Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Spotlight: Nancy J. Farrier

Nancy J. Farrier here with a look into my writing life and what led me to become an author. Thank you so much for joining me.


 

I grew up on a small farm in Indiana. There was a lot of hard work involved but also so much fun. I loved hiding in the top of the pine trees and reading a book, or playing with my sister and cousins making up fantastical stories. One of my favorite games involved using our pony to gallop from one hillock in a field to another as we rescued each other from the red-tipped wolves that were attacking. We all had fun but the poor pony may not have enjoyed the game as much. Nah, he loved running.



 

School was not my favorite place to be. I had trouble focusing on study because there were so many good books to read, or story ideas flitting through my head, and they were way more interesting than my dry texts. I often got in trouble for hiding a reading book behind the open pages of my history textbook. I have no idea how the teacher knew—maybe the fact that for once I was intently studying the history book, or the fact that I never turned a page. <smile> 



 


Who knew I would grow up to love history so much. Several of my books are historical. My book, The Richest Knight, was inspired by my aunt’s love of the Grand Canyon and how she shared her enthusiasm with me. She retired from her job and went to work at the Canyon. I would visit her and loved the magnificent El Tovar hotel, which became a focal point of my story. Researching the history of the Harvey girls and the Canyon proved to be time well spent.




 

Daydreaming is one of my superpowers. I daydreamed my way 

through school and through life. Many of my story ideas come from those daydreams. Bandolero is one of those stories. I remember seeing the scene of Yoana being captured by Bandoleros. That kidnap scene evolved over the years until finally I had to tell her story. Bandolero, and the Land of Promise series, remain one of my favorites. 






 

I moved from Indiana to Arizona. I love the mountains, the desert, and the rich history of this land and people. My daughters were attending a small church school and we went on a field trip 

to an ostrich farm a few miles away. I was so fascinated with the place that I made an appointment to go back and talk with the owner on my own. I used much of her information and some of her true stories to write my book, An Ostrich a Day, which became a contemporary series featured in the Arizona Brides collection. This book and the series that followed are out of print and will be released later this year under my imprint.



 

My husband and I both come from large families, so we have family members all over. When we visited my husband’s brother and his wife in California another idea struck. They have this beautiful quilt shop nestled in a small shopping center. A story bit came to me of a woman standing across from that shop. I could feel her hurt and defeat. As the idea developed, she became Asia from my contemporary book, Matching Points, which released September 2020. 


 


I never know when a viable story idea will come but I am always ready to listen to inspiration. I do a lot of walking, listening to audiobooks, or just praying and talking with God. New story possibilities flit through my head all the time and some of them settle and develop into books. 

 


Sharing stories with my readers is a passion and a calling. I want to encourage people in their faith because we all have times when we struggle. I love connecting with my readers. If you haven’t done so, be sure to visit my website and sign up for my newsletter to keep in touch with me and hear about new books coming out. You can also follow me on Bookbub to get a notice of a sale or new release.

 



Thank you for stopping by and letting me share a bit of me with you. I’d love to hear something about what you do and what you love to read. I will choose one person to receive a copy of their choice of one of my books. Be blessed.


Website: https://nancyjfarrier.com

Follow me on: Bookbub Facebook Amazon

 

12 comments:

  1. It's nice to learn more about you, Nancy. I love the image of you racing across the hills on the pony. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing your story with us. It's so interesting how so many of you authors knew you had stories in your heads even as children. I loved your story "Bandolero".

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    1. Merry Christmas, Connie. Yes, I've always had stories in my head. :) I'm so glad you like Bandolero. Thank you.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your story, Nancy!
    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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    1. Thank you, Melanie. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  4. I've lived in the same place all my life - almost 60 years - in SC. I was a medical transcriptionist for 25 years, but then became permanently disabled. One of the things I have is fibromyalgia and I've always heard Arizona is a good place to live for that.

    I like read historical fiction the best.

    Thank you for the opportunity.

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    1. Linda, I’m sorry you have fibromyalgia. Arizona might be a good place for that. Definitely not as green as South Carolina. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Hi Nancy, it is good to have you here today and to learn a bit about you. I was one of those students that couldnt get enough of history in school. I was also and still am an avid reader. I also grew up on a farm but in CA. After my homework and chores, I would sit against Burgandy Rose my Shorthorn cow and read out loud or to myself. I had to be careful not to sit too long because she would not move while I was sitting there. Goldie, my palomino and I would go across the desert and while she walked I would read in the saddle. I think she liked to hear me because her ears always moved back and forth and she was extremely attentive. We did a lot of barrel racing together. I loved farm life and will always remember it quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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    1. Lori, I love that you are such an avid reader like me. I loved riding and country life. Thanks for commenting.

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  6. Thank you for sharing your story, Nancy. Have a joyous and blessed Christmas.

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