Julie and Juliet Novel

WHy julie and juliet?

Hello,

My name is Joey Molina and I am the author of Julie and Juliet. I wanted to take a moment to share with you why I chose to write this novel. As a screenwriter I didn't intend to write a novel, in fact, I originally set out to write a two-page treatment for a film! In the spring of 2020, when everything shut down due to COVID, I left my home in California to help out my elderly Grandparents who were isolated on their farm in Idaho. Even though we were isolated I still managed to bounce ideas with my daughter and that's when I decided that I wanted to write a story about love, but love that was different in the traditional sense. I wanted the story to be provocative yet sweet. I wanted to share the magic of Northern Italy, which I had visited a few years earlier. What I ended up with was a novel that celebrated both the beauty of the region and the beauty of true love. I also felt it was important that my two main characters, both young women, exhibit strength, intelligence, and poise. That is why I was careful to mind the Bechdel–Wallace Test. One of my main characters, Julianna, is a smart and intelligent young woman who was born into an impossible situation. Her story arc is one that was inspired by my students from Creative Performing Media Arts (CPMA) and the San Diego Opera/Izcalli/La Maestra Foundation Words and Music program, who coincidentally asked me to write a story for them. I felt like I needed to present a story that they could relate to but I also felt that I needed to show them that they too could do anything they wanted if they set their mind to it! Julie and Juliet is a magical journey with a cast of colorful characters that will bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, and warmth in your soul. This novel proudly celebrates LGBTQ and gender-fluid themes, but it was my intention that this story could be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of gender or preference. Written for young adults and the young at heart, Julie and Juliet is my contribution to the spirit of love and the voices of tomorrow! So in the words of Julianna Selene..."Lose yourself and suspend your soul in a story you may already know!"

About the novel

Synopsis:

Julie & Juliet chronicles the adventures of Julianna Montague, the younger sister of notorious playboy Romeo Montague. Julianna, a teenage girl, grapples with identity and self-discovery while simultaneously redirecting the trajectory of the infamous "Star Crossed Lovers''. Naive to the role that has been cast upon her, Julianna is thrust into the middle of a legendary feud while on a collision course with her own "Love at First Sight". Set in the late 19th century, this magical reimagining of William Shakespeare’s classic tale, Romeo and Juliet, follows Julianna and a familiar cast of characters as they traverse a path full of dangerous plots, ancient rivalries, and unimaginable betrayal.

ABout the author

Joey Molina is a native of Southern California and an award-winning actor, producer, singer, and writer. Joey is currently working with the San Diego Opera and Teatro Izcalli as a teaching artist, educating inner-city kids on the fundamentals of singing, acting and theater arts. Joey has been a featured tenor soloist throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Some of the amazing venues he has had the opportunity to perform in include NYC’s famed Carnegie Hall, La Piccola Scala on the isle of Syros in Greece, the American Cathedral in Paris, the world-renowned Sydney Opera House and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with members of the LA Phil. Recently, Joey, along with partners Jerry Bertran, Jeros Bertran, Javier Bertran and and Agustin Castaneda formed a new bi-national production company, Alpha Centauri Pictures. Their first feature film Ruta Madre, co-written by Molina and Castaneda, has won at several major film festivals and can be viewed on almost all platforms..

Photo Credit: Scott Mikolich