Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Julie Busuttil!
It’s a pleasure to speak with author, Julie Busuttil, to share her poignant story of healing; a sensitive and heart-rending navigation of grief. For readers from age 8, Emmerson in the Clouds is about an extraordinary journey of a young spirit to reunite with her family. Coming from her own personal experiences, Julie’s delicate narration, together with Guilherme Salomon‘s intuitive and tender illustrations, inspire hope, wonder and magic.
Thanks so much, Julie! This is such a valuable, beautiful and touching story. 🙂
About the Author
Julie Busuttil is a gifted intuitive and medium. She dedicates her time to helping individuals connect deeply with their hearts and unlock their innate intuition, empowering them to create what they love.
As a proud mother of four, Julie expresses her creativity through her work as a creative development facilitator and author. She has penned the beloved children’s book series “Superconscious Dave” and is set to release “Emmerson in the Clouds,” both of which resonate with themes of love, wonder, and laughter, captivating children and caregivers around the globe.
Julie merges her passion for creativity with her leadership skills, offering engaging workshops and one-on-one creative development coaching. She inspires others to embrace a heart-led lifestyle, encouraging them to explore their creativity and live authentically.
A little quirky yet driven and committed, Julie is on a mission to inspire conscious creativity in everyone she meets.
Please find Julie Busuttil at her website: beyouhq.com.au/julie-busuttil-author and on Instagram.
Emmerson in the Clouds is available for purchase from Julie Busuttil’s website.
WHO wrote and illustrated this book?
Written by Julie Busuttil and illustrated by Guilherme Salomon.
WHAT is it about?
“Emmerson in the Clouds” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the eternal beauty of love that transcends all dimensions.
Emmerson is a fictional story but based on a true story and unpacks grief, loss and a yearning for reconnection.
Pitched at middle primary school children of 8–10-years-old, with 8 chapters, it tells the story of Emmerson, a courageous 8-year-old spirit who embarks on an extraordinary adventure from the Ascension plane.
With her unwavering determination to reunite with her family left behind on the physical plane, Emmerson navigates through a realm where magic and wonder coalesce, guiding young souls to the Ascension Plane through the mystical Red Door.
Emmerson meets someone new in each chapter, who helps Emerson understand, and unpack difficult concepts and are mostly based on real people in my life whom I have loved and lost. Emmerson is determined to find a way to reconnect with her living family.
As you embark on Emmerson’s quest, be prepared to be captivated by heartwarming encounters, enchanting landscapes, and the profound bond that transcends even the boundaries between life and death. Through her journey, you will witness the power of love in its purest form as Emmerson seeks to discover the true essence of family and the everlasting connections that endure beyond the physical realm.
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
In early 2023.
When is its release / launch date?
1 November 2024.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
Emmerson is one of three (my triplets) who tragically didn’t take her first breath in this world. Emmerson holds a very special place in my heart and is remembered and included in everyday conversations, especially in conversations with her brothers, Sam and Dean.
While pregnant in the first trimester, I had an unusual encounter with my father, who has passed. As a medium, it’s not uncommon to have interactions with my dad but this one was a little strange at the time, making sense only months thereafter.
Dad was holding a baby wrapped in a pink blanket. Naturally, I thought my unborn child would be a little girl and that dad was sharing how proud he was that we were bringing another girl into our young family. It wasn’t until weeks later after a trip to the doctor that I discovered I was carrying twins. Once I overcame the shock of having twins, I was joking around with my doctor, ‘Imagine if they were triplets,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t have enough arms to carry all three!
The doctor replied, ‘Actually, there was a third who didn’t make it.’
The scarring on the fallopian tube was the key giveaway.
It wasn’t until months after the twins were born that I started to piece it all together. I was inspired by a fellow medium who shared how Emmerson was excited to be writing a book with me.
Fast forward 12 months, a book was written, a healing and powerful shift unfolded within me and now I am ready to share this with the world.
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
The topic of eternal life beyond death is often taboo, particularly concerning child loss.
Grief-stricken families are left behind feeling lost yet hold onto a special hope that life exists beyond death – a continued existence.
This has been a powerful journey not only for me, but for the whole family. We were able to bring Emmerson’s spirit more alive and sharing encounters that not only I receive as a medium, but we all feel her young, energetic spirit with us.
Young readers are invited to explore the eternal connections that transcend worlds, where love bridges distance and transforms sorrow into solace.
This story beautifully illustrates how grief, while daunting, can lead to profound healing and understanding.
What is your favourite part of this book?
There are two favourite chapters – the chapter about Nanna Bi and a chapter coined the Dreamo Supremeo’s.
Nanna Bi’s character is based on my mum who is still alive but battling early onset dementia. Her cognitive abilities have declined and she cannot speak coherently.
In this chapter, Emmerson learns about Nanna Bi being in two worlds at the same time, here on earth (physical plane) and appearing in the Ascension Plane on occasion.
The last chapter brings it all home. This chapter is about a reunion with Emmerson and her twin brothers and her mum. In this heartwarming chapter, it brings in hope and possibility that we can actually connect with our loved ones who have passed.
Why would its message resonate with readers?
23 million families experience the loss of a child through miscarriages each year. It is challenging for parents to process their own grief, let alone help their children through theirs.
Loss of anyone is hard. We process loss in many ways.
With “Emmerson in the Clouds” I chose to transform sadness to solace and used the energy of loss and grief to create a magical story that at some level I know to be true. By using imaginative writing, I provide readers hope, and highlight that love is the eternal thread binding us all, transcending time and space.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
I loved Guilherme’s work. As an author looking for an illustrator, it is imperative (and overwhelming) to find an illustrator who can depict and bring your illustrations to life.
Guilherme is patient and intuitive, and together we were able to foster a professional relationship that resulted in a beautiful depiction of Emmerson based on real family photos and descriptions.
The image of Emmerson sitting on a cloud and the title, Emmerson in the Clouds -Navigating Grief and Embracing Hope, invokes a sense of hope, curiosity and wonder.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
I have set a release date of 1st November 2024. In the meantime, if people are interested, they can pre-order a copy from my website: www.beyouhq.com.au/julie-busuttil-author
OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?
In 2020, I started my journey as an author. I did not think in a million years that I would enjoy writing so much. My first creation was Superconscious Dave children’s picture book series.
Written in rhyming verse, Superconscious Dave is a fictional character, an alien with flair who loves to explore in his multi-coloured Star Car. He is a quirky, curious character and explores through time and space – beyond our world deep into the universe. Dave has been around the world in the last couple of years visiting the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, getting his photo taken at the Great Pyramid in Egypt and recently hanging out with local kids in South Africa.
There are three books available in the Superconscious Dave series, which can be found at: www.beyouhq.com.au/juliebusuttil-author
Thanks so much for sharing your touching story, Julie! 🙂
#thequicksixinterview #emmersonintheclouds #grief #hope #middlegrade #justkidslit
