April 17, 2025 • 34 mins
Julie Whitney’s career reads like a masterclass in communication—25 years in PR, authoring thousands of news releases, booking stories that captivated viewers across major networks, and crafting messaging that cut through the noise. But in a bold pivot, Julie turned her storytelling superpowers toward something more heartfelt and enduring: children’s books.
In this inspiring episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with Julie to unpack how she went from running a successful public relations firm to breathing life into a story that’s now soaring through classrooms, libraries, and hearts—Astra the Lonely Airplane. Her napkin says it all: “It only takes ONE yes!” That one yes—when pursued with purpose, persistence, and passion—can change everything.
From Crisis Response to Creative Resilience
Julie was no stranger to high stakes. As the founder of Phillippi-Whitney Communications, she helped her clients navigate the media landscape, crisis communication, and brand positioning. But as the pandemic grounded so many parts of life—including the aviation world that inspired her husband—Julie found herself drawn to a new kind of storytelling.
It started with a spark: “My husband was watching planes get retired, and one in particular caught his heart,” she explains. That emotional thread became the foundation for Astra the Lonely Airplane
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Govindh Jayaraman (00:02):
Julie Whitney. Welcome to paper napkin wisdom. I'm excited to have you here today.
Julie Whitney (00:07):
Thanks. I'm really excited to be here.
Govindh Jayaraman (00:09):
So, Julie? Well, you're wearing bright red on a bright red napkin you shared with me a wonderful napkin. Your wisdom is. It only takes 1. 1 is in capitals and underlined. Yes, you got a little smiley face. Why did you share that with me?
Julie Whitney (00:27):
I go way way back with that motto, I've always embraced it when I started my public relations consulting business back in 2,000 and made a break out of the TV and advertising business. I had to find just one client, one client that would pay me enough that I could actually break away and start a business. I couldn't just hang up a shingle and say, Oh, here's my business. I hope someone hires me
(00:52):
day. So I found that one client willing to pay me for 24 HA week, so that I could build my hourly business around that.
But then it continued, as I was pitching stories to the National Media, the Wall Street Journal and the Today show, I knew that I just needed to get one national reporter on the hook, and my client at the time called me the Lone Wolf because I wasn't afraid to just pick up the phone back in the old days and call call reporters until I got that one story. Once you landed that one big story, the other media would call, and things would tend to fall like dominoes. So
(01:32):
that was always my strategy in my Pr career.
Govindh Jayaraman (01:38):
You know I think I have this this motto. My motto, very similar to yours is, abundance starts with one, and it sort of says the same thing. It's kind of what you're saying, right? Like, it just takes one because that one opens the door for whatever happens after that, doesn't it?
Julie Whitney (01:55):
And yes, and persistence pays persistence in a nice way without being a fly in the ointment. I have a quote on my website from a reporter at the Wall Street Journal, who's no longer there. But she said you were one of the most persistent pr people I've ever worked with, and I fed her exactly what she needed, and she actually would come to me when she was on a deadline and couldn't find someone for her small business column and relied on me
(02:20):
to help her find people. So if you're persistent in a nice way, it does pay, and this also this it only takes one motto of mine. It's, you know, follows the book business that I'm now in. If you want to go into that.
Govindh Jayaraman (02:36):
Yeah, we're gonna we're definitely gonna well, we'll just jump right in. So you know, you, you went from Pr business and
and and and and then you took a right turn, and I did.
becoming an author. How did that happen?
Julie Whitney (02:50):
So I'm not giving up the day job yet, because I have to support the author habit and all my endeavors with that, as every celebrity on the planet. Jimmy Kimmel Drew Barrymore. Everyone has a kids book. It's a tough market, but 2020 was a tumultuous year worldwide. I think we can all agree. My husband, who is a former Navy pilot, was flying a beautiful corporate Gulf Stream jet
(03:18):
for 13 years, and due to the pandemic unexpectedly. On May 5, th 2020, he got a call in the afternoon and said, we are selling the plane, closing the flight department, and you are out of a job.
So
as a good wife, I went with him to clean out the hangar and say goodbye to the beautiful plane, and I asked him if I could sit inside her, and he let me sit inside her, and he lit up the instrument panel, and I started. I still cry when I tell the story. I unexpectedly started just weeping
(03:54):
because he was so close to this plane. She was his baby. He was the chief pilot. He knew her quirks, her ins, her outs, all her nuances. He flew her 3 to 4 days a week as far away as Brazil, I mean. That was his baby, it really was.
And so I got really sad. And I said, What's going to happen to her sitting all alone in this hangar? She's used to flying 3 or 4 days a week, he said. Well, Julie, if someone doesn't start up her engines every 28 days, she's not going to be in very good shape.
(04:24):
So I went home that night, and I started writing.
and I wrote a book called Astra, the Lonely Airplane, and the plane originally was called the Astra Spx, and she was built in Israel. That's why the name Astra, which worked out perfectly, and I have. I've always been good at rhyming, so I wrote it in rhyming verse.
(04:50):
and I'd say in a couple weeks I had a pretty good manuscript, and then I started pitching publishers to see if I could get someone to publish my book. I didn't want to have to self publish it. So my motto was, It only takes one. It only takes one. Yes, I got to get a publisher, and I didn't know a lot about publishing. I promoted many authors throughout my career, but as far as becoming one
(05:15):
boy. I didn't realize everything that's involved.
I got a yes, in August of 2020 on national aviation day. If that's not the stars being aligned, and that's the day Captain Dan found a new job.
So the book was meant to be. I got my one. Yes, and the second book just came out last March, and that was called Astra in Hollywood Astra finds herself in her new Hollywood hangar, surrounded by 3 new friends, Lana, the Learjet, Helen the helicopter and Hank the cargo plane.
(05:51):
They can all do things that Astra cannot, and she feels inferior, wondering if she'll fit in. But in the end she helps all of her friends in her own clever, speedy way, and they all become best friends.
So that's that's the 1st 2 books.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:10):
Great, and.
Julie Whitney (06:11):
Nothing. I never intended to do it. It just happened.
I mean, it just happened. And and going to schools, I partner with junior achievement and reading to assemblies with like 600 kids and doing a Powerpoint on planes and flying is the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Does it make you any money? No, but does it give you tons of satisfaction? Yes.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:36):
And and so let's let's let's let's loop back on a couple of things that you shared.
Julie Whitney (06:40):
Yeah.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:41):
Because I think it's really interesting
that the way you helped clients. Really, that persistence, that finding one is the way you helped yourself right, like you used all those skills the same. You said you didn't know anything about publishing, but you sure knew a lot about promotion, and you lose.
Julie Whitney (06:56):
Did.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:56):
Brought that persistence into what you did for yourself.
Did you find it harder to do it for yourself than doing it for someone else. Did you find it harder to promote yourself? And because because that's that's a different thing, right?
Julie Whitney (07:12):
Not really because I know all the local locally. I know everyone. So I literally just had to
tell people that I had a book and and set up book signings, and they would have me on their shows. I didn't really find, because I've been doing it so long. I've been doing Pr. Almost 40 years, so I didn't really find it that difficult doing it for myself. Well, the harder part was was not necessarily securing the media coverage, but getting my books into nontraditional places. So bookstores are fine. But that's not really how I've been
(07:43):
selling books. I contacted every aviation museum in the entire country, and I'm in most of the aviation museums from coast to coast. I got myself in 37 of Hudson booksellers, major airports in all their stores, and this has just been me hounding people calling, calling. There's no list finding out who, who, who
(08:05):
and I love it. When people send me pictures like I'm in the Detroit airport. I saw your book. Oh, I'm a book soup in La. I saw your book. I'm at the Seattle Aviation Museum. I saw your book, and I post those photos, and I love it. So that's been
challenging because my publisher is small and they don't really have. They have like 12 people. They don't have the staff to do any kind of Pr marketing. Yes, you're in the standard catalogs which you know the bookstores can order from, but I've really thought outside of the box and gone to unusual places in order to sell books.
Govindh Jayaraman (08:40):
So I love what you just did. Your instinct was to find nontraditional channels to move your book, and you looked for parallel channels that would be very interesting, like aviation museums, airports, of course, and other things. So this out of the box, thinking. And I love that you married it with you said this. It was back in the day, and I was gonna come back to this. You said you picked up the phone and called people.
Julie Whitney (09:06):
Back.
Govindh Jayaraman (09:07):
In the day. But you're doing that today. You're not. You're not sending emails alone. You're you're making phone calls, right?
Julie Whitney (09:13):
I have to. Yeah, yeah. And you know, the times in Pr have changed. When I 1st started out I had a contact at ABC. News at Nbc. News at Cbs. News at the Wall Street Journal at the New York Times. One contact that I would go to at the bureau that would get me on the shows. They've all retired so I can't pick up the phone and say, Hey, I've got a great story for Gma, can you. It just doesn't work like that. It's all 23 year old
(09:41):
producers. They don't know me. So it's different. It's different now. The relationship building, as far as the national media is a bit more challenging. But yeah, I do know a lot of the aviation museums and
people there now.
Govindh Jayaraman (09:57):
Yeah. And and so I love how diligent you were about finding these numbers being persistent, getting through.
Let's talk about that difference right? So back back in the day when when you called people, they answered their phones, you know, and I remember the ratio we used to talk about ratios back. And we'd always say, Hey, guys, every every phone, every 9 phone calls, you're gonna get one conversation. So it's just about getting to 10, just get to 10, and if you go over 10 no, you're gonna go 2 for the next 10. It's okay. It's just numbers.
Julie Whitney (10:32):
Yeah.
Govindh Jayaraman (10:33):
And and so that was the way we did it. But that's not the same number ratio anymore, right people. Nobody answers.
Julie Whitney (10:38):
No.
Govindh Jayaraman (10:39):
So how did you? How do you stay energized because you've got a lot of energy, a lot of positive, wonderful, dynamic energy. How do you bring that energy? What's your routine as you're going through yet another phone call where you're expecting voicemails, because somewhere around it's now somewhere around 30 to one. So when you're going 30 phone calls, 30 dials before talking to somebody.
(11:04):
what's the what's the approach? Tell me about that?
Julie Whitney (11:07):
Still I follow up. I have, you know I have my spreadsheet with notes of who I called, at which airport follow up! Follow up, follow up, follow up. I mean, I've had to take 3 phone calls. Sometimes if I get lucky and get an email, 3 emails, I just keep following up in a persistent way, trying not to be annoying. Say, sorry to bother you again, but I want to make sure you got my voicemail about this incredible Children's book that's teaching them about aviation and flying and
(11:32):
it's just it's still persistence. You know. I have a funny story. When you said about the days of picking up the phone. The best story I have.
I got Don Hewitt from 60 min on the phone. No way. My strategy. I've always worked at home. After my son was off at school, I would call early in the morning, thinking that sometimes, if you call like 7, 30, or something in the newsroom you could actually get a live person, Don Hewitt. Here, I'm like.
(11:59):
what do I do? And and I mean he's like a legend, and so God rest his soul! I gave him my pitch. He's like fax it to me. That was back in the days of fax machines, and I got to know his secretary. Her name was Beverly, I think, and the story didn't end up happening. But he's like I'm walking this down to Morally safer's office right now, and that was, that's like how things were.
Govindh Jayaraman (12:21):
Dawn. You morally safer.
Julie Whitney (12:24):
People don't even know who they are. They're listening to this. Sorry. But but yeah, those those days are gone.
Govindh Jayaraman (12:34):
I remember sitting on the carpet in my parents, you know, in the parents living room, watching 60 min and and all of these legends talking through things. So it put a smile on my face for sure. So when you're when you're but I get that you're you're doing the persistence. But there, I think that you're
(12:55):
I think you're being a little too humble about the system that you're using, because you talked about a spreadsheet. Take notes. Follow ups. There's a lot of sophistication there, and you're being a little shy about the fact that there's a lot of thought that goes into your system.
So. So I know you've developed it over time, because it obviously 40 years in the business now doing it for yourself.
(13:19):
What makes you what when you say persistence, but in a nice way. What does that look like? Can you give me an example of that.
Julie Whitney (13:29):
Showing the benefits to them. In other words, when I follow up, I say, you know, did you know that there's educational activity sheets on my page that you can download for free for kids when they're in your shop. I try to stress the fact that the 1st book also comes with a free video that kids can watch as a bonus. I put a QR code in the back of the 1st book.
(13:53):
so I tell them about all the extras. This is a QR. Code, and when they scan it I did a 3 3 min video. Captain Dan was a trooper. He went into the hangar, and we taped him giving kids a tour of the inside and outside of Astro. Oh, he's in his pilot uniform. It's really cute. And a 2 page glossary. So I kind of remind them of all the extras. I do tell them that they can order 40% off if they want to order through my directly through my publisher at wholesale pricing.
(14:21):
and then I also oh, I personally send them free astra bookmarks for all their customers, just out of my own pocket. I have these 2 sided astra bookmarks for their stores. So, and if you order, I'll also send you the free bookmarks, and I just mail those. So there's other little tidbits that I could follow up. Oh, I forgot to tell you about this. Did you know about this?
(14:41):
I do emphasize that pilots are buying like crazy for their kids and grandkids. Pilots love this book. I even ended up in the
Aopa Pilots magazine. They reviewed it both books. So you know, that's been a great audience for me. But but in in terms of follow ups. I kind of build on all the extras about the free activity, sheets, and etc.
Govindh Jayaraman (15:06):
Yeah, I think it's so. What you're doing is not just following up, hey? Did you? It's like a did, you know? And here's some more value. So I think that's very instinctual to you, because you've done it for 40 years. But people who are listening, I mean, if you're listening to this, and you're thinking about.
what does it mean to get the one? Yes, it's always coming at it with a different angle of value, because what you see, is value in one direction may not be heard even by the other person. And you're you're one person selling your thing or sharing your value to them, but they're filtering hundreds and hundreds of things. They may not remember what you said unless you say it in a slightly different way, and add a slightly different emphasis to it. Right?
Julie Whitney (15:51):
And yes, and there's 1 more thing I forgot to tell you so, Linkedin. Then I follow up on Linkedin.
which has been a great tool, for example, Hudson booksellers, I met the actual book buyer on Linkedin and message her
saying, Hey, I've got this great book that I think will be perfect for your airport stores. So Linkedin is another great way, like a different channel. Or you can follow up on Linkedin and say, Hey, did you get my email, I'm just checking. Or do I have the right email? And you can send them a message. So I I find that that's another great tool, and that's really helped me.
(16:26):
when we get to talking about my animated series that I'm working on now. Linkedin has been a tremendous tool in finding the contacts for that.
Govindh Jayaraman (16:35):
Yeah, so well, let's just jump right in. So now you. So you went from.
hey? Look, we're we're and I think the story was when the pandemic hit you were essentially.
you know, thinking about taking a trip to Italy. Oh, yeah. And and and.
Julie Whitney (16:59):
My 60th birthday was a great year.
Govindh Jayaraman (17:02):
Your Big 6 0, which you left nowhere and did not.
Julie Whitney (17:06):
But but so so.
Govindh Jayaraman (17:08):
Instead of going to Italy.
You you had this book written, you had it published, you did this, you were inspired, you every you know this door closed
and really like this hanger door closed on Astra. And then all of a sudden, these other things opened up right? So.
Julie Whitney (17:28):
Lemons to lemonade, lemons to lemonade.
Govindh Jayaraman (17:31):
So all of this is happening. So you pivot into a author, a children's book author.
You promote it the way you promoted your clients and and got it leveraged. You wrote a second book, and now you're turning this into an animated
series right.
Julie Whitney (17:48):
Yeah. So I wrote the 3rd book, which is kind of on hold. It's called Astra's Canine Rescue. I wrote it a couple years ago Astra actually takes dogs that are abandoned, due to the California wildfires and flies them to their new homes with new purposes all over the country. It's a really cool book, but I couldn't stop writing, and I had so many episodes in my brain
(18:12):
are books in my brain. I guess I should say so many plots with her and her 3 new friends, and what they could do together to help people and animals on our planet, that I thought, you know what. I can't possibly publish 22 books because it takes a long time. It's a process with the illustrations and the edits and the back and forth.
So I just said, You know what this is a streaming TV series. This is a really cool series about 3 friends that are dramatically different, and each have their distinct personalities and skill sets that work together as a team to help others. It's just a general message that's universal to everyone. So
(18:54):
I wrote a TV treatment for over 22 episodes and just to get started.
And I thought, you know, I really need a visual to go with this. So I actually hired a freelancer on Fiverr. I don't know if you're familiar with Fiverr.
(19:15):
And he's in India, and he's wonderful, and he speaks English and I wrote the script.
I voiced the script myself to save money. And I wrote a jingle and open. He used AI to put it to music.
I have a 2 min and 40. Second. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful trailer for Astra and friends, and to test it, my granddaughter, who lives in Nashville, who's 3 and a half, watch it on my phone 30 times cry when we took it away. She wanted more, more. I'm like, I don't have any more, but I am producing a second one right now. So
(19:56):
my motto with the animated streaming series is, it only takes one production, animation, company and distribution company, whatever you want to call it
to say. Yes.
it only takes one. So I've started sending a dropbox link to. I did a pitch deck
(20:18):
and the trailer and I've been sending it to companies animation companies in the Us. Canada all over Europe and 3 in Canada have already gotten back to me and had me sign agreements that it's okay for them to look at this material and verifying that I do own it, and I've been working with an intellectual property attorney which cost you arm and a leg.
(20:41):
To make sure I'm in the clear on doing all this, getting everything squared away. It's a learning process. So I have 3 companies that have expressed interest in Canada, and then
I had another. Yes, yesterday from a company in the States. So we're going to do a zoom call tomorrow.
So.
Govindh Jayaraman (21:01):
Right.
Julie Whitney (21:01):
I really really want to leave a legacy in this world. I want to leave something good
behind for kids that has a good message about helping others.
Govindh Jayaraman (21:13):
I think what's really
I mean, there's so much about your story that I find so much so compelling.
And and I want to. I don't want to lose these things, but
you talked about how a 40 year Pr. Career.
And then, you know, you thought you're going off on your 60th birthday to Italy.
(21:36):
Epidemic happens when you're sitting in
your husband's Gulf Stream, which you affectionately named Astra, and he named Astra. I assume as well. There was. There was this moment where you felt inspired, and you wrote a book.
You weren't an author before that, were you?
Julie Whitney (21:54):
No, I've promoted so many authors, but no.
Govindh Jayaraman (21:57):
So you you're starting this brand new career
that you knew something about the promotion side because of your past. But you'd never done yourself. And then you're going through the whole production cycle, the publishing cycle, the whole editing and obviously printing cycle. You're doing all of those things, selling it to nontraditional markets.
(22:21):
Then again, all of this started at 60. So I think that what you know the thing that I'm inspired by and I don't want to lose is that it's
you had this huge pivot opportunity, and I hope that people could hear just how enthusiastic you are about it. It's like you were built for this
(22:41):
but 20 years ago. I don't think you even saw this coming, did you?
Julie Whitney (22:44):
No, it was never on my bucket list ever, and I didn't realize how much work it is. I mean it takes. So when I signed with my publisher. In August of 2020 the book came out on Dr. Seuss's birthday, read across America week, March second.
2022, and the second book came out in 20. So it takes like 18 months to go back and forth with the edits, and then I had to find an illustrator, and they gave me a portfolio, and I sent them real photos from the day of the photo shoot so they could see what my husband, Captain Dan, and the plane looked like to see who could capture what I saw in my brain, and Michelle Simpson, who's from Canada.
(23:27):
nailed it. I saw her sketches, and I literally started crying, I'm like, Oh, my gosh! This is Astra! This is her personality.
This is Captain Dan. This is exactly how I envision it. She just nailed it. She's amazing, anyway. Then you have to go back and forth on the, you know, tweaks to the illustrations, you know. I think Captain Dan needs to be more this way. Astrid needs to look happier. Astrid needs to look sad, round and round and round, and then
(23:58):
you get your advanced copy 6 months before the book is released, because you really need to start promoting it 6 months prior to the release date. Book reviewers like to have it 6 months in advance.
Booksellers need to know ahead of time if they're going to order it and set up signings. So it is a process, you'd think a picture book is easy. It's just a picture book. I think it's probably more difficult than a novel. Actually, there's more involved.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:23):
Yeah, well, there's a lot more people involved, anyway.
Julie Whitney (24:25):
Yeah.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:26):
Novel. You're the one writing it and editing it, and of course you hire people to support you. But you do all these other things. The other thing that I find really interesting is that you talk about back in the day using the phone. But you're using the phone. You're using email. I don't think you're using fax anymore. But you're using the phone and email.
Julie Whitney (24:43):
One client that's 82 in Vero Beach, Florida. And he he keeps asking me to fax. I finally got rid of it. I'm hoping he's not gonna call me because.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:51):
Yeah.
Julie Whitney (24:51):
Anyway.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:52):
But but then you've got like Linkedin and Fiverr as as tools that you're using as well right. But.
Julie Whitney (24:58):
Yep.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:58):
Doesn't matter what tool you're using. It feels like you still go into that tool to reinforce value and relationship. Am I wrong in that.
Julie Whitney (25:07):
No, you're correct. You're exactly correct. And I've trained myself to be an expert in social media. So I have clients. Now that I just manage their Instagram and Facebook accounts, or, you know, do their posts. So I've learned to become.
you know, a social media Pr pro as well, which was a big adaptation, and I set up a separate Instagram account just for the book, so that people don't need to see like what salad I ate that night, or you know, and have a specific book site that I use. And I actually am. I've just I started on Tiktok, and it's it's been pretty interesting. So I'm trying to use Tiktok, too.
(25:46):
I'll try and do whatever it takes.
Govindh Jayaraman (25:48):
Yeah, well, but but I think that I think that one of the things that you do so well is that you bring
yourself, like authentically yourself to everything you do. And and I think that's powerful and and engaging. So
let me ask you a lot of a lot of people.
(26:11):
especially, you know. Let's call, let's say 45 plus a lot of people. Say, you know, Instagram's tough for me. Tiktok's tough for me. I find these social media, these new technology tools, a little bit tougher.
What would you say has really empowered you in your leverage of them? Because
(26:32):
asteris everywhere, almost, I mean you've done a wonderful job communicating astra. So how how have you
really embraced the differences between those technologies? Especially coming into them? Maybe not as the
the as the native generation.
Julie Whitney (26:50):
Yeah, I try to make the posts on Linkedin are more about like
hey? If you're passing through Lax, look for my book. They're more like travel, professional related than the ones on Instagram might be happy. National Children's Book Week, or Happy Librarians Week. So I kind of have a different tone. It's kind of bothering me that people are putting like recipes on Linkedin. It's not what it's for.
(27:18):
I mean Linkedin's kind of becoming Facebooky. I mean, I don't know if you feel that way, but people are putting like pictures of their dogs on there. I love my dog, but
I'm trying to use it as a professional networking tour and tool, and I posted a screenshot on there of the opening scene from Astor and friends, saying, I have 3 companies interested. If you want to see the trailer, please message me.
(27:43):
So those posts are a little bit different. Instagram. I even post pictures of like reading in schools and things like that. I posted a photo of me in my pilot uniform talking about. It's a great way to host a kid's birthday party. I actually had someone that wanted a pilot theme birthday party for their kid, and they ordered 20 copies of the book directly from me.
(28:07):
and I said, oh, that's a great idea. I'm going to go ahead and share it. Easy way to have a kid's birthday party. You buy a cheap pair of aviator sunglasses, and you give them a pair of plastic wings and the book, and that's their present for going to the party. The the pilot theme party. So.
Govindh Jayaraman (28:24):
Right.
Julie Whitney (28:25):
Something I'd like to break into is the party stores, and I didn't have any luck. I tried to find the right people at party source. I think they're going under. I read, anyway. But I thought, Wow, if this could be
in a party.
Govindh Jayaraman (28:37):
You can.
Julie Whitney (28:38):
Next to the pilot uniform, but.
Govindh Jayaraman (28:40):
I love how you follow your curiosity to nontraditional markets. So I mean, there's a lot of takeaway here, and you've provided a lot of wisdom and value to our audience. Thank you. As you and I talked about what you appreciate appreciates. We end every episode, putting back some appreciation in the world. It was a paper napkin we got some years ago from a great friend of the show, John Rulan, and so now, in honor of John and his family. We ask our guests.
(29:10):
is there anybody you'd like to shout out anybody you'd like to give some appreciation to before we close.
Julie Whitney (29:15):
I have to shout out the captain, Dan.
He's my rock, he is. He doesn't like being on camera. He did a 3 min video for me. When he's available he comes to schools, and the kids are thrilled and they ask him a million questions. Because if they ask me what makes a plane fly. I'm like, it's magic kids. I mean he. He has been a real trooper because he's got his day job, and he's very busy. But yeah, he did my Astro website. He built it for me.
(29:44):
He's my webmaster. He has just been so supportive. He protests, like he doesn't like going to the schools. But they'll say, does anyone have any questions for the author, kids?
Does anyone have any questions for the pilot?
Where does the pilot go to the bathroom. How does he go? Can he eat in the cockpit? Do you need a key to start the plane? I mean the crazy questions they get so I mean I couldn't have done this without him. If he hadn't lost his job.
(30:14):
I would have never written this book. I mean, I wasn't going to write a book about an airplane. I mean.
you know, it's it's it was meant to be, and that and I owe him a lot. He's been a real trooper, and any questions that I have about planes, or he's on A. G. 100 Facebook page. And I said, Will you please post about the book on there, and he did finally, it's him.
Govindh Jayaraman (30:41):
That's great! That's great. Well, thanks for joining me, Julie. It's great to meet you.
Julie Whitney (30:45):
Thank you for having me.
Julie Whitney. Welcome to paper napkin wisdom. I'm excited to have you here today.
Julie Whitney (00:07):
Thanks. I'm really excited to be here.
Govindh Jayaraman (00:09):
So, Julie? Well, you're wearing bright red on a bright red napkin you shared with me a wonderful napkin. Your wisdom is. It only takes 1. 1 is in capitals and underlined. Yes, you got a little smiley face. Why did you share that with me?
Julie Whitney (00:27):
I go way way back with that motto, I've always embraced it when I started my public relations consulting business back in 2,000 and made a break out of the TV and advertising business. I had to find just one client, one client that would pay me enough that I could actually break away and start a business. I couldn't just hang up a shingle and say, Oh, here's my business. I hope someone hires me
(00:52):
day. So I found that one client willing to pay me for 24 HA week, so that I could build my hourly business around that.
But then it continued, as I was pitching stories to the National Media, the Wall Street Journal and the Today show, I knew that I just needed to get one national reporter on the hook, and my client at the time called me the Lone Wolf because I wasn't afraid to just pick up the phone back in the old days and call call reporters until I got that one story. Once you landed that one big story, the other media would call, and things would tend to fall like dominoes. So
(01:32):
that was always my strategy in my Pr career.
Govindh Jayaraman (01:38):
You know I think I have this this motto. My motto, very similar to yours is, abundance starts with one, and it sort of says the same thing. It's kind of what you're saying, right? Like, it just takes one because that one opens the door for whatever happens after that, doesn't it?
Julie Whitney (01:55):
And yes, and persistence pays persistence in a nice way without being a fly in the ointment. I have a quote on my website from a reporter at the Wall Street Journal, who's no longer there. But she said you were one of the most persistent pr people I've ever worked with, and I fed her exactly what she needed, and she actually would come to me when she was on a deadline and couldn't find someone for her small business column and relied on me
(02:20):
to help her find people. So if you're persistent in a nice way, it does pay, and this also this it only takes one motto of mine. It's, you know, follows the book business that I'm now in. If you want to go into that.
Govindh Jayaraman (02:36):
Yeah, we're gonna we're definitely gonna well, we'll just jump right in. So you know, you, you went from Pr business and
and and and and then you took a right turn, and I did.
becoming an author. How did that happen?
Julie Whitney (02:50):
So I'm not giving up the day job yet, because I have to support the author habit and all my endeavors with that, as every celebrity on the planet. Jimmy Kimmel Drew Barrymore. Everyone has a kids book. It's a tough market, but 2020 was a tumultuous year worldwide. I think we can all agree. My husband, who is a former Navy pilot, was flying a beautiful corporate Gulf Stream jet
(03:18):
for 13 years, and due to the pandemic unexpectedly. On May 5, th 2020, he got a call in the afternoon and said, we are selling the plane, closing the flight department, and you are out of a job.
So
as a good wife, I went with him to clean out the hangar and say goodbye to the beautiful plane, and I asked him if I could sit inside her, and he let me sit inside her, and he lit up the instrument panel, and I started. I still cry when I tell the story. I unexpectedly started just weeping
(03:54):
because he was so close to this plane. She was his baby. He was the chief pilot. He knew her quirks, her ins, her outs, all her nuances. He flew her 3 to 4 days a week as far away as Brazil, I mean. That was his baby, it really was.
And so I got really sad. And I said, What's going to happen to her sitting all alone in this hangar? She's used to flying 3 or 4 days a week, he said. Well, Julie, if someone doesn't start up her engines every 28 days, she's not going to be in very good shape.
(04:24):
So I went home that night, and I started writing.
and I wrote a book called Astra, the Lonely Airplane, and the plane originally was called the Astra Spx, and she was built in Israel. That's why the name Astra, which worked out perfectly, and I have. I've always been good at rhyming, so I wrote it in rhyming verse.
(04:50):
and I'd say in a couple weeks I had a pretty good manuscript, and then I started pitching publishers to see if I could get someone to publish my book. I didn't want to have to self publish it. So my motto was, It only takes one. It only takes one. Yes, I got to get a publisher, and I didn't know a lot about publishing. I promoted many authors throughout my career, but as far as becoming one
(05:15):
boy. I didn't realize everything that's involved.
I got a yes, in August of 2020 on national aviation day. If that's not the stars being aligned, and that's the day Captain Dan found a new job.
So the book was meant to be. I got my one. Yes, and the second book just came out last March, and that was called Astra in Hollywood Astra finds herself in her new Hollywood hangar, surrounded by 3 new friends, Lana, the Learjet, Helen the helicopter and Hank the cargo plane.
(05:51):
They can all do things that Astra cannot, and she feels inferior, wondering if she'll fit in. But in the end she helps all of her friends in her own clever, speedy way, and they all become best friends.
So that's that's the 1st 2 books.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:10):
Great, and.
Julie Whitney (06:11):
Nothing. I never intended to do it. It just happened.
I mean, it just happened. And and going to schools, I partner with junior achievement and reading to assemblies with like 600 kids and doing a Powerpoint on planes and flying is the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Does it make you any money? No, but does it give you tons of satisfaction? Yes.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:36):
And and so let's let's let's let's loop back on a couple of things that you shared.
Julie Whitney (06:40):
Yeah.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:41):
Because I think it's really interesting
that the way you helped clients. Really, that persistence, that finding one is the way you helped yourself right, like you used all those skills the same. You said you didn't know anything about publishing, but you sure knew a lot about promotion, and you lose.
Julie Whitney (06:56):
Did.
Govindh Jayaraman (06:56):
Brought that persistence into what you did for yourself.
Did you find it harder to do it for yourself than doing it for someone else. Did you find it harder to promote yourself? And because because that's that's a different thing, right?
Julie Whitney (07:12):
Not really because I know all the local locally. I know everyone. So I literally just had to
tell people that I had a book and and set up book signings, and they would have me on their shows. I didn't really find, because I've been doing it so long. I've been doing Pr. Almost 40 years, so I didn't really find it that difficult doing it for myself. Well, the harder part was was not necessarily securing the media coverage, but getting my books into nontraditional places. So bookstores are fine. But that's not really how I've been
(07:43):
selling books. I contacted every aviation museum in the entire country, and I'm in most of the aviation museums from coast to coast. I got myself in 37 of Hudson booksellers, major airports in all their stores, and this has just been me hounding people calling, calling. There's no list finding out who, who, who
(08:05):
and I love it. When people send me pictures like I'm in the Detroit airport. I saw your book. Oh, I'm a book soup in La. I saw your book. I'm at the Seattle Aviation Museum. I saw your book, and I post those photos, and I love it. So that's been
challenging because my publisher is small and they don't really have. They have like 12 people. They don't have the staff to do any kind of Pr marketing. Yes, you're in the standard catalogs which you know the bookstores can order from, but I've really thought outside of the box and gone to unusual places in order to sell books.
Govindh Jayaraman (08:40):
So I love what you just did. Your instinct was to find nontraditional channels to move your book, and you looked for parallel channels that would be very interesting, like aviation museums, airports, of course, and other things. So this out of the box, thinking. And I love that you married it with you said this. It was back in the day, and I was gonna come back to this. You said you picked up the phone and called people.
Julie Whitney (09:06):
Back.
Govindh Jayaraman (09:07):
In the day. But you're doing that today. You're not. You're not sending emails alone. You're you're making phone calls, right?
Julie Whitney (09:13):
I have to. Yeah, yeah. And you know, the times in Pr have changed. When I 1st started out I had a contact at ABC. News at Nbc. News at Cbs. News at the Wall Street Journal at the New York Times. One contact that I would go to at the bureau that would get me on the shows. They've all retired so I can't pick up the phone and say, Hey, I've got a great story for Gma, can you. It just doesn't work like that. It's all 23 year old
(09:41):
producers. They don't know me. So it's different. It's different now. The relationship building, as far as the national media is a bit more challenging. But yeah, I do know a lot of the aviation museums and
people there now.
Govindh Jayaraman (09:57):
Yeah. And and so I love how diligent you were about finding these numbers being persistent, getting through.
Let's talk about that difference right? So back back in the day when when you called people, they answered their phones, you know, and I remember the ratio we used to talk about ratios back. And we'd always say, Hey, guys, every every phone, every 9 phone calls, you're gonna get one conversation. So it's just about getting to 10, just get to 10, and if you go over 10 no, you're gonna go 2 for the next 10. It's okay. It's just numbers.
Julie Whitney (10:32):
Yeah.
Govindh Jayaraman (10:33):
And and so that was the way we did it. But that's not the same number ratio anymore, right people. Nobody answers.
Julie Whitney (10:38):
No.
Govindh Jayaraman (10:39):
So how did you? How do you stay energized because you've got a lot of energy, a lot of positive, wonderful, dynamic energy. How do you bring that energy? What's your routine as you're going through yet another phone call where you're expecting voicemails, because somewhere around it's now somewhere around 30 to one. So when you're going 30 phone calls, 30 dials before talking to somebody.
(11:04):
what's the what's the approach? Tell me about that?
Julie Whitney (11:07):
Still I follow up. I have, you know I have my spreadsheet with notes of who I called, at which airport follow up! Follow up, follow up, follow up. I mean, I've had to take 3 phone calls. Sometimes if I get lucky and get an email, 3 emails, I just keep following up in a persistent way, trying not to be annoying. Say, sorry to bother you again, but I want to make sure you got my voicemail about this incredible Children's book that's teaching them about aviation and flying and
(11:32):
it's just it's still persistence. You know. I have a funny story. When you said about the days of picking up the phone. The best story I have.
I got Don Hewitt from 60 min on the phone. No way. My strategy. I've always worked at home. After my son was off at school, I would call early in the morning, thinking that sometimes, if you call like 7, 30, or something in the newsroom you could actually get a live person, Don Hewitt. Here, I'm like.
(11:59):
what do I do? And and I mean he's like a legend, and so God rest his soul! I gave him my pitch. He's like fax it to me. That was back in the days of fax machines, and I got to know his secretary. Her name was Beverly, I think, and the story didn't end up happening. But he's like I'm walking this down to Morally safer's office right now, and that was, that's like how things were.
Govindh Jayaraman (12:21):
Dawn. You morally safer.
Julie Whitney (12:24):
People don't even know who they are. They're listening to this. Sorry. But but yeah, those those days are gone.
Govindh Jayaraman (12:34):
I remember sitting on the carpet in my parents, you know, in the parents living room, watching 60 min and and all of these legends talking through things. So it put a smile on my face for sure. So when you're when you're but I get that you're you're doing the persistence. But there, I think that you're
(12:55):
I think you're being a little too humble about the system that you're using, because you talked about a spreadsheet. Take notes. Follow ups. There's a lot of sophistication there, and you're being a little shy about the fact that there's a lot of thought that goes into your system.
So. So I know you've developed it over time, because it obviously 40 years in the business now doing it for yourself.
(13:19):
What makes you what when you say persistence, but in a nice way. What does that look like? Can you give me an example of that.
Julie Whitney (13:29):
Showing the benefits to them. In other words, when I follow up, I say, you know, did you know that there's educational activity sheets on my page that you can download for free for kids when they're in your shop. I try to stress the fact that the 1st book also comes with a free video that kids can watch as a bonus. I put a QR code in the back of the 1st book.
(13:53):
so I tell them about all the extras. This is a QR. Code, and when they scan it I did a 3 3 min video. Captain Dan was a trooper. He went into the hangar, and we taped him giving kids a tour of the inside and outside of Astro. Oh, he's in his pilot uniform. It's really cute. And a 2 page glossary. So I kind of remind them of all the extras. I do tell them that they can order 40% off if they want to order through my directly through my publisher at wholesale pricing.
(14:21):
and then I also oh, I personally send them free astra bookmarks for all their customers, just out of my own pocket. I have these 2 sided astra bookmarks for their stores. So, and if you order, I'll also send you the free bookmarks, and I just mail those. So there's other little tidbits that I could follow up. Oh, I forgot to tell you about this. Did you know about this?
(14:41):
I do emphasize that pilots are buying like crazy for their kids and grandkids. Pilots love this book. I even ended up in the
Aopa Pilots magazine. They reviewed it both books. So you know, that's been a great audience for me. But but in in terms of follow ups. I kind of build on all the extras about the free activity, sheets, and etc.
Govindh Jayaraman (15:06):
Yeah, I think it's so. What you're doing is not just following up, hey? Did you? It's like a did, you know? And here's some more value. So I think that's very instinctual to you, because you've done it for 40 years. But people who are listening, I mean, if you're listening to this, and you're thinking about.
what does it mean to get the one? Yes, it's always coming at it with a different angle of value, because what you see, is value in one direction may not be heard even by the other person. And you're you're one person selling your thing or sharing your value to them, but they're filtering hundreds and hundreds of things. They may not remember what you said unless you say it in a slightly different way, and add a slightly different emphasis to it. Right?
Julie Whitney (15:51):
And yes, and there's 1 more thing I forgot to tell you so, Linkedin. Then I follow up on Linkedin.
which has been a great tool, for example, Hudson booksellers, I met the actual book buyer on Linkedin and message her
saying, Hey, I've got this great book that I think will be perfect for your airport stores. So Linkedin is another great way, like a different channel. Or you can follow up on Linkedin and say, Hey, did you get my email, I'm just checking. Or do I have the right email? And you can send them a message. So I I find that that's another great tool, and that's really helped me.
(16:26):
when we get to talking about my animated series that I'm working on now. Linkedin has been a tremendous tool in finding the contacts for that.
Govindh Jayaraman (16:35):
Yeah, so well, let's just jump right in. So now you. So you went from.
hey? Look, we're we're and I think the story was when the pandemic hit you were essentially.
you know, thinking about taking a trip to Italy. Oh, yeah. And and and.
Julie Whitney (16:59):
My 60th birthday was a great year.
Govindh Jayaraman (17:02):
Your Big 6 0, which you left nowhere and did not.
Julie Whitney (17:06):
But but so so.
Govindh Jayaraman (17:08):
Instead of going to Italy.
You you had this book written, you had it published, you did this, you were inspired, you every you know this door closed
and really like this hanger door closed on Astra. And then all of a sudden, these other things opened up right? So.
Julie Whitney (17:28):
Lemons to lemonade, lemons to lemonade.
Govindh Jayaraman (17:31):
So all of this is happening. So you pivot into a author, a children's book author.
You promote it the way you promoted your clients and and got it leveraged. You wrote a second book, and now you're turning this into an animated
series right.
Julie Whitney (17:48):
Yeah. So I wrote the 3rd book, which is kind of on hold. It's called Astra's Canine Rescue. I wrote it a couple years ago Astra actually takes dogs that are abandoned, due to the California wildfires and flies them to their new homes with new purposes all over the country. It's a really cool book, but I couldn't stop writing, and I had so many episodes in my brain
(18:12):
are books in my brain. I guess I should say so many plots with her and her 3 new friends, and what they could do together to help people and animals on our planet, that I thought, you know what. I can't possibly publish 22 books because it takes a long time. It's a process with the illustrations and the edits and the back and forth.
So I just said, You know what this is a streaming TV series. This is a really cool series about 3 friends that are dramatically different, and each have their distinct personalities and skill sets that work together as a team to help others. It's just a general message that's universal to everyone. So
(18:54):
I wrote a TV treatment for over 22 episodes and just to get started.
And I thought, you know, I really need a visual to go with this. So I actually hired a freelancer on Fiverr. I don't know if you're familiar with Fiverr.
(19:15):
And he's in India, and he's wonderful, and he speaks English and I wrote the script.
I voiced the script myself to save money. And I wrote a jingle and open. He used AI to put it to music.
I have a 2 min and 40. Second. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful trailer for Astra and friends, and to test it, my granddaughter, who lives in Nashville, who's 3 and a half, watch it on my phone 30 times cry when we took it away. She wanted more, more. I'm like, I don't have any more, but I am producing a second one right now. So
(19:56):
my motto with the animated streaming series is, it only takes one production, animation, company and distribution company, whatever you want to call it
to say. Yes.
it only takes one. So I've started sending a dropbox link to. I did a pitch deck
(20:18):
and the trailer and I've been sending it to companies animation companies in the Us. Canada all over Europe and 3 in Canada have already gotten back to me and had me sign agreements that it's okay for them to look at this material and verifying that I do own it, and I've been working with an intellectual property attorney which cost you arm and a leg.
(20:41):
To make sure I'm in the clear on doing all this, getting everything squared away. It's a learning process. So I have 3 companies that have expressed interest in Canada, and then
I had another. Yes, yesterday from a company in the States. So we're going to do a zoom call tomorrow.
So.
Govindh Jayaraman (21:01):
Right.
Julie Whitney (21:01):
I really really want to leave a legacy in this world. I want to leave something good
behind for kids that has a good message about helping others.
Govindh Jayaraman (21:13):
I think what's really
I mean, there's so much about your story that I find so much so compelling.
And and I want to. I don't want to lose these things, but
you talked about how a 40 year Pr. Career.
And then, you know, you thought you're going off on your 60th birthday to Italy.
(21:36):
Epidemic happens when you're sitting in
your husband's Gulf Stream, which you affectionately named Astra, and he named Astra. I assume as well. There was. There was this moment where you felt inspired, and you wrote a book.
You weren't an author before that, were you?
Julie Whitney (21:54):
No, I've promoted so many authors, but no.
Govindh Jayaraman (21:57):
So you you're starting this brand new career
that you knew something about the promotion side because of your past. But you'd never done yourself. And then you're going through the whole production cycle, the publishing cycle, the whole editing and obviously printing cycle. You're doing all of those things, selling it to nontraditional markets.
(22:21):
Then again, all of this started at 60. So I think that what you know the thing that I'm inspired by and I don't want to lose is that it's
you had this huge pivot opportunity, and I hope that people could hear just how enthusiastic you are about it. It's like you were built for this
(22:41):
but 20 years ago. I don't think you even saw this coming, did you?
Julie Whitney (22:44):
No, it was never on my bucket list ever, and I didn't realize how much work it is. I mean it takes. So when I signed with my publisher. In August of 2020 the book came out on Dr. Seuss's birthday, read across America week, March second.
2022, and the second book came out in 20. So it takes like 18 months to go back and forth with the edits, and then I had to find an illustrator, and they gave me a portfolio, and I sent them real photos from the day of the photo shoot so they could see what my husband, Captain Dan, and the plane looked like to see who could capture what I saw in my brain, and Michelle Simpson, who's from Canada.
(23:27):
nailed it. I saw her sketches, and I literally started crying, I'm like, Oh, my gosh! This is Astra! This is her personality.
This is Captain Dan. This is exactly how I envision it. She just nailed it. She's amazing, anyway. Then you have to go back and forth on the, you know, tweaks to the illustrations, you know. I think Captain Dan needs to be more this way. Astrid needs to look happier. Astrid needs to look sad, round and round and round, and then
(23:58):
you get your advanced copy 6 months before the book is released, because you really need to start promoting it 6 months prior to the release date. Book reviewers like to have it 6 months in advance.
Booksellers need to know ahead of time if they're going to order it and set up signings. So it is a process, you'd think a picture book is easy. It's just a picture book. I think it's probably more difficult than a novel. Actually, there's more involved.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:23):
Yeah, well, there's a lot more people involved, anyway.
Julie Whitney (24:25):
Yeah.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:26):
Novel. You're the one writing it and editing it, and of course you hire people to support you. But you do all these other things. The other thing that I find really interesting is that you talk about back in the day using the phone. But you're using the phone. You're using email. I don't think you're using fax anymore. But you're using the phone and email.
Julie Whitney (24:43):
One client that's 82 in Vero Beach, Florida. And he he keeps asking me to fax. I finally got rid of it. I'm hoping he's not gonna call me because.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:51):
Yeah.
Julie Whitney (24:51):
Anyway.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:52):
But but then you've got like Linkedin and Fiverr as as tools that you're using as well right. But.
Julie Whitney (24:58):
Yep.
Govindh Jayaraman (24:58):
Doesn't matter what tool you're using. It feels like you still go into that tool to reinforce value and relationship. Am I wrong in that.
Julie Whitney (25:07):
No, you're correct. You're exactly correct. And I've trained myself to be an expert in social media. So I have clients. Now that I just manage their Instagram and Facebook accounts, or, you know, do their posts. So I've learned to become.
you know, a social media Pr pro as well, which was a big adaptation, and I set up a separate Instagram account just for the book, so that people don't need to see like what salad I ate that night, or you know, and have a specific book site that I use. And I actually am. I've just I started on Tiktok, and it's it's been pretty interesting. So I'm trying to use Tiktok, too.
(25:46):
I'll try and do whatever it takes.
Govindh Jayaraman (25:48):
Yeah, well, but but I think that I think that one of the things that you do so well is that you bring
yourself, like authentically yourself to everything you do. And and I think that's powerful and and engaging. So
let me ask you a lot of a lot of people.
(26:11):
especially, you know. Let's call, let's say 45 plus a lot of people. Say, you know, Instagram's tough for me. Tiktok's tough for me. I find these social media, these new technology tools, a little bit tougher.
What would you say has really empowered you in your leverage of them? Because
(26:32):
asteris everywhere, almost, I mean you've done a wonderful job communicating astra. So how how have you
really embraced the differences between those technologies? Especially coming into them? Maybe not as the
the as the native generation.
Julie Whitney (26:50):
Yeah, I try to make the posts on Linkedin are more about like
hey? If you're passing through Lax, look for my book. They're more like travel, professional related than the ones on Instagram might be happy. National Children's Book Week, or Happy Librarians Week. So I kind of have a different tone. It's kind of bothering me that people are putting like recipes on Linkedin. It's not what it's for.
(27:18):
I mean Linkedin's kind of becoming Facebooky. I mean, I don't know if you feel that way, but people are putting like pictures of their dogs on there. I love my dog, but
I'm trying to use it as a professional networking tour and tool, and I posted a screenshot on there of the opening scene from Astor and friends, saying, I have 3 companies interested. If you want to see the trailer, please message me.
(27:43):
So those posts are a little bit different. Instagram. I even post pictures of like reading in schools and things like that. I posted a photo of me in my pilot uniform talking about. It's a great way to host a kid's birthday party. I actually had someone that wanted a pilot theme birthday party for their kid, and they ordered 20 copies of the book directly from me.
(28:07):
and I said, oh, that's a great idea. I'm going to go ahead and share it. Easy way to have a kid's birthday party. You buy a cheap pair of aviator sunglasses, and you give them a pair of plastic wings and the book, and that's their present for going to the party. The the pilot theme party. So.
Govindh Jayaraman (28:24):
Right.
Julie Whitney (28:25):
Something I'd like to break into is the party stores, and I didn't have any luck. I tried to find the right people at party source. I think they're going under. I read, anyway. But I thought, Wow, if this could be
in a party.
Govindh Jayaraman (28:37):
You can.
Julie Whitney (28:38):
Next to the pilot uniform, but.
Govindh Jayaraman (28:40):
I love how you follow your curiosity to nontraditional markets. So I mean, there's a lot of takeaway here, and you've provided a lot of wisdom and value to our audience. Thank you. As you and I talked about what you appreciate appreciates. We end every episode, putting back some appreciation in the world. It was a paper napkin we got some years ago from a great friend of the show, John Rulan, and so now, in honor of John and his family. We ask our guests.
(29:10):
is there anybody you'd like to shout out anybody you'd like to give some appreciation to before we close.
Julie Whitney (29:15):
I have to shout out the captain, Dan.
He's my rock, he is. He doesn't like being on camera. He did a 3 min video for me. When he's available he comes to schools, and the kids are thrilled and they ask him a million questions. Because if they ask me what makes a plane fly. I'm like, it's magic kids. I mean he. He has been a real trooper because he's got his day job, and he's very busy. But yeah, he did my Astro website. He built it for me.
(29:44):
He's my webmaster. He has just been so supportive. He protests, like he doesn't like going to the schools. But they'll say, does anyone have any questions for the author, kids?
Does anyone have any questions for the pilot?
Where does the pilot go to the bathroom. How does he go? Can he eat in the cockpit? Do you need a key to start the plane? I mean the crazy questions they get so I mean I couldn't have done this without him. If he hadn't lost his job.
(30:14):
I would have never written this book. I mean, I wasn't going to write a book about an airplane. I mean.
you know, it's it's it was meant to be, and that and I owe him a lot. He's been a real trooper, and any questions that I have about planes, or he's on A. G. 100 Facebook page. And I said, Will you please post about the book on there, and he did finally, it's him.
Govindh Jayaraman (30:41):
That's great! That's great. Well, thanks for joining me, Julie. It's great to meet you.
Julie Whitney (30:45):
Thank you for having me.
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