Only in September
by Cynthia Flowers
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GENRE: Women's Fiction
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BOOK 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 THREE:
With the sun barely over the horizon, Jacqueline awoke to Bailey licking her face and the best morning smell ever. Michael had the coffee pot simmering over the fire pit.
Jacqueline wasn’t ready to give up the warmth of her sleeping bag, so she managed to sit up while still inside it.
“Looks like you’re in a cocoon. Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“Surprisingly, yes. I was snug as a bug,” she said with a yawn.
“Well, one of the other reasons for camping out is to see the first rays of the sunrise, so let’s get you up so you don’t miss it.” He helped Jacqueline to her feet while she was still inside the sleeping bag. To remain steady, Michael had to hold her. She was all right with that.
I hope this sunrise viewing lasts a while.
Consumed by the beauty of the moment, Jacqueline felt a swelling from inside that took her nearly to the brink of tears as she looked out at the bright yellow rays that made the ocean glisten.
“We have a few clouds, which is a good thing,” he said. “It helps make the sunrise a bit more dramatic.”
“I bet you’ve seen lots of these,” Jacqueline replied while trying to compose herself.
“Yes, but I never get tired of it. It’s like seeing it for the first time every time,” he shared.
They both grew silent and took in the beauty of the early morning sky, and the warm connection of being so physically close to one another.
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GUEST POST:
Falling in Love with the Main Characters
With Only In September, I was really focused on bringing my characters to life—it was my first time diving deep into character development. I built them around the kinds of people I’d like to meet and get to know, which made them feel more real and relatable.
I wanted readers to connect with them right away, so I gave my lead character a self-deprecating sense of humor—something that makes them feel human and approachable. For the second lead, I leaned into that awkward, unsure energy, because let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. At some point in life, we’ve either felt that way ourselves or recognized it in others. It’s a familiar experience, and I used it as a way to make readers feel instantly connected.
By giving my characters these quirks, I hoped to create a story where readers see themselves in the pages—where they feel like they’re meeting old friends rather than just reading about made-up people. At the end of the day, I wanted them to feel something for these characters, like they really belonged in their world.
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AUTHOR BIO:
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.
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AMAZON BUY LINKS:
Amazon US Kindle eBook:
Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
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Thank you for hosting ONLY IN SEPTEMBER today.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your hosting my first work of fiction. Hope visitors are inspired to take the journey with Jacqueline and post a review. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like a wonderful read. Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds really great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the positive feedback. Hope you enjoy the read!
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