A Bookworm's World: Julia's Child - Sarah Pinneo

I'm thrilled to welcome Sarah Pinneo, author of the newly released Julia's Child to A Bookworm's World today for a quick Q&A session!

But first, a little about Julia's Child...

From the publisher:

"A delectable comedy for every woman who's ever wondered if buying that six-dollar box of organic crackers makes her a hero or a sucker. Julia Bailey is a mompreneur with too many principles and too little time. Her fledgling company, Julia's Child, makes organic toddler meals like Gentle Lentil and Give Peas a Chance. But turning a profit while saving the world proves tricky as Julia must face a ninety-two-pound TV diva, an ill-timed protest rally, and a room full of one hundred lactating breasts. Will she get her big break before her family reaches the breaking point? In the end, it is a story about motherhood's choices: organic versus local, paper versus plastic, staying at home versus risking it all. A cookbook author's hilarious fiction debut, Julia's Child will have foodies and all-natural mamas alike laughing, cheering, and asking for more."

--- What was the inspiration behind the idea for Julia's Child?
Food and business have always fascinated me. And the question of what children ought to be eating is such a pervasive one. I began to daydream about the novel when I realized just how much fun it would be to explore the collision between a mother’s lofty ideals and the harsh realities of owning a business.

---And I have to ask - would/did you buy the $6.00 box of organic crackers?
Luckily, there are lots of boxes of organic crackers available for less than $6. But the more I read up on the topic, the easier it is for me to pay the organic premium, especially for things like vegetables and meat. I’m fortunate to live in a place where I have access to a lot of wonderful organic food grown in Vermont and New Hampshire. A girl with a large freezer in her basement can buy in bulk! My husband grew 75 pounds of organic potatoes last summer. I’ll almost be relieved when they’re gone.

--- You have two children - how much of Julia is from your life?
Well, I’ve never even thought about starting a food company, but the mommy guilt I feel while trying to have a writing career—even from home—is the most autobiographical part of the book.

--- Your previous book was non-fiction. How hard was it to make the leap to fiction?
To be honest, it was very difficult. I loved writing my cookbook, but in my heart I've always wanted to write fiction. My first attempt at a novel was not successful. But I realize now how much better Julia’s Child is than the first one I wrote. It's coming out more than four years after my cookbook’s publication, so you can see how tricky I found it. This is a leap that I feel very fortunate to have landed in an upright position.

--- I'm always fascinated by what authors are reading - what's on your nightstand? Fave authors? Influential books?
I read everything, and I love women’s fiction. But Julia’s Child reflects my appreciation for Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Buckley. Those two guys write hysterical, zany comedies, but at the heart of their work always lie issues about which they care deeply. I've tried to follow in their silly footsteps.

Thanks so much for stopping by Sarah! And thanks to Plume Books, I have two copies of Julia's Child to give away to two lucky readers. Open to US only. Simply leave a comment to be entered. Ends Sat. March 10.

You can find Sarah on her blog and on Twitter.