FALLING FOR THE FARMER - Narelle Atkins - One Free Book

I first became acquainted with Narelle on the ACFW email loop. She is friends with some of my other friends in Australia. Then we met in person at the ACFW national conference. What a treat.

Welcome, Narelle. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Lena, that’s a hard question. My characters are all different, with unique personalities and traits. A number of my heroines like coffee, in particular lattes, which happens to be my favorite coffee. My heroine, Kate, in Falling for the Farmer is very different to me. For example, Kate likes running to keep fit. I’ll walk for miles but I don’t like to run.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’ve ridden a motorbike off-road on a farm, although my gear changing abilities leave a lot to be desired.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. My mother tells the story of how she’d buy colored paper notepads each week from the grocery store when I was two, and I’d fill them with scribbles instead of pictures.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I enjoy reading all genres of inspirational romance, and I mainly read Christian fiction. I’m currently reading three books: a contemporary romance, a supernatural thriller, and an autobiography.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Coffee, chocolate, and prayer. I have a regular gym routine that keeps me sane and also gives me time and mental space to think through my stories. I’ve solved many plot problems and other story issues during a cycling class. I’m blessed to have supportive family and friends. My husband is amazing. When I’m on deadline he picks up extra household duties on top of his crazy busy job. My friends understand that I have to say no a lot to social activities in order to stay on top of my deadlines.

Sounds like a good combination to me. How do you choose your characters’ names?

My characters’ often name themselves. When I start exploring their backgrounds, the perfect name will sometimes come to me. I research the popular baby name lists for ideas. I also make sure my hero and heroine’s names start with different letters of the alphabet and have a different sound. 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Motherhood. Parenting is hard and challenging and rewarding all at the same time. I’m proud of my kids and their achievements. 

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’m an Aussie so I’ll pick an Australian animal. I’d like to be a koala because they’re cute and cuddly and everybody loves them.

What is your favorite food?

I love fresh fruit and I could live on fruit salad. My favorite is mangoes. I buy quite a few trays of mangoes each summer and I eat a mango a day when they’re in season.

I love mangoes, but they always made my lips and mouth break out. Then I found out I was allergic to them. So I stay away from them now. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

It took me a long time to learn how to write effective conflict in my stories. My early contest feedback always contained comments on my story lacking sustainable and compelling conflict. Debra Dixon’s GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict book was a major breakthrough. I read the book, attended Debra’s GMC workshop at a Romance Writers of Australia conference, and learned how to structure my stories with strong GMC.   

Tell us about the featured book.

Falling for the Farmer is set in Snowgum Creek, a fictitious town located near the Snowy Mountains in Australia. Kate Lawson is a runaway bride and city girl who grew up in a wealthy northern Sydney suburb. Jack Bradley runs the family apple orchards in Snowgum Creek and owns a car hire business. Jack drives Kate away from the church in his Cadillac, and she ends up living and working on Jack’s apple farm.

Please give us the first page of the book.

She had to escape now!

The long aisle surrounded by rows of smiling faces awaited Kate Lawson as she paused for photos at the back of the church, her sweaty hand clutching her father’s tuxedo-clad forearm.

Her fiancé stood at the end of the aisle, a triumphant grin on his face as his gaze swept over the crowded church.

Her father’s eyes misted. “You’re doing great.”

Kate shook her head. “Dad, I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” She lifted her wedding dress off the plush carpet and ran out of the church, her low heels scraping the stone steps as she sprinted to the bridal car.

Gulping air into her burning lungs, she wrenched open the cumbersome passenger door of the Cadillac and threw her bridal bouquet on the floor. She slid onto the soft cream leather seat, the full skirt of her gown settling over her legs.

Jack Bradley spun around in the driver’s seat, his tawny-brown eyes widening after she pulled the door closed and fastened her seat belt.

Her pulse raced, and she sucked in a shallow breath. “Let’s go.”

 “Where? Why?” He stashed his phone in the dashboard console. “Aren’t you supposed to be inside the church getting married?”

Kate glanced out the rear window. Her mother hobbled down the church steps in three-inch heels, her crimson face glowing in the late-morning Sydney sunshine. “Please, Jack, I’ll tell you later.”

He switched on the ignition and the powerful engine rumbled to life. He drove out of the church parking lot, slowing to maneuver his prized Cadillac Eldorado through the narrow gate.

She gripped the skirt bunched on her lap, refusing to look back at the church and her mother. Jack needed to put his foot down on the accelerator and get her out of here. Now.

He merged into a gap in the traffic. “Where are we going?”

I can’t wait until my copy arrives. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can connect with me on my website, blog, Facebook page and Twitter.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com
Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor
Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Thank you, Narelle, for sharing this new book with us.

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Falling for the Farmer - Christianbook.com
Falling for the Farmer (Heartsong Presents) - Amazon
Falling for the Farmer (Heartsong Presents) - Kindle

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