JULES VAN MIL

Creativity is the driving force in my life. I’ve taken a few detours along the way but I’m finally fulfilling my dream of writing. So what have I been doing up until now? I studied Education, majoring in Fine Arts and English and then taught primary school children in country Western Australia.

Although I loved teaching, I decided to have a career change and moved to Sydney to study fashion design. I did my training, worked for several designers and taught at The Whitehouse Institute of Design. With a dedicated team, I established a couture bridal and evening wear label. When I wasn’t designing gorgeous gowns and running my small enterprise, I loved to paint and write.

After I sold my business, I took some time out to paint and created a studio and gallery in the Southern Highlands, south of Sydney. I held my first solo exhibition in 2009 and from that experience came other exhibitions, private commissions and gallery representation. But my desire to write kept sitting there on my shoulder and so I decided to put other creative pursuits on hold and focus on writing.

In 2018 I signed a two book publishing deal with PanMacmillan Australia for an exciting middle grade fiction series for 8 -12 year olds. Book 1, Gemma Riley and the Fashion Fiasco, was published in 2020.

A Remarkable Woman, my first adult novel, was released on the 28 June 2022. Available in paperback, audio and e-book, this historical fiction is set in Melbourne, Australia in the 1950’s, and tells the story of Avril, a French immigrant in search of a new life. My latest book, A Curious Daughter, was released in 2023.

I feel like I’ve come full circle, drawing on all the creative experiences I’ve accumulated as a teacher, designer, business owner and artist. You never know where life will take you.

What I have discovered along the way, no matter what it is you long to pursue – painting, writing, photography, music – whatever it may be, there will already be a lot of people in that creative space. I never realised so many people painted until I started having exhibitions. The same goes for writing. Once you dip your toe into the writing pond you’ll start to notice writing events and writers everywhere. Just remember, there’s always room for new ideas, new stories and your unique touch of creative magic.

So go for it!  Believe in yourself and good luck.

Enjoy your creative life!  Jules