PHOTO: Christine Nolfi: The bestselling author renowned for crafting heartfelt stories of family, resilience, and human connection.
Exploring Secrets, Family, And Emotionally Charged Stories
Christine Nolfi discusses the inspiration behind her novels, her creative process, and the personal experiences shaping her emotionally gripping and character-driven stories.
Christine Nolfi is a literary treasure whose storytelling brilliance has captured the hearts of readers across the globe. With a catalogue of seventeen novels to her name, her ability to weave intricate narratives filled with emotional depth and unforgettable characters solidifies her standing among today’s most compelling voices in fiction. The anticipation surrounding her upcoming 2025 release, The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves, is well deserved, as it promises to transport readers into a captivating tale anchored by the motifs of literature, legacy and self-discovery.
Christine’s previous works have drawn widespread praise, with A Heart Like Home (2024) delving into profound family secrets and The Passing Storm earning accolades such as Publishers Weekly’s acclaim for its taut and riveting storytelling. The poignant A Brighter Flame was selected as a standout book club pick by She Reads, while the much-loved The Road She Left Behind and her celebrated Sweet Lake Series have secured a loyal readership. Her earlier works—Second Chance Grill, Treasure Me, and the evocative The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge—showcase her extraordinary ability to craft tales imbued with both human complexity and hope.
Beyond her literary achievements, Christine draws deeply from her own life, including her experiences as an adoptive mother and business leader, to create authentic, character-driven stories that resonate on every level. Her passion for illuminating the human spirit through trials, relationships, and triumphs makes her a force within the literary world.
In this exclusive interview, Christine shares insight into her creative process, the inspirations behind her latest works, and her steadfast commitment to portraying intricate family dynamics with care and authenticity. Her advice for aspiring writers is as heartfelt as her novels, revealing a boundless generosity for fostering creativity and excellence. Prepare to be inspired by Christine Nolfi—an author whose stories linger long after the final page is turned.
Christine Nolfi masterfully weaves compelling narratives with emotional depth, offering unforgettable stories that resonate with readers on a profound level.
In The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves, what inspired the creation of the hidden library and its significance to the narrative?
Stories about libraries—or about books, for that matter—are irresistible to readers. While plotting the manuscript, I decided to take the concept of a secret library a step further, making the discovery of those secret rooms just the first of several revelations. I wanted to anchor the theme of why stories matter to the real struggles encountered by the protagonist, Claire, and her prickly employer, Hanna Reeves. I also cherished the opportunity to highlight some of my favorite authors as Claire browses Hanna’s rare book collection. Dickens even gets his own chapter heading.
When I pitched the book concept, Lake Union’s Editorial Director was immediately drawn to a book about books. She loved the idea of pitting young Claire against Hanna Reeves, the elderly descendant of Maine’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists, and likened their relationship to Fredrik Backman’s wonderful A Man Called Ove. To highlight the vivid differences between two women from vastly different generations, I set the book in the 1970s, with flashbacks to the early twentieth century.
“Stories about libraries—or about books, for that matter—are irresistible to readers.” – Christine Nolfi
A Heart Like Home delves into family secrets and suspense. How did you develop the complex relationships portrayed in this novel.
Much of the book’s emotional complexity arose from personal experience. Prior to adopting my now-adult children, I read countless case studies, spoke with foster and adoptive parents, and took coursework on neglect and abuse—twice.
In the U.S., a child removed from parental custody in one town might be placed with adoptive parents in a nearby location. Usually, this transition goes smoothly—many biological parents make the heartbreaking choice to release their children voluntarily. But what happens when an abusive parent refuses to let go? Much of the book’s tension comes from this struggle.
On another level, I’ve long been troubled by how often fiction misrepresents adoption. Most social workers, foster parents, and adoptive parents care deeply about child welfare. They do the hard work required to keep children safe.
The Passing Storm received praise for its riveting plot. What challenges did you face crafting such an emotionally charged story?
The Covid pandemic posed the greatest challenge. I was on the phone with my editor discussing the book’s initial draft on the day the U.S. shut down. The opportunity to do on-the-ground research vanished. To adapt, I set the story at the Ohio farm I’d owned before moving to South Carolina—a setting I knew intimately.
As for the plot’s nonstop tension, I suspect it reflected the collective anxiety we all experienced in 2020.
Your novels often explore intricate family dynamics. What research or personal insights do you draw upon to portray these relationships authentically?
Many of my novels have benefited from personal interviews. Police officers, family law attorneys, birth mothers, doctors—I’m not shy about seeking out the on-the-ground knowledge. In the heat of writing, it’s easy to allow one plot point the build on the next without stopping to consider accuracy. One shouldn’t stop the hard work of writing the initial draft. But afterward, the red pen should come out, not simply for edits, but to flag areas in desperate need of thorough research. There’s nothing wrong with badgering the local reference librarian, but nothing beats interviewing someone in the circumstance or profession depicted in the story.
With a diverse background, including adopting four children and building companies, how have these experiences shaped your storytelling?
Those experiences have certainly given me a bird’s eye view of fascinating human behavior! I credit work in public relations, in particular, has helped me to comfortably populate my books with a large and diverse cast of characters.
On a personal level, adopting four special-needs children has profoundly deepened my emotional perspective. Hopefully this is reflected in my work.
What advice would you offer aspiring authors aiming to write compelling and heartfelt narratives?
Turn off your internal editor until you’ve written your first draft. Too many incredibly creative writers never make it to publication because they pick their ideas apart. They get so caught up in analyzing every paragraph that they never complete that all-important draft.
Don’t question yourself. Allow the idea that’s taken hold carry you through the first pass. Once the draft is complete, the real work begins.
Emotional, character-driven stories require layering. I accomplish this by writing longhand, using a variety of colored pens to allow my inner child some fun as I jot notes in the margins and deepen emotional moments. Then it’s back to the computer to input all those changes. This process can go on for months, through developmental edits, copyedits—even during the manuscript’s final proofread.
The entire process may seem daunting for the debut novelist. But as you progress in your career, the steps you take to approach the ever-elusive goal of perfection do become easier.
