Interviewed by Alice Benavides
Julie Link is a new member of our organization, and she says, “I am excited to be a part of The Christian PEN and am eager to sit at the feet of more experienced writers and editors. Thank you for your warm welcome and encouragement.”
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in the heart of Dixie, in a small rural town about fifty miles west of Savannah, Georgia. (When I’m outside the South, I try not to say, “I’m fixin’ to carry my boy to the airport, y’all.”) I met my husband in Atlanta and moved with him to Indianapolis after we married. Except for a brief stint in Chicago, we have lived in Indiana since we married twenty-six years ago. My blood has yet to thicken; I’m cold from November to May!
Tell us about your family life.
My husband and I have four children. Aaron is a twenty-two-year-old graduate of Purdue University who has founded a video game business with a friend. Our daughter Rebecca was born twenty years ago and was taken home to the Lord five days after her birth. Our daughter Carolyn is a freshman at Ball State University, where she is a nursing student. Our “baby boy,” Evan, is sixteen years old and a junior in high school. My husband retired from Eli Lilly & Company after twenty years and is now a financial planner.
What are your hobbies and interests beyond your workplace?
I love to cook, especially Mediterranean cuisine. I am just getting into gardening and hope to plant a vegetable and herb garden next spring. I have always loved crossword puzzles and have recently become a Sudoku addict!
What is a fact most people don’t know about you?
I would love to be a tap dancer.
Are you an avid reader? What do you enjoy reading the most?
Don’t all writers and editors love to read? Most of my nonfiction reading is Bible- or faith-related. I also like to read anything about words and writing: books and articles about usage, style, etymology, and linguistics. My daughter labeled me a total dweeb when I bought a book on the history of diagramming sentences! The late William Safire was a favorite author, as are James Kilpatrick and, on a lighter note, Richard Lederer. I read fiction only when I’m on vacation; otherwise, I’ll neglect my responsibilities. I enjoy a variety of genres; the type of book is less important to me than the quality of the writing. Give me excellent writing, and I can read almost anything.
What do you write? What genres interest you?
I have written only nonfiction: opinion essays, interviews, newsletters, evangelistic tracts, a brief stage script, a public tribute to our pastor, and a few devotional pieces. Oh, and two poems—one in English and one in French—in response to a challenge from my son! I am formulating an idea for a devotional book that I hope to begin next year. It’s about my dog.
Tell us about any published works.
All of my writing has been for private use. I have edited one published work, Fly with Me on Wings of Hope, by Lisa Oliver and am currently editing a personal memoir from World War II, written by the late father of a friend.
What influenced you to become an editor?
I am an avid lexiphile! I inherited my love of words and language from my father, who frequently recited snatches of Coleridge, Poe, Robert Service, and a humorous author named Dave Morrah. When my own children were young, we enjoyed the lyrical writing of Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and Roald Dahl.
How did you break into the editing field?
I became interested in editing when I realized that there are writers, even professional ones, who are publishing bad writing—not bad ideas but written badly. Why, I thought, isn’t someone helping these writers present their thoughts more cogently and correctly? When an author has excellent ideas, they should be presented excellently. That is why I named my business Efficax Editing. Efficax is Latin for “effective or efficacious.” I want to help writers get their ideas across in the most effective manner possible.
Our senior pastor, knowing of my passion for good writing, offered me the opportunity to edit many of the critical concern papers published on the church Web site (www.fbccarmel.com). After twenty years of this, I have been dubbed the Resident Wordsmith of FBC, a title I bear with honor and humility.
Tell us about the writing and editing services you offer.
I am proficient in writing and editing most nonfiction genres. I have edited many expository essays on theological subjects; this is my first love. I have not done ghostwriting, but that intrigues me. I would also like to learn more about editing fiction.
What advice do you have for new editors?
If you see weak writing or poor editing in a publication or Web site, don’t be afraid to approach the writer or editor and offer your services. I have had two schools, one church, and a webmaster gratefully accept my offer of help. I have not been paid for this work, but I consider it a means of “tithing” my skills. Such pro bono work can also lead to paying opportunities.
How do you balance work with home life?
Instead of devoting four hours per day to editing, I prefer to work in larger chunks of time. One or two days a week I spend most of the day editing, and I take care of family responsibilities on other days. We have only one child still at home, so I have fewer day-to-day demands on my time than a mother of young ones.
How has God blessed you in your writing and editing?
The contemplation and reasoning required to write a faith-related essay is a wonderful exercise in meditation. Putting my thoughts into words forces me to carefully examine a passage of Scripture or a theme, extract as much truth as I can, apply it to daily life, and present it as accurately and concisely as I can. An author always learns more than her readers!
I have also appreciated editing biblical content, such as my pastor’s writings on abortion, homosexuality, child rearing, and other vital topics. It was a particular blessing to edit Wings of Hope. The author is my sister-in-law, and the book is a collection of devotional essays written after the deaths of her son and her husband (my brother). To play a role in sharing what God taught her through her experiences was a privilege.
How has God used you to bless others in your writing and editing?
The most surprising reaction to anything I’ve written came several years ago when a friend to whom I had written a long letter shared it with our pastor’s wife. The pastor’s wife asked my permission to reprint the letter (with personal references excluded) and use it to counsel wives struggling in their marriages. She recently told me that she is still using that letter!
E-mail Julie.
