September 2012
Photo © Shelley Noble.
Shelley Noble is the pseudonym of Shelley Freydont, author of the Katie McDonald and Lindy Haggerty mystery series, and the upcoming Liv Montgomery, Celebration Bay Festival Mysteries, Foul Play at the Fair (Berkeley Prime Crime, Sept. 2012). She has written several romance novels and her books have been translated into eight languages. Her first women’s fiction novel, Beach Colors, written as Shelley Noble, was published by William Morrow in June 2012. A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers. She has two children and lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and vintage carousels.
What are you reading?
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen.
What's on your nightstand?
At the Water's Edge, Sarah Gruen. The Gilded Hour, Sara Donati
Where do you go to get inspired?
Down to the beach.
What's something that surprised you recently (in a good way)?
Sat down at a restaurant last night, nodded at a couple at the next table and spent the evening in delightful conversation. Small pleasures.
Where do you write?
In my office which is now at one end of my very long living room instead of a separate room, which has been a huge learning curve. At least it is all white and the social area is dark espresso brown which helps to keep me anchored.
What/who makes you laugh? Why?
My friends. We have a blast, lift each other up, and let it rip. The Big Bang, great chemistry and timing. Good lines, clever animals, adventure.
Favorite fictional character ever?
There are so many for different reasons. Dickens's Scrooge who has a fabulous character arc from dark and lonely to a world of possibilities.
What are you working on?
Just turned in a darker than usual for me women's fiction and am recovering from that while working on a synopsis for my third historical Gilded Age mystery. And waiting to begin editing next summer's releases
"A story of stripped identities, Breakwater Bay examines the power of family and the importance of shared history. Noble immerses the reader in idyllic Newport, and its undeniable charm and unpredictable coastline serve as the perfect backdrop for Meri's discovery. Fans of Mary Ellen Taylor and Grace Greene will love Meri's compelling quest to regain her sense of self. This tender, romantic novel is a perfect beach read."
—Booklist
"Richly layered, this should appeal to fans of large-cast southern reads."
—Booklist
"Noble draws readers effortlessly into the tender drama of Nick and Margaux's romance, and the multiple stories of loss and rediscovered trust will delight readers looking for a beach read with substance."
—Publishers Weekly
"Readers will easily fall into the rhythms of Crescent Cove, populated by an entertaining, endearing cast of characters. Readers will also be rooting for a young, ambitious woman caught between competing life choices, who discovers the healing power of family, friends, and home."
—Booklist
Whisper Beach by
When a group of friends reunite in the idyllic beach town where they grew up, they must reevaluate their loyalty to one another or lose their friendship forever Twelve years ago, Vanessa "Van" Moran fell in love and lost her virginity—but not to the same boy. She fled Whisper Beach desperate and pregnant, never telling a soul about her secret. Now a professional Manhattan organizer, she must return home for the first time to attend the funeral of her best friend's husband. Van intends to only stay for a weekend, but her plans fall by the wayside as the troubles of this coastal town draw her in. Dorie, the owner of the pier's infamous Blue Crab Restaurant where Van and her friends worked as teenagers, enlists Van's help to save the nearly bankrupt eatery. While Van throws herself into this new task, the man she once loved reenters her life, willing to pick up where they left off. As the restaurant begins to thrive and Van reconnects with old friends, trouble comes from an unexpected source and she realizes she must face the decisions of her past or sacrifice this new life she has so carefully built. For Van, this summer will test the meaning of friendship and trust—and how far love can bend before it breaks.
Breakwater Bay by
An abandoned baby, a glorious old Newport mansion, and awakening romance swirl the glittering waters of Breakwater Bay . . . Preservationist Meri Hollis loves her latest project, restoring one of Newport's forgotten Gilded Age mansions. And with summer approaching, she'll be able to spend more time with her grandmother on the Rhode Island shore. She has a great job, a loving family, and she's pretty sure her boyfriend is going to propose on her thirtieth birthday. But everything Meri believes about family, happiness, truth, and love is shattered when her family's darkest secret is exposed. Thirty years before, Meri's neighbor and friend, Alden Corrigan, took his father's dinghy out to fish. In a sudden storm, he rushed to help a woman stranded on the breakwater. She was just a girl . . . a very pregnant girl who disappeared soon after they reached safety—but not before she left behind a special gift. Now that the truth is out, life will change for everyone in Breakwater Bay, and Meri and Alden will have to make decisions that could ensure their future together . . . or separate them for good.
Stargazey Point by
From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors, a stunning new novel of sun, sand, love, and family set against the beautiful backdrop of the South Carolina coast Devastated by tragedy during her last project, documentarian Abbie Sinclair thinks she has nothing left to give by the time she arrives in Stargazey Point. Once a popular South Carolina family destination, the town's beaches have eroded, local businesses are closing, and skyrocketing taxes are driving residents away. Stargazey Point, like Abbie, is fighting to survive. But Abbie is drawn slowly into the lives of the people around her: the Crispin siblings, three octogenarians sharing a looming plantation house; Cab Reynolds, who left his work as an industrial architect to refurbish his uncle's antique carousel, a childhood sanctuary; Ervina, an old Gullah wisewoman with the power to guide Abbie to a new life, if only she'd let her; and a motley crew of children whom Abbie can't ignore. Abbie came seeking a safe haven, but what she finds is so much more. For Stargazey Point is a magical place . . . a place for dreamers . . . a place that can lead you home.
