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"!