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Women's Fiction
Publisher: Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Publication Date: April 23, 2025
Page count: 71 pages
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!
SYNOPSIS:
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.
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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.
AUTHOR GUEST POST:
Please welcome Cynthia Flowers, the author of our highlighted book, to the blog today to answer the following question!
Topic: Did you have a minor character who insisted on
playing a larger role in the story. If so, please tell us about it. And if not,
please tell me how you get the characters in your head to behave.
Excellent question!
I strongly considered dedicating a chapter to Michael,
exploring his life off the island—particularly his experiences since meeting
Jacqueline. Through internal dialogue, I wanted to highlight his emotional
struggle: the pull of his desire for Jacqueline versus the deep-seated loyalty
that kept him true to his wife.
To answer your question, Michael was a character who
unexpectedly demanded a larger role in the story. Initially conceived as a
supporting figure, his emotional complexity and moral conflict naturally pushed
him into the spotlight, making it difficult to confine him to a minor role.
Alas, I decided keeping Michael's motivations somewhat of a mystery until the
very end made for a better plot, keeping the reader in suspense along with our
protagonist, Jacqueline. Although I'm interested in hearing what readers
think.
For characters who don't insist on taking over the
narrative, I find that maintaining a strong sense of purpose for each one helps
keep them in their intended lane. When a character starts veering off course, I
ask myself: Is their growing influence serving the story, or is it simply the
character asserting themselves in a way that distracts from the main arc? If
it's the former, I embrace it. If it's the latter, I rein them in and refocus.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Cynthia Flowers will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Thrilled that you are hosting my first work of fiction! Thanks to all who visit and look forward to your review. Interested to know what the reader would have done if they were in Jacqueline’s situation. Happy reading.
It’s difficult to say. Since I could remember I always enjoyed writing stories, starting as a child. I learned to read before entering first grade, thanks to my mom, who took me to the library often as long as I had finished reading the book I had taken out the visit before. Perhaps that’s where my inspiration came from.
Thank you for featuring ONLY IN SEPTEMBER today.
ReplyDeleteThrilled that you are hosting my first work of fiction! Thanks to all who visit and look forward to your review. Interested to know what the reader would have done if they were in Jacqueline’s situation. Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for Author--What inspired you to become a writer?
ReplyDeleteIt’s difficult to say. Since I could remember I always enjoyed writing stories, starting as a child. I learned to read before entering first grade, thanks to my mom, who took me to the library often as long as I had finished reading the book I had taken out the visit before. Perhaps that’s where my inspiration came from.
DeleteThe book sounds like a wonderful read. I've put it on my reading list. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Look forward to your review!
DeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Hopefully you have a chance to read it.
DeleteThis looks very intriguing. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the feedback!
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDelete