The London Life

So our European adventure is coming to an end--at least for now. College Girl loved her time studying abroad and has decided that another stay in London is in her future. I guess those frequent flier miles we've been collecting will be coming in handy.

We rented a flat one block from Portobello Road and pretty much lived the Notting Hill life for the past 11 days (except for our quick 2 days in Paris). Here's a view of the market on a busy Saturday morning ...

And what would the market be without an upside down headless guy on the sidewalk?

Have I mentioned how much I love a blue door??

Looked high and low for Hugh and Julia, but they were off having a pot of tea, apparently.

Or maybe afternoon tea ... with a glass of champagne :-)

We'll always have Paris

In January our oldest daughter traveled to Paris on a break in her London study abroad program. While there, she visited Lock Bridge at Ponts des Arts and sent us a photo of the lock she made and attached to the bridge in our honor. Such a sweet gesture.

Yesterday on our 2day excursion to Paris, with accordions playing in the background, we couldn't believe the thousands and thousands of locks lining the bridge. What chance did we have to find ours??

Surprisingly, we did. Ooh, la, la! :-)

Amtrak and me

I applied for the Amtrak writer's residency the first day apps were open. This will come as a surprise to my family, but only because I haven't mentioned it before now. They won't be surprised, however, that I've applied to take a trip alone, with pen and pad, on a train.

See, my mom loves the train. Her dad worked for the railroads and with five girls to raise, they rarely traveled. But when they could they went by rail ~ all the way from CA to NY, in fact.

I've grown up with the stories, and then when my middle child was 8 mos., Mom talked me into taking the train with her 25 hours to the north. We had a ball!!!  Of course, we purchased a sleeping car and had our meals included, so yea, we traveled in style. But it was so much fun to take a long ride that I didn't have to drive myself, to see places in the world where cars don't go, and to fall asleep to the familiar sound of a train whistle ... ahhh. I've actually traveled this way twice now. Plus, I've taken shorter jaunts down south.

When I applied for the residency, I wrote my essay off the cuff ... from my heart. No big outline or plan, like I've been trained to do. I suppose that may not have been the best plan of action, but it's the route I chose in that moment.

Then again, this blog post was spurred on by another blogger's posts. One of my favorite writers, I've just learned, hates the train ... and so do most of her commenters. I was aghast at how sour they all were on the train's merits, but then I thought, Hey ... if this many people don't see the benes of train travel, maybe I have a chance at the residency after all! 

And that would be a very nice thing.

Sweet Waters - 99 cents through Friday eve - Kindle and Nook

Something about the time change compels me to say hello again to maxi skirts and beaded flip flops, linger out front to watch the sun make its slow descent, and wonder about the line up at this year's county fair. So in honor of lengthening days and the hope of summer, the ebook version of Sweet Waters is available for 99cents on Kindle and Nook through Friday evening.

This story has many fans, but if you've not had a chance to pick it up, it's the story of jilted Tara Sweet who longs to relive the fairy tale life she once had in Otter Bay, California. Soon she meets handsome but complicated firefighter Josh Adams and a host of mysterious faces from long ago. But what happens when truth is one secret after another, and the fairy tale turns out to be a soap opera?
     Despite their budding romance by the sea, Tara and Josh soon find themselves at odds with their families, their faith, the quirky townspeople of Otter Bay ~ and each other. Can they face the truth together ... and be set free?


You can find it here: Sweet Waters on Kindle or Sweet Waters on Nook

Have a beachy rest of the week, my friends - wherever you are ...

Velvet blog posts

So my daughter's been studying and traveling in Europe the past couple of months, mostly the latter (seems to me, anyway :). Seriously, I feel very sorry for my sweet girl. Not. She's biked in Barcelona, walked aside the Champs Elysees, and chatted with Liam from One Direction at a night spot in London. Admittedly, she is studying at times, actually making shoes and sketching amazing outfits and did I mention making shoes? She's got great taste so all I can say is--I'll take mine in a size 7!

She also started a fashion blog. This girl has wanted to be a designer since the 4th grade. How many people know what they want to do at such a young age? I wanted to be an actress, but then I tried to act, and well, it wasn't pretty. Then I wanted to be a hotel owner, but all those filthy rooms ... ew. I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when I'm old (don't say it).

If you're interested in fashion or travel or both, you can see her blog here:
http://velvetcoast.blogspot.com/ You can even subscribe via BlogLovin on her sidebar.

Ciao!

Story Time

I cannot lie ~ I "borrowed" this photo from Kristin Billerbeck's blog. She chose #2, but I'm more of a #1. This does not surprise you, I'm sure.

I do love to read in bed, well, especially if it's a fluffy boudoir like the one in the photo. But the danger is that I'd most likely get more face time in my pillow than in my book. Ha ha ...

So, tell me, where would your rather read? No judgment here. Promise.

Blessed Detours

Good thing I don't make resolutions anymore. No doubt they'd be broken already. I'm trying to be organized, really I am, but this thing called LIFE gets in the way.

And often in a good way ... like last evening. Hubby and I were planning to walk to Starbucks as soon as I got home from work, but then my brother called, said he was in town, and could we come by the fish and chips place to visit?

So we veered west and met up with him and his sweet family. Along the way we chatted with no less than three groups of neighbors. By the time we actually walked the beach the sun had set and we were using its after glow to guide us home.

Never did have that coffee, but did we miss it? Not a chance.

This photo's from a recent "Girls' Night" gathering in Newport Beach. Cathy and I (and four other friends) have known each other for 29 years! How is that possible? In that time there've been marriages and kids and divorces and remarriages. Life has definitely slowed down our availability, but we've managed ~ somehow ~ to meet up every Christmas for hours of food and yakking (my sunglasses are hiding the bags under my eyes, though - ha).

The older I get (oh boy, sounding like my grandmother here ... ;), the more I want to live a life that gets in the way of the mundane. Here's to a new year filled with the richness of friends and the joy of a grace-filled life. Happy New Year, my beachy friends ... wherever you are!

Hello, 2014 ... You Look Mahvelous

Even though we've undecorated our tree and I headed back to my editing job, I'm still basking in the lingering glow of Christmas. (Sorry about the three Rs and lowercase Christmas in the photo. It's hard to snapchat in the dark, I've found.)

Anyway, tonight is New Year's Eve and for the first time in a long while, we have no grand plans to stay out all night and spend lots of cash. Great big sigh of relief!

Instead, we'll watch New Years' Rockin' Eve (or similar), turn down the lights and sip some champagne ... maybe even light a candle or two. How about you? Night on the town? Or are you spending it with Ryan Seacrest too? :)

Whatever your plans for the night, here's to a beachy and very happy 2014, my friends ... wherever you are!

Winner of Fade to Blue

Congrats to Bonnie, the winner of Fade to Blue from my stop on last week's blog hop over at Ashley Clark's blog! If you didn't have a chance to read that, you can find it here.

There's still time to enter to win a copy of Johnnie Alexander Donley's ebook in the post below. Just read and comment! We'll announce the winner this coming Saturday. UPDATE: Chris Granville has won the ebook!

Happy Thanksgiving, my beachy friends ... wherever you are!

BLOG HOP: Here's Johnnie ... (and enter to win her ebook!)

Update: Congrats to CHRIS GRANVILLE, winner of Where Treasure Hides!

My writing pals and I have been doing a BLOG HOP to celebrate the release of our stories in Guideposts Books' new collection, A Cup of Christmas Cheer--and TODAY is the last stop! Johnnie's story, Beneath the Christmas Star, appears in vol. 2

of this two-book anthology, and both volumes are sold together (The set is available here.)

And we're giving away prizes!

*To enter this post's drawing for a free e-novel, please leave Johnnie a comment sometime this week. Winner will be announced next Saturday.

To enter the BLOG HOP'S grand prize drawing worth $125, which includes a replica tea set, Amazon gift card, and other goodies, you need to leave a comment at every blog on this list.

Okay, now that the rules are out of the way, I'm so excited to tell you about Johnnie's story! 

Set in 1944, Beneath the Christmas Star, is a beautiful story of longing during one cold Christmas season near the end of World War II: a son longing for word from his soldier father, a wife longing for her husband, and a soldier longing to be home again. Sounds simple, but life in wartime is anything but. As a reader, I loved how quickly I became engrossed in the characters' lives, and the way this story gently showed the grace and wonder of God in the midst of uncertainty. If you love history and a touch of mystery, you'll enjoy Johnnie's story as much as I did!

*This week's prize: Johnnie is giving away her novel (available only as an ebook), Where Treasure Hides (Tyndale House), to one reader. To enter, please leave a comment. Johnnie will come back next Saturday to announce the winner.

Here's a Link to Chapter One of Where Treasure Hides:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3f5X1OTj89OZFU0MllxcFFaSkU/edit?pli=1

 

More about Johnnie: Author Johnnie Alexander Donley writes stories of suspense, intrigue, and romance set in World War II. Her debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest for Historical Fiction in 2011. A history enthusiast, Johnnie has also edited nonfiction manuscripts and textbooks. She is a founding member and current president of the ACFW Central Florida chapter. A longtime Florida resident, Johnnie treasures family memories, classic movies, road trips, stacks of books, and her papillon Rugby.

Where I am today ...

Ashley Clark reviewed Postcards at Christmas over on her blog. If you leave a comment, you may win a copy of Fade to Blue. (And if you leave a comment on every stop on our blog tour, you may win our Grand Prize worth more than 100 bucks :).  Here's the link:

Sunday Nov 17th  Julie Carobini on Ashley Clark's blog 

Christmas blog hopping ...

To celebrate the release of A Cup of Christmas Cheer (vols. 1&2), a new anthology released by Guideposts Books, my writer friends and I are visiting each others' blogs and giving away all kinds of things--including a grand prize package worth over 100 bucks!

My story, Postcards at Christmas, appears in vol.  2 (although the books are sold together at Shop Guidesposts)

To enter any of the daily drawings, drop by the blogs and enter. 

To enter the grand prize drawing, you need to leave a comment at every blog on this list (it's okay if you're starting late ... you have at least a week per blog).

Bookmark this list! (more stops may be added):

Friday, November 8th, Carla Olson Gade is on Carrie Fancett Pagels' blog 

Saturday, November 9th,  Ashley Clark is on Anita Mae Draper's blog.

Saturday, November 16th, Anita Mae Draper on Johnnie Alexander Donley's blog.

Sunday Nov 17th  Julie Carobini is on Ashley Clark's blog 

Friday, November 22nd,  Carrie Fancett Pagels is on Carla Olson Gade's blog.

Saturday, November 23rd,  Johnnie Alexander Donley is on Julie Carobini's blog 

Friday, November 29th,  Colonial Quills Blog to announce Grand Prize winner.

Chocolate Sunrise ...

Okay, so I'm doing nanowrimo for the first time ev-ah! Writing the third book in my popular Chocolate series (finally!). If you're doing it too, want to be buddies? Leave me a comment with your username or search me: julie-carobini. I've got 45k to go and need all the help I can get. You?

Here's to late nights of writing the GAN (Great American Novel :) with Pandora playing by our sides ... :)

Endless possibilities ...

Went on a little jog this morning and my faithful chaperone, aka Hunk o' Burnin' Love, the one who hasn't allowed me to run alone since my "episode," took this photo of a storm brewing over the ocean.

So many story possibilities in this image: An ill-fated boat trip, a mystery on a deserted beach, or maybe something more metaphorical like lovers at a crossroads, the swirling clouds representing the tumult in their relationship. Ahhh...!

THIS is why I love the beach. Endless possibilities, my friends. Endless! Here's to a beachy week ... wherever you are ...

Why my red pen and I are so thrilled!

So last week, one of the novels I edited for B&H Books ~ and the darling Amy Lillard ~ won the coveted ACFW Carol Award!

Woo-hoo!

Especially sweet since B&H shut down their standard fiction line recently and we said our goodbyes. Loved working with them, with Amy, and with my co-editor Julie Gwinn (who has now moved on as well.)

Here's to good stories, great friends, and bright new opportunities. Have a beachy week, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Writing Life

It's a strange thing, this writing about one's own life. I'm writing a story that will sound oh so familiar to some, and yet not so much. It's the story of a guy who experiences tragedy then meets a gal who faces a couple of terrible situations of her own.

For those of you who are writers, don't worry ~ that wasn't my elevator pitch.

Anyway, it's based (loosely, sort of) on the early years of Dan (husband) and me. Sometimes when I look back on who we were back then, and where we were emotionally and spiritually, I have to pause. Life was really hard. Yet meeting each other was really sweet ~ and sometimes pretty tough.

I didn't start off this post with any kind of outline, or with a solid direction of where it would end up. This isn't a round-up piece, like the ones I used to write for giftware magazines and the like. It's just me thinking out loud about how odd it is to make up a story that's not completely made up.

Like the other night when I was writing a scene from the male character's POV. It's one of those reflective scenes that could easily bore a person to tears, so I knew that something had to happen. So of course, he sees her. As I moved deeper into "the zone," the scene crystallized in my mind. I knew what he was thinking, and instinctively, what would happen next.

When I got to the part about him seeing her jogging toward him, and the way he described her long limbs striding, her dark hair blowing behind her, I giggled a little. Because technically, he is Dan, and she is me, and I basically wrote that I was willowy and strong. A reader might actually infer that she/I was pretty.

You see why this is so difficult?

Ours is a great story, one that's continuing to unfold. I've wanted to novelize it for years, and with Dan's prodding, I'm finally doing it. Just hope I can successfully blend fact and fiction, leave the boring parts out, and show the beauty that truly can come from ashes.

Best weekend in a long time. Feeling better. Sun was out, as were many happy faces at the beach. We walked the sand today, Dan and I, sharing a cappuccino and watching the revelers. Somehow I'd like to carry this sense of well-being all the way through fall. And then through winter. And so on ...

Also had some time to write while lounging in a beach chair on Saturday. I've mentioned before that I've been working on a fictionalized version of happenings from my own life. (Some might say that all of my books are fictionalized versions of my own life ... ha ha ha ... so not true!)

Seriously, between my recent dramatic "episode" and my new position at a publishing house, though, I haven't had the energy (and did I mention brain cells??) to write much. But my sandy office stirred something afresh in me and I realized, again, how much I love playing with words. I may be tired, but my muse doesn't sleep apparently. (She doesn't even get circles under her eyes like I do. Darn her.)

So I will write. I may even post some chapters here, just to see how they're received. Why not? Could be fun.

Here's to a beachy fall, my friends ... wherever you are.

True Fiction

I learned the other day that, sometimes, writers don't want editors to know they've had a medical set back, or divorce, or other emotional emergency.

I can understand people wanting their privacy from the masses. Social media has challenged that basic right, am I right? And perhaps these writers are simply worried that an editor might question their ability to deliver on deadline. That's a legit concern.

But as a fiction writer, here's what I've learned:

Real life experiences give novelists stories that resonate with souls. And great editors know that.

I will never be able to forget my recent heart attack ~ nor the brain surgery I had in my 20s. What human can easily forget such things? But writers can use all the hard stuff ~ and the great stuff too ~ to pen stories that both entertain and ring with truth.

... and that's no lie ;-)

I Thought I had the Flu ...

About a month ago, I had a heart attack while on my morning run (aka jog). I'm writing about it now in hopes that others will learn some helpful things from my experience (and mistakes).

So on my run that morning, I noticed that both of my shoulders felt tight and stressed. Not uncommon for my right shoulder because of all the computer work I do, but this time my left shoulder ached as well. Missed cue number 1.

Instead of questioning this unusual pain, I cranked my left arm around a couple of times to loosen it up ~ and then I told myself to push harder, to "stretch it out." Farther down the road that pain in my shoulder worsened and spread to my upper chest. Then I began to get nauseous and an overwhelming pressure dropped over me, sort of like I'd suddenly slipped into a not-so-comfortable suit of armor.

I stopped jogging, of course, even though I was almost to my favorite spot at the beach and my dog continued to yank me forward. But I'd never felt like this before and knew something was terribly wrong. My mind searched for answers ...

Was it last night's pasta?
Too much chocolate for dessert?
Or maybe that glass of Prosecco I'd had with dinner ...

I realized then that I hadn't brought a phone. I've been running for 30 years and have never brought one with me. True, when I began jogging, they hadn't been invented yet, but still. Now I know: It's DUMB not to bring a phone when exercising. Not knowing how I would get back home was both lonely and frightening.

So I started walking back, stooping once to pick up Charlie-the-Dog's poop. Eventually I sat on the wall of an empty house because I felt short of breath and zapped of strength. And I kept dry heaving. And my shoulder ached so much that if not for modesty, I would have pulled off my shirt right then and there (In my increasingly clouded state of mind, I remember thinking that maybe my running bra was just too tight ...).

While I sat on that wall, I asked the Lord (begged, actually) to send me an angel ~ and he sent me two: my neighbors on their golf cart. They were so kind to get me home quickly. So kind that the wife of the pair had to run my dog home since their doggy wasn't keen about allowing another canine to climb aboard. (I have no recollection of what happened to that bag of doggy poopy ...)

At home, my husband Dan tried to call 911, but I fought him, saying, "I just have the flu!" I've since learned via the American Heart Association that women who are in denial often say the same thing! Although I tried to convince him to let me get some sleep, Dan forced me into his car and sped me to the hospital. I will be forever grateful to my husband who followed his instincts ~ starting with ignoring my misguided protests!

The ER docs took it from there ... and I now have new forever friend named, Stent.

Have you seen this video, Just a Little Heart Attack, featuring Elizabeth Banks? Although I didn't experience all the warning signs depicted here, such as sweating and jaw pain, I did have some of them as noted in bold above ~ and like her, found myself dangerously in denial.

Please take care of yourselves, my beachy friends ... wherever you are.

Spent a few days in the hospital recently. A week or so later, I came home to find this Kate Spade bag on my pillow, along with a sweet note from my oldest daughter ~ a college girl who's working retail this summer ~ telling me I deserved it. So not true! But I accepted her generous gift anyway :)

It's probably meant for special occasions, this bag with its supple leather and fancy bow, but I chose to wear it today with a maxi skirt, cotton top, and beaded flip-flops. Just because.

Here's to a beachy weekend, my friends ... wherever you are.