Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Stewart.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m an attorney living in Summerville, South Carolina with my husband and our dog and cat. I was raised in a small town about an hour away, Branchville, and I went to Clemson University after graduating high school. I have always been an avid reader and writer, and I had dreams of becoming a lawyer at a young age. When I graduated from Clemson, I started law school at the Charleston School of Law, where I also met my husband. After clerking for a Circuit Court Judge, I began my career as a Criminal Defense attorney, and I really enjoy my job. When I’m not working, you can find me at Clemson football games, exploring libraries and bookstores, and traveling.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say that life overall has been a smooth ride until recently. School always came easy to me, and while it took me some time to decide what type of law I like, that process has not been a struggle. I would say I lived a pretty charmed life until August of 2021. My Mom passed away unexpectedly a month before our wedding, and it sent me reeling. I have spent seven months trying to pick up the pieces from that. In December I lost my dog, and it felt like getting knocked down when I finally felt like I was climbing my way back up. In February, my husband and I found out we were expecting our first baby, who we sadly lost at the end of March. I am incredibly blessed to have the family, friends, and job that I do, and I still feel like my road has been easier than many other people, but it has not come without its struggles.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I started a “bookstagram” in January of 2019 by the name of Charleston Book Girl. I love interacting with people who share a passion for reading, and I have met so many amazing people through it. My job can be stressful, and this has been a great creative outlet for me. From actually reading the books and writing the reviews, to taking pictures of the books, it’s a fun hobby. It has afforded me opportunities to go to cool events and meet a lot of interesting people, especially authors. Because of my bookstagram, I was able to meet one of my favorite authors, Dorothea Benton Frank, before she passed away. I love taking pictures of the book I’m reading at the time in and around the Charleston area and highlighting this beautiful city, and I also try to prioritize local authors and promote their work.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think risk is relative to the individual; what one person considers risky another person may not. I would not consider myself to have lived a risky life per se. While I did move out of the small town I grew up in, I have never lived out of South Carolina. So, to some, I probably appear to not have taken many risks in my life. However, when it comes to following my heart in terms of my career, I have always done just that. I have never let the opinions of others or concern that I would be making a mistake keep me from following my passions and pursuing my dreams. When I have been unhappy in the past, I have never been scared to take a leap of faith to fix it, and I am incredibly proud of that. I’m sure that sometimes my decisions seem impulsive to those that know me and care (and maybe they are), but I always trust my gut instinct. It has not steered me wrong yet.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @charlestonbookgirl
