Simply Cheris. . .

COLUMBIA—If you remember sitting on the sofa with your grandma or your favorite auntie watching Victor Newman or Josh and Reva, then you need to meet romance author Synithia Williams. If you’re reading Williams’ latest novel,  The Secret to a Southern Wedding,  you might think it’s messy, soapy and full of drama, that’s exactly what she was going for. So, here’s the premise of the book: It’s been years since Dr. Imani Kemp has returned home to Peachtree Cove, Georgia. As Tallahassee’s most sought-after OB-GYN, she doesn’t have much time for anything else. But when her mom announces she’s marrying a man she just met on a dating app, Imani knows she has to put a stop to it immediately. Let her mom be hurt again after the disastrous way her last marriage ended? Absolutely not. Always her protector, Imani won’t rest until her mom sees reason. She just never expected sparks to fly with the groom’s son… After his mother’s tragic death, Cyril Dash and his father relocated to Peachtre...

The other day, I was doing some math in my head and realized, June marks the 20th anniversary of my first romance novel being published. Revelations was released by a now defunct publisher and I began my life as a romance author.  I love to tell stories that are rooted in realism, but have twists and turns that keep my readers turning the page and wanting more. And you know who I have to thank for that? My grandma.  If you're giving the post the side eye right now, let me explain. Growing up, we didn't have e-learning days so if I got sick, my grandma kept me while my mom and dad were at work. There were basically two rules to being grandma's favorite (which I was), don't talk when grown ups are talking and don't interrupt me when Victor Newman is on the TV. So, in between ginger ale and chicken noodle soup and following the Price is Right, I'd sit by my grandma as the iconic piano chords of the Young and The Restless theme song began. Every day, my grandma tun...

It's romance awareness month and you know what that means? I have to make you aware of some of my favorite romance series.  Most people like to binge-watch shows, but I'm a binge reader. If an author writes a series, I'm all in. Here are a few of my must-read series: 1. Farrah Rochon's   The Boyfriend Project series.  Imagine finding out that your "man" is dating you and two other women. Instead of going all Real Housewives of whatever city, you and the other two women become best friends? And now we readers get to see Samiah, London and Taylor find the real love they deserve. And the friendship between these women is chef's kiss. I'm convinced that good friends teach folks how to love.  -The Boyfriend Project -The Dating Playbook -The Hookup Plan These books are better than anything streaming on Netflix. 2. Synithia Williams is a writer who loves to create messy problems and give you a wonderful happy ending. If you watched the Guiding Light or stil...

Debut romance author Synithia Williams is building a huge buzz around her novel, You Can't Plan Love. She was featured in USA Today and deservedly so. Williams crafted a sexy and page turning read. 1.               How did you come up with the story of You Can’t Plan Love ? Nothing specific lead me to this story. It came from one of the typical “what if” moments we writer’s have. What if a woman hurt in the past tried to plan her love life. I don’t think love is something that can be planned, and if more people stopped planning and just went with things I think happiness will follow. 2.               Have you always wanted to write romance? Yes! I’ve read romance since I was a teen. I hand wrote my first two romance novels in high school. After that real life kicked in and writing was a hobby that I occasionally returned to. In 2010 ...