Book Talk: Cindy Morgan
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Join host Cara Putman for an evocative conversation with acclaimed singer-songwriter and author Cindy Morgan! Best known for her storied music career penning hits for artists like Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Rascal Flatts, Cindy drops in to share the heart behind her sophomore Southern historical novel, The Dogwood Gospel.
Cindy pulls back the curtain on how she shifted from crafting three-and-a-half-minute radio singles to writing layered, 90,000-word historical fiction. She reveals the astonishing real-life family history that inspired her novel—including her fearless Aunt Bill who joined a traveling railroad circus as a target girl and snake juggler at age 16! Cindy and Cara explore the intersection of childhood trauma and equine therapy, the influence of Southern storytelling giants like Harper Lee and Rick Bragg, and the spiritual release that comes from true forgiveness. Plus, stay tuned for our signature Lightning Round, where Cindy reflects on Dollywood work days, crunchy autumn leaves in East Tennessee, and riding mules at a dead gallop!
Author Bio:
Cindy L. Morgan is a two-time Grammy nominee, thirteen-time Dove Award winner, and celebrated songwriter whose work has been recorded by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Rascal Flatts, and Glen Campbell. An East Tennessee native, Cindy channels her lifelong love of story into richly atmospheric Southern historical fiction. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novels The Year of Jubilee and The Dogwood Gospel, as well as two memoirs and a children’s book. Cindy hosts the annual Troubadour Writing Retreat and divides her time between Nashville and North Carolina with her husband.
📖 More about The Dogwood Gospel
Kentucky, 1954. Sixteen-year-old Charlie has no memory of her past before Mama Rose and Papa Arlo took her in. But when strict rules tighten and a family secret surfaces, Charlie disguises herself and runs. Following the river to the Southland Carnival, she reinvents herself as “The Irish Princess,” soaring as a Big Top trick rider and finding family among fellow misfits. Meanwhile, rural police chief Curtis Cates investigates her disappearance, unearthing ties to a thirteen-year-old cold case murder. When their paths collide, both must confront long-buried truths that demand grace.
🔗 Connect & Resources Mentioned
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