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About Julie Phend

Julie Phend loves everything about books: reading, writing, discussing, speaking and teaching about them. An author and teacher based in Naperville, Illinois, Julie graduated from Valparaiso University with a BA in English and Theater and received her MS in Education from the University of Wisconsin.

She recently retired from teaching middle school language arts, where she taught students to love writing as they explored their own interests and ideas in Writing Workshop. She also collaborated with students to write and produce ten original plays.

D-Day and Beyond: A True Story of Escape and POW Survival is Julie's first book. It tells the exciting true story of WWII pilot Stanley Edwards, Jr., whom Julie met when he spoke to her classes about his experiences in the war.

The First 150 Years: A History of the Naperville Municipal Band was written with long-time band director Ron Keller. Prompted by a love of Naperville history and band music, Julie enjoyed collaborating with Director Keller and hearing the stories of the band's 150 years in Naperville.

Julie is currently working on a historical fiction book for young adults about a female spy during the American Revolution. She also enjoys teaching writing classes at North Central College, tutoring, reading and writing, leading book clubs, and presenting to schools and other organizations.