Cara Alwill Leyba is a writer from New York City. She has written for music and pop culture sites such as MTV News, MTV Hollywood Crush, AOL Music and Sony Music.
Her hilariously uplifting blog attracts nearly 5,000 followers and features everything from cocktail recipes, laugh out loud stories about dieting and weight loss adventures, as well as interviews with women who truly live a “Champagne life.” She is known for her witty, down to earth attitude, and swears that all women can live by The Champagne Diet, even on a budget.
Cara is well-known in the wine and spirits online community, and regularly writes for blogs like Thirsty Girl, run by wine expert, author and Today Show regular, Leslie Sbrocco. Leslie recently featured Cara on the site as her “Thursday Thirsty Girl” to celebrate her achievements and involvement in the wine and spirits industry.
The idea for THE CHAMPAGNE DIARIES, Cara’s first book, was inspired by Cara’s personal experiences with getting healthy and changing her outlook on life. With her positive outlook on life and a decision to settle for nothing less than “Champagne love,” Cara found real love and recently married her husband, Ryan, in a romantic ceremony at the Empire State Building in New York City this past Valentine’s Day. Her love story was documented in a feature on ABC’s Nightline as well as in an article in the New York Daily News.
Cara is a Digital Advertising Director at MTV Networks. She resides in New York City with her husband and dog.
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Time for a few questions... soooo tell us...
Where are you from?
Brooklyn, New York
Tell us your latest news?
The Champagne Diet has been getting lots of press! It was recently featured in Glamour magazine, as well as a ton of international newspapers, including Daily Mail UK which is super exciting. We're going global, baby!
When and why did you begin writing?
As soon as I learned how to spell! I've always loved to write and I've been writing as long as I can remember.
As soon as I learned how to spell! I've always loved to write and I've been writing as long as I can remember.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was 8, I had to write a book for a class project. I wrote my own "About the Author" on the back inside cover and from that point on I knew it was my fate. Then I covered the MTV Video Music Awards a few years ago and that's when I really felt like I had sealed the deal.
When I was 8, I had to write a book for a class project. I wrote my own "About the Author" on the back inside cover and from that point on I knew it was my fate. Then I covered the MTV Video Music Awards a few years ago and that's when I really felt like I had sealed the deal.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I developed the concept for The Champagne Diet after making some personal changes in my life and changing my outlook on things. I started to kick away the negative and celebrate all the good, and I felt like I had to document it. THE CHAMPAGNE DIARIES has turned into a collection of stories about how Champagne truly changed my world and inspired me to start living an effervescent life. From toasting to yourself nightly, to understanding all of the fabulous health benefits of bubbly, to finding "Champagne love", THE CHAMPAGNE DIARIES is the bible for wine-loving women!
I developed the concept for The Champagne Diet after making some personal changes in my life and changing my outlook on things. I started to kick away the negative and celebrate all the good, and I felt like I had to document it. THE CHAMPAGNE DIARIES has turned into a collection of stories about how Champagne truly changed my world and inspired me to start living an effervescent life. From toasting to yourself nightly, to understanding all of the fabulous health benefits of bubbly, to finding "Champagne love", THE CHAMPAGNE DIARIES is the bible for wine-loving women!
Do you have a specific writing style?
I love to write in a very conversational tone. I like my readers to feel like I'm talking with them, not talking at them. I like to keep it fresh and interesting.
I love to write in a very conversational tone. I like my readers to feel like I'm talking with them, not talking at them. I like to keep it fresh and interesting.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to
grasp?
I want my readers to understand that living a "Champagne life" is all about celebrating the best of everything. It's not about drinking Champagne because it's low in calories, although that's a nice perk, but it's about really truly embracing this lifestyle that encourages women to raise a glass to themselves nightly, and settle but nothing but the best in their lives.
I want my readers to understand that living a "Champagne life" is all about celebrating the best of everything. It's not about drinking Champagne because it's low in calories, although that's a nice perk, but it's about really truly embracing this lifestyle that encourages women to raise a glass to themselves nightly, and settle but nothing but the best in their lives.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
The book is based on my own experiences
What are your current projects?
Aside from working on my book, I blog regularly at TheChampagneDiet.com, and also work on my line of handmade gifts and decor called The Bubbly Boutique.
Aside from working on my book, I blog regularly at TheChampagneDiet.com, and also work on my line of handmade gifts and decor called The Bubbly Boutique.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
The network of fans that I have developed through Twitter and Facebook has been an amazing support system. They are so die-hard and have been with The Champagne Diet since the beginning. Aside from being a bad-ass group of bitches who love a good cocktail, they are there to back up everything I do. I wouldn't be here without them!
Do you see writing as a career?
Absolutely
Absolutely
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don't be afraid to fail. Try everything. Pitch everyone. Put yourself out there. If you never try, you can guarantee you'll never succeed.
Don't be afraid to fail. Try everything. Pitch everyone. Put yourself out there. If you never try, you can guarantee you'll never succeed.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers?
I love each and every person who reads my work and I am so appreciative of their loyalty and support. Cheers, ladies!
I love each and every person who reads my work and I am so appreciative of their loyalty and support. Cheers, ladies!
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Thank you to Cara for doing an interview with Reading is Fashionable!!!
EVERYONE be sure to visit Cara's site The Champagne Diet and keep up with her latest book news!
EVERYONE be sure to visit Cara's site The Champagne Diet and keep up with her latest book news!
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