Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Guest Post: Writers Are People, Too

By Cynthia Gail, author of WINTER’S MAGIC

If you asked a room full of authors, ‘What makes the perfect book blog?’, you would get a room full of varying answers. Some authors are targeting other writers, so they teach through their postings. Others focus just on books, interviewing publishers, editors and writers, and reviewing new releases. There’s not just one right answer.

For me, the perfect book blog is one that talks about more than just books. It engages readers about life.

I’m not just an author. My writing career is a result of my love for reading. I have hundreds of books on my iPod and eReader. But that’s just a small corner of my life. I love to cook, entertain, get out on the lake with friends on a hot summer afternoon. I want to learn how to play golf. I like movies. I love shoes, purses, and accessories. I’m a Kentucky Wildcat fan, I cheer for the Steelers, and I spent a dozen years volunteering as scorekeeper, team-mom, or fund-raiser for my son’s baseball and football teams.

And my followers aren’t just readers. They’re wives, daughters, sisters, mothers, community leaders, shoppers, coupon-clippers, room-mothers, college students, bankers, house-wives, lawyers, daycare workers ... the list goes on.

Our connection is books, but books are only a piece of who we are. I post What’s New Wednesday every other week and interview an author or talk about a new book I found. On alternating weeks, my column is called Fantastic Fridays, and the subject is random—I share recipes, talk about shopping, poems, things in life that make me smile.

I want my followers to look forward to seeing my weekly post in their inbox, knowing that they can read it fast and get something useful out of it. They may even laugh and share it with a friend. Don’t we all need a few more moments like that in our week?

Regardless of the content and target audience, I think every author would agree that the perfect blog is engaging, provides information or entertainment, and forms a connection between the author and followers.

WINTER’S MAGIC Tour Information:

Winter’s Magic Tour Page:




About the Author:
My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our teenage son and three dogs. Life is busy, but when I have free time, I love to read. A math/science girl at heart and a retail analyst by trade, I never thought I’d be writing romance. But one day, a story popped into my head and I had to write it down. The fantasy, escape, and wonder of just reading multiplied by ten-fold and I couldn’t stop my fingers from typing my own fairy tales.

I hope you enjoy my stories. Each one touches on modern day issues, fears, and challenges that women face every day. And each one illustrates that love is within reach if you let down those walls and allow your heart to open. Our lives and experiences are so much more meaningful when we have someone to share them with.

Cynthia’s latest book is the contemporary romance, Winter’s Magic (Book 1 in the Music City Hearts series).

Visit her website at www.Cynthiagail.com.

About the Book:
Beth Sergeant and Nick Chester come from opposite ends of the social food chain. While he sees a beautiful woman without an agenda, she sees a wealthy playboy. Can he convince her to let go of her insecurities and take a chance on love, when challenges from his past force her to reveal her most guarded secret?

Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.

After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.

Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick’s dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick’s past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.

Rafflecopter Code:

Below is the Rafflecopter code to insert the giveaway on your blog. If your blog does not support the Rafflecopter, tell your visitors to leave a comment on your blog then head over to the author’s tour page to fill out the form.


Review: Winter's Magic


Winter's Magic
Winter's Magic by Cynthia Gail

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is the story of a rich young man meeting and falling for a hard working young woman.

Beth Sergeant, while not from a rich family, grew up in Nashville's elite social circle. Now she has opened her own 5-star spa catering to the people who she grew up with. Nick Chester is from the wealthiest family in Nashville, but even though he can have whatever and whomever he wants, he doesn't take anything for granted and is working hard to build his own business. When these two meet, they both need to overcome their personal issues before they can find happiness, with Nick's grandfather willing to play their fairy godfather.

This was a well written story with characters who had depth. The story itself, rich boy meets girl, they fall in love but face issues before finally getting together is an old one and sometimes, not well done. Ms. Gail wrote a book that took a familiar story line and made it fresh. I enjoyed reading it.

FTC Notice: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author.



View all my reviews