Christine Nolfi
Christine Nolfi is the bestselling author of twelve novels of women’s and book club fiction, including The Road She Left Behind, Sweet Lake, and her 2021 release, The Passing Storm. Her award-winning books delve into the extraordinary moments in seemingly ordinary lives. She is the adoptive mother of four children, all now grown. Today Christine lives in South Carolina’s Lowcountry with her husband and crazy Wheaten Terrier, Lucy.
Twitter: @christinenolfi
Instagram: @christinenolfi
Favorite non-reading activity?
Anything that gets me outdoors. Nothing centers me like the trees rustling or a trilling chorus of birdsong. The Ohio farm where I raised my children was the inspiration behind The Passing Storm. Even my trusty Kubota tractor made it into the book. Although I no longer grow organic vegetables by the acre, I cherish those memories. Now that I live in South Carolina, I often walk the beach. I’m also a gym rat—it’s not an outdoor activity, but nothing spurs my creativity like a good workout.
Do you collect anything? If so, what, why, and for how long?
I collect the secrets people hesitate to reveal. I’m a great listener and never pass up the opportunity to hear the most personal narratives, the successes and defeats that often go unshared. Like many novelists, I crave the unlived experience of other people’s lives. I’ve been collecting those stories all my life.
Is there another profession you would like to try?
Child psychologist, pediatric nurse, special education teacher—how many additional lives may I request? Prior to the adoption, my four children experienced severe abuse and neglect. Raising them has left me with lasting admiration—and gratitude—for the hardworking professionals in all three fields. It’s no accident that my books explore the themes of healing, forgiveness, and renewal.
What do you worry about?
Making the daily word count. Climate change. The amount of sugar my husband consumes daily—Barry has the sweet tooth of a five-year-old. Responding to readers in a timely manner. My adult children. As you can see, I’m talented at stirring the pot with any number of worries, great and small.
What piece of clothing tells the most interesting story about your life?
The Keds sneakers tucked away in my cedar chest. I wore them to the Philippines when I adopted my four children. Taking a leap out of love—draining my savings account to fly to the developing world. The pure, perfect moment when I first glimpsed my kids on the steps of the children’s shelter. They were malnourished and lice-ridden, little more than skin and bones. Yet their faces brimmed with curiosity and hope. That moment taught me more about the human heart’s ability to prevail than any experience that had come before it.
