Welcome Melody! Thanks for joining us to talk about your latest release JUST FOR THE SUMMER. First, tell our readers a bit about your novel.
Ginny and Jacqueline are two very different women on similar career paths in the hospitality industry. Both are disenchanted with their work. So when they discover a job swap website, they give it a try. Ginny gives up her job at a swanky boutique hotel to manage a fishing lodge while Jacqueline happily surrenders her rural life to chase her sophisticated dreams in the big city. Of course, nothing goes smoothly, but at least some unexpected romance shows up.
What was the inspiration for your novel?
Hotel management has always intrigued me, but I realize it can be fraught with challenges. What if you were stuck in a hotel you really didn’t like? What would happen if you swapped jobs— just for the summer?
In your opinion, what sets Just for the Summer apart from other stories of trading places? The very different locations really play a major role in this story. The women swapping lives couldn’t be more different, and yet there is something that ultimately connects them in a fun way.
Just for the Summer explores the impact of setting on a character. Without giving away any spoilers, can you provide some hints as to what the main characters learn from their experiences?
Both women want an escape, but maybe they’re not fully sure what they’re fleeing from. Sometimes “the grass is greener” lures us to a new and better life, but to our surprise, it’s not all that different because we are still there. We can’t run from ourselves, but we can change. Maybe that’s part of the lesson.
This novel shows the contrast between urban and rural life in the Pacific Northwest. Is there one you prefer over the other?
I definitely prefer the rural life. It’s okay to visit the big city sometimes, but I’m a country gal at heart.
The two protagonists in this book are very different from one another. Which character did you find easier to write?
I thought Ginny would be easier to write because she is probably more like me, but I had a lot of fun with Jacqueline. I probably tortured her a bit, but in the end, it was good for her.
With over 250 books written, it seems you’ve done it all! Is there a genre or subject you have yet to explore that you would like to?
Wow, interesting question! A futuristic novel might be fun. But it could be tricky trying to keep it upbeat and positive.
How can readers connect with you?
I’m on Facebook (not as much as I should be), and my website is MelodyCarlson.com. I also answer reader emails (when life’s not too crazy) at MelodyCarlsonBooks@Gmail.com.
Where can readers purchase a copy of Just for the Summer?
Your local bookstore (please, ask them!) and online bookstores like ChristianBook.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
Thank you for joining us today, Melody! Reader’s Just For Summer releases today. Here’s a quick look:::::
Ginny Masters manages a popular boutique hotel in Seattle and manages it with aplomb. But the daily challenges and irritations of a fast-paced job and a demanding boss are starting to get to her. Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather’s fishing lodge in Idaho because it was the only job she could find after graduating with her hospitality degree. She’s grateful for the work but longs for a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan life she’s just not going to find in this backwoods town.
The solution to both their problems seems obvious. Just for the summer, they’ll swap jobs and lifestyles. But they never anticipated swapping love interests . . .
In this fabulous new twist on an age-old fable, award-winning and bestselling author Melody Carlson introduces you to two career-focused women who are about to discover that there’s more to finding happiness than just switching up the scenery.
