Two books in my ‘Resolution’ series have American main characters. I have been asked – Why American? There are a few reasons. One is that I enjoy creating American characters that fall in love with my country the way I fell in love with theirs.
But I am not the only Aussie having an American love affair. My friend, Narelle Atkins has just released her second novel, ‘The Nurse’s Perfect Match’ (Mills and Boon, Heartsong Presents). This novel follows her first release, ‘Falling for the Farmer’. Like my novels, Narelle’s books are also set in Australia, and are written with both Australian and American audiences in mind.
I asked Narelle a few questions about writing for a global audience. Here is what she said:
- What made you want to write for both the Australian and Overseas market?
I write category romance in the contemporary inspirational romance genre. There aren’t any publishers in Australia who sell category romance books in my specific genre. Writing for an international audience, and targeting the Harlequin Love Inspired lines based in the USA, was a logical decision.
The Australian Christian romance market is small when compared to the overseas market based in North America. From a business perspective, it makes sense for Australian Christian authors to have a vision for selling their books to overseas readers, irrespective of the location of their home market. My home market is North America, and my sales in Australia are considered foreign sales. The rising popularity of ebooks will help Australian authors reach international readers.
- What will an International reader learn about our country from your novels?
Australian books have a unique cultural flavour. My books are edited in the USA, with a North American audience in mind. As a result, there are more American expressions and less Australian expressions than you’ll probably find in the typical Christian fiction book published in Australia. It’s important that your international readers are not thrown out of the story by foreign expressions, or word usage that doesn’t translate or make sense to overseas readers.
The foreign setting is a selling point for Australian books. Readers have the opportunity to travel to Australia through our books, and explore our wonderful country with our characters in the story. My first three books are set in the gorgeous Snowy Mountains region of Australia. Readers will see native animals, and experience country life in a small town setting.
- The Heartsong Presents division of Mills and Boon presents great inspirational stories. What would you say to a Christian Fiction Reader who hasn’t explored this brand before?
Heartsong Presents is part of the Harlequin’s Love Inspired brand. The ebooks are sold under the Mills and Boon brand in Australia and New Zealand.
Love Inspired books are category romances. The focus of the story is on the developing romance between the hero and heroine. The faith element is woven into the story, and may be more subtle than the longer books, or books in other Christian fiction genres. Love Inspired books are clean romances, and suitable for younger readers. The stories explore the hero and heroine’s spiritual journey as part of the developing romance plot. They are written from a Christian worldview, and the stories provide role models for Christian romantic relationships.
Thank you, Narelle for visiting me on my blog and telling us a bit about your work. You can find out more about Narelle by visiting her website:
Narelle has also very generously offered one person a copy of her new release, ‘The Nurse’s Perfect Match’. Just leave a comment here, or on my Facebook Link to this blog post to be in the running.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle’s contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to write for Heartsong Presents.
After her marriage ends in tragedy, Amy returns to Snowgum Creek to rebuild her life. There she meets widower Ben Morton, who’s not looking for romance, though his young children are eager for Amy’s attention. She’s given up on her dream of being a mother, but can’t ignore how she’s drawn to Ben’s little ones, and to their handsome farmer dad.
As love kindles between Ben and Amy, she worries how she’ll ever measure up to the wife he lost. And Ben is concerned about how Amy will ever truly fit into life on the farm. They could be the answer to each other’s prayers—if the secret Amy is keeping doesn’t tear them apart.
Rose Dee. Author. Redemptive Fiction 