Guest Post and Giveaway: Sherryl Woods (CLOSED)

I am pleased to welcome author Sherryl Woods to Always With a Book. Her latest book, Midnight Promises, is now available. You can read my review of her book here. Today Sherryl is talking about her Sweet Magnolia series. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!

 

Whether you’re a longtime reader of my Sweet
Magnolias series or just discovering it with the latest trilogy — Midnight
Promises (July, MIRA Books), Catching Fireflies (August, MIRA Books) and Where
Azaleas Bloom (September, MIRA Books) — you probably know that these books are
about the deep bonds of women, whether lifelong friends or newly-acquainted.

The original Sweet Magnolias — Maddie, Helen and Dana Sue — were childhood
friends who stuck by each other through thick and thin, but over the course of
the series, just like all of us in real life, they’ve welcomed newcomers to the
fold. They’ve even become multi-generational as their daughters and even a few
local seniors have been included in their famed margarita nights.

For someone like me, who grew up in a suburb of Washington, DC where military
families and, therefore, friends came and went, friendships have always been
vitally important in my life. I hang onto the people I love for dear life,
keeping in touch despite time and distance.

Lately, though, I’ve been through a period when the loss of dear friends has
been more permanent. I have to say it’s come as a disconcerting shock to
realize that I’m now at an age when I’m more likely to lose someone to death
than a cross-country move.

This is a transition we all must face eventually. As a minister friend points
out to me, the cycle of life is inevitable. That doesn’t mean we have to like
it, but we do have to learn to deal with the grief and move on. And it’s at
times like these that the friends left behind mean more than ever. They provide
support and comfort and much-needed laughter amid the tears.

Over the years I’ve been around many people who’ve lived well into their 80s
and 90s. One thing they’ve all agreed on is that outliving their contemporaries
is tough. From them, I’ve learned to make a decided effort to include a lot of
younger people in my circle of friends, just as the Sweet Magnolias have done
in these books. It’s something you might want to consider as well.

Because as our lives inevitably change, as people come and go whatever the
reason, friendships matter more than ever. I hope your circle of friends is
large, that it includes young and old, and that you remember each and every day
how those you love enrich your life. In other words, I wish you your own group
of Sweet Magnolias!

Thank you Sherryl for writing this great post!

Giveaway Information:

Thanks to Eric at Media Connect I have one copy of Midnight Promises to give away to my readers.  Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

To enter please leave a comment below and include your email address (only comments with email addresses will be entered in the giveaway).

– +3 additional entries become a follower of Always With a Book. If you are already a follower you will automatically receive the bonus entries (just leave the name you follow under). 

– +1 additional entry
each, please help spread the word by
blogging, posting on sidebar, tweeting or posting this
giveaway on Facebook. 

 

All entries can be in one comment- but don’t forget your email address or it won’t count!

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 13th