Monday, February 27, 2017

We're sweet on Christine Nolfi...plus a book giveaway

Today, Christine Nolfi is here to talk about her novel, Sweet Lake, as part of BookSparks' Wintervention. It is the first in a new series. To celebrate her publication week, she has TWO signed copies to give away!

Award-winning author Christine Nolfi provides readers with heartwarming and inspiring fiction. The Midwest Book Review lists her books as “highly recommended” and her novels have enjoyed bestseller status. For news of upcoming events and contests, join her mailing list.

Visit Christine online:
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Synopsis:
Linnie Wayfair knows just how many people are counting on her. But knowing doesn’t make doing any easier.

Everyone in Sweet Lake, Ohio, wants her to muster all her business sense and return the Wayfair Inn to its former glory. Her parents hope she’ll forgive her scoundrel of a brother and reconcile the family. The eccentric Sweet Lake Sirens want her to open the inn—and her heart—to new possibilities. And her hilarious lifelong friends Jada and Cat are dropping none-too-subtle hints for her to ignite a romance with Daniel Kettering, the sexy attorney who’s been pining for her for years…

Now a shocking turn of events will open old wounds and upend the world Linnie has carefully built. She has to make changes quickly—and the results, though not entirely what she expected, might be what she’s been yearning for all along.

What did you do to celebrate when first published?
I published Second Chance Grill the same month I put my house on the market. Between packing up the house and beginning work on the next novel, it didn’t occur to me to celebrate!

What were the most challenging and rewarding parts of writing Sweet Lake?
The biggest challenge came in finding the right balance between humor and drama. Linnie Wayfair is a young woman struggling to keep her family’s historic inn from going under, and she’s painfully aware that the town of Sweet Lake won’t survive if she can’t bring those tourist dollars back. The biggest reward in writing the novel came with the introduction of the Sweet Lake Sirens, an older and often eccentric group of women quietly determined to help Linnie rise to the task. The Sirens also meddle in matters of the heart: they spark “love among the ancients” at the local retirement center, and help Linnie’s slow-burning attraction to Daniel Kettering flare to new heights.

What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with aspiring novelists?
Read often and widely. You’ll learn ever more elegant ways to put emotion on the page by studying what works in other stories.

If you could cast Sweet Lake as a movie, who would play the lead roles?
Have the luminous Emma Stone don a brunette wig, and convince her to play Linnie. The role needs an actress comfortable in both quirky and achingly poignant scenes. Let’s cast the fabulous Jennifer Hudson as Linnie’s best friend Jada because the role needs a touch of sass. Ryan Gosling will pull off the role of Daniel Kettering to perfection, especially in the scenes when Daniel quietly smolders with passion for Linnie. And the eccentric leader of the Sweet Lake Sirens, Frances Dufour? Someone contact the agent for the marvelous Meryl Streep, please!

What is something you are looking forward to in March?
I’m looking forward to reading the reviews for Sweet Lake as readers discover the novel. I’m also looking forward to delving deeper into the third book in the series. The Comfort of Secrets will be out in July, and I don’t want to keep readers waiting too long for the third installment!

If you could live anywhere in the world, besides where you’re currently living, where would it be, and why?
Well, I’m already living in my dream locale—Charleston, South Carolina. I’m originally from the snow belt of northeastern Ohio, and I spent years dreaming about living in a warmer climate. Charleston was always on the list of possible cities: my French ancestors were among the first families to arrive in Charles Towne in 1681. Five years ago, to the surprise of my extended family, I decided to follow my dreams and move here. Today, my husband and I live a blissful ten minutes from the beach. And I never tire of Charleston’s abundant sunshine!

Thanks to Christine for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers. Thanks to BookSparks for coordinating the interview.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway ends March 5th at midnight EST



21 comments:

Janine said...

I had a picture framed and it should be finished this weekend. I can't wait to get it back and hang it up. It's special to me because a while back I had a dream about my cat Nani and she was sitting on a moon and looking at me. I posted about it on Facebook and one of my friends surprised me with a print by Raphael Vavasseur. We both love her artwork. She has a line of white cats that are filled in with clouds. They remind me of Nani.

Aire para respirar said...

more sun, less rain

amy guillaume linderman said...

looking forward to going to florida to visit my parents in march!

Christine Nolfi said...

Thank you for featuring Sweet Lake today. What a perfect way to kick off release week!

traveler said...

I am looking forward to celebrating all the march birthdays in the family.

Tatum Rangel said...

I'm going to be an aunt, this coming month.

djnbjnon said...

The fact that the weather may be nice and I can start spring clean up. Also St. Patrick's day. It brings back great memories of spending St. Patrick's day in Dublin Ireland. Watching our youngest son participate with his high school band in the parade and winning best overall band.

diannekc said...

I'm looking forward to warmer weather and more sun in March. Also, the tress budding out and the return of the birds.

Jan H said...

I am looking forward to putting out some tomato plants and to reading more

Unknown said...

I can't wait to see the new Beauty and the Beast movie. My daughter and I already have tickets!!! Then the next day is St. Patrick's Day 🍀! Our city always has a fun parade!

Di said...

I'm looking forward to my niece's bridal shower! I'll also get to meet the youngest great-nephew who will be there for his aunt's party.

Rita Wray said...

I'm looking forward to my birthday in March.

Mary Preston said...

I'm going to visit my mother.

Unknown said...

My birthday is in March, and I always look forward to that! Also, I had breast cancer last year and a mastectomy; later in March I will be having reconstruction. Not looking forward to surgery and recovery, but excited to begin another phase of my recovery.

Book Lover in Florida said...

I have a school conference in Atlanta for 5 days/4 nights. It is right before spring break so the kids cannot come on this trip - you mean, uninterrupted TV time?.

Jennifer said...

March Break! We are headed on a family trip somewhere warm. I can't wait!

jean602 said...

A visit from my grandchildren. They will be here for a week.
Nancy Burgess

Cresta McGowan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cresta McGowan said...

Warm weather! While our winter here wasn't brutal, I'm looking forward to temps above 50 degrees and spending time outside.

Letty Blanchard said...

I'm looking forward to the Tucson Festival of Books March 11-12. It's such a wonderful event held every March and I end up buying waaaay too many books!! But there's no such thing as too many books, right? ☺️ Oh, and my birthday's in March. Always enjoy going out to dinner to celebrate with my husband and sons!!

bn100 said...

March madness