Here InWriterLand, we love our writers, especially ones with new books and amazing bookcovers.
Author Cindy Gail dropped by to give us a bit of info about her new book, Winter’s Magic. 

IWL: Tell us about your book and its characters.

CG: Winter’s Magic is the first of four books in my Music City Hearts series. Spring’s Surprise, Summer’s Family Affair, and Fall’s Redeeming Grace will follow in 2013.
Beth Sergeant is probably my favorite heroine in the series. Her parents were middle-class, but found a way to send her to the most prestigious, private high school in Nashville, Tennessee. While the invaluable experience prepared her for college, she never felt as if she fit in.
After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. At the age of thirty, he’s built his own business and experienced enough of life to realize 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.

IWL: The cover for Winter’s Magic is gorgeous! Can you tell us a little about the scene and who designed it?

CG: We are so fortunate to have Rae Monet as the graphic artist who designs all Soul Mate Publishing covers. She provides us with a questionnaire that we use to describe our vision for the artwork. The cover for Winter’s Magic depicts a scene in the book where Beth and Nick are attending the Country Club Christmas Ball. They’ve been dating for several weeks, but it’s their first official appearance at a society event.

IWL: Do you write full-time or work and write? What is a typical writing day like for you?

CG: I have a Monday through Friday day job, so most of my writing happens on the weekends. A typical Saturday starts with my husband and I having coffee together on the back porch (weather permitting), we alternate cooking breakfast, then we split up for much of the day. He goes to the garage or backyard to tinker, while I grab my laptop. Whether I choose the lounger or recliner, I put my feet up on a pillow, and write in a relatively peaceful environment. For as long as I possibly can. Some weekends, I write all day Saturday and again on Sunday. Other times, I barely get in a half-day. Life doesn’t stop, but my family is supportive and flexible. My husband and I have a commitment to always spend Saturday evenings together and my son knows he has to join us for dinner on Sunday nights.

IWL: What is something about yourself that would come as a surprise to many people?

CG: Everyone I know was surprised that I’d written a book. English was one of my worst subjects growing up. I loved math and science, and I’ve never considered myself creative. It’s funny how we change over time and find niches where we least expect.

IWL: Do you have a favorite line or excerpt that you would like to share from your book?

CG: I’d love to. In the following scene, Nick and Beth have just met for the second time. She’s reluctantly attending a Christmas party with her parent’s at the Chester family estate. Despite the attraction, she knows he’s out of her league. She had hoped to avoid him as much as possible and stick close to her best friend, Jenny, who hasn’t arrived yet.
Beth made her way over to the tree to get a closer view. Several handmade pieces intermingled with the sparkling crystal ornaments and gold strands of glass beads. She fingered the row of cotton balls that ran along the edge of a red felt Santa hat. On the top, in glitter writing, it said 1982. “Who made these?”
Nick laughed, but when she turned her head, she caught a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I made them with my mother when I was in grade school. Every year, on the first day of holiday break, we would go to the craft store and buy materials to make a dozen ornaments.”
“A dozen?” She wondered how a person ever got over losing a parent, much less losing both. Or if you even could. And his poor grandfather, losing a child … Her chest tightened at the thought. “One for our tree at home, one for Grandfather’s, several neighbors, and the mailman. And I’ll never forget Mrs. Sawyer at the bakery. She used to give me a free cinnamon roll when I came in with my grandfather.”
“We weren’t very crafty at my house. But Mom and I would bake like a storm. Candy, cookies, fudge. We always took packages to our neighbors on Christmas Eve, right before we went to church for Midnight Mass.”
“Do you still go?” The reflection of the tree lights sparkled in his eyes as he spoke. At this very moment, he didn’t look, or act, like the city’s most eligible bachelor. She could feel her resolve slipping. She needed Jenny.
“I haven’t been in years. In fact, I don’t think I’ve been since I graduated high school.”
“I haven’t, either. You can imagine my surprise when Grandfather asked me to take him this year.” He glanced back at the tree. “Would you like to come with us?”

IWL: Tell me something about your book that would make me buy it today.

CG: Winter’s Magic is a fun, fast read. There are parts that will make you laugh, while others make your heart squeeze. A few surprises. Steamy love scenes. It’s the perfect book to grab a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and curl up with during the holiday season.

To read and learn more about Cindy, you can find her at her blog, on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Facebook, Twitter, and at Soulmate Publishing.

In addition to the excerpt, you can get a FREE first chapter sample through Amazon’s ‘look inside’ feature.