My Interview With A Music Teacher And Author, Julie Lacksonen

Julie Lacksonen has been a member of Vocal since January 2021. She has written over 237 stories, has received several Vocal achievement awards, and has top Vocal stories. She has several fantasy book series published.

She also teaches music classes to students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Julie is very creative in piquing her students' interest in music. She has been teaching since 1987.

Mariann: I will ask you a series of questions. First question, where are you from?

Julie: I was born and raised in a small town in Minnesota, Park Rapids. My mom still lives here. I've been in Arizona since I started teaching music in 1987, so Cottonwood is my town.

Fun Facts: Julie is obsessed with walking. The last time she kept records of her steps was last 2025 April 400K steps.

Mariann: What got you into writing?

Julie: After my first husband passed away, I woke up one day with an idea for a children's story about fairies visiting from another planet to train humans to battle aliens arriving in spaceships. I joined Vocal to hone my writing skills. I've written lots of kids' songs, but not stories.

Julie's latest Horror Top Story Link above

Mariann: What Genre do you like to write about and why?

Julie: I like fantasy and sci-fi, but on Vocal, I enjoy writing poetry, and I've discovered that I have a knack for horror. It's not something drawn to watching, but it's fun to write.

Fun Fact: Julie's four published book series are named: The Aeolian Tales, there's one book for each element that the fairies specialize in.

If you are interested, here is the link to her book series, above

Mariann: Which Facebook groups are you a member of?

Julie: Vocal + Assist, Vocal Social Society, Medium Cafe, and Vocal Media Creators Hubs. I also belong to some non-Vocal groups.

Fun Fact: This poem link above is one of the poems Julie turned into a song for the second graders safari performance.

Mariann: How do you prepare to write a song? Where do you get your inspiration?

Julie: Sometimes, they pop into my mind. Other times, it’s because I’m writing for a specific performance. For example, I put a bit of poetry on Vocal from a performance called “Singin’ Safari.” My Students sing my creations many times.

Mariann: What inspired you to start writing about the elements of fairies in your book?

Julie: I wanted to have something to keep me busy after my first husband passed.

Mariann: How does someone begin their research on Fairies?

Julie: I looked online as much as possible, but since this was a fictional set of stories, I knew I could take liberties.

Fun Fact: Working with kids also helped Julie create a magical world of fairies.

Mariann: Do you teach any instruments to your students?

Julie: Yes, I teach band, but all of the students play drums, buckets, recorder, and rhythm instruments.

Mariann: Is it hard to teach a band with so many instruments?

Julie: I started a band with a small group, and then we combined.

Fun Fact: This year, 2025, will be Julie's penultimate year.

Fun Fact: This coming school year, her theme is an Escape Room. She will have a door poster to her music room that says, " You can't escape music ....or can you?

Mariann: Describe your writing space.

Julie: I write in two places. I often start by hand on my couch. The old-fashioned pencil and notebook! I have a desktop computer on which I digitize my work.

Fun Fact: Julie's family is a whole house of musicians and artists

Fun Facts: She has four siblings. Three brothers and a sister. She is the second eldest. Julie's father was an art teacher.

Julie Lacksonen's YouTube Video

I hope you enjoy my interview with the lovely Julie Lacksonen.