Chelsea Bobulski
https://chelseabobulski.com/
A Deal with the Debutante
T4JYM: Today your latest book, A Deal with the Debutante, releases. Can you tell our readers what they can expect from it?
CB: Absolutely! A Deal with a Debutante takes place in England, in the early-1900s, when American debutantes (girls of marriageable age) were sent to London (usually by their high-minded, society mothers) in search of husbands with titles (Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, etc.). At the same time, many English estates were floundering and needed American money to save them, resulting in a very interesting exchange between titled British gentlemen and the daughters of American titans: money for titles through marriage. A few of these marriages were successful, but many were not, since they were not usually love matches.
This interesting time in American/British history inspired me to write a book about an American debutante sent by her mother to find a husband in London who doesn’t want to go, and the man she’ll meet there who will change her mind. A Deal with a Debutante was born, and it is the first book in a 3-book series entitled the London’s Most Eligible series, releasing April 7, 2026 from Haven.
T4JYM: What about some of your other books? What can you tell our readers about your previously published works?
CB: I have 6 other books currently published, all YA:
- The Wood (contemporary fantasy): A girl protects the time-traveling portals in the wood behind her house, stopping Travelers from destroying the space-time continuum, but when her dad disappears in the wood, she must break all the rules and let through a boy from 18th-century England who thinks he knows what happened to her dad in the hopes that he can still be saved. (Sequel coming Fall 2026!)
- Remember Me (clean gothic romance): A girl moves into a haunted seaside resort with her dad only to discover she’s connected to a murder that happened there over 100 years ago. It has star-crossed lovers, vengeful ghosts, and centers on themes of good triumphing over evil, redemption, and true love. #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Marissa Meyer, called it “at once chilling, poignant, and devastatingly romantic.”
- The All I Want for Christmas series: a cozy, 4-book, clean Christmas romance series set in the small town of Christmas, Virginia. Book 1,
T4JYM: What is next for you? Are you working on something new? Anything different?
CB: I am currently working on Book 2 of the London’s Most Eligible series and also screenwriting.
T4JYM: How many publishers did you submit your manuscript to before you got picked up by Haven?
CB: For Debutante, I only submitted to Haven after deciding not to stay with my previous publisher for this project, but for my first book, The Wood (published in 2017), I must have queried hundreds of agents over a period of 5 years (The Wood was the fifth book I wrote in pursuit of publication). After finding my agent, we submitted to many publishers and received 2 revise-and-resubmit offers, with each publisher seeking a different vision for the book. I picked the publisher I felt had the best vision for what I was trying to accomplish, resubmitted my revision, and received The Call that they wanted to publish! My second book, Remember Me, was also published by the same publisher as my first.
For my All I Want for Christmas series, we received 2 offers from 2 different publishers (after submitting to many), and again I went with the publisher that best fit my vision for the series.
Suffice it to say, there is a lot of rejection in publishing, and it takes thick skin to make it, but if you keep going, trust in the Lord’s timing, and don’t give up, the right publisher will come along at the right time. 😊
T4JYM: How would you describe your works? What can readers expect from your characters and their stories?
CB: All of my books encapsulate my 2 favorite themes (good triumphing over evil and true love winning the day) in different ways, across different genres. You can expect to find flawed characters striving toward virtue, redemption and resurrection arcs, and soul-deep romances that will last for all eternity, reflecting the love that God holds for us for all eternity.
T4JYM: Can you tell our readers a little about Aurora Creative Talent and your role there?
CB: Sure! Aurora Creative Talent is a screenwriting team founded by my screenwriting-partner, Nova McBee, and myself. We started the team due to a desire to see high-quality, thrilling, family-friendly screenplays, book-to-film adaptions, and original series get the attention they deserve, especially at a time when the darker elements of human nature are being vaulted over virtue in both the film and book space. We have worked with many producers and have many exciting things on the horizon to announce soon!
T4JYM: Having a family while writing and publishing is a balancing act. How do you manage to write without feeling like you are neglecting time with your kids?
CB: Being a wife and a mom are my most important vocations, and so being present with my husband and children always comes first. Occasionally a deadline will require a stretch of time where the balancing act is more difficult, but because I am so present with them when I am not under an encroaching deadline, they understand when I have to take a little more time away. I do everything in my power to make these times as infrequent as possible, which requires me to put all of my trust in Jesus to help me see all of my projects through (and He always does!). The secret is prayer, faith, and discernment, and prioritizing the most important things first. God will always answer your prayers for help, especially when you live open-handedly and from a deep place of trust in Him. (For example, I wrote 13k words in one day when I was up against a tight deadline, and that was all the Lord giving me the words when I needed them). After years and years of God always coming through and helping me, I’ve finally gotten to a place where I don’t worry about deadlines anymore, because I know that no matter how many other things I’m balancing, He’ll help me write the book and get it in on time.
T4JYM: What advice would you give to someone interested in publishing their work?
CB: Pray first. Always. Before researching, before outlining, before writing, before revising, before submitting to publishers—ask God what He wants you to write about. Ask Him where he wants you to submit your work. Ask Him to give you a vision for what He wants your career to look like, and then follow where He leads.
If God is calling you to be a writer, He will lead you where you need to go. All you need to do is work hard and trust in Him, even when the rejections pour in. Even when the road is difficult.
Also, take stock of how much darkness has been flooding the books of this world. It is often the vile things that get the most marketing, the things that don’t honor and glorify Him that get the prime bookshelf space at Target, Barnes & Noble, Costco, etc. Don’t let that deter you. We are called to be the ones to write the stories of Light, Goodness, Beauty, and Truth, across genres, across age groups, and the world needs those stories. Pray for your books, but also pray for other writers. Support Christian writers, especially those writing in the secular space as they strive to get their books into the hands of readers and turn the world around for His glory.
Another way to combat this darkness in the publishing sphere if you’re not a writer but feel called to publishing is to become an agent or an editor and do everything in your power to help Christian writers succeed, especially in the secular space.
T4JYM: What advice would you give to the youth of this world?
CB: Follow Jesus. He really is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Despite being raised Christian, there was a time in my life when I didn’t follow Him, and like any other Christian who has veered from the path will tell you, it’s NEVER worth it. The world will lie to you and try to tell you their way is better, but it’s not. The world’s ways of selfishness and greed and twisting evils things to make them seem good will only lead to devastation and depression.
All good things come from God. If you want to live a good, blessed, and peaceful life, follow Jesus. If you want to live a depressed, awful, war-torn life, follow the world. It’s truly as simple as that.
I am praying for all of you.
Lord Jesus, please wrap these teens, Your precious beloved ones, in Your loving arms. Hold them close. Let them feel the love You have for them beating from Your sacred heart—the same love You poured out for them from the Cross, and keep them from veering onto the path of destruction. Let them seek You always, above all else, and keep to the Light. In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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