Julie writes about finding out who you are, where you come from, and making sense of it.
Welcome
“An engaging, endearing chronicle of a woman’s quest to find her origins.” – Kirkus Review
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Welcome to my online home! I’m an author–memoirist, essayist, and columnist– who writes about finding out who you are, where you come from, and making sense of it.
On this site, you will find information about my books, media events, links to my bi-monthly blog posts, and material relating to adoption. While many of my “That Girl This Life” essays focus on identity, family, and belonging, I also love to spotlight the quirky and tender moments which add color to daily life.
At 48, I was sent for a breast biopsy. This incident highlighted what closed adoption prevented me from knowing: my birth circumstances, family medical history, and genealogy. The subsequent search for my “personal story” consumed five years. I chronicle this journey in my debut, award-winning memoir Twice a Daughter: A Search for Family, Identity, and Belonging (She Writes Press, May 11, 2021). The prequel to Twice a Daughter is scheduled to release in Feb. 2025 (She Writes Press).
My newly released book Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family & Kinship (Muse Literary, November 1, 2023) is a compilation of my favorite “That Girl This Life” blog posts, essays from the monthly column I write for The Beacher Newspapers in Michiana, and other published work. I wrote Belonging Matters to serve as a companion piece to my first memoir, Twice a Daughter. It is meant to support the adoption community and to create a conversation with those not touched by adoption.
Besides being a writer, I’m a mother, grandmother, and an identical twin. Life has provided me many roles to play and experiences to share. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been filling up journals and binders with stories and reminiscences.
My wish is that you stay here, linger, and find writing that resonates. Upon leaving, I hope you take with you a fresh new idea, perspective, or topic to share with others.
RELEASE DATE: Feb. 4, 2025
Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
TO BE RELEASED: FEB. 4, 2025
Twice the Family
A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood
By Julie Ryan McGue
From the award-winning author of Twice a Daughter comes the much- anticipated prequel. In this coming-of-age memoir–set in Chicago’s western suburbs between the 1960s and 80s–adopted twins, Julie and Jenny, provide their parents with an instant family. The twins’ sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for independence, individuality, and belonging. But as Julie’s parents continue adding children to their family, several painful and tragic experiences test family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds.
Faced with these hurdles, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, and even her adoption circumstances. She understands her adoptive family is held together by love, faith, support, and her parents’ commitment to each other and their children.
And yet, the life her parents have constructed is not one Julie wants for herself. As she matures, she chooses her own unique path. In the process, she realizes how the experiences that formed her have provide a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
That Girl, This Life
Weekly posts that focus on identity, family, and life’s quirky moments.
Sheesh
Sheesh… where are we headed?
A Big Reveal
I can’t wait to share this news with you…
Stuff from My Husband’s Cell Phone
Stuff I learned from my dead husband’s cell phone.
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In November (14-17th), Julie will attend Story Studio’s four day writing retreat with instructors Rebecca Makkai and Vu Tran at the Guesthouse Hotel in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. The theme for the retreat is “5,000-Word Weekend.”
On November 20th, Julie will be Dawn Davenport’s guest on the Creating a Family podcast when they will discuss Julie’s adoption story and her books.
On December 5th, Julie will return to the Social Work Bubble podcast with Laura Swanson. They will discuss Julie’s forthcoming memoir, Twice the Family.
In December (10-13th), Julie will be a featured speaker and panelist at Shattering Stigmas: A Summit on Redefining Mental Health Narratives, co-hosted by Tammy Vincent and Jessica Kazaniwskyj. The summit’s goals include redefining mental health narratives, breaking barriers, and creating lasting change.
On February 4, 2025, Julie’s new memoir, Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood hits the bookshelves. It’s the long-awaited prequel to her award-winning debut, Twice a Daughter.
On February 13, 2025, Julie will be a return guest to Thriving Adoptees podcast with host Simon Benn. They will discuss Julie’s forthcoming memoir, Twice the Family.
Follow Julie by visiting her website, subscribe to her bimonthly newsletters, and listen to previous podcast recordings where she discusses topics like adoption, identity, and belonging.
