Interview with Cindy K. Green

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Cindy K. Green. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called Listen to Your Heart. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Listen to Your Heart is a historical western set in 1870’s Wyoming. It’s the sequel to my best selling western, The Heart Never Lies, from Champagne Books. (But is reads great as a stand along book.) It focuses mostly on the struggles of my hero and the past he thought he’d left behind him back East. In fact, ¾ of the story takes place in Wyoming and ¼ of it in Chicago just before the Great Fire. The heat rating in lightly sensual.

Listen to Your Heart is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

Well, I wanted it to compliment the previous book in the series (The Heart Never Lies) and to describe the current book as well. And, yes, I got the title from the Roxette song.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I haven’t been a big western reader for most of my life. It wasn’t until about six years ago that I started reading the westerns written by a friend author of mine. I found that I really love them. The strong and loyal heroes and their feisty heroines with danger only a step behind. In 2008 I decided I wanted to write one too. I did a lot of research and reading and came up with my first western which came out in 2009. The sequel released this January 2011.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

The plot of this one came to me in a flash. My publisher told me how well this first one was selling and I’d also heard that readers wanted to know what happened next to the hero and heroine. All of a sudden this whole other side and past of my hero came to me. I went from there and the story pretty much wrote itself.

What are your favorite historical research books and why?

It depends on what kind of historical I’m researching and where. I have a great book on Victorian etiquette. I use it in just about all my historicals. I have a degree in history and love research. I have loads of research materials.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

Definitely my hero, Beau. His emotions and past really fueled the plot of this story. In the first book he appears like your typical cowboy hero but in the sequel you learn so much more about him. Who he really is, where he grew up and what he’s been running from the past several years. And at the center is the love he has for Kit.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

In my longer works I try to do some character building. I might write up character sheet and develop their motivation. For my shorts like these two westerns I don’t do much more than a few paragraphs then I get to the writing. Research for my historicals really helps put my characters together. It gets me into the head of a man or woman of the era and that really fleshes them out for me.

What are some common speech terms, dress modes, transportation or housing facts that you found interesting for your time period?

For this book, it was the fact that in the 1870’s women had the right to vote and serve on a jury in Wyoming. That was something my heroine Kit would totally have been involved in and I put that into the story.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Austen, Alcott and Montgomery are the authors which have inspired me since I was a teen. I still try to read them when I have the chance. Their writing prose and characters are something to which I aspire.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Oh who knows! I suppose it is to write a good book that encourages the next sale. But I’ve tried all types of promo. It is truly more exhausting that the writing.

What do we have to look forward next?

I am working on the 2nd book in my YA Faery Guardian series. I hope to see it out this year.

Thanks, Cindy!

To celebrate her book release, Cindy is offering a free book of The Heart Never Lies to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see if you won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio
Cindy K. Green is a multi-published author with degrees in History and Education. Previously a middle school English & History teacher, she now homeschools her own children and writes in several genres: Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, Fantasy and Historical romance. No matter what she writes, she always throws in a bit of humor and fun.

Find out more about Cindy and her books at www.cindykgreen.com and http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/.

To join her newsletter email her at newsletters@cindykgreen.com.

Buy Listen to Your Heart at Champagne Books or Amazon.