NBTM Virtual Book Tour: Only in September by Cynthia Flowers

 ONLY IN SEPTEMBER
Cynthia Flowers

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GENRE:  Women's Fiction

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BLURB:

When Jacqueline follows her trusty Labrador Bailey down a hidden path to the beach, she's unaware that her vacation plans on a small island off the New England coast has already taken her life in a new direction. Running into an unassuming local beach comber stirs new thoughts, desires, and a self-determination she never knew she possessed. Jacqueline will need to trust her instincts and make the most of what fate has in store if she wants the future that, until now, she has only dared to dream of.

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EXCERPT

The ferry was taking its sweet time making its way to Block Island. 

Time is the ultimate dictator. Where did I hear that? I couldn’t have just come up with that one on my own. 

Jacqueline French grabbed one of the last outside seats on the Block Island Ferry. It had only left Point Judith, RI, ten minutes ago, but for her, it seemed like ten hours ago. This would be her fourth September visiting this tiny tear drop-shaped island nestled between the south coast of Rhode Island and Montauk Point, located at the eastern tip of the south fork of Long Island, New York. 

Over the last several years, both Montauk Point and Block Island had become popular and expensive vacation destinations for well-to-do Manhattanites. They came seeking a reprieve from the overly manicured crowds who flocked every summer to the more fashionable vacation locale known collectively as the Hamptons. 

She always preferred visiting Block Island this time of year, after many of the Labor Day vacation stragglers dispersed and the kids were back at school. Although there were still a fair number of visitors, the din of racing mopeds was confined mostly to the weekends. Thanks to Michael, who she met on her first trip to Block Island, she came to know virtually every back road and trail on this seven-mile-long by three-mile-wide island. Beyond its beauty, Jacqueline’s deeper connection with the island was its shape. She shed many tears lately over the fate of her marriage and the direction her life had taken. 

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Author Interview

Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? 

CF: I am a born-and-bred New Yorker who has transitioned from city life to full-time living in rural upstate New York. After retiring from a career in advertising, I am now pursuing my passion for grant writing—and, hopefully, my dream of becoming a novelist.

What genre do you read? Who's an author you read? Name your top 5 authors I read what inspires me and not necessarily a particular genre.

CF: I truly enjoy Barbara Kingsolver and Stephen King—who has written an incredible nonfiction book on the craft of writing that I highly recommend. I also love revisiting the classics that were assigned to me in high school. Reading them more than 40 years later offers an entirely new perspective—one I never could have appreciated back then. You should give it a try!

What book are you reading right now, and what do you like about it? 

CF: West Exit by Mohsin Hamid, published in 2017, is a contemporary love story and fable set in an unnamed city—one that, based on its description, appears to be in the Middle East. As the city teeters on the brink of civil war, Nadia, a fiercely independent young woman, struggles with the idea of sacrificing her autonomy for safety by moving in with her young lover and his parents.

I’m only halfway through, so I can't say much more just yet, but I’m enjoying it so far. I’ve always been drawn to works by younger authors and stories set in unfamiliar landscapes—they offer such fresh perspectives and immersive experiences.

Favorite sports. 

CF: Tennis - - Ever since I first picked up a racquet in grammar school.  Also enjoy watching the pros.

Favorite thing about your state you live in. 

CF: Lots of things. Aside from NYC, it has beautiful, expansive beaches on the eastern tip of Long Island, mountains and lakes stretching from the mid-Hudson Valley up through the Adirondacks. NYS has something for everyone!

How long have you been writing?

CF: I’ve been writing informally since grade school. Over the years, I’ve accumulated countless half-finished stories—some from childhood, others from more recent days. While many remain incomplete, they speak to my desire to create stories which has been with me for as long as I can remember..

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser? 

CF: I let the story take root and marinate for quite some time before committing pen to paper. Once I have a general sense of direction, I feel comfortable diving into the plotting process at my keyboard. I welcome a certain level of uncertainty—it keeps the storytelling organic and allows the narrative to unfold naturally. Rather than forcing the story into a predetermined structure, I let it reveal itself to me, along with its characters, and then work to bring everything together in a cohesive way by the end.

How do you celebrate finishing a book? 

CF: I need to do a better job at celebrating. I guess sharing the news with friends and family is the way I do it.

What would you tell a writer who is just starting out? What program do you use for writing? What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book? What’s your writing software of choice?

CF: I am just starting out so not sure how much help I would be other than just make sure you are having fun.

How do you organize everything and find the time to sit down and write?

CF: I keep everything on my computer, marking my place in the manuscript when revising and leaving notes to ensure I don’t lose my train of thought. As for finding time to write, it’s a mix of inspiration and necessity—I sit down to write when creativity strikes or when the anxiety of falling behind builds up enough to push me into action. Either way, once I get going, I find my rhythm and let the words take over.

As an author, what would you choose as your spirit animal? 

CF: I’ve never thought of that. There’s so many that I gravitate towards (dogs, sea otters, elephants, dolphins).  Difficult to say. But a good question.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

CF: Friends and family. No one person. However, if we're talking about who inspired me, that would be my cousin, Joy Collins—a published author herself. When I was working on my first book, a nonfiction titled Last Dog and All Those Who Came Before, I shared my idea with her, and her insight helped shape the project.

How do you name your characters? 

CF: Many of my characters are named after people who have been—or still are—a part of my life. Others come from brief encounters, where I simply liked their name or felt drawn to their energy. Sometimes, a name carries a certain karma or presence that fits perfectly with the character taking shape in my mind.

Can you describe a typical day in your writing life?

CF: There’s no typical day, fortunately or unfortunately.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Cynthia Flowers, a recently retired advertising professional, now grant writer, resides with her husband and four-year old Labrador named Eddie, at their “sanctuary” in Upstate New York, Although previously published, this is Cynthia's first book of fiction. Early on in grade school, Cynthia looked forward to creative writing class and enjoyed reading her stories aloud to her eager classmates. 

Amazon

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Cynthia Flowers will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway