My Crash Course in Cosmetology with Guest Julie Arduini #Giveaway

When I wrote ENTRUSTED, the first book in the Surrendering Time series, it came from an idea I had when I first visited Speculator, New York back in 1994. I never considered publishing it, much less creating a series.

Even as years passed and I grew in my writing and started to take the craft seriously, the book that became ENTRUSTED was safe. I knew Jenna because she was part of me. Her job was one I was familiar with. When I realized I needed to make a series, I wasn’t sure about the second story. As I completed the end, it opened the doors wide open for Carla to have her own story.

My problem was Carla had a job I knew little about, sheriff, and a dream I knew even less about, cosmetology. In ENTANGLED, Carla is given the resources to leave her job and start cosmetology school. It’s such a generous gift that she struggles because she feels unworthy. ENTANGLED not only takes place in the fictional Speculator Falls, but in Gloversville, where I created the fictional school. There are new characters with their own secondary stories that take place in the school.

I knew I had to be authentic. When I returned to the real Speculator to talk about ENTRUSTED, they thanked me for capturing the heart of their village with authenticity. I’d worked hard to make sure I got everything accurate. With ENTANGLED, I fictionalized much of what took place in Gloversville, but I needed to know what a cosmetology student would learn.

I first went to my own stylist and she gave me her textbook. I read everything and took notes on what each chapter was about. I learned about bacteria and safety. The business side of becoming a beautician. There are different sizes to perm rods, various kinds of scissors and haircuts. The basics of color, and other routes to take like facials and manicures.

I also went to Google to see how the licensing process would be different between Ohio, where I live, and New York, where my series is based. I needed to have a grasp on how many class and practicum hours students put in, and what the testing is like.

Besides my friend and stylist, I also had a member of my critique group who had experience as a cosmetologist. She caught me with inaccuracies more than once, and her help was amazing.

I’m glad I didn’t let fears of the unknown stop me from writing ENTANGLED. There are some aspects I fictionalized, but for the most part, I hope I honored the hair stylist trade.

One of this post's participators will be entered in a drawing for a copy of ENTANGLED. (Winner’s choice of ebook or print. Winners limited to North America. Winner to be announced in the Monday Weekly Windup post.)

For any international readers, I’m doing a Goodreads giveaway August 1-29 where one winner from either US, Canada, Australia or UK will win a signed copy of Entrusted AND Entangled. :) 

Entangled: Surrendering the Past (Book #2, Surrendering Time Series)

“You need to leave me alone. It’s the least you can do.”

Carla Rowling has been given her dream of attending cosmetology school. The gift is so generous she feels unworthy because of choices she made as a teen. The pressure mounts as Carla juggles school, is a single mom, helps her best friend Jenna plan her wedding, spends time with boyfriend Will Marshall, and deals with the fact that her son's father is back in their lives.

Will Marshall is the one Speculator Falls resident everyone can count on. His truck deliveries are reliable. He's the first to help friends like Ben Regan with boat work or be a card partner with Bart Davis. Will's ready to settle down with Carla, loving her is natural. He's bonded with her son, Noah. But when Carla starts cosmetology school, she puts emotional distance between her and Will.

Can Carla release her past and create a future full of highlights, or, will she burn her options worse than a bad perm?

Purchase Link:

• Amazon (Kindle and Print)
• Entangled is book #2. Although it can standalone, if you’d like to read Entrusted: Surrendering the Present first, click here.

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and -- -maybe one day-- -the chocolate. She’s the author of the re-release, ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as the sequel, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. She also shared her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities at JULIE ARDUINI: SURRENDER ISSUES AND CHOCOLATE and the weekly e mail. SUNDAY’S SURRENDER AND CHOCOLATE.

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