The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

The very talented Deborah Blumenthal stopped by the blog today to share The Lifeguard–her new release. Love the cover–

Deborah, tell us about your latest book.

The Lifeguard is the story of Sirena Shane, a Texas teenager who is sent off to Rhode Island to spend the summer with her Aunt Ellie at the beach, while her parents are in the midst of separating. She moves into a house with ghosts, bonds with an eighty-year-old Brazilian painter with shamanic skills, and falls in love with a lifeguard with extraordinary looks and magical healing powers.

What pulled you into this story, and as a writer made you think ‘I have to write this?

Developing crushes is so much a part of the teenage years, so I thought it would be interesting to explore an obsessive crush on a lifeguard, but take it further and give him magical healing powers.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline or are you more organic?

I never outline, I just write and wait for the inspiration to hit and kind of steer me along.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

I wish I could say that I was disciplined enough to have a set schedule, but I don’t. When things are going well, I sit down at the computer after breakfast and write until lunchtime when it’s time to take out the dog. Then I’ll work in the afternoon until dinner time and then keep going after dinner until about nine. When things aren’t going well, I find every errand possible to prevent me from focusing on what I’m working on.

For you, what is the most difficult part of being an author?

The hardest part is definitely coming up with the right idea. Once I have an idea that I’m excited about, I can’t wait to sit down and work.

What do you love about being an author?

The freedom. I love making my own schedule – even though I’m far harder on myself than any boss would be.

Deborah thank you for coming by the blog. Good luck with The Lifeguard!

Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist who now divides her time between writing children’s books and adult novels. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times (including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist), and a home design columnist for Long Island Newsday. Her health, fitness, beauty, travel, and feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including New York’s Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue.

Blumenthal lives in New York City.