Author: Nancy Naigle
Located in: Patrick Springs, VA
Submitted: May 15, 2021
Tell us a little about yourself. Hi, Friends,
I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA. I never set out to be make my living as a writer. I had a wonderful twenty-year career as a Senior Vice President with Bank of America, but when I lost my husband in 2014 I felt the need to follow a new path. I had some books published, but that year my journey in writing changed. My stories changed as much as my life did. I took an early retirement from the bank and put all my faith into my writing. It's been so rewarding, and I feel so blessed by the opportunities that have come my way.
With 32 published works, I'm a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary small town love stories including the Adams Grove, Boot Creek, and Christmas in Evergreen series. Several of my novels have been adapted to the television screen, airing on the Hallmark Channel and on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, including the popular Christmas Joy and Hope at Christmas. Sand Dollar Cove, based on my novella with the same title, will premiere on Hallmark Channel June 26th. For more information on new books and movies you can sign up for my newsletter on my website.
What was your motivation behind this project? My cousin once shared a story that she'd heard about a family friend who found a special shell as she walked the surf along the Outer Banks in North Carolina where she lived. With something heavy on her heart, she kicked up a shell, and when she reached down to pick it up she noticed there was a scripture written inside. She found great comfort in that message. A year later she found another. She found a few more over the years too. Each of the shells came to her when she needed it most. No one else ever mentioned finding one which left her wondering how they came to her, and why. She treasured them considering them gifts from her angels by the sea.
I loved the idea of that, and thought of it often, but never more than in 2014. I lost my husband and my cousin within just weeks of each other. I could have used a boatload of those shells that year.
The story of The Shell Collector took hold in my heart and over the years it grew into a story not just about shells, but the people whose lives they touched and the friendships and love that grew because of them--a story of kindness, friendship, survival and hope.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? If the reader has lived through this type of loss, I hope they find comfort and hope through this story. If they haven't, then I hope it encourages them to step up and be the for someone else, or when they are faced with this type of grief perhaps some of the comforting words in this story will give them strength and assurance to proceed with grace. Those feelings of loss never go away, but they do change. They lose the sharp edges and the weight. Unfortunately, there's no recipe to make it through faster or easier. Everyone is different. Life is rarely predictable, if were are doing it right.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? It took me a long time to get to the point that I could write this story after going through the loss of my husband, but I was excited to share it and hopefully help bring something positive out of a hard part of my life. I am humbled and appreciative for the wonderful reviews and notes I've already received from readers about how it has touched their heart.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? I have so many favorite authors, and am thankful to call so many of them my friends. I'm a huge Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, RaeAnne Thayne, Lisa Wingate, Mary Alice Monroe and Karen Kingsbury fan. Good stories, with real problems and communities that are filled with good people helping navigate life.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: Thank you so much for picking up The Shell Collector. There are so many books out there, and I know how precious time is. It's truly a luxury to make the time to sit and read--escaping between the pages of a novel. I appreciate you spending your time in my novels. Hugs and happy reading, Nancy
