Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Author Interview: Cindy K. Green

Current Read: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis


Please welcome romance author, Cindy K. Green!



























You have two new historical books out this year. Tell us about them.

The Heart Never Lies is my first historical western. I’m new to this genre and I just had so much fun with it. It is also the steamiest I’ve written. Long and Short Reviews called it ‘An Exceptional Read.’ And You Gotta Read Reviews gave it a ‘Need to Read’ rating: Cindy K. Green was able to give us human emotion, love, lust, and adventure in a very well written novella. It's hard to imagine that in 28 very short pages. The Heart Never Lies had it all.

Here is the blurb: When ranch hand Beau Tucker announces his intent to leave the Double C for California, Kit McCauley tells herself, ‘Good riddance.’ Unfortunately her heart isn’t quite in agreement with her head. Perhaps she’ll just have one more talk with the handsome cowboy before he disappears out of her life forever.

Temperatures rise as their interlude is interrupted by an injured horse thief who shoots at Beau and kidnaps Kit. Will Beau be in time to save her or did the ruffian’s bullet ring true, bringing his young life to an end and forever keeping their revelations unsaid?

You can get a copy at Champagne Books and Fictionwise for just $1.00. Read an excerpt on my website.

Amazing reviews on The Heart Never Lies, Cindy. Congrats!

Dilemma of the Heart was my second release this year and it is also a historical. This time it’s a sweet historical taking place in post-Civil War Philadelphia. I loved writing this story. I have a degree in history and have done special research on this time period so I’d always wanted to write a historical set at this time. Dilemma is the story of loss and making a decision that could affect the rest of your life. It is poignant, moving and yes I threw in some sass as well. There is a full-length sequel in the works.

Here is the blurb: Cassandra Huddleston has a dilemma. Her heart still resides with her sweetheart, Frederick Adair, reported as killed in action at the close of the Civil War. Now she has a new suitor, Emerson Bryce, powerful, attractive, and dominant; he usually gets what he wants. Cassandra must decide if she can forget the man of her heart and learn to love the man offering her a future.

As she struggles with her feelings, Cassandra is faced with the possibility that Frederick’s death might have been greatly exaggerated. If that is true, will Emerson be willing to let her go?

It’s available now at The Wild Rose Press. Read an excerpt on my website.

You write in a bunch of different areas within the romance genre. Is it difficult to switch back and forth?

I love writing in all the different genres. I find it keeps the writing fresh and original. It also stems off writer’s block. If you get tired or stuck in one, you just pick up another. I always have like six manuscripts waiting for attention. I love to read so many different genres so it only made sense to write them too. I remember a time I was writing my second NovelTea book (romantic suspense) and Dilemma of the Heart (historical) at the same time. My critique partner commented to me how very different they were and how on earth could I write them simultaneously. What can I say, my mind must be kept busy.

That's wonderful! But how do you balance it all and not get hopelessly confused?

I do try to get myself prepared to write in a certain genre. Focused. I’ll read books in the genre and watch movies that insight my imagination for that particular genre. Like watching The Princess Bride before working on my humorous high fantasy or reading a Jane Austen novel before writing a historical. That sort of thing. It gets me in the mood. I just sorta follow my muse. She’s never let me down. I just have to remember to listen because maybe she doesn’t want to work on the ms that I currently have open.

That's difficult to do - tune in and go with the flow. I find it much easier to make rigid plans and that doesn't always pan out so well. :0) Do you have an all-time favorite sub-genre?

My two favorites are romantic suspense and historical. I could read those non stop. I grew up loving classic literature which infused my love of historical romance. And then I enjoyed mysteries like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie which led later to Mary Higgins Clark and Catherine Coulter. But really if the author has an intriguing ‘voice’ and characters I care about then I’ll read it.

I'm with you there! For me, it's all about the characters. Favorite authors or books?

Easy! I am a total Jane Austen fan. A JaneJunkie. That’s even my screen name over at YouTube. Jane Austen had a way of creating the best characters: characters to laugh at, hate, and fall in love with. I am always reading one or another of her novels these days.

Favorite Book?

Persuasion by Jane Austen. This is a second chances love story which is my very favorite kind of romance. Throughout the entire book, these two characters are still in love with each other and the tension continues to build and build that they should be together. It is so romantic when the hero, Captain Wentworth, writes a letter to his lady love, Anne Elliot. “I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever.” It just gives me chills every time.

That's beautiful...and who wouldn't want to receive a heart-felt letter like that?! What are you reading right now?

North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell (classic) This is another favorite of mine. Wizard of EarthSea (fantasy) by Ursula K. Le Guin, Masked by Moonlight (Historical romance) by Allie Pleiter. Oh and a couple others. I review books and I’m always in the middle of several books at once.

Ooh, I've been wanting to read Ursula LeGuin! Do you have a favored snack that you eat while you are writing?

Oh I can’t eat while I’m writing. It’s far too distracting. I just make sure that I’m full because I definitely can’t write when I’m hungry. And then away I go. But never fear, I am a chocoholic and while I am in ‘writer-mode’ I have a healthy supply of the addicting stuff. I firmly believe it infuses my creativity.

Infuses your creativity...I like that! Anything else you'd like to share?

Stop by my website to see what’s going on with me. http://cindykgreen.com/ And my blog: http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/ I have a newsletter which includes a serial FREE READ titled, Valentine’s Challenge. Email me at newsletters@cindykgreen.com and I will send you the latest edition and the 1st three parts of Valentine.

Thanks so much for being her today, Cindy! I know you so much better now. :0)
Hey all you commenters! Cindy is graciously offering a copy of The Heart Never Lies for one of you. The winner will be announced here on Friday.
Happy Wednesday!
Drum Roll please! The winner of a PDF copy of Cindy's book, The Heart Never Lies, is...
Helen Hardt
Helen email Cindy at cindy@cindykgreen.com and she will send that out to you. Thanks!
A huge thank you to Cindy for taking time out of her busy schedule to spend the day with us and a massive thanks to all of you who stopped by to say "hello"!

56 comments:

Cindy K. Green said...

Thanks for having me Tiffany. I had a lot of fun during this interview.

Tiffany James said...

Cindy,

Thank you for being here!

Tiffany

Sharon Donovan said...

Hi Cindy! Good to learn more about you and your writing. I admire your ability to stay focused when reading and writing in so many different genres. It's a challenge. Best of luck with sales!

Cindy K. Green said...

Thanks Sharon. :) Keeping up with it all can be a troublesome if not inspired. For instance I was writing my 2nd NovelTea book (Romantic Suspense) when I was 'inspired' to write a short historical western. I wrote The Heart Never Lies in three days.

Anne Carrole said...

Well you know I love western historicals, Cindy and The Heart Never Lies was just super. I love Jane Austen too and also Elizabeth Gaskell--Have you read Anthony Trollope from that period?--He's my favorite, especially his Palliser series.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hey Anne! I'm so happy to hear that you loved 'The Heart Never Lies.' (GGG) I love your westerns.

Yes, I have read 'The Way we Love Now' by Trollope. 19th century fiction has always been a fav of mine. Thanks for stopping by.

Cindy K. Green said...

Oops I meant "The Way we LIVE Now."

Unknown said...

Hey Cindy! First off, don't enter me in the contest, I have the book already and it ROCKED THE HOUSE! Awesome awesome writing. Love the blog today!

Have an awesome one.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hey Val! Thank you, thank you!! You sure know how to boost my spirits! I loved writing both these new historicals and look forward to writing more in the genre.

Tiffany James said...

Sharon,

Thanks for joining us today! I don't know how Cindy does it - keeping the genres and characters straight...I can't keep my heroine and her friends straight. :0)

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Cindy,

Three days? Wow! I feel inspired, but I think I let other things interfere with my writing time. Any tips on managing life and writing?

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Anne,

Thanks for stopping by Armchair Heroines today!

I just recently read about Elizabeth Gaskell. I was intrigued and added her to my "to be read" list. I'll add Anthony Trollope also.

Tiffany :0)

Tiffany James said...

Lastnerve,

Thanks for joining us today! Glad you enjoyed the chance to chat with Cindy.

Tiffany

Mary Ricksen said...

Great interview Cindy. What would life be like without chocolate!
I have to admire your ability to write in different genres. I find myself stuck in the same one for awhile. And if I change I'll be stuck in that genre.
You must be so organized!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Cindy! I love the version of Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds! Anyway, Ursula K. Le Guin was what I was reading when my Time Guardian idea came to me. ;) Great interview... Skhye

Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Tiffany--Organization tips. Hmm. Honestly, you would be surprised at how disorganized I am. I try to stay on a schedule but really most days I feel like I fly by the seat of my pants.

The best for me is to make a list at the beginning of the week of what I want to accomplish. Some days you'll get nothing done and other days you might be quite productive. Hopefully by the end of the week you will have made a dent in the list. If not there is always next week.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Mary! Me organized? Ha! I wish. I do my best but it all seems to come apart and then I just have to assess what is my priority for the week and go with it. Thanks for stopping by.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hey Skhye! So glad you had a moment to visit with me. :) Oh yes I love watching the Persuasion films. I've loved the Ciran Hinds version for years but I am just in love with the 07 version with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones. I know the newer version is not as faithful to JA's narrative but the characterizations were right on and the acting brought in such a high level of emotion. Well, I just love it.

Helen Hardt said...

Hi Cindy, it's great to see you here at Tiffany's!

Helen

Cindy K. Green said...

Hey Helen! Thanks for coming over. It's been fun today. :)

Emma Lai said...

Wonderful interview ladies! Cindy I love Jane Austen. I keep hearing about North and South. I guess I should really pick up a copy.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hey Emma! Yes, you should. Don't forget to see the miniseries too. One of the best ones out there to date.

I was reading N&S last night on my PDA and I realized how lyrical Elizabeth Gaskell's prose was. In fact in a couple places her dialogue rhymed. I never noticed that before.

Sheryl Browne said...

Cindy, you make me smile. You must have a brain like a sponge. Carry on soaking it all up and writing, lots! Psst. please can you let me know when NT3 is out.

Thank you, m'dear. Lovely interview!

Anonymous said...

I love Jane Austen, too! Since I write Regency, I read her often. Persuasion is one I haven't yet read - I can see that I need to!

Cindy K. Green said...

Hello Sheryl, my friend! How are you?? Let me just say that my brain is very, very tired.

As for NT3--it is safely with my editor but I think I may have to give you a sneak peak. ;)

Cindy K. Green said...

Hello Donna! Oh yes you must read Persuasion and then there are a couple spin of novels of Persuasion written in the POV of the Captain that are just wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I sit in amazement at this incredibly talented author. She wrote a book in three days? It takes me that long to close my mouth after one yawn!!!

Wow, how do you do it, Cindy??? :)

Cindy K. Green said...

LOL Lula! :) First of all,it is just a short story--not even 10,000 words. And second of all I was inspired. I wrote it mostly late at night and the words just flowed. Of course I took about two months perfecting it before I submitted it.

Tami Winbush said...

I've already read The Heart Never Lies and it was GREAT! I am glad that you were here interviewing. Love to meet the person behind the author! :)

Tami

Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Tami! Yes, I remember your review. Thank you! Thanks for coming by today.

Tiffany James said...

Cindy,

I love the idea of a weekly list instead of a daily list...I'm always feeling totally unproductive because my daily list doesn't get done. Maybe I'd have more luck with a weekly list. I'll give it a try! Thanks. :0)

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Mary,

I'm with you - stuck in a genre and inhaling chocolate. :0)

Thanks for joining us today!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

HI, Skhye!

Great to see you. I'm adding the Persuasion films to my Netflix list. I love curling up with JA books and films. It transports me right out of here.

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Hi, Helen!

Good to see you. Thanks for joining us.

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Emma,

Thanks for joining us today. It's great to see a fellow MamaWriter! *Sigh* I'm adding North and South to my Netflix list, too. Before I know it, that list is going to be as long as my to-be-read list. Aye-yi-yi!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Sheryl,

Thanks for joining us...

I'm waiting anxiously for NT3 also! :0)

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Hi, Donna!

Great to *see* you. Thanks for stopping by!

My reading and watching lists are growing by the minute. :0)

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Miss Mae,

That is hilarious! Hmmm, what does it take me three days to do? Dig out from under the mountain of laundry... :0)

Thanks for the laugh and for joining us today!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Tami,

So glad you were able to find us and learn more about Cindy. She's an amazing lady!

Thanks for stopping by.

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Cindy,

What a turnout! You have a wonderful network. Thanks to all of you for hanging out with us today.

Tiffany

Ciara Gold said...

Hey Cindy, Great interview. I think we have a lot in common in terms of writing more than one at a time. Life is never dull that way.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Jamie! Things for coming over. It is fun working on more than one project at a time, isn't it. I mean, really, it would be just too easy to work on one project at a time. LOL!

Cindy K. Green said...

Hey Tiffany! It has been a lot of fun today. I should probably log off for now but I'll be back to award the free copy of A Heart Never Lies on Friday.

Anonymous said...

One of my best friends is a Jane Austen junkie. She named her little girl Emma.

Anonymous said...

What a great interview! We enjoyed reading how you juggle multi-genre. Your latest book sounds like a winner.

Linda LaRoque said...

Wonderful interview, Cindy.

I love historicals, period, regardless of time period or setting. It's nice to see the Civil War being included again.

I have to agree. Writing in more than one genre helps me with writers block too.

Linda
www.lindalaroque.com

Linda Swift said...

Hi Cindy,

It was fun reading your interview. And I like your ability to jump from one genre to another to avoid writer's block. Great idea. I wish you continued success with your career.
Regards,
Linda

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Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Elaine! I have a friend who did the same. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child I had intended to name 'her' Emma Victoria if she was a girl. But wouldn't you know it, I have two boys. So now Emma in our household.

Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Angelica--it is a definite juggling process--not only the genres but life in general.

Hi Linda--aren't historicals the best. I've read one of ours and look forward to reading more.

Thanks Linda S for stopping by. I have a list of several ways to stop the writer's block--who has the time for it.

Hi Monk--thanks for stopping by.

Tiffany James said...

Ciara,

I'm totally impressed with people who can juggle multiple genres! I guess I just have a one-track mind. :0)

Elaine - I love the name Emma. I also love Elizabeth. My second daughter was going to be Elizabeth but my best friend beat me to it by three months!

Anglica & Zi - Thanks for joining us today. Isn't Cindy a stud?! ;0)

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Linda L. - We have a lot in common! I'm a huge fan of historicals, and I'm so excited to see Civil War era stories gaining in popularity. They are some of my faves and they don't show up often. Thanks for joining us!

Linda S. - Thanks for joining us today!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Monk,

Thanks for joining us!

Tiffany

Dena said...

Great interview Tiffany. I've heard of Cindy before but have never read her stories yet. Her Historicals sound really good. I haven't read one around the setting of the civil war or a western in a long time and I think that I'm overdue. I love Jane and the Bronte sisters books and they are the reasons that I love Historicals today. Congrats on the great reviews for your first western Cindy!!

Cindy K. Green said...

Thanks to everyone who came out and chatted with me here at the Armchair heroines. I'll definitely have to come back when I have new stories to share. :)

I did a random drawing and the winner of a pdf copy of The Heart Never Lies is Helen Hardt. Email me Helen at cindy@cindykgreen.com and I will send that out to you. Thanks!

Dena said...

Congrats Helen!