Thank you for joining us today, Cindy. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I have a file folder full of stories I started (and never did finish) from the ages of 10-18. But it was only about four years ago that I started to write professionally.
Were books a big part of your life growing up? If so, what books would you say influenced you most as a child?
I loved books as a kid. My mother read to me quite a lot and I did the same with my little sister. My favorites were the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery (well, anything by her). Her heroines spoke to my soul. When I started Jr. High, I began reading Jane Austen and she’s my favorite to date. She wrote such fantastic characters. Characters to love, hate and laugh at.
Share with us a little about your publication journey.
Well, after I had my second child, I decided to stay home from teaching. I had a baby and a first grader (who I was also homeschooling) but I needed something more. I started to write just for me. Then my sisters encouraged me to seek publications. I found a small e-publisher looking for Christmas novellas. So I wrote one. It was accepted within a couple weeks and now three years later I have twelve writing contracts under my belt.
That’s great, Cindy. Congratulations! Why don’t you tell us about your latest release.
This winter I had two releases. A short story from White Rose Publishing called Snow Kissed. This is a best friend’s story. Holly can’t take living in the same town with Logan one more year knowing that he’ll never love her. So she’s taken a job in another state and plans to leave after the Winter Wonderland Carnival. Of course, when Logan finds out she’s leaving his feelings come to the surface and he has to find a way to make Holly stay.
In December, Champagne Books released my Christmas book, All I Want for Christmas. This is also a best friend’s story. Katherine has lost her Christmas spirit and her writing partner Nick is determined to help her find it again through the use of Secret Santa. But when Katherine seems to be falling for Santa Nick wonders if he’s wasting his time or if he’ll get what he wants for Christmas after all.
Awesome covers, Cindy! And they both sound like great stories. Where did you get the idea for them?
Snow Kissed came about because of a call from my publisher. It all came from the idea of a heroine who loved snow and a hero who hated it. The rest of the story just flowed from that point.
All I Want for Christmas plays with the idea of a Scrooge-like character with the twist of the Secret Santa. I pretty much wrote this one by the seat of my pants. The characters really drove this story.
What most inspires your imagination?
All kinds of things: watching people at the mall, a good book or a good movie, the news, etc…
Do you do a lot of research for your books? If so, how do you go about doing it (internet, books, one on one)?
It depends on the book. Some of my contemporaries are based on personal experience. For example, the main characters in All I Want for Christmas are magazine writers and I worked at a magazine in the late ‘90’s. I do a lot of research for my historicals. I’m a trained historian so I utilize many different methods in researching a period for a book. You need to understand a place and be able to ‘feel’ it before starting to write about it. So, yes, I use photos, magazine and newspaper articles of the era, modern day books and scholarly journals and especially the Internet.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started writing?
How much time you would have to devote in promoting yourself. Being an author doesn’t end in the writing. There is so much more involved in promoting the work and yourself as an author.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers out there?
Well, first of all write…write and write some more. And then read about the craft of writing. And then read ‘good’ books in the genre you plan to write in. And then write some more. Find yourself a knowledgeable critique partner not just to help in your writing but to encourage you along the journey.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I move all over the place. I take the laptop or net book to my bedroom, living room, deck, kitchen, at the desk, on the bed, on the couch. It just depends on my mood.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what are some of your favorite bands/artists?
I do sometimes. Music is great for inspiring my writing especially when I write Young Adult. I love Josh Groban, Coldplay, Lifehouse and my new favorite is Rooney.
When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Reading, Movies, Photography, Scrapbooking and Remodeling my house.
What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
I am a total Superman fanatic. I played varsity basketball in high school.
You’re at the checkout counter in your favorite department store and you’re purchasing something from the book, music & movie sections. What are you buying?
Janet Evanovich novel, Carrie Underwood’s new album, and the latest BBC Period Drama film. (Of course, I’d probably be ordering these things off Amazon. I shop there about once a week.)
Are you an animal lover, if so, do you have any pets?
I do like animals but I’m not a crazed animal lover. I have one cat. Her name is Chloe. She’s seven years old and acts like a one year old. She’s half-Siamese so she’s very smart and vocal.
Do you have a favorite TV show? What’s your favorite movie?
I do enjoy TV and have many sets on DVD. It’s hard to pick just one. To pick a few that are on TV currently I’d say Bones with David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel and also Psych with James Roday. I also love BBC Spooks in the UK.
You do not want to know how many movie DVDs we have in our house. Seriously, I would embarrass myself to tell you. I’d have to say that movies I watch over and over are my period drama films—Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Persuasion, North and South, etc… But romantic comedies come in a close second. 13 Going on Thirty, the Holiday, Music and Lyrics, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Laws of Attraction…
Where can we purchase your books, and do you have a website?
My books are available at The Wild Rose Press (Romantic Suspense NovelTea Series), White Rose Publishing (Inspirational romance), Champagne Books, and very soon my YA short story with Whimsical Publications.
My website is www.cindykgreen.com and my blog is http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/. Friend me on FaceBook and follow me on Twitter. To join my newsletter email me at newsletters@cindykgreen.com, and I’ll send you out all four parts of my FREE READ serial, “Valentine’s Challenge.”
My YA is published under C.K. Green. The website is http://sites.google.com/site/ckgreenauthor/ and I have an exciting Teen Fiction blog at http://ckgreenauthor.blogspot.com/. Follow C.K. Green on Twitter.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’d had a lot of fun here today, Anne. Thanks for having me.
3 comments:
I enjoyed the interview ladies. Good luck to both of you with new releases.
Thank you, Irene! And thanks for dropping by.
Hello Irene! Thanks for the comment. I had a great time with Anne's interview.
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