Julie Edelman is no stranger to turning life’s unexpected moments into inspiration and in her release, The Accidental Sisterhood, she delves into the strength of female bonds, weaving resilience into every page. Drawing from her personal battle with breast cancer, she spreads a message of humor, self-discovery, and positivity. Now as an advocate for the Moffitt Cancer Center, she regularly shares her story, encouraging women to perform self-exams and embrace the emotional and physical journey of recovery. Read on to learn more about Julie Edelman.

Where are you based? 
St. Petersburg, Florida.

What inspired you to start writing and publishing books?
I love being creative with the written word — it goes back to my early days of creating advertising slogans and campaigns. I’d always thought about writing something longer and turning it into a compelling story that women can relate to. I also wanted my writings to make them smile and provide valuable insights and messages on multiple levels — be it in their day-to-day ‘real’ life as in my how-to book The Accidental Housewife or through fictionalized characters and experiences that touch upon life experiences and relationships as in The Accidental Sisterhood. Which brings me back to the original question: writing and publishing enable me to pursue my passion to help inspire others to follow their paths and know they are not alone in their journeys — and are made stronger with the power of sisterhood.

You are known for your books The Accidental Housewife and The Ultimate Accidental Housewife. Can you tell us a little bit about this and your accidental theme?
I joke that my mother told me, when I was old enough to understand, that I was an unplanned birth—so my accidental roots go way back! Fast forward to when love, marriage, and a baby carriage ‘accidentally’ put me into the unexpected role of housewife, highlighting my lack of skill, interest, or time, since I was also a working mom. That led to trying to figure out how to navigate my household responsibilities and maintain a sense of self. The result was embracing my persona as an Accidental Housewife and creating simple home-keeping hacks that would keep my home clean enough, my family fed and my sanity and manicure intact! It also led to my first bestselling book The Accidental Housewife.

Your new book just came out, The Accidental Sisterhood, is described as a heartfelt testament to sisterhood and resilience. Can you tell us more about it? 
It’s about how four very different women find themselves in a web of love, lust, and lies and come together unwittingly when they learn they’ve been deceived by one man who is playing them all. Together, they find the strength and understanding that they are not the ones to be blamed and should not be angry with one another but rather form an unexpected bond to resolve the situation.

You have used your experience with breast cancer to spread positivity and humor. How has this journey affected your personal outlook on life, and what key messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
In the book Jules Malone, the central character discovers her lump while doing a self-examination — as did I. So, first and foremost, my message is that women should do monthly self-exams since it saved my life and Jules’s. The humor for her and again for me came when Dr. Zello, her breast cancer doctor, shared that he was going to remove the lump in her left breast and then lift her other breast to make it even. Jules, as did I, at first could care less about that, but a few days later found humor and announced to her best friend Tess that she’s getting a GWP — a gift with protocol — her sagging menopausal breast was getting a lift and she could now rock t-shirts braless. So Jules and I found the light in the dark, and then she decides to embrace her life and move forward with it… which includes how she decides to move forward with Sean. You’ll have to read it to learn more! One more message: when you go through breast cancer, the surgeries and the treatments test your sense of self and sexuality — give yourself time to heal emotionally but then open yourself up again to feeling good about the ‘new’ you both physically and sensually — you’ll find you can still feel whole and still feel like a woman.

We heard that you are an advocate for the Moffitt Cancer Center. Can you tell us more about this organization?  
Moffitt Cancer Center is one of the nation’s comprehensive cancer treatment centers. The team there, from the woman who hugged me day one when she brought my car to me, to the people who checked me into the radiation team and the master of the helm, Dr. Brian Czerniecki, who helped me be cancer-free — I tell I love him every time I see him — became my family, and their care, passion, commitment and personalized attention is tattooed on my heart. I will do all I can to help others learn why Moffitt is the place to go for breast cancer treatment or treatment for ANY cancer diagnosis.

What advice would you give to someone who is facing a difficult diagnosis or challenging life circumstances?
Give yourself time and permission to feel and experience the rollercoaster of emotions that it presents. Eventually, if you’re going to survive it, you need to find the strength and belief in yourself to move forward. It’s up to you.

Looking back on your journey from diagnosis, what are some of the most surprising or unexpected lessons you have learned along the way?
That breast cancer was a gift! I know that’s not how one would typically think about it, nor did I when I was first diagnosed, but my diagnosis and journey gave me the impetus to act and not put off a dream. That, and to live fully in the moment both individually, which is all we are sure of, and those nearest and dearest to us.

Are there any other upcoming projects you would like to share?
I’m working on The Accidental Sisterhood Book Two! And, I’ll be leading The Accidental Sisterhood Team to raise money for Moffitt in their Miles for Moffitt Run on November 23rd. Any and all support for our team to help find a cure for all forms of cancer is more than appreciated. (https://runsignup.com/accidentalsisterhood)

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive? 
When I first got my breast cancer diagnosis I was scared and panicked at first, and then I realized I had a choice. I could let this detour paralyze me, or find hope and embrace a dream and a passion which is my nature… along with large doses of humor. The dream I embraced was writing The Accidental Sisterhood —I’d been wanting to write a women’s romance thriller for years, but always found reasons not to. A potentially devastating health diagnosis is an amazing motivator. I also recognize I am one of the lucky ones, having found it early, so I looked at it as a sign to stay positive about life and my passions… that passion is to share my breast cancer journey and help others navigate any life-changing detour beyond illness — divorce, job loss, empty nesting — and use it as a catalyst to fulfill a new dream, no matter how big or little! It’s not the end, It can be a new beginning… a new opportunity to live your life fully…. run with it!

What is your motto in life? 
Great Question! I actually have two:

The first is the golden rule: do onto others as you have them do onto you — but do it without expecting it will be reciprocated! Do it cause it makes you feel good and it’s authentic!

The second actually comes from Pink’s incredible song called “Turbulence.” I played it every time I had a radiation treatment and still do when life throws me a detour — the short motto is “remember, it’s just turbulence”… the longer mantra is “If you’re alive, you’re committed to survive… the panic is temporary… it’s just turbulence.” It helped me then, and it helps me now to stay strong, stay positive and stay present.

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Julie Edelman - Words of Sisterhood