After the launch

Here are a few reader friends with their copies of Sweet Waters, picked up at the launch party. Aren't they go-jus???

Still basking in the afterglow of the weekend, but wanted to pop in to announce the winners of Truffles by the Sea. May I have a *drumroll please*?

They are:

Michelle V
Adge

Thanks to ALL for playing! The book is on its way to each of you ladies.

Speaking of playing, I'm so excited to tell you all about the contest that my publisher B&H has cooked up for you! Really, really, good--so much so that I wish I could enter! I think that would be against the rules, though, haha.

Anyway, I'll be announcing it first via my newsletter. So please, please sign up for that over on my sidebar or on my website: www.juliecarobini.com. My current subscribers can attest that I only write when there's something to say, so in other words, your inbox won't be bombarded by my newsletters!

Off to finish the reorg of my much-neglected home office. Writing a book wreaks havoc on the place, I tell you. Anyone else doing their spring cleaning in the summer? Lol

Ah, well, hope you have a beachy day my friends--wherever you are!

Launch Party 2009

Happy Monday, Friends!
Despite the fabulous beach day, readers showed up on Saturday at the Bank of Books to pick up a copy of Sweet Waters and nosh on appetizers made by my son, Matt, and friends.

Here are a few pics from the shin-dig. I always have trouble posting pics on blogger--ack. The pics and captions may be a bit jumbled, but what's a mess between friends anyway?

My parents, Dan & Elaine, entering Bank of Books.

Robin and Diane. Diane manages a church bookstore and reads books--including mine--during her daily train commute!


Chef Matt and friends...and a tray of yum-o appetizers. Signing books!

A very chocolatey gift

It's Friday and I'm in a givin' mood! Just learned yesterday that Truffles by the Sea has been nominated finaled in the 'Lits' category of the BOTY contest. (Tx, Colleen Coble for setting me straight on the wording! Woo-hoo!) That's the Book of the Year contest put on by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Awards will be handed out at the annual ACFW conference in Denver this fall.

Heroine Gaby Flores will forever live on in my beach-loving heart and I LOVED writing Truffles by the Sea. To celebrate, I'm giving away TWO copies, chosen randomly from commenters through tomorrow (Saturday) night. That's because I'm super busy today working on the last minute details for my Sweet Waters launch party in downtown Ventura. You can find date, time, etc. of the launch by clicking HERE.

But as soon as that's done, I'll be choosing the winners from a hat, so to speak. If you'd like to win a copy of Truffles by the Sea (nominated for a BOTY - Lol!), then comment on this post and make sure to give me your email so I can contact you if you win.

Have a beachy weekend, my friends--wherever you are!

Book Clubs!

Popping in to mention that CBD.com just posted my Discussion Questions written especially for Sweet Waters. If you're part of a Book Club, click this link for your copy. These questions cannot be found in the book, but they're meant to guide your discussions at clubs (they do not, however, provide the necessary chocolate stash for such discussions. Sa-wwy ;))

Carry on...have a beachy day, my friends--wherever you are!

Tomorrow's another gift...

If y'all could see my desk right now you'd run away screaming. Seriously, it's gross. Blech. Can't get out from beneath its disheveled-ness (is that a word, Dad?)

But really, when that's all you've got to complain about, why bother? Being on Twitter is fun and a bit frivolous, but sometimes I read things that so pain me to the depths that I vow never to complain again.

Like the 5 year old girl who played in the pool one day, and was whisked to the hospital the next. Diagnosis: brain tumor

Or the family wracked by divorce

Or the friend whose husband is battling persistent cancer

Life is tough sometimes, so I guess when I peek around my messy desk I should remind myself that things could be a lot worse. Although I don't say much about it, I've been down some dark roads before and don't care to revisit there again (except maybe to write about it all--someday).

In the meantime, I'm going to plow through this wreck of a desk, hope to make it to the bottom, and if not, turn out the light and go to sleep. Tomorrow's another beach day--and I don't want to miss out. Sleep tight, my friends--God is good.

Review and Giveaway!

We're back from Colorado! Loved ICRS and all the fun with that, and seeing old friends, and watching the kids raft down the river in the Rocky Mountains, but I also missed the beach and I'm glad to be home again (jiggity jig :)

Wanted to let you know that Rel over at Relz Reviews wrote about Sweet Waters (she liked it--woot) and is giving away several FREE copies! So dance on over and enter to win. You have until the end of the week...click here.

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Also, if you're in the Ventura area, I'm throwing a little launch shin-dig over at Bank of Books (748 E. Main) on Saturday, July 25 from 4 to 6 pm. If you're in the 'hood, please stop on by!

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Even though I'd barely stepped off the plane on Saturday, then traveled north to the central coast, I turned around yesterday and spent the day in Santa Monica, noshing it up with the locals--including my sweet sis-in-law to be Darcy--and walking to the pier to celebrate Teen Daughter's 15th birthday. That girl can SHOP. She didn't get that from me, let me tell you. By the time we dragged home, my dogs weren't speaking to me, Lol... Ah well, at least the sun was bright and the ocean all sparkly.

Here's to a great week ahead--and beachy days, wherever you are ;)

After the show

My fam came with me to Colorado and we're still here, seeing the sights and visiting some old friends who left CA a few years back. The other night our friends-youth pastors-invited Teen Son to jam with them and he ended up leading worship at their youth group. The girls went along, so Dan and I snuck off to a nearby lake. Talk about your 'ahhh' moments. If we hadn't gotten directions, we never would have found this lake tucked away from the busy streets. Dan snapped this shot as the sun settled into the west.

But priorities, priorities...here's a pic of one of the kids' highlights. Our friends' kids joined ours in the hotel spa and somehow they discovered a way to turn the jets into geysers. Yeah, that's us, making a 'splash' wherever we go...LOL

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A shout out to Teen Girl who turns 15 TODAY! Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!! Love you LOTS :)

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And have a beachy day my friends--wherever you are!

More on Tuesday at ICRS 2009

After the book signings on Tuesday morning at ICRS, three of us hosted tables at The Heart of the Author Luncheon. That's Jamie Carie, me, and Patti Hill an hour or so before we went 'on'. Let me just say, being introduced by the Karen Kingsbury, then speaking to about 250 people responsible for stocking shelves in their stores was humbling. I felt honored and nervous (honestly). Wish I could remember what I said up there under those bright lights...but Julie Gwinn, the super fun & smart marketing dir. at B&H says I did well. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, Lol...

I vaguely recall my amazing editor Karen Ball taking pics while Jamie, Patti and I trembled stood on stage. Me? I only remembered to take a pic of the 1st course of the fab meal the show served us. After that, not so much.

Phew...that's the sound of a whirlwind experience at ICRS. Tomorrow, I hope to post pics of fun times we're having now in the Rocky Mountains. Sing it: "Rocky Mtn. High...Colorado..."

ICRS 2009

Found this event poster at the B&H Publishing Booth at the Denver Convention Center. I was set for 9 a.m....early, early!

I got there with minutes to spare and a line had formed ... woot! Signed about 150 copies then took a pill for my carpel tunnel--haha, kidding. Loved meeting so many enthusiastic people.

Patti Hill and I sporting our cool new beach bags--embroidered with our names and book titles--compliments of B&H! Currently, mine is stocked FULL of books I picked up at the convention center.

All in all, a productive and exciting show. Had a fabulous dinner at Marlowe's with some of the B&H Team and other old pals: Karen Ball, Julie Gwinn, Aaron Linne, Patti Hill, John Olson, Tracy Higley & hubby, and Tricia Goyer! Much more to report, but it's past my bedtime. My fam's with me and we're checking out the Rocky Mountains tomorrow, so I'll check in after that. In the meantime, have a beachy day my friends--wherever you are ;)

campers, dirty clothes, and looking forward

The kids are back from camp and I'm neck-deep in dirty laundry...that's a picture, isn't it? Lol... Anyway, we'll be leaving for Denver soon so that I can attend the International Christian Retailers Show and in the meantime, I've got lots o' clothes to clean up and get re-packed in those dusty suitcases.

I'll try to stop in during the week and post a pic or two from the show~can't promise when, but I'll try. Before I go, I wanted to let you know that Sweet Waters has been showing up around the Internet...just found it yesterday on Amazon and woo-hoo, there's a 5-star review up already. Thank you, kind reviewer "Kimfurd", for taking the time to read and report! We don't know each other, but you're officially one of my besties now, hee.

Oh, oh, and one more thing, this one for my local pals--singer/songwriter Jennifer Greenberg will be in town next weekend (alas, I'll still be away). Jenn's an amazing worship leader and she's giving free concerts in Ventura. I wrote an article to let Ventura area locals know about these events and you can find that by clicking on this link.

That's probably it before we reach Denver. I pray you all have a great and godly week, and if I could be so bold, would you pray for me too when you think of it? Have a beachy weekend, my friends--wherever you are :)

So you think you can write

My daughters are obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance, and since they've commandeered the TV on those nights, I'm pretty much stuck. You don't have to watch long to realize that getting on Mary Murphy's "Hot Tamale Train" is the prize to win (although DH keeps calling it the 'Hot Enchilada Train' Lol...)

Anyway, if you're a contestant and Mary stands up, points at you and says, "You are on the Hot Tamale Train!!!" then screams for a really, really long time, you can pretty much bet you'll be back the next week.

Writers are tender souls so I'm thinkin' we need a Mary Murphy of our own, someone to create a little buzz for us. But then again, why re-invent the wheel, so to speak?

I hereby elect Mary to be my official book reviewer. Hey Mary, what do you think of my summer release, Sweet Waters?

ICRS next week!

With two of three kids away at camp this week, and the house awfully quiet, you'd think I'd be on top of my to-do list. But no. We're heading to Denver early next Monday to attend the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) where I'll be signing Sweet Waters and attending the Heart of the Author Luncheon. After that, we'll be sightseeing in the area and visiting friends who live nearby.

So much packing to do! Doesn't help that half of my kids' clothes are with them up at camp. Ya think they'll be clean enough to take to Colorado? Haha...um, not a chance. Guess what I'll be (frantically) doing on Sunday?

Ah well. In the meantime, I've got brow, hair, pedi & mani appointments all week. Takes more than a few clothes thrown in a suitcase to get this girl ready to see people--know what I mean?

If you happen to be attending ICRS this year, I'll be at the B&H Publishing booth at 9 am on Tuesday, July 14. Please stop by! I'll be signing alongside writer pal Patti Hill. We'd love to see you :)

In the meantime, have a beachy day, my friends--wherever you are!

Marketing, schmarketing...& the 4th!

So it's nearly the 4th and y'all don't want to hear about my marketing efforts, unless you do, and in that case, you writer folk can find my latest post over at the CANblog. CAN is an amazing group of writers who savor, consider and judge various book marketing ideas like fine wine. If you're a writer, or want to be, consider subscribing--we'd love to see you!

Full week over in the Carobini household. This week we cooked 100 enchiladas and served them up to the HS youth group, packed (actually still doing this) for summer camp, paid a bunch of money to a plumber, and had the house termited (after the enchilada making, of course).

I'm pooped, but looking forward to a seaside July 4th--June gloom has finally vanished. Wa-hoo! After a day long festival, we'll wander down to the beach and watch (illegal) fireworks lit atop the sand. What's not to love?

Have a fun, safe, blessed 4th--and thank a Veteran or current military person for helping to keep us free! Love you all!

For the Locals: 4th of July Events along the Central Coast