Tag Archives: River’s Edge

Words, Words, Words: Author Nan Reinhardt is a self-proclaimed “vocabularist”

I love words. 

I am a word freak, a language maven, a…a vocabularist, if you will. Okay, so maybe vocabularist isn’t actually a real word, but it should be because it describes me to a T. One thing my writing bestie Liz and I share is a love of words. We are both fascinated with language and how we use it, especially unusual or quirky terms.

I think I was meant to be a writer and because I’m a hopeless romantic, writing sweet contemporary romance like Make It Real, just seemed to make sense. Words are my bread and butter. 

Several years ago, a friend sent me a note referencing something she’d read in political pundit Charles Krauthammer’s column, where he used the phrase Esprit d’escalier, referencing the fact that a politician had missed an opportunity to have the last word. Esprit d’escalier (“wit of the staircase”) is the French term for the devastating riposte that one should have given at dinner, but thinks of it only on the way out, at the bottom of the staircase. Those are the stock in trade for a romance writer—we love to end a chapter on a really terrific esprit d’escalier.

Esprit d’escalier—wow! What a great term for coming up with the right crushing reply just a little too late. And it has the added bonus of being French, which is always a win for me. Incorporating French into my everyday usage is fun and helps me remember enough of the language that I won’t embarrass myself next time I go to Paris (that is happening!). 

Mon Amie is one my favorite endearments for friends and I often sign emails to close friends, Bises, which is the word for the French way of kissing each cheek in greeting. C’est la vie, c’est la guerre, c’est la pomme de terre is one of Son’s and my favorites. Translated literally, it’s “that’s life, that’s war, that’s a potato” but it means “That’s the way it goes” or “Dems de breaks,” and sometimes replaces merde (shit) when a disgusted French person is trying to be polite. I use Je ne sais quoi (I don’t know) and je t’aime (I love you) often. Husband and Son simply grin at each other. They know French is part of life with Nan, and that it’s not pretension on my part, but rather just a love of the language. Using French makes me happy.

As a writer and an editor, I have a passion for learning new words and using them. I got it from my mom, who also loved language and insisted we choose our words well. She spent serious time increasing our vocabularies with word games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Probe and crossword puzzles. To this day, family gatherings always include word games. I adore discovering new words and finding ways to use them in my writing.

So talk to me—tell me your favorite foreign phrases—the ones that bring you joy when you have the opportunity to include them in a conversation. Or share a great English word that makes you gleeful when you have the chance to use it.


About the Author.

Nan Reinhardt headshot wearing blue shirtNan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, small-town romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader, however, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 50 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake. Talk to Nan at: nan@nanreinhardt.com

Author Nan Reinhardt Talks about her new series “The Walkers of River’s Edge”

Hello, Tuligans!

I’m so excited to share this new series with you—The Walkers of River’s Edge. We met the Walkers in previous series—you might remember that Jazz Weaver is now married to Elias Walker, who left his CEO chair to return to being a carpenter in the family business. This series tells the stories of his older brother and his cousins, who are all part of Walker Construction.

The Walkers are struggling to keep their family construction company afloat after losing a big contract to build an auto factory across the river in Kentucky. But their Custom Homes division has the opportunity to build spec homes for the factory workers and executive mansions for the big-wigs. The whole family must pull together prove that Walker Construction can handle the job, and win a bid that will serve the whole community. 

In Book 1, Make You Mine, CEO Jackson Walker knows smart and gorgeous Maddie Ross could be the key to saving his company as long as he hides his heart. But does he have to?

In Book 2, Make It Real, landscape designer, Joe Walker asks horticulturist Kara Sudbury to play the role of girlfriend. They strike a deal that will help Joe handle his tenacious ex and put Sudbury’s Nursery back in the black. But when the pretense feels real, they’re both reminded that every rose has its thorns.

In Book 3, Made for Mistletoe, cabinetmaker and reservist Cameron Walker has big plans for the holidays until he meets a beautiful distraction. Widowed teacher and artist Harper Gaines can’t risk her heart to another soldier. Cam has never felt such a strong connection, and he won’t give up without a fight. But will Harper’s fears keep her from taking a second chance on love?

And Book 4, as yet untitled, but we’re playing with a few choices, architect Annabelle Walker is a force to be reckoned with and is enjoying her career and her single life She’s not looking for any kind of a relationship, until she meets up with Sawyer Braxton, the new veterinarian in town. An injured puppy and the handsome vet turn Annabelle’s well-structured world upside down.

This series has meant a lot of research for me. I’ve googled and asked questions of experts about designing and building homes, creating beautiful landscapes, and cabinetmaking. I’ve learned a lot, but chances are good, I won’t retain very much of what I’ve researched. Just as when I used to copy edit nonfiction—textbooks, computer how-tos, and general reference books like the For Dummies titles—I couldn’t possibly remember everything I read. My brain would explode. But it’s funny what you do hang onto. I recall very little from reading Beauty Secrets for Dummies except that women over forty shouldn’t wear sparkly eye shadow. No clue why that fact stuck, but I don’t wear shimmery eye shadow because of it. 

I’ve learned a lot as I’ve written the Walker family’s stories—how Japanese gardens flow, facts about concrete hardening and building custom cabinetry, what kinds of woods work best for different kinds furniture and how the Pennsylvania Dutch cabinetmakers created their gorgeous painted dower chests, and how glass ceilings affect women in the construction business. It’s been a wondrous adventure and I’m so happy to invite you to share it with me.

Make You Mine releases April 16. Make It Real hits the shelves on August 6, Made for Mistletoe will be out October 24 and both are currently available for pre-order. Annabelle’s book will be out in January 2025. Welcome back to River’s Edge!


About the Author.

Nan Reinhardt headshot wearing blue shirtNan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, small-town romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader, however, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 50 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake. Talk to Nan at: nan@nanreinhardt.com

CHRISTMAS IN RIVER’S EDGE – Release Day Blog Post Featuring Author Nan Reinhardt!

Christmas is a time of great expectations—don’t we all go into the season looking forward to time spent with family and friends, attending parties and giving gifts, decorating our houses and inhaling the lovely scents of pumpkin pie and fresh-cut pine? 

In Christmas in River’s Edge, Jenny Weaver and her son, Luke, are anticipating doing all the wonderful things that the little river town has in store each year during the holidays. The Candlelight Walk, the Christmas Parade, hot chocolate and sugar cookies on the River Walk, Santa’s arrival on the big old fire truck, and Aidan Flaherty’s annual Christmas Eve show. Holiday traditions abound in River’s Edge!

Jenny is delighting in the holiday preparations. But amidst all the merrymaking, real life comes in with Luke’s dad, Jenny’s ex, dealing with alcoholism and her sister Jo so far away in North Carolina. As much as Jenny loves seeing Jo so happy with her scientist fiancé, Alex, and her other sister, Jasmine crazy in love with her carpenter, Eli, she can’t help feeling a twinge of envy. The holidays bring home the fact that, although she has Luke and her loving family, Jenny’s life feels very small. There is no one special in her life. Nothing extraordinary.

But when high school friend Gabe Dawson comes back into her life, she’s wary—not sure she wants to bring  a globe-trotting archeologist who’s never been a parent or a husband before in her and Luke’s life. However, Gabe manages to be a stable, peaceful influence, all the while encouraging Jenny to discover herself and her passion—writing novels for tweens. Maybe there’s something to be said for old friends and for finding pleasure in the little things… Jenny must search her heart this holiday season to know what’s next for her and Luke.

We all go into the holidays with great expectations, but let’s remember that maybe what we long for isn’t found in the extraordinary; perhaps it’s found in the very ordinary. In a family dinner, in the hanging of holiday decorations, in watching your child put a special ornament on the Christmas tree, and in simply sitting quietly by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate, a good book, and someone you love. 

What is your favorite ordinary joy at the holiday season? 

About the Author

Nan Reinhardt headshot wearing blue shirtNan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, small-town romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader, however, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 50 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake. Talk to Nan at: nan@nanreinhardt.com

 

MEET ME IN RIVER’S EDGE – Release Day Blog Post Featuring Author Nan Reinhardt!

Riverboat at the dock at sunset for Nan Reinhardt's "Meet Me in River's Edge"

I love reading books where the heroine’s career is unexpected, which is why I had so much fun writing about boat mechanic Joanna Weaver in Meet Me in River’s Edge. I think as women writers (and readers), we want our heroines to have fabulous careers that crash through the glass ceiling and show them as smart, sophisticated women.

I’ve written a female lawyer, a photographer and concert pianist, a firefighter, a freelance editor, a marketing expert, a heart surgeon, and even a mayor. I’ve also written teachers, homemakers, and a woman whose abusive husband forced her to leave her home and start a new life. Each of these characters had an definite arc that took them into a conflict and brought them out on the other side, stronger, better, happier. 

Jo Weaver’s life in Meet Me in River’s Edge feels small at first, although her career as a boat mechanic in her family’s marina business is certainly unusual and took a great deal of apprenticeship with her father and grandfather. While her two sisters went to college, then moved away and found new lives and careers, Jo stayed rooted in River’s Edge and feels safe there with the people she grew up with in the familiar town of her childhood. 

As often happens in life, though, things changed for the Weaver triplets. Jo’s sisters come home, and serendipity brings a new man into her life who helps her realize that she might be a little stuck and needs to reevaluate what she wants. Maybe that means that Jo will take steps toward a new life, but never a new career, because she loves working on boat motors, she thrives in the marina atmosphere, and she’s damn good at what she does. Her new love gets this about her, cherishes who she is, and isn’t about to ask her to change that part of her. As Alex Briggs says in Meet Me in River’s Edge, “Who knew the smell of two-cycle oil could be such a turn-on?”

So, women and careers—does it matter whether we went to college or trade school or simply ended our formal education in high school? Is it important to the whole feminist journey whether we are homemakers or attorneys or bank tellers or teachers or store clerks or doctors or stay-at-home moms or… writers? Not really, it only matters that whatever we do, we give it our very best. 

Thanks for being here—I hope you enjoy Jo Weaver’s story and your trip back to River’s Edge, Indiana.

~~Nan

About the Author.

Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, small-town romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader, however, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 50 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake. Talk to Nan at: nan@nanreinhardt.com