in 2019. Digging Up the Remains was released in 2020, Wreathing Havoc in 2021 and The Plot Thickets in 2022.
I’ve chosen JH names for a couple of reasons. First, using a last name that starts with H means that they’ll all live nearby on bookshelves in libraries and bookstores.
My J names all are close to my name, Julie, which means I’ll respond when people say them.
Will there be more JH names in my future? I don’t know. My writing journey will continue. My publishing journey has twists and turns that I’ll continue to navigate. They may require adding another JH.
In May 2021 I became the Executive Director of Sisters in Crime, a lovely way to incorporate my arts management skills and my passion for writing. I host the Sisters in Crime Writers’ Podcast, which allows me to have great conversations about writing.
I am grateful for my own creative journey, and for the opportunity to support others on theirs.
Media and Podcast Appearances
The Sisters in Crime Writers’ Podcast
I interview writers about writing. LISTEN HERE
Get Writing Podcast
Episode 39: How building your community helps you become a better writer with Julie Hennrikus LISTEN HERE
The Good Life Coach Podcast
Julie Hennrikus: The Mindset, Confidence, and Skills You Need to Get Your Book Done LISTEN HERE
The Boston Globe
Getting Cozy with Mystery Writer Julie Hennrikus by Betsy Groban READ THE ARTICLE HERE
My Favorite Detective Stories Podcast with John Hoda
Hundred-Year Retroactive Book Award
I “defended” Agatha Christie’s The Murder on the Links in this fun debate sponsored by the Associates of the Boston Public Library. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Alum Helps Artists Navigate the Business Side of Making Art
An article by Joel Brown for the BU alumni magazine, Bostonia. READ THE ARTICLE HERE
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I send out the JH Authors Journal once a quarter. I’d love to stay connected!