Photo: Nina Purtee: Award-Winning Adventure Romance Novelist Who Crafts Powerful Stories Inspired By Her Global Travels And Deep Appreciation Of Culture.
A Globetrotting Novelist On Love And Resilience
Globetrotting novelist Nina Purtee blends her vibrant adventures into intricate characters and captivating narratives, exploring love, resilience, and cultural authenticity through her celebrated Annie’s Journey series and recent novel releases.
N ina Purtee is nothing short of an enchanting storyteller and a remarkable visionary in the world of adventure romance. With a life steeped in extraordinary travel experiences and an insatiable curiosity about the human spirit, Nina has crafted narratives that transport readers to vivid landscapes and explore deeply resonant themes. Her novels have become a testament to the beauty of celebrating diverse cultures and the emotional intricacies that define us all.
From the Greek Islands to Marrakesh, Nina’s pen has danced across the pages with intricate detail and authenticity, weaving her personal travel adventures into unforgettable tales. Her celebrated debut, Beyond the Sea: Annie’s Journey into the Extraordinary, set the stage for a series bursting with life, emotion, and cultural richness. Annie’s journey continues in the sequel, Crossing Paths: The Road to Destiny, followed by Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold, Moroccan Sunset: Dawn of a New Beginning, and the recent triumph, Grand Illusion: Lesson of a Balinese Lotus. Each title builds upon the previous, offering a tapestry of resilience, love, and discovery that resonates across readers’ hearts. Nina’s ability to meld personal inspiration with reality yields characters so vivid, they feel like dear friends.
Now residing in Florida—but forever a citizen of the world—Nina welcomes us into her creative process, shedding light on how she balances her globetrotting adventures with her gift for storytelling. Her novels stand as masterful explorations of love, loss, cultural traditions, and the resilience of the human spirit. Readers of Reader’s House are invited to delve into the mind of one of contemporary romance’s most intriguing authors, as Nina Purtee shares her insights, her passions, and an exciting peek into her future adventures and works. A name that will surely linger in literary circles, Nina Purtee continues to inspire us, one breathtaking story at a time.
Nina Purtee is a masterful storyteller whose novels radiate authenticity, cultural depth, and emotional resonance while celebrating humanity’s extraordinary spirit.
How have your travels influenced the settings and characters in your novels, particularly in “Moroccan Sunset: Dawn of a New Beginning“?
Having had the good fortune to travel extensively around the globe, two travel experiences stand out. The first was a transatlantic cruise I took solo to begin writing Beyond the Sea in earnest. I was sharing with a new acquaintance that Annie had arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, in my story. A man overheard me and came over to tell me I needed to get her to Marrakesh and proceeded to tell me many of that city’s highlights. It changed the direction of that story with Annie and gave me a wealth of information for Moroccan Sunset which is based in Marrakesh.
Your characters are praised for their depth and realism. Can you share your process for developing such intricate and relatable characters?
Most importantly, I have the mental mindset that they are real people with hopes, dreams, aspirations, and insecurities. I often put them in real situations and simply record what they say and do. Sometimes they even surprise me when I realize what I thought they would do isn’t right and simply sit back and watch and write as it unfolds.
In “Annie’s Journey,” you explore various cultural traditions. How do you ensure authenticity and sensitivity when writing about cultures different from your own?
As a frequent international traveler, I have discovered the underlying good nature in people from other cultures with the use of a simple smile and a few kind words. Like my character, Annie, I am very accepting of cultures other than my own and research extensively to try to maintain their authentic identities within a fictional scenario. There are many places throughout the series that the topic of acceptance is explored.
As an award-winning novelist, what does your typical writing process look like, and how do you balance it with your travels?
I find I do my best writing early in the day when I’m fresh. The afternoons are filled with research that often uncovers a special tidbit that gives the narrative a deeper direction. For example, in Finding Sarah, when she had to paint a mural in eighth grade and was researching what to do, so was I. I couldn’t believe it when I discovered Rosa Bonheur from Paris in the 1800’s whose mother taught her the alphabet by drawing animals. I was fascinated by Rosa and translated that to Sarah’s character. Depending on where I am in my work when I travel, I find myself jotting notes or ideas ready to implement upon my return.
Your books often explore themes of love, loss, and resilience. What draws you to these themes, and how do you approach them in your storytelling?
For over twelve years, I have read a daily motivational email that continues to give me a perspective for getting through hard times. I have certainly had my share, as we all have or will have during our lives. One of my favorites is Antonio, Ramone’s brother, in Crossing Paths. As a charming matador, an injury in the ring has left him in a wheelchair, wallowing in self-pity. I think he grew the most in that book, but it was Ramone, too, who struggled with his father’s death and the impact the Spanish tradition of bullfighting had had on him. Finding the hiking on Mallorca and the Night of the Pilgrims challenge gave me the platform to help him work through what he would do next.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or adventures that might inspire your next novel? My goal is to have six books in the Annie’s Journey series. My current story is about the Balinese artist, Mara, who has been swept up in the glamorous lifestyle of Milan as a sought-after fabric designer with the generous backing of Zayn Al Farooq, the charismatic son of an oil magnate from Dubai. Despite the newfound fame and success, she grapples with a deep-seated fear of losing touch with her humble Balinese roots and the values that have shaped her into the artist she has become.
I recently returned from a trip to Tanzania gathering a great deal of inspiration to explore the character of Amari, a community school teacher in Tanzania, whose father is a ranger in the conservation fund. In what will be the sixth book, there is a potential love match between her and Sam, the British sculptor and designation fundraising spokesman for the Grumeti Fund.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
An enchanting blend of adventure, romance, and self-discovery, “Beyond the Sea” captivates with its heartfelt storytelling and intrigue.
“Beyond the Sea” by Nina Purtee is an enthralling tale of self-discovery, adventure, and romance. Annie’s emotional journey, set against a backdrop of exotic locales, is beautifully woven with her introspective journal entries. The complex love triangle and her quest to find her missing father keep readers hooked. Rich in emotion and intrigue, the book explores themes of growth, resilience, and the importance of rediscovering oneself. A captivating start to Annie’s journey!


