My new series, Hatfield Falls, written under the pen name Annilee Nelson, will not be set in New Zealand, but it will revolve around a church. That’s one reason why I picked this image for today’s post. Another reason I chose this image is that it reminds me of a church you might see here in Nova Scotia with trees all around and wildflowers growing nearby. I am setting this new series in a fictional Nova Scotia town called Hatfield Falls.
The family which is at the center of the series (at least to start) is closely tied to the church in Hatfield Falls since Mark Bennett, the father, is the pastor of that church. He is married to Amy who is a major Jane Austen fan and has named her six children after Austen characters. (I’m not going to tell you all of their names just yet, I think I’ll leave that for you to discover in the first book.)
This series will be a Christian romance series that adheres to the sweet classification I have written out in the article “Short and Sweet? What does that mean?” which can be found in the blog menu.
My faith has never been too far from my Leenie books. It’s there but often indirectly. In my Annilee books, it will be included directly just as part of the lives of the characters.
Now, here are the opening paragraphs from Hatfield Falls, Book 1, as they currently appear in the first draft of the story.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged –”
“Mother! It’s a cookie.” Will Bennett rubbed the sore spot between his eyes. His mother often made that part of his head hurt when she got into one of her moods, such as she was in today. “Even Edmund would tell you that that line is an excellent specimen for studying sarcasm. Therefore, if you say that it is a truth universally acknowledged that a man with a cup of tea is in want of a cookie, does that not mean that a man in possession of a cup of tea is actually NOT looking for a cookie at all?”
He looked at his younger brother, Edmund, who nodded his agreement – not that their mother saw him do it. A verbal response would have been more effective.
“Fitzwilliam.” His mother used her scolding a toddler voice and wiggled the plate she held in front of him.
Why did she take such pleasure in tormenting him? Was not the eldest son supposed to be the most beloved? Not in the Bennett family – or at least, not in his mother’s eyes. That favoured position was held by Edmund who adored many of the same things their mother did – most notably, Pride and Prejudice and all things Jane Austen.
Will closed his eyes and sighed as he shook his head. “My name is not Fitzwilliam, Mother. It is William. Just William. No Fitz.”
His mother, Amy Bennett, a diminutive woman whose size belied her ability to be moved on a point if she did not wish to be moved, rolled her eyes and shot a displeased look at his father. “That is only because your father would not allow it.”
“Yes, I know, and that is why he is my favourite parent.”
So, what do you think? I hope it’s a fun start to what will be a fun series. 🙂 I have not yet finished the manuscript for this first book, but it’s well underway and slated to be published sometime in the autumn.
For now, you can always keep up with any Annilee updates on FB here or find Annilee on MeWe here. For those who prefer mailing lists, I’ll share a way to keep up with her that way in the next Saturday Broadsheet. 🙂 This is all very new and completely under construction. 🙂
Poor child, and so it begins!
His mother does like to pick on him. 🙂 Poor guy. LOL
What an intriguing glimpse! Can’t wait to read the book.
I’m glad you liked this peek at the story, Heather.
I don’t often go off genre, but if you series feels enough like P&P in some ways, I may give it a try. Will it be part P&P and part When Calls the Heart? That is something I would probably read!
This series will be contemporary inspirational/Christian romance. The only P&P connection comes from discussion of Jane Austen and those who like Jane Austen things — not all of it will be in a favorable light because Will thinks people like his mom are a bit nuts. LOL (Unfortunately for him, the heroine of this story also likes JA — but not quite as much as his mom does. 😀 )
Such a lovely Church image. I love old fashioned churches. The new ones never look like the traditional ones I grew up loving.
I’m not sure what Lizzybel meant about off genre, but in my case I would say contemporary (usually, not always.) I am hooked though, very intrigued. I’m in.
This picture kind of reminds me of my grandma and grandpa’s church that we used to visit when I was little. I do love the old churches, and there are so many of them around here. Some are in use, others aren’t, and a few have been converted into other things.
I’m happy to hear you found the beginning paragraphs to be intriguing. 🙂