While on vacation, my husband returned to his seat at the counter of a bustling seafood restaurant to find me accepting a napkin from a stranger who’d hastily written his phone number on it.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Scandalous! (The expression on my husband’s face said the same, haha.)
To put your mind at ease, here’s the scoop:
We were on vacation and while my husband stepped away, I—and several others at the counter—began chatting with the stranger and learned that he was an art restorer for the famed Hearst Castle in nearby San Simeon, California.
Hearing his story and what he did for a living made me giddy. And I decided right then that I wanted to have an art restorer in a future book. So, I asked him for a way to contact him with questions.
See? Not so bad, really.
Soon after, I contracted with B&H Publishing to write three romances set on California’s central coast. The first two in the Otter Bay series, Sweet Waters and A Shore Thing, contain brief mentions of the castle, but it’s the third book—Fade to Blue—where I was able to pour everything I learned about this magnificent property into a story. (I toured it myself and took gobs of notes.)
Suz Montgomery first appears in A Shore Thing (book 2), when she and her son, Jeremiah, need a place to stay. Her full story is told in Fade to Blue, when she begins a job restoring art for the castle. (Squee!)
Hearst Castle was commissioned by William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper magnate from the early 1900s. With the help of architect Julia Morgan, the estate was built over a thirty-year period, and often hosted celebrities and dignitaries. Exotic animals also lived on the property (and even now you can find zebras roaming about.)
La Cuesta Encantada, as it’s often called (Spanish for Enchanted Hill), is home to about a quarter million artifacts from all over the world, preserved and restored for generations to view. And recently, after a two-year pandemic closure, it has reopened for visitors.
Yay for that!
This reopening got me thinking about my Otter Bay series, because recently I renovated these beach reads with beautiful new covers from Tugboat Design. So … I guess you could say, I performed my own restoration of work from an earlier time 😉.
If you’ve never read the Otter Bay Novels, the first book, Sweet Waters, happens to be free on Amazon TODAY only. (I’m sorry that I’m unable to extend it!) But if you’re on KU, you can download the entire collection with your subscription at any time.
You can find the new covers for each Otter Bay Novel here. Or pick up the collection under one cover here.
Now, I have questions for you. Have you ever been to Hearst Castle? What was your favorite part? (I love the pools!) And if you haven’t, what questions do you have? I’ll try my best to answer.
JULIE CAROBINI writes inspirational beach romances. She is the author of two dozen novels known for spirited heroines, charming heroes, quirky friends, and the secrets they keep. Her bestselling titles include Walking on Sea Glass, Runaway Tide, Beach Sunrise, Reunion in Saltwater Beach, and more. She has won awards from The National League of American Pen Women and ACFW, and her books have received bestseller status many times. Julie is Mom to three young adults and lives on the California coast with her husband, Dan, and their rescue pup, Dancer. Grab a free eBook here: www.juliecarobini.com/free-book
“Gobs of notes” sounds mighty helpful to me. I must read the books.
Hi Julie! This retired Midwest teacher enjoys visiting European castles and historic American building. While I have traveled coast to coast – California in 1984, we did not explore Hearst Castle. I understand the fascination with restoration. While living in a Chicago 2 flat in the late 1980s, a gal that rented the flat upstairs – restored stain glass windows in old Chicago churches. Her stories were fascinating. Also have heard presentations about art restoration at the Chicago Art Institute. You are a new author to this avid reader and I downloaded Sweet Waters. Best wishes and welcome to Inspy Romance.
I love Hearst Castle! We visited the first time when I was 8 or 9 on one of our frequent trips to visit grandparents (all of them lived in CA.) I have made it a point to try to go any time I’m even remotely close enough to justify it. Sadly, the last time I was there was in 1994(ish) when my sister and I spent two weeks of my college summer break road tripping California from North to South. So fun.
I also love the pools. And the guest houses. And, oddly, the kitchen. But really just all of it. The views. The glamour.
I think it’s time to go back and take my boys!
I have been to Hearst Castle! It’s been a long time, though. I remember being very impressed by the dining room. :)
I’ve never been to Hearst Castle, or the state of California. I do love to tour old homes, though!!
welcome today. thanks for sharing. no never been there
Never been there. My first thought was a research contacts phone number, lol!
Have to love the serendipity of random conversations.
I’ve never been to Hearst Castle. But, thankfully, since we live in the UK there’s no shortage of castles to visit! :-)
Your covers are gorgeous. Tugboat Designs do amazing work.
Haha …it really is a fascinating place, Mary!
Hi, Renate! Oh I’d loved to see inside castles elsewhere too. We saw some from the road in Italy, but alas, that’s the closest we got. Thank you for the kind welcome!
Hi Elizabeth, I liked the kitchen too! They’ve added a new tour focused on Julia Morgan. I’ve been fascinated by her since the day I saw her tiny little “lean-to” office out back. I hope you are able to visit soon.
Ohhh, yes. That loooong table :-)
Me too, Trudy. The local symphony here used to have home tours as part of their fundraising. I hope they bring that back!
Thanks, Lori! Appreciate the welcome 😊
True, Amy! So many fascinating stories out there.
Aw, thank you, Milla! Hearst was definitely inspired by European castles!
I’m glad that was your first thought, Dianne!
I haven’t seen the castle as I haven’t been to California but I do remember the books. As you talked about the Castle and the restoration I was remembering Fade to Blue. The whole set is in the Church Library (where books go when I finish them as I am in charge of it and there is room there but not in my house)
Aw, I love hearing this, Jenny. Makes my heart happy to know you remembered it. Happy weekend :-)
No I’ve never been there. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve never been to Hearst Castle, or even out of my state at all. I have only visited one castle, and it is not a European Castle. I love reading about places I have never had the opportunity to visit. By far one of the beautiful things about reading! It is always such a treat, thank you!
I am not sure if this will be a duplicate or not. Thank you for sharing. I have never been to the Hearst Castle. My question is the zebra’s tame or wild? God bless you.
haven’t been
Hi Debra, I was told that–yes!–they are still wild. We’ve seen them up on the hill while driving up the coast.
Hi Deb,
You’re welcome! I too like reading stories set in real places. I just watched a Hallmark movie based on a book (that I didn’t actually read), but it was set in South Carolina and I learned some things about sea turtles :-)
I’ve never been. What are your most favourite things there?
Never been
You’re so welcome!
I haven’t been. Would you say it resembles a European castle?