Guest Author: Julie Carobini

Hi everyone, Today we're in for a treat with guest author Julie Carobini! She's a new author and has just released "Chocolate Beach." I've linked Julie's blog to my "Connections" tab below.

Hi, Julie. Welcome! Let's start with what inspired you to write Chocolate Beach.

First, I wanted to write a book set in one of my favorite locales—the California coast. Then I began to think about relationships, and how people often marry their opposites. What happens to them down the road? How do they deal with their differences? Are they still charmed by each other, or bugged? In Chocolate Beach, Bri Stone has always found solace in chocolate and the beach (and who wouldn’t?) but will these things get her through when she faces serious questions about her marriage?

When did Chocolate Beach release?

The official release date was February 2007, but it actually made it into readers’ hands in January. Exciting times for a newbie author!

Are there any new projects on the horizon?

Yes! Watch for Truffles by the Sea in Spring 2008. It’s the story of Bri’s best friend, Gaby Flores. Stop on by my website for more info, if you’d like: www.juliecarobini.com

Do you prefer to write contemporary chick-lit fiction?

Yes! I read all sorts of genres, but found my voice in Chick-lit. It’s sassy and fun, and allows me to tell stories of life’s challenges in an entertaining way.

Who are your readers?

My readers are the “young at heart.” Mostly women, they are aware of current trends and technology, yet they like to giggle through a good story. They also love to bond with other women over faith, a hot cup of coffee or tea, and of course, designer chocolates!

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?

It can be so tough to find unobstructed time to actually write when there are so many other things vying for my attention: proposing new books, marketing current ones, writing articles, and most especially, caring for my family of five.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run world?

Actually? I’m often overwhelmed. I try to pray a lot—and God always steps in.
Attending a regular Bible study helps too, because it keeps me focused on what God thinks about my busy life! I also jog on the beach, take a spinning class, and drink (too much) coffee.

What advice would you give to a person trying to become a fiction writer?

I address this on my new website. First, find every opportunity to read. Next, make sure you actually enjoy the process of writing before investing your life into it. Finally, get help. Go to writer’s conferences and watch how the experts do it; make friends at those conferences, the kind who will cheer you on in the days ahead (and who you can cheer along too!); and invest in yearly guides such as Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide.

Thanks, Julie, for including us in your beach hopping blog tour! And thanks, readers, for stopping by. Visit again soon to read about other authors and their books.