I am honoured to be part of the WOW! Women of Writing Blog Tour for Nancy Christie’s novel Finding Fran.
(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)
My Review:
Finding Fran by Nancy Christie is the second in her Midlife Moxie series, a novel that is one of the best I’ve read this year (of the over 70 books I’ve read so far this year – being retired helps with that).
From the beginning, I was drawn into Fran’s life, her problems and her inner turmoil. She could be any of us “of a certain age”, women who face uncertain futures or are struggling with what is happening in their lives.
Fran escapes to the Whale Inn in an effort to get some distance and clarity from the writer’s block she is experiencing and the problems with John, her boyfriend. The week at the inn is a godsend. From Martha the innkeeper, to others in the small nearby town, Fran begins to move forward, trying to discover what it is she truly wants.
Ms. Christie has crafted a well-written, fascinating exploration of a woman’s need to reinvent her life, even though Fran struggled to change. By creating a new main character for her new novel, Fran used Cookie to explore what it was to be a strong, independent woman. (I so enjoyed this look at how an author faced writer’s block and created a new character, a new book.)
The interactions between Fran and her best friend Diana and with Martha were so enjoyable. Sparkling dialogue, gutsy characters, these two were the perfect fairy godmothers as she calls them.
This is a must read – a 5* read for me. Finding Fran is a guiding light for anyone who questions where they are going and seeks to find themselves.
Book Summary
Once a best-selling romance novelist, 55-year-old Fran Carter is now dealing with a slow but steady drop in book sales and a major case of writer’s block, complicated by the knowledge that her lover, a professional photographer, has been on the wrong side of the camera (so to speak) with his models. (So much for her author brand, built on the premise that women in their fifties and beyond can still find love and happiness.) Her solution is to spend a week in isolation at a northern California bed-and-breakfast. There she hopes to resolve her professional and personal conflicts, and ultimately create a new and better future for herself by writing a new “story” for the Fran she wants to be!
ISBN-13: 979-8350942248
ASIN: B0CWTNN8ZC
Print Length: 302 pages
Purchase a copy of Finding Fran on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author, Nancy Christie
Nancy Christie is the award-winning author of eight books—two novels: Reinventing Rita and Finding Fran; three short story collections: Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and Peripheral Visions and Other Stories; two books for writers: Rut-Busting Book for Authors and Rut-Busting Book for Writers; and the inspirational book,The Gifts Of Change. Her short stories and essays have appeared in print and online publications, with several earning contest placement. The host of the Living the Writing Life podcast and the founder of the annual “Midlife Moxie” Day and “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day, Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries, and schools. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), the Florida Writers Association (FWA) and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).
You can find her online:
Website: https://www.nancychristie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyChristieAuthor
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NChristie_OH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancychristie_author
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nancychristie_author
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancychristie_author
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nancy-christie
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nancy-Christie/author/B001K8GBYK
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1048768.Nancy_Christie
Midlife Moxie Novel Series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@midlifemoxienovelseries3804
Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NancyChristieAuthor
Living the Writing Life podcast: https://livingthewritinglife.podbean.com/
Blog Tour Calendar
April 22nd @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
April 25th @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily’s blog for a spotlight of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
April 26th @ StoreyBook Reviews
Visit Leslie’s blog for her spotlight of an excerpt in Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://storeybookreviews.com/
April 26th @ Bookplaces
Visit Kay’s blog for her review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie. She’ll also be interviewing the author as well!
April 29th @ Just Katherine
Join Katherine to check out her review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com/
May 1st @ Affinito Lit
Join Stephanie for a feature of Finding Fran and a chance to win an eBook.
https://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit/
May 4th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for her spotlight of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
May 5th @ Bring on Lemons
Join Crystal for a review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
May 7th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for her spotlight of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
May 9th @ Knotty Needle
Join Judy’s blog for a review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
May 10th @ Beverley A. Baird
Visit Beverley’s blog for her review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
May 15th @ Writer Advice
B. Lynn Goodwin will be interviewing Nancy Christie about her book Finding Fran.
May 17th @ Sarandipity’s Designs
Join Sara for her interview with author Nancy Christie. You’ll also have the chance to win a copy of the eBook.
May 20th @ World of My Imagination
Join Nicole for her review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
May 21st @ Sara Trimble’s blog
Visit Sara’s blog for her review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com/
May 22nd @ Create Write Now
Mari L. McCarthy will be spotlighting Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://www.createwritenow.com/life-matters-blog
May 24th @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona’s blog for a spotlight of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
May 26th @ Boys’ Mom Reads
Visit Karen’s blog for her review of Finding Fran by Nancy Christie.