Although I was born in Illinois and grew
up in Orlando, when my husband and I moved our family to Georgia in the
eighties I became to a full-fledged, grit’s eating, southerner, y’all. Except I
never learned to drink sweet tea or any tea. So maybe full-fledged is a bit
over-stated. Anyway, that’s the reason I write stories about contemporary
southern women who have big dreams. Thus
far they all live in Georgia.
In The Secret of Willow Inn—Willow
Falls book one—settings are split between Atlanta and a small town on the brink
of failure. I created Willow Falls—a composite of actual North Georgia
locations—to mold the setting to the series. Because I couldn’t visit the town
on Google Earth, I drew a map on chart paper. Details were added for books two
and three. In my mind the imaginary site is as real as any I’ve physically
visited. Which is why my husband humors me when I comment about something
reminding me of Willow Falls.
About the series. The stories follow the
lives of three women, strangers brought together in the first book by tragedy,
a long-held secret, and one man’s dream to plant a vineyard and build a winery.
Emily Hayes, a reporter for the local paper was raised in Willow Falls. As an
aspiring author, she longs to write a novel about the town’s unique history to
attract tourists. Sadie Liles returns after serving a thirty-year prison term
for killing the town hero. Rachel Streetman, raised in Atlanta, abandons her
acting dream to work for her father’s real estate development firm and live the
life he chooses for her. Until she meets Charlie Bricker and discovers the secret.
Book two, The Trouble in Willow Falls,
continues to follow Rachel, Emily, and Sadie as their relationships with each
other and Willow Falls’ quirky residents evolve. The women face new stumbling
blocks in the pursuit of their dreams while five newcomers complicate
residents’ struggles to overcome obstacles and transform their town into a
tourist destination. Oh, and one charming stranger with an exaggerated British
accent claims he’s a writer needing a quiet location to create his latest novel.
What is his real motivation for scheduling a long-term stay at Willow Inn?
In book three, Starstruck in Willow
Falls, a Hollywood film crew and three famous actors swoop into Willow
Falls to shoot a full-length motion picture. They disrupt the town’s new normal
as a popular tourist spot and transform residents into groupies, stage mothers,
and wannabe movie stars. The chaos upstages Emily’s debut as a published author
and tests Rachel’s relationship with Charlie weeks before their wedding and
Willow Oak Winery’s grand opening. Adding to the turmoil, an unexpected visitor
unites locals in a campaign to protect Sadie.
When folks ask what inspired me to create
the three characters, I tell them about Mom, an only child who longed for a
sister. Emily, Rachel, and Sadie were each raised without siblings.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
“I love the
Willow Falls series and felt like I was coming home to old friends. Reminiscent
of Jan Karon's Mitford series (and I chuckled upon seeing a couple references
to Mitford in the book); fans of Father Tim and co. absolutely will enjoy this
series. Best to read them in order, so you can get to know the town characters!
I truly was kept guessing on some plot points until the very end; admirable
writing and compelling plot kept my interest throughout. I loved the book's
exploration of the power of forgiveness.”
Meagan, Goodreads review.
Ane Mulligan, author In
High Cotton
Bio:
Pat draws on her corporate experience working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life, to create stories about women who face challenges in the pursuit of their dreams. The Secret of Willow Inn is a 2020 Selah Award winner. She received a NGCWC Georgia Peach Awards for Starstruck in Willow Falls.
Pat and her high-school-sweetheart husband live in Duluth,
Georgia and continue to celebrate their fifty-plus-year marriage. She is a
mother of two and grandmother of four. One precious granddaughter lives with
the angels. Pat volunteers for church guest services, participates in two
social organizations, and is a member of ACFW and Word Weavers International.
When Pat isn’t writing she enjoys jigsaw puzzles, watching
movies, and spending time with family and friends. She is grateful for God’s
blessings through the peaks and valleys of life.
Blurb:
Two women whose dreams are about to come true find themselves in a town turned upside down by a Hollywood film crew and famous movie stars.
Weeks away from marrying
Charlie Bricker, Rachel Streetman fears her life-long dream to act is drifting
into oblivion and leaving behind bitter regret. Will auditioning for a role in
the movie strengthen their relationship or tear them apart? Emily Hayes’ debut
novel is upstaged by the Hollywood invasion. When she and Rachel accept the job
as the director’s liaisons, their patience is stretched to the limit by Willow
Falls’ starstruck residents. Will they survive the chaos and achieve their
dreams?
Links:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Starstruck+in+Willow+Falls&i
https://www.facebook.com/pat.nichols.52459
https://twitter.com/PatNichols16
https://www.instagram.com/patnicholsauthor/
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18550117.Pat_Nichols
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/pat-nichols
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07JLZW6LJNichols16
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