Back in February 2015 I wrote a character interview blog post here at Inspy Romance for a new release. Fast forward seven years, and I have the rights back for my traditionally published CCR books that I’m gradually rereleasing.
Winning Julia’s Heart (originally titled Winning Over the Heiress) will rerelease at Amazon later this month. I’ve made a few minor tweaks to the new version, but the story itself hasn’t substantially changed. I enjoyed writing the character interview where I penned myself into a scene with my characters, Sean and Julia. We were having coffee at a café opposite Manly Beach in Sydney, the Australian setting for the story. You can read the character interview here.
While I was chatting with the Inspy Romance readers in the blog comments all those years ago, I realized I’d used the same location as my first date with my husband in the mid 90’s.
Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia
Since I’m feeling nostalgic, I thought I’d share a little bit about my first date with my husband.
Our young adult children are baffled by the whole concept of Dad calling Mum on a land line phone that was answered by their grandfather. They have their own phones and technology is a normal part of their everyday lives.
On our first date, I met my husband in the courtyard of our church in Manly on a balmy January summer evening. Our church was hosting a mission week that included Christian rock bands performing each night. We listened to the band for a while before heading down The Corso to Manly Beach and a quieter café where we could talk.
The relaxed atmosphere and ambiance in the beach side café was conductive to long, heart-to-heart conversations. We talked, and drank really nice coffee, and talked some more. And, we haven’t stopped talking since, lol. We were engaged five months later and married the following year at the church where we met and started our first date.
Here’s the new cover and book description for Winning Julia’s Heart:
Can a former bad boy be redeemed?
Sean Mitchell has left his past behind, but his new boss, Julia Radcliffe, isn’t so sure. A year ago, Sean walked out on his brother’s wedding and her. Now the bad boy with the surfer good looks is back and determined to make a new life with Julia. She wonders whether she can truly trust that he’s a changed man.
It took time and faith, but Sean is finally on the right path. And his feelings for Julia have only grown stronger. But when Sean’s past threatens to jeopardize their future, can he convince Julia they both want the same thing; a love that can overcome every mistake?
Questions for you: Do you have fond memories of first dates? Or, a favorite date scene from a book? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
GIveaway: I’m giving away a $5 Amazon US gift card to a reader who comments on my post. The giveaway will close on June 8, 2022, and the winner announced in the following Sunday Edition.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
I love how the character chat and your first date were the same location even if subconsciously. It was interesting hearing about your first date.
I haven’t really dated the only one was on a bus tour where this guy and I were the only ones under 30 most were probably over 60 with maybe a couple in their 50’s. We got on well and in Launceston we had a couple nights there and we went to the movies (didn’t know about the half price Tuesday) But we got in and it was Dirty Dancing. It was nice and we got on well but we only had a couple more days on tour and it was sad saying good bye. Probably the closest I have come to loving someone. I know I cry when he sailed away (most went on the ferry back to Melbourne and I was staying in Tassie for another week with friends who moved there) The bus trip from Devonport to Launceston was really sad. We wrote for awhile and we know there was nothing more but it was a fun date.
Hi Jenny, Looking back, it’s likely I was drawn to the setting because of the happy memories. Movie dates are fun, especially if it’s a good movie. Thanks for sharing your fun Tassie dating story. 😊
Manly is great, what a great place for a first date or setting a book. I loved walking around to Shelly Beach for a picnic, it’s more isolated and quieter than Manly Beach and much more privacy for a date.
Hi Dianne, Shelly Beach is beautiful and features in a few of my books set in Sydney. In Seaside Proposal (book 3 in my Sydney series that I’ll be putting on preorder soon), my hero, Zach, grew up in a lovely home on Bower Street that backs onto the high cliffs above the foreshore walk from Many to Shelly Beach. The ocean views are stunning. Thanks for commenting. 😊
What I thought was my first ‘date’ was when my (now) husband offered me a lift to a friend’s 21st birthday party. You can imagine my chagrin when he walked me to the car and I discovered that he was giving two other friends a lift as well! After the party, he did drop the other friends off first and held my hand for the first time, so I guess it wasn’t all bad as we will have been married fifty years this November,
Hi Jeannette, I’m glad he redeemed himself after the party! My parents’ romance story started when my father would give my mother lifts home from church activities. Congratulations on the upcoming 50 year anniversary milestone! Thanks for sharing your story. 😊
I still don’t have a first date hehehe in any case I’m very suspicious so it’s likely that one day I’ll fall in love with someone who was first a friend and the word “date” refers more to going out with someone in whom you have a romantic interest.
Hi Lilly, In real life, friends-to-more is always a good plan. My husband and I had a mutual friend for years (the friend went to school with my husband and was in my youth group at church) but my husband and I didn’t meet until we were in our early 20’s. I knew my husband’s sister and brother-in-law from church before I met my husband. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I have some first date memories, but none are really that great! Probably why there wasn’t a second date in most cases, and definitely not a third! I don’t have a favorite first date in a book. I guess it’s the first one in whatever book I’m reading!
Hi Trudy, I do like reading a good first date scene! Thanks for commenting. 😊
My first date with my now husband was a very nice one, he captured my heart, very nice that we have been married for almost 45 yrs now.
Hi Alicia, Thanks for sharing your sweet story with your husband. 😊
I never have dated or been on a date and am 24 and am still single. I like when people walk on beaches and have a picnic.
Hi Kendra, yes, picnics and beaches are great ideas for dates. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I can’t think of any specific dating scenes in books except several in the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon
Hi Jcp, I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve read in the Hope Harbor series. Thanks for commenting. 😊
no fav from a book
Hi bn100, It can be hard to pick a fav. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I have a wonderful memory of the first date with my husband. It was St. Patrick’s Day. My husband is short. He dressed in a green suit, shirt and tie. We had our first date at Pizza Hut. We then went to see Crocodile Dundee. That was 36 years ago. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Hi Debra, Thanks for sharing your lovely first date story. Crocodile Dundee was a fun Aussie movie to watch on the big screen. 😊
It’s been a long time since I visited Manly Beach. I found first dates to be excruciating.
Hi Mary, The last time I visited Manly there were pop up restaurants set up on the sand. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Ah yes, I remember reading “Winning Over the Heiress” two years ago! I had a paperback copy that I finally picked up off my shelf because I was looking for my next read. I enjoyed it :-)
I can’t really name a favorite date scene, but I have loved just about any one of them in whatever book I happen to be reading. First dates can be fun!
Our first “date” was when I stepped off the Greyhound bus after moving over 2000 miles to be with my now husband & we ate at KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) for lunch. Even though we had known one another as only friends before, it was different but exciting. It was like exploring a whole new world and getting to really know one another in a deeper way. We’ve been married 25 years & it just keeps getting better :-)
Hi Trixi, I’m glad you enjoyed reading Julia and Sean’s romance story. Thanks for sharing your fun KFC first date story with your husband. 😊
I love my first date & it was with my true love & husband of 15 years this summer. We had pizza for dinner & went to a NHL hockey game which was my first hockey game. It was very special.
Hi Amy, Pizza and hockey sounds like a lovely first date. Thanks for sharing your story. 😊
My 1st date was with my wife & to a sports game.
Hi Sylvain, I’m glad you enjoyed your sports game first date with your wife. Thanks for sharing your story. 😊
I don’t have fond memories of my first date because it a blond and it felt well forced into it by friends. Things were so iffy.
Hi Crystal, I’m sorry to hear you had a less than stellar first date experience. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Loved hearing about your first date with your husband. My favorite first date was with my husband how saved up and took me to a fancy seafood restaurant. We were both students at a Christian college and spent alot of time in the dining hall talking and getting to know each other, so this date away from campus was very special.
Hi Denise, I love seafood! Your first date away from campus with your husband is a lovely memory to cherish. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I think in books it’s always fun when they get to explore one of their interests and/or decide to go out of their comfort zones for dates.
Hi Priscila, yes, I agree! It’s fun to see how the characters cope with inevitable obstacles in their first dates. Thankfully real life dates can potentially run more smoothly with minimal angst, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊