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Friday, June 03, 2011

Welcome Julie Carobini and Fade to Blue

Please interact with our guest authors by answering the question they provide. IF there is a book giveaway, your response will also enter you in the drawing for a free book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


JULIE CAROBINI grew up as Julie Navarro, in a family of truly right-brained individuals. Among them you’ll find writers, artists, and musicians, all willing to talk about the arts at a moment’s notice.

After growing up in Los Angeles, she landed in Ventura County where she made great friends, met Jesus, and fell in love with the dashing Dan Carobini. Despite serious illness and three children delivered by C-section, she managed to hone her lifelong love for writing and sell a few articles. She also edited books for several distinguished authors. Over the years, she's published several hundred articles and stories in magazines and books. As she wrote, she found a common theme cropping up: family, the sea, and God’s timely work in the lives of those around her. She thought it was time to incorporate those into novels. But God shut both doors and windows. So she continued to write and dream and raise her kids with Dan. Eventually she decided to write romantic seaside novels, and that’s where she found her voice.

When she's not writing, marketing, or editing for others, she's driving her kids around town, imagining that her mid-sized SUV is actually a sleek sailing yacht.

FADE TO BLUE
by Julie Carobini
Published by B&H Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

How do you restore a soul? One brush stroke at a time ...

Suz Mitchell is a determined dreamer, and won't allow her ex-husband's jail sentence to ruin their young son Jeremiah's life. An accomplished artist, Suz moves with her child across the country to California's central coast, and lands a job restoring priceless art for the historic Hearst Castle overlooking the sea.

But even dreams have shocking twists. To her surprise, a serious old flame, Seth, works at the castle and jumbles the new aspirations in Suz's heart. While sorting through their past and a palette of spiritual differences, an even bigger brush with yesterday awaits.

Suz must learn to let God be the true restorer of all that once seemed lost.

Readers, buy your copy of Fade to Blue: An Otter Bay Novel today!

MY REVIEW


I don't often have the opportunity to read contemporary fiction. With the time spent researching for my own historical novels and reading other historical novels to stay up to date on what's selling on the market, contemporary novels usually fall by the wayside. But with Julie's Fade to Blue, I took the time. And I'm glad I did.

Julie has a gift for making characters and settings come alive. Having spent most of my life on the East Coast and within an hour of sandy beaches, this book brought back a lot of memories and made me feel as if I were sitting in a lounge chair in that very same sand I once enjoyed.

This book is yet another perfect summer romance as the story of Seth and Suz unfolds. The five years they spent apart carries a lot of burden for both of them. With a divorce hanging on her belt and a young son to raise, Suz faces her hurdles and the hurts of her past with sometimes aching reality. Seth is there in an attempt to help pick up the pieces, but his presence only reminds her of the pain. And the memories of their mistakes makes them both real to the reader. As the flames of attraction are fanned yet again, the realization of second chances becomes a glimmering possibility.

Julie offers a delightful summer read, full of more than romance to satisfy your yearning for a good story. Perfect to escape into the fun and the sun. Be sure to take this book with  you!


AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

Hi Everyone,

Julie Carobini (www.juliecarobini.com) here. My recent release, Fade to Blue, is set in and around the famed Hearst Castle, designed by architect Julia Morgan. Morgan was the first female to graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in Civil Engineering, and later, the first woman to receive a certificate in architecture from Ecole Nationale et Speciale des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

On a recent tour of the sprawling castle located on California’s central coast, my husband, Dan, and I were shown this lean-to off one outer wall. This was Julia Morgan's office. Can you imagine? Ms. Morgan spent nearly thirty years working on that hill with some of the most expensive pieces of art from all over Europe, creating a lavish castle that hosted A-list celebrity guests ~ and she worked in a tiny, nearly windowless office. Phew, that woman got a lot done!

With the hot breath of another deadline scorching my neck, I myself am looking for a non-distracting place to write. So, I'm wondering ... do you think they rent that thing out?

Seriously, here’s my question for you, dear readers: What do you do to ramp up your productivity? I’m all ears!

* * * * *

Thank you, Julie, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: What do you do to ramp up your productivity?

ENTRY RULES Readers, IF there is a book giveaway, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

16 comments:

Jo said...

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and want to visit Hearst's Castle next time we go to California.

Years ago I wanted to become a writer and than life got in the way and was busy raising my family. Even though my kids are grown I got busy with work and never went back to writing. I have been getting the itch again lately.I have only gotten as far as writing ideas down.

Blessings,

Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Kathy Carlton Willis Communications said...

I'd love to win this book by Julie. My answer to her question: I ramp up productivity by splurging on a Diet Pepsi Max and attacking the hardest thing on my to-do list. All the rest works its way out once I handle the big stuff first! I also follow my body clock, which says 10 PM to 1 AM is a good time to have Part two of a work day. Of course, that could be the MAX talking! kathy (at) kathycarltonwillis (dot) com.

Julie Carobini said...

Hi, Jo. I hear you! Even on deadline, so much gets in the way. Try setting aside one morning (or afternoon, or eve, whatever works) and tell yourself "This time is for writing." No Internet, no nothin'. Who knows? Maybe you'll find all those stories are ready to come out!

And Kathy, what in the world is Diet Pepsi MAX? I can only guess! (Sounds, um, powerful :)) I love what you said about attacking the hardest thing first. Such sage advice that I rarely follow. Lol ... but I think it's time I try it!

Thanks, Gals, for stopping in!

Kathy Carlton Willis Communications said...

Julie, you crack me up! Diet Pepsi Max has zero calories, 69 mg of caffeine, and ginseng for extra ZING. Not quite an energy drink, but a little something special to get my spark plugs firing. I don't drink coffee so this is my "guilty pleasure."

Donna Schlachter said...

Hi Julie: I don't usually follow blogs, but when Tiff sent through the ACFW Colorado loop that you were the guest, I had to pop in. Congratulations on the latest book. It's so nice to see success among the group I went to Mt. Hermon with.

As for productivity, when I feel like I'm falling behind, I spend an hour or so reviewing my research, going over pictures, looking through the books I bought as research tools for the book I'm working on. That gets the juice flowing and reminds me why I wanted to write this story in the first place.

misskallie2000 said...

Congrats on your latest release Fade to Blue. Can't wait to read.

I am a reader not a writer but I do work at least 1 hr per day in my yards. With the temp over 99 and almost 8 inches short on rain so far this yr, it is a job just trying to keep the grass living not counting the flowers and plants. Pulling weeds is another ongoing project. lol
I also try to spend time deleting emails and checking my fav blogs daily.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Ann Lee Miller said...

I don't check my e-mail until my day's work is done. :)
Ann_Lee_Miller[at]msn[dot]com

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Jo, I know the feeling, only I already had my career when the kids came, so now I'm forced to balance both. The only other alternative is drop it all and start over again when the kids are older. But that doesn't sound like a viable option.

Stick to your guns. FIND and MAKE time to write. You might be surprised at how much you get done even with only an hour or less a day.

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Kathy, isn't a DIET soft drink with all that caffeine and ginseng a contradiction of terms? :) I don't do coffee, but I don't do diet anything. So, I go with Coke. Once in a while a Mt. Dew, but mostly Coke. It *does* hit you where you need it. No doubt.

Donna, glad to see you pop over here. And reviewing helps me too. If I'm stuck, I re-read or go back over things to jump-start the juices.

Ann, I admire your ability to avoid email. I've been able to go an entire morning or afternoon without checking it, but I usually have to glimpse at it at least once during the day. Of course, my work is IN my email, so I can't avoid it entirely. :)

Kathy Carlton Willis Communications said...

Tiff, I'm diabetic so for me, it's sugar-free anything (or water). Pepsi Max has a good taste to it, not like the other diet drinks, so that's why it's my one-can a day guilty pleasure. It or Diet SunDrop. I don't do coffee so I figure I'm still doing okay overall on the caffeine count for the day. Taste with a kick—I likey! :o

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

I'm with ya, Kathy. Taste with a kick. And I can't do aspartame, so anything diet is out for me. But water is always a winner...unless I need some more punch to my drink. :)

Kacie said...

I try to set aside a specific time to just work on whatever it is I need to get done (right now it's my Master's thesis). I wish I could avoid checking email, but that's how most of my work communication is done. I've started putting the non-essential emails in a separate account that I only check once or twice a day.

kdwoodmansee(at)gmail(dot)com

Jackie S. said...

Great post; looking forward to reading your book, Julie. Thanks for entering me. I ramp up by walking (2 miles)...listening to lively gospel tapes as I walk!
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net

Merry said...

I'm a reader trying to get healthy, so that means making time to exercise. I put on my exercise clothes first thing in the morning (something attractive) and as soon as I'm done with morning stuff, I get to it for 1 to 2 hours... no exercise, no lunch! I still love my lunch, so it works most days.:) I enjoy Julie's books and look forward to Fade to Blue, please add me to the drawing.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Kacie, I've done a similar thing with email. I have a thing about my "inbox" in email being full. So, I move non-essential emails to be answered later and deal with essential ones immediately. Then, my inbox is empty and I have a feeling of accomplishment. :)

Jackie and Merry, I'd love to get back to walking and exercising, but with 2 kids ages 2 and under, it's not easy to load them up...especially with the infant's sleep schedule. If I continue to come up with reasons why it won't work, I'll never get it done.

rbooth43 said...

I have the best job in the world, taking care of my six year old grandson when his parents need me which is a lot during the summer. I ramp up productivity by reading to my grandson and letting him read to me while we have a juice break. Quiet time and bonding time! Amazing! Best time of the day or night!
Thanks!
Rebecca
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com