1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Natalie Maynard has fallen prey to a Romeo con and is now seeking refuge in the only thing she still owns, her late husband’s old hunting cabin up in the mountains of Chestnut Ridge. With the help of the town and determination of Detective Randy Fellowes, she rediscovers her courage, self, and a reason to risk love again.
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
You know I’m a beach girl. Born and raised in Virginia Beach and spending downtime in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I’ve spent most of my life along the coast. A couple of years ago, I bought a horse farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Being a native of Virginia, I was shocked by how much I didn’t know about this region. The terrain is breathtaking, and I’ve fallen in love with this part of the state and all its lore. This book kicks off a new series for me, set in the fictional town of Chestnut Ridge where you might find fairy stones and see homes built from the mighty chestnut trees that used to grace these hillsides. Not so much unlike the town of Patrick Springs, where I now live. Get ready to fall in love with Chestnut Ridge and all its colorful, quirky residents.
4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
I’d definitely hang out with Natalie. I love her can-do spirit and giving nature. I’m pretty sure the two of us would be busy crafting cool things together and maybe catch up on the latest local news over lunch at the Snout & Trout.
5–What are three words that describe your hero?
Honorable, Trustworthy, Determined
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I did a ton of research about romance scammers and romantic con-artists. On the heels of the Netflix series about The Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna, which was less about romance than the con, I was shocked by the number of similar cases and that so many go unreported. It’s easy to sit back and think it could never happen to you, but these women were smart, educated and caring people who were manipulated. These cons are so convincing. The scary thing is the red flags, like rushing into a relationship, being showered with gifts or affection, and sharing intimate details about things that draw you into their trust, or sweeping you off in ways that may separate you from family and friends…well they are sort of the things a dream romance is made of too. It’s the perfect script, and they re-use it over and over. It shocked me, consumed me, and I knew I had to write about it.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do very little editing as I draft my story. I like to get the ideas out onto the pages. My memory isn’t as good as it once was, and editing slows me down. If I stop long enough to edit, I forget the outstanding tiny details that shoot off like fireworks as I write. I’d hate to miss those.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
N/A
9–Describe your writing space/office!
I have this beautiful cherry desk that I had to have, with matching bookshelves filled with everything a Writer Girl could need, but honestly, I end up tucked into the corner of my couch, or in my recliner with my feet pulled up in the chair, with my Mac. I like things to be quiet, and I need bright light. I pull up the shades and let the sunshine pour in.
10–Who is an author you admire?
Nicholas Sparks for his heart-engaging stories with so many that are movies, Carl Hiassen for his ability to write characters I can’t get out of my head, and Debbie Macomber and Nora Roberts for blazing trails for all of us in romance with their story-telling and 100s of books!
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
The Bible!
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
That’s something you never forget. I even still have all those rejection letters in my desk drawer to remind me of the long road to publication and tenacity that it takes to become a published novelist. I didn’t get a phone call. I received an email first, and I still remember reading and re-reading it. It’s an “I can’t believe this is really happening” kind of moment. But I have to preface that with at the time my very first book came out, I was still working as a Senior Vice President with Bank of America. My goal was not to become a full-time author. My goal was to write one book to help one busy gal through one bad day. The desire had come out of a work-life balance struggle and me wanting to “even the scales” a bit. It wasn’t until 2014 when I lost my husband that I realized writing was my calling. It was then that I took an early retirement and shifted my life goals to writing uplifting fiction for women.
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
Women’s fiction. I find family saga and the journey of women finding strength to overcome obstacles to be my favorite escape, but I can’t say no to a heartwarming romance either. With so many wonderful authors who are also friends, I’ve got them piling up!
14–What’s your favorite movie?
Message In A Bottle. I choose to believe, however, that Garret was rescued after the credits or THE END of the book. It’s such a lovely story of how the right hearts find one another.
15–What is your favorite season?
I love them all! In Virginia, we get to enjoy visual and tangible seasonal changes. Picking one is hard, but I’m going to go with Autumn when the trees show off brilliant colors, apples are in abundance, and temperatures dip which always makes me want to sit fireside and dream a little under an inky black sky and a zillion stars.
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Usually, a quiet dinner of a home-cooked meal with friends. No big parties or hoopla.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
The Shell Collector now streaming on the FOX Nation app! It was the first Fox Original Movie, and it was based on my novel. The Shell Collector is the book of my heart. Written following my personal journey through grief, and inspired by a family friend who found several shells along the Kitty Hawk, NC coastline that had inspiring messages when she needed them most…that story was born. I treasure that story and – newsflash – I just signed a new contract with WaterBrook Press to write the sequel titled Angel by The Sea. Stay Tuned!
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I’m a meat and potatoes comfort food kind of gal.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
I have so very little free time. My momma lives here on the property with me and the two of us stay busy. I do over twenty reader events and book signings each year, because I love getting to meet folks and share stories. When I face an open calendar day, you’ll find me getting together with girlfriends for something low-key, like antiquing, cooking out or maybe a spa day.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
I have a new romantic comedy coming out early Summer 2024 with Harpeth Road, and in late September 2024 Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, the second Chestnut Ridge novel, comes out. It’s got all the warm and fuzzies, and I know y’all are going to love it! Angels By the Sea will follow in 2025.
Readers can download a checklist of my backlist FREE from my website to keep them busy reading while we get these next few published, and if they sign up for my newsletter, they’ll get all my updates, monthly contest, and some freebie reads throughout the year.
AND THEN THERE WAS YOU by Nancy Naigle
Chestnut Ridge
During the coziness of sweater weather in the mountains of Virginia two people find love against all odds in USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle’s And Then There Was You.
Reeling after falling prey to a Romeo con-artist who just waltzed away with the better part of her belongings, Natalie Maynard works closely with the detective assigned to her case, only the few leads have led nowhere.
Detective Randy Fellowes can’t promise Natalie restitution, but he’s determined to find the culprit and serve up justice. Married to his work, he’s caught off guard when Natalie has his thoughts wandering to more than the case.
Natalie soon seeks refuge in the one thing she still owns — an old fishing cabin in the mountains of Chestnut Ridge. She quickly falls in love with the town and the eccentric people who are teaching her so much about the area and its heritage.
Through these people, and the determination of Detective Fellowes, she rediscovers her courage, self, and a reason to risk love again.
Romance Contemporary [St. Martin’s Griffin, On Sale: June 27, 2023, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250794178 / eISBN: 9781250794185]
Nancy Naigle’s creative genius made this wondrous story come alive.
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About Nancy Naigle
USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE whips up small-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. Several of Nancy’s novels have been made into Hallmark movies, and most recently The Shell Collector was adapted as the first Fox original movie to stream on Fox Nation. A native of Virginia Beach, Nancy now calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home.
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