About the Author

Julie Blair began her professional writing career at the age of 18 at her hometown newspaper, The Niles Daily Star, located in Southwestern Michigan. (She often had to call her mother from the pay phone outside the newsroom to get directions to her assignments, but that's another story.) Since then, she has earned a BA in communications and political science from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and an MSJ from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). While Julie has written for several national newspapers and magazines, she is most proud of her work as a staff writer for Education Week. Her first book, "Building Bridges With the Press: A Guide for Educators" can be found on Amazon.com. She will begin work as a columnist for the Dallas Morning News in the fall of 2011. In addition, she is working on a travel guide called "Sandcastles and Strawberries: Exploring Michigan with Kids." Julie lives in the Dallas area with her husband Jim, seven-year-old twins William and Elizabeth, and 20-month-old Charlotte.