Cindy A. Christiansen's Blog, page 25

SCP Blog Hop - Donating Proceeds to Animal Sanctuary

I love giving back! Help me help abused and abandoned animals.If you purchase my books on the Sweet Cravings website, I will donate my proceeds to the Friends In Need Animal Sanctuary in Eagle Mountain, Utah.  They are a great organization and have been awarded a top non-profit award.  Find out more about them at:Friends In Need
Here are my books:





Sweet Cravings Publishing site:  http://bit.ly/WdkOU0Click on the link to purchase my books.
Oh, and there's more!Leave a comment about which one of my books you might like to read and WHY (very important) and you might just get a FREE copy. That's right!  Make sure you leave your email so I can send it to you, or email me your addy privately at: cindy@dragonflyromance.com.

Bonus! If you don't already know it, I have a FREE read on Smashwords.com.It's the prequel to my series that will be coming out with Sweet Cravings this autumn calledA Merchant Street Mystery Series.

Worth the Wait
Get it for FREE now by clicking on the title!
As always, thank you so much and all my best wishes!

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Answer Me This

It's been great featuring other authors on my blog this last month. I hope you've enjoyed getting to meet them and their books as well.

Today I just want to ask you one simple question:


What are the key elements to a good clean romance?
Name one, name five, name ten.  It doesn't matter.  I just want to know what you think.

If I am really impressed with your answer, I will send you a PDF copy of any one of my books of your choosing so make sure you leave your email address with your comment or you can send it to me privately at:  cindy@dragonflyromance.com.

Have a great week,

Cindy

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!
Fly into a good book today at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com


Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In The Dog House: Author Gordon Osmond

Every dog has its day and today is author Gordon Osmond's day with me. I'm so happy to have this chance to get to know him. This man is amazing. He's a Wall Street lawyer, a produced playwright, a weekly radio show host, an online play and book critic, a lecturer and a published fiction and non-fiction author. Let's get right to all the juicy details.
CINDY:  Hi, Gordon. Is Slipping on Stardust your first book?GORDON:  It’s my first book of fiction, unless, of course, you count the untrue portions of my “unauthorized autobiography,” Wet Firecrackers . My only other book is So You Think You Know English—A Guide to English for Those Who Think They Don’t Need One.
CINDY:  Great title, Gordon. :) So, what inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it? GORDON:   I taught English as a Second Language in San Diego for several years. My teaching colleagues were for the most part much younger than I was, and frankly I was appalled at how teaching methods had deteriorated through the years since I was a student. I returned to the basics, stripping out all the political propaganda, and was very gratified that my methodology met with such great approval from my international students. Several of them encouraged me to codify my approach in a book, so I did. I think of it as a cross between Eats, Shoots & Leaves and The Elements of Style.
Insisting on finishing the book is probably due to my anal retentive nature reinforced with a generous dose of the Judeo-Christian work ethic.
When I finished the book, indeed when I finished all of my three published works, I have a nagging sensation that I could have done a better job.



CINDY:  I can relate with those feelings. What genre is Slipping on Stardust ?  Tell us a little about it.GORDON:   Slipping on Stardust is a contemporary American novel with strong elements of romance, mystery, and suspense. Insofar as the book deals with the lives of ordinary people in a small town, I liken it to Peyton Place. Insofar as it deals with the tragic and sometimes comic consequences of sacrificing real values for false ones, I liken it to Madame Bovary and Fear of Flying . Of course it includes some sex scenes, which I believe are tasty, but tasteful. My objective was to create a literate, general appeal page turner ideal for stuffing in beach bags, holiday stockings—everything but the Thanksgiving turkey.
CINDY:  What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? What part do you dislike?GORDON:   My maximum enjoyment comes from the final formulation of words to express as powerfully and as beautifully as possible thoughts that had been cooking in my brain for a long time. I can’t think of any part of the process that I dislike except perhaps for dealing with an editor whose basic intelligence I find lacking. Fortunately, with Secret Cravings Publishing, I’ve worked with a wonderful professional team and a great and gifted editor.
CINDY:  What motivated you to write Slipping on Stardust ?GORDON:   I wanted to well tell a story that would engage, entertain, and enlighten readers. I would love others to be affected by a good book as I have been through the years. Also, I wanted to pay tribute to people I admire and satirize, and frankly ridicule those I don’t.
CINDY:  You obviously put a lot of thought, time and energy into your work.  I appreciate that.  So many authors just want to be prolific and not spend the necessary time to write a quality book.  So tell me:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?GORDON:   I love most forms of music and enjoy listening to great music while writing. Somehow listening to another artist’s creation inspires me to do my level best to create something worthwhile. Atonal music, hip-hop, Gregorian chants, and anything involving bagpipes inspires me only to turn off the sound system. My favorite forms of music include German leid and old fashioned gospel and country music, the lyrics of which often express high emotion in very spare language. You can’t get much sexier than “She Cranks My Tractor” or more sentimental than “Don’t She Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”As for rituals, I have found that a good bourbon or a flute of brilliantly chilled champagne stimulates the first draft and that total sobriety enhances the final one.
CINDY:  You do have a way with words, Gordon. :)  If you could write yourself into one of your books what kind of character would you be? (e.g. the hero, the best friend, the antagonist, strong, funny, supportive, etc.)GORDON:   I’m in every book I write either as teacher ( So You Think You Know English—A Guide to English for Those Who Think They Don’t Need One ), subject ( Wet Firecrackers—The Unauthorized Autobiography of Gordon Osmond), or as the teller of the story from what is called the omniscient point of view ( Slipping on Stardust ) I tend to identify most strongly with the story’s good guys.
CINDY:  How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?GORDON:  I did a fair amount of confirming research to make sure that my English book was correct. My unauthorized autobiography didn’t require that much. Slipping on Stardust was researched mainly to ensure that references to films and film stars were accurate. Overall, can any author ever fully express sufficient appreciation to the geniuses that created the Internet for making research endlessly easier for all of us?
I would say that Slipping on Stardust is fact-based fiction. The plot is woven from threads that are a part of my real-life experiences.
CINDY:  I totally agree with you about the Internet. Having health issues and two autistic children, I am very limited on getting out and the Internet helps tremendously. What has writing a book taught you about yourself?GORDON:   It has taught me that the writing skills that I hopefully acquired in the course of 25 years of practicing law and 12 years of writing stage plays were transferable to the process of writing books. That was quite a relief given the facts that practicing law is too much work and that dealing with actors, directors, and designers is too frustrating.
CINDY:  Wow! You definitely bring a lot of experience and expertise to your writing. What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?GORDON:   I would hope that readers would be inspired by all of my books to live better and more informed lives, whether it be through the enlightened use of English or by making better choices when faced with challenging life options.
CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?GORDON:   Yes, I’m planning a sequel to Slipping on Stardust. I’ve been encouraged by early readers of the original to carry forward the lives of the characters. For reasons stated in an article recently published by Bookpleasures.com, I prefer to concentrate in the future on writing books rather than plays.http://bit.ly/103dc3H
CINDY:  How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? GORDON:   Here are some links that may be helpful.



Publisher’s Purchasing Link:  http://bit.ly/12n3URI
Book’s Own Website:  http://i-m.co/GordonOsmond/SlippingonStardust
Electronic versions of the book are also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other SCP sites.
And may I close by thanking you, Cindy, for giving me this opportunity to vent and spread the word. You are a wonderful resource for authors, and your efforts on their behalf are
Thank you, Gordon.  It's been a wonderful experience to learn more about you and your writing.

Feel free to ask Gordon questions through the comment section.

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!
Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In The Dog House: Author Davee Jones, a.k.a. Allee Mae

Call off the dogs!  I finally have author Davee Jones, a.k.a. Allee Mae, in the dog house with me to tell us about her latest sweet romance-- Finding Love Under a Rock .  Davee Jones began a career in the counseling field with her M.Ed.  She then diversified and began work for the federal government.  The dryness of the day to day assignments fostered the desire for her to do something more creative so she took up her passion of writing.  We're all glad she did.  Let's find out what she's up to these days.
CINDY:  Is Finding Love Under a Rock your first book?
DAVEE:   Hi Cindy, actually, this will be my sixth published book. However, it is the first sweet romance I’ve written, and the first release under the pseudonym, Allee Mae.
CINDY:  What inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it?  DAVEE:   I began creatively writing in college; however, I quickly discovered I could not pay the bills by my writing alone. I began work for the feds. I left writing alone, save for some email angst and mad journaling, for several years. Maybe it was a mid-life crisis or my divorce that seriously spurned my writing again. It took me well over two years to write my first novel, simply because I really had no idea “how to” actually pen a book. However, my passion for writing and determination to finish the novel won out. When I wrote The End, I felt utter joy.


CINDY: Love the cover. What genre is Finding Love Under a Rock ?  Tell us a little about it.DAVEE:   This begins a series I call the Critter Getter series. This particular story contains paranormal and YA romance elements. Kalista Bristow and Leandra Lehigh moved to Oklahoma not just to attend nursing school, but, to find some adventure. When Leandra reads about the sport of “noodling”, she is literally “hooked’, and reserves top-notch guides, Caleb Chandler and Owen Guthrie, to give them a true southern experience. Wading through the murky river, Kalista finds herself drawn to the handsome Caleb and his red-dirt good looks. He manages a few shy glances in her direction, intrigued by her tenacity. Could this cute city girl bring him out of his awkward insecurity when it comes to dating? However, thoughts of blossoming love move to the wayside as the girls find more than they bargained for under the surface of that shadowy river. They must rely on Caleb and Owen to keep them safe, all the while beginning to believe the mysterious legends the guys have been telling them are probably all true.
CINDY: That sounds amazing! Can't wait to read it. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?  What part do you dislike?DAVEE:   I love the research and developing my characters and their story. I take notes constantly. My first task of everyday is to read the news, I get many ideas from true events. Or, I have a simple idea in my head and then I build on it. I have a long commute for my day job, and my mind churns constantly. As I think of something, I write it down and see how I can fit it into a WIP. However, sometimes when I’m writing, the flow just takes off and it feels great when that happens. I also have very vivid dreams and write them down as soon as I awaken to use them for a story. Also, my inspiration came from personal experiences. CINDY: What a wonderful attitude, Davee. What motivated you to write Finding Love Under a Rock ?DAVEE:   I’ve had several releases which contain explicit content, which several family members would not read. My teenage daughter wanted me to publish something she could read. My mom made a comment about one of her friends being a critter getter- combine that with my brother, Sam, and son, Aaron, noodling for fish and an idea was born.
CINDY:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?DAVEE:   Yes, I love to listen to music. I usually listen to music that fits the scene. If it’s dark and foreboding, I’ll listen to moody classical. Music helps me set a tone in my mind. I listened to quite a bit of red dirt country music writing Finding Love Under a Rock.Rituals? I always check my word count before and after a writing session. I also like to make sure I have something to drink at hand, usually water. On the stressful days, it might be wine. J
CINDY: If you could write yourself into one of your books what kind of character would you be? (e.g. the heroine, the best friend, the antagonist, strong, funny, supportive, etc.) DAVEE:   I would be the hopeless romantic since I’m not one in the real world…go figure. lol
CINDY:  How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?DAVEE:   I research heavily. I like to highlight little known interesting facts or true trivia. When I write something that has a place in reality, I want to back up my statements. However my paranormal muse has complete creative freedom, which is sometimes mind-boggling that I can actually create a situation, no matter how far-fetched it may be. I’ll leave it to the readers to figure out the fact from fiction, (wink).
CINDY: I love including facts and controversial issues in my work too. What has writing a book taught you about yourself?DAVEE:   That first contract brought forth in me an almost indescribable feeling of pride, elation, prestige, and fun energy- like drinking a top shelf martini while bungee jumping from the Eiffel Tower, with Ryan Gosling in the crowd of spectators. I also felt the same way when I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon, “Wow, I did that!” I feel it every time I finish writing a book.

CINDY: Way cool.  You are one amazing lady!   What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?DAVEE:   My ideal reader allows me to take them to the edge of sanity, push limits, and support a sometimes simple protagonist just trying to get by in life. I have the same type characters in my explicit writing as well as my sweet or YA books-they just don’t use the “F” word or engage in overt sexuality. It doesn’t always take erotic descriptors of body parts/functions to get a point across. But, I will bring out the sexy when a mature story requires it, (wink) just not as Allee Mae.

 CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?DAVEE:   I have about sixteen book starts ranging from sweet to explicit. Right now, I’m deep into Finding Love and Bigfoot, the second of the Critter Getter series.
CINDY:  This has been an enlightening interview, Davee.  You are amazing and thanks for joining me. How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? DAVEE:  

Blog: http://alleemaeauthor.wordpress.com/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlleeMaeAuthorGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18078385-allee-maeFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/alleemae.authorSweet Cravings Publishing site: http://bit.ly/184jG9O
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In The Dog House: Author Lynn Rae

I wouldn't be barking up the wrong tree if I said author Lynn Rae has a lot going on with her writing career! With professional experience ranging from contract archaeology to librarianship along with making donuts and teaching museum studies, she enjoys incorporating her real-life adventures into her writing. 
CINDY:  Is Bent Boot Road your first book?LYNN:   Yes! It is the second book I wrote and I was offered a contract for it on the first submission I made. Thanks Sweet Cravings Publishing!
CINDY:  What inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it?  LYNN:   I wrote my first book in the fall of 2011 after going through some family medical crises that summer. I just wanted an outlet that I could do from home since I wasn’t able to be out and about. It was the cheapest form of therapy I could find! When I finish a book I don’t feel much other than a sense of satisfaction because I’m usually already working on my next book and am caught up in the new project. For example, right now I’m 40,000 words into a new book that I started on 1 April and I just completed line edits on my second published book, AND I’m already thinking about my next project.


CINDY: That’s terrific, Lynn! Awesome cover by the way. What genre is Bent Boot Road ?  Tell us a little about it.LYNN:   It is a contemporary romance, set in 1991 in southwest Ohio. I set it in the nineties because I didn’t want my characters to have access to the technology we take for granted today and I wanted to listen to the music of my misspent youth as inspiration! I chose Ohio because that’s where I’m from, and the heroine works in a museum like I did. So there’s a lot of myself in this book.
CINDY: What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?  What part do you dislike?LYNN:   The dislike part is easy; editing! I am so much not a grammar person. I love words but I don’t have the eye for detail in punctuation that editors do. I like facing that blank screen and knowing that I will create something, make the story go from point A to B, make characters suffer and feel joy. It’s a rush.
CINDY: I can relate on both counts. What motivated you to write Bent Boot Road ?LYNN:   Dialogue. My two main characters kept having these snarky conversations and I had to write them down.  Then I had to figure out a story to fit them into.
CINDY:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?LYNN:   Yes, I love to listen to music when I write, but nothing with lyrics because they distract me. I like classical, movie scores, and lately I have been listening to modern jazz too. Anything moody or dreamy gets me to my happy place. Right now I’m listening to Ludovico Einaudi’s In A Time Lapse and the soundtrack to The English Patient. I don’t have any rituals other than booting up the computer and reviewing what I had written the day before. Other than that I just go.
CINDY: If you could write yourself into one of your books what kind of character would you be? (e.g. the heroine, the best friend, the antagonist, strong, funny, supportive, etc.) LYNN:   Oh, I’m the heroine. I’m already the heroine of my own real-life story, so I’d still be one in whatever book I put myself into. Although I don’t suppose it could be a romance because my husband would object if I fell for someone else! It would probably be a thriller with some car chases and witty dialogue.
CINDY:  Just include hubby right in that romance, Lynn. (lol) How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?LYNN:   My contemporary books are very factual. I don’t write about situations, professions, or places I don’t know very well from first-hand experience. I do minor research on the fly for the most part, like verifying mileages or titles of songs. The characters and plots are entirely fictional. I don’t base any of my characters on anyone I know. That wouldn’t be much fun!
CINDY: What has writing a book taught you about yourself?LYNN:   Writing has taught me that the more I draw from my creative well, the more I have to offer. When I finished my first book I wondered if that would be it, but another story just started to percolate in my mind and I wrote that one too. And it has been one after the other ever since.
CINDY: It’s it amazing how that works? What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?LYNN:   I’d love it if they were entertained for a few hours while reading it, and finished it feeling like they had experienced a nice respite from the cares and worries of real life.
CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?LYNN:   Goodness yes! My second book, Return, is due this fall from Musa Publishing. I have written several science fiction romances and hope to get them published, probably under another pen name. I have a couple of contemporaries that need polishing and they will be ready to send out as soon as I have time. Right now I am finishing the first draft of a sci-fi romance set on a jungle planet that is being exploited for a chemical compound that acts as a pleasure drug. It’s sort of a Wild West gold rush in space! My hero is a grumpy cartographer and my heroine is the person responsible for coordinating the arrivals and supplies of all these new settlers. It’s been great fun to write and I just stopped at the first love scene so I have that to look forward to tomorrow.
CINDY:  How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? LYNN:   Sure, my website is www.lynnraewrites.com and my book Bent Boot Road is available on:Sweet Cravings Publishing: http://bit.ly/Zs6oC6Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZJelBiBarnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/10dPnWzAll Romance Ebooks: http://bit.ly/YROp3k
Bookstrand:  http://bit.ly/YUpHPL
Lynn, thanks for stopping by.  Drop by and tell us about your favorite breed of dog.

Everyone, please feel free to ask Lynn questions and leave comments.

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!
Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com


Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In The Dog House: Author Dawne Prochilo

I'm like a dog with two tails to have author Dawne Prochilo with me today. She is a published romance author, a freelance writer and online journalist, owner of the promotional blog Romance MarketPlace, and holds several job positions with Secret Cravings Publishing. What a busy woman! Besides all this, she loves to cook and prepares all her meals from scratch, including bagels and pretzels. Amazing!


Let's find out what she's up to and all her accomplishments:
CINDY:  Is Jake’s Lady your first book?DAWNE:   No, it is my fourteenth book and book two in my historical western series, The Butlers of Willow Creek.
CINDY:  Wow! Fourteen books. That's awesome. What inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it?  DAWNE:   Inspiration came from the childhood dream of always wanting to be an author and writer. That dream continues to push me every day. When I type the end I have mixed emotions- from elation of completing the book to sadness of leaving the characters and their story to move onto the next one.

CINDY: What genre is Jake’s Lady ?  Tell us a little about it. DAWNE:   Historical western romance.  The book, and series, is based in Willow Creek, Colorado, 1898
Ellora 'Ellie' Jameson arrives in town from back east, escaping a controlling father and adulterous fiancé. She meets Jake Butler in the restaurant while applying/begging for waitress position. Her shyness attracts Jake but it is his thoughtfulness and protective ways that makes Ellie realize he is the man just for her. When Ellie's fiancé comes to town in search of her, Jake takes the lead and defends what is his now.
CINDY: That sounds like my kind of book. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?  What part do you dislike?DAWNE:   The most is the way I can let my mind create characters and their lives; adding depth to them and making them real, at least in my mind. The least is deadlines. Meeting deadline. I am an easily stressed person and deadlines looming can be intimidating.
CINDY: What motivated you to write Jake’s Lady ?DAWNE:   Since it is book two in the series, I wanted to have a story for each sibling. Jake's is my favorite as Ellie, the heroine, is 'back east' gal who moved to the wild west. Her timid nature and sheltered life is put to the test.
CINDY:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?DAWNE:   Music drives me. I am an 80's child so I always have Pandora playlists when I am writing. I mix up the playlist between 80's hairbands, new rock and classic rock as well as a few country western female artists- they usually have attitude in the lyrics and those lyrics can really inspire me.  CINDY:  How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?DAWNE:   For this historical western I did do some research. The dates are aligned with certain historical events that I wrote into the story/plot. They always say, write what you know... but sometimes you have to challenge yourself.
CINDY: What has writing a book taught you about yourself?DAWNE:   That my previous love for reading historical westerns and my personal challenges can be rolled into one and I can create a town, its characters and solid plot.
CINDY: What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?DAWNE:   An afternoon to escape into a world I created and that they will cherish.
CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?DAWNE:   Oh yes I do! I have two more in this historical western series due for release in 2013. I also have a prequel to On Her Own , a sweet contemporary romance, due out in June and then two more books in that series. Plus... oh, so much more!
CINDY:  You are truly amazing, Dawne. I really admire you. How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? DAWNE:  

Blog:  http://dawneprochilo.blogspot.com/Sweet Cravings Author Page: http://bit.ly/15ywshy
Thank you so much for taking the time to share a part of yourself with us. I really enjoyed getting to know you better.
Readers, please feel free to ask this awesome author questions through the comments section.

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In The Dog House: Author Mark Love

Mark Love has not lead a dog's life.
He's a Michigan native, who up until recently lived in the Metro Detroit area, where crime and corruption always seems to be at the top of the news. This gave him lots of opportunities to hear story ideas to jump start his imagination. Although he has worked in many different industries over the years, he worked as a freelance reporter for a couple of newspapers writing features and hard news that helped hone his writing talents.  Still, he has always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers and has now fulfilled that dream.
Welcome Mark to my blog.
CINDY:  Is Devious your first book?MARK:   No, I have two other books available, Fade Away and Desperate Measures .










CINDY:  What inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it? MARK:   I took a creative writing class in college and the instructor kept encouraging me to write a novel. It was an interesting process and I was intrigued by the fact that although I hadn’t planned it, the action and ending kept changing as the characters were developed. It’s always a great sense of accomplishment for me to complete a story and to see what kind of reactions I get from readers.



CINDY: What genre is Devious ?  Tell us a little about it.
MARK:  Devious falls into two genres, mystery and romance. When I originally started writing this, the romantic aspect was really secondary. But several friends who read the earlier drafts kept encouraging me to add more romance.  The main character is Jamie Richmond, a former reporter who is writing mystery novels. She’s an independent woman, with a stubborn streak and the determination to follow her ideas wherever they may take her. In order to gain some realism for a character in her next book, Jamie is riding along with a state trooper during an evening patrol. Near the end of his shift, she witnesses him being shot. Although the wound is not fatal, Jamie becomes haunted by the event. The police are stymied in their investigation. Jamie is determined to figure it out. Along the way she meets Malone, another police officer. They begin to date and as the chemistry builds, Jamie begins to wonder if there may be more to Malone than meets the eye.
CINDY: Wow! Sounds great. I'm excited to read it. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?  What part do you dislike?MARK:   I enjoy starting out with a basic idea and a couple of well developed characters and letting things go from there. I can’t work with an outline. It’s more enjoyable to let the characters interact and let them help steer the story.  The editing part is a necessary evil. But it’s something every writer must do.
CINDY: What motivated you to write Devious ?MARK:   I wanted to try and write a story from a woman’s perspective and see if I could make it believable. It was a challenge to keep the story moving and remain true to the character. I really had to learn what makes Jamie tick, what her fears and dreams are. She has her own set of insecurities along with her own strengths.
CINDY:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?MARK:   Yes, music is crucial to writing. I have difficulty working in silence. I will often use Pandora to set the mood, shuffling between classic rock, pop, guitar and piano instrumentals, jazz and Motown. I try to pick time when I won’t be interrupted, even if it’s just an hour, so I can focus on the story.
CINDY: If you could write yourself into one of your books what kind of character would you be? (e.g. the heroine, the best friend, the antagonist, strong, funny, supportive, etc.) MARK:  I’d probably be the supportive wise guy, someone the protagonist would feel comfortable brainstorming with, or getting together for a diversion and a good drink.
CINDY:  How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?MARK:   I tend to do a lot of research. For Devious I did an evening patrol with a state trooper and actually witnessed some of the events that ended up in the book. I also interviewed several other police officers and a friend who worked in a forensic lab. In the sequel, which is called Vanishing Act , I interviewed an aerobics instructor, a firefighter, another police officer, the owner of a spy store and a technology guru. I also had a friend provide me with certain passages in Italian, which I used to heighten the romance between two characters. I try to weave a lot of facts into my fiction. Also, I use real restaurants, theaters and stores, so the reader may identify with the locations.
CINDY: What has writing a book taught you about yourself?MARK:   Patience and perseverance. Sometimes I want to rush through a story and get to the end, but I don’t want to cheat my audience, my characters or myself. So I have to be diligent and see it all the way through, giving the right amount of background to keep the story moving.
CINDY: What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?MARK:   I’d like them to find the stories entertaining and enjoyable. Hopefully they may see something of themselves in the characters and their escapades. And they come back to read another one.



CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?MARK:   Vanishing Act  is the sequel to Devious  and is due to be out in May with Sweet Cravings. In this book, Jamie’s best friend, Linda makes her first appearance. She becomes swept up in a whirlwind romance. At the same time, she attracts the attention of someone else. On a cold, snowy Saturday, she disappears. Jamie can’t believe she would leave and is determined to find her.
CINDY:  Vanishing Act sounds awesome too! How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? MARK:   My books are available on Amazon. I don’t have a website yet, but here are my buy links: Desperate Measures on Amazon: http://amzn.to/Z4aHT5Fade Away on Amazon:  http://amzn.to/17HlOnUSweet Cravings Publishing:  http://bit.ly/YvXrTp

It has been a real pleasure having you on my blog.  I wish you much success and prosperity.  If you get the chance, stop by and answer questions and tell us your favorite dog breed.  Thanks again.


As always, feel free to leave comments or questions for Mark.
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In the Dog House With Me: Author Rhonda Laurel

I'm as happy as a flea in a dog house to have author Rhonda Laurel on my blog today.  Let's get started:
CINDY:  Is Memories of You your first book?RHONDA:   No, actually Memories of You is my fourth published work.  I’ve had three novellas published in the past year.
CINDY:  What inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it?  RHONDA:   I’ve always had a fertile imagination and wanted to share the movies that played in my head.  The ability to bring a book to a satisfying conclusion for the reader is often the motivation for me to complete and get it published. 

CINDY: What genre is Memories of You ?  Tell us a little about it. RHONDA:   Memories of You is contemporary romance.  It’s theCINDY: What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?  What part do you dislike?RHONDA:   I like outlining the best.  Putting together a string of ideas to compose a plot is exciting.  The synopsis is usually the hardest for me.  I feel like I’m etching the story into a stone tablet and it can’t be change once the synopsis is done.  Lol.
CINDY: What motivated you to write Memories of You ?RHONDA:   The motivation for me was to create a character that had to make a life altering decision and get a chance to see how that decision ripples through the rest of their life.
CINDY:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?RHONDA:   It depends.  Sometimes a song gives me an inspiration for the story.  But I do use mood music to assist me with scene writing. 
CINDY: If you could write yourself into one of your books what kind of character would you be? (e.g. the heroine, the best friend, the antagonist, strong, funny, supportive, etc.) RHONDA:   Since I am a third generation smart ass, I would be a good fit for the funny, supportive best friend.
CINDY:  How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?RHONDA:   I like to get some insight on the characters occupations, the geographical locations I select.  Most of my work is fiction but I often have stories set in states or cities I’ve visited.  I love California and have visited the state many times.  Many of my stories are based in California or on the west coast.
CINDY: What has writing a book taught you about yourself?RHONDA:   It has taught me patience!  From the concept of the story to reading the galleys, it’s all a process than will only have a positive outcome with a lot of patience.
CINDY: What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?RHONDA:   I want my readers to have a good combination of love, lust and laughter. The best part about the journey of a romance between two characters is how they deal with their issues in order to let love into their lives.
CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?RHONDA:   I released a novella titled Star Crossed on April 12th.  I also have two more projects to be released this year.  MVP is the sequel to my novella For the Love of the Game and California Bored and Tourism a short story releasing in July.
CINDY:  How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? RHONDA:  Website:  www.rhondalaurel.comFacebook:  www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurelTwitter:  https://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurelGood Reads:  http://www.goodreads.com/RhondaLaurelAmazon:  http://amazon.com/author/rhondalaurel
Rhonda, it was great having you here.  I wish you much success with all your writing endeavors.


Hey everybody, feel free to ask questions and leave comments for Rhonda.
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

In the Dog House With Me: Author Carolyn Wren

Hey, I got author Carolyn Wren to "Sit" and "Stay" just long enough to answer a few questions. She is one busy woman. Want to find out some of her secrets?  Read on!



Carolyn Wren





CINDY:  Is The Protectors: The Actress 3 your first book?CAROLYN:   It is the third book in my first published series.
CINDY:  What inspired you to write your very first full-length book? What kept you going to the very end?  How did you feel when you completed it?CAROLYN:   I had written my 7 part series, which were mostly novella sized.  One day I had another story pop in my head, a complex urban fantasy involving psychic abilities.  I had assumed it would be the same length as my previous works to date, but the characters spoke to me, their lives became more complex, and I just had to write what they were telling me to write! When I finished, I looked back at the 121,000 word manuscript in amazement.  It was a wonderful feeling.  My next three books were over 200,000 each so I guess I caught the long book bug!


CINDY: What genre is The Protectors: The Actress 3 ?  Tell us a little about it. CAROLYN:   The book is Romantic Suspense.  The series is about a group of covert operatives who form a legitimate agency, to do the work they wish to do, instead of being at the beck and call of governments around the world.  The Actress features Bryce Black, the technical wizard of the agency.  He is assigned to look after a fortune in diamonds featured on a wildly popular TV show and becomes attracted to the lead actress not realizing she is in danger from an obsessed fan.
CINDY: What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?  What part do you dislike?CAROLYN:   I love it when the solution to a difficult plot point suddenly resolves itself in my head.  That chapter I thought would be impossible becomes obvious and easy.  This tends to happen either at 3 am in the morning, or when I am pushing a shopping trolley around the supermarket.  I dislike the editing process, but only because I have to sit my creative muse in a corner and concentrate on the technical aspects of getting a manuscript ready for publication.  My creative muse is loud and enthusiastic, she doesn’t like to be put in a corner and told to sit and be quiet for a while.
CINDY: What motivated you to write The Protectors Series ?CAROLYN:   The Protectors was the very first thing I ever wrote.  I was lying in bed one night, unable to sleep. There was a full moon outside and the moonbeams were falling across the bed in an interesting pattern.  A scene came to me of a man holding a woman while she slept, with moonlight on her face.  That was it, just one scene, but I woke with an entire story in my head. I was literally motivated by moonlight, doesn’t that sound like a great name for a novel?
CINDY:  A lot of authors listen to music while they write.  Do you?  Do you have any rituals you do before, after or during writing?CAROLYN:   I cannot listen to music while I write, I find it distracting and prefer the room to be quiet.  But I do have pieces of music that inspire me for each story.  In a book I wrote recently I took my inspiration from Neil Diamond’s song Play me, because the line ‘For I was lonely, in need of someone,’ fit my character’s profile exactly.  My writing ritual is I have to have the prologue, the epilogue and the emotional connection of my characters in my head before I sit and begin to type.  My ‘before’ ritual is to open a new folder on my desktop, once I do that, I know I’m committed.  My ‘after’ ritual is to send the story to my favorite test reader.  I know she will always be honest with me, and I value her opinion highly.
CINDY: If you could write yourself into one of your books what kind of character would you be? (e.g. the heroine, the best friend, the antagonist, strong, funny, supportive, etc.) CAROLYN:   In The Protectors book 4 The Hostage, the female covert operative is tiny, only 5ft tall, the same as me.  SCINDY:  How much research do you do for one of your books?  How much of your book is fact, and how much is fiction?CAROLYN:   I do a lot of research, but I do it as I’m writing. In one paranormal book I had a flashback setting to a nunnery, and as I sat to write it I realized I had no idea what time period to set it in, and what exactly happened in medieval nunneries, so I had to stop, and do my research.  My books, even my as yet unpublished fantasy/paranormal books are all highly factual.  My logical brain won’t let me write something unless it is feasible.  I suspect it’s the downside of spending my academic life as a book-keeper.  Everything has to balance!
CINDY: What has writing a book taught you about yourself?CAROLYN:   It has taught me patience.  And it has opened up a whole world of wonderful creativity that I didn’t know existed within myself.
CINDY: What do you want your readers to gain from reading one of your books?CAROLYN:   I hope readers of this series enjoy the little threads that continue throughout all seven books, how previous characters pop in and out as cameos so we continue the stories of their lives.  It is something I really wanted to do with this series, and one of my favorite parts of the books. 
CINDY:  Do you have any plans for another book?  Can you give us any details?CAROLYN:   I have 7 books contracted for publication and 15 books on my desktop, 12 are completed.  I have so many ideas in my brain I don’t know which one to start first.  My urban fantasy is one I would like to work on next, it needs a lot of editing, but I love the story and think, once polished up, it could be something really different.  However, my friends are very keen for me to get back my regency romance.  I teased them with an opening chapter, and they all want to know what happens next!
CINDY:  How can readers find out more about you and your books? Do you have a website?  Where can they buy your books? CAROLYN:My website is www.carolynwren.comMy personal blog is www.carolynwrenauthor.wordpress.com  My group blog with 3 other wonderful authors is www.theromanticmuse.com The books are available as e-books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand, and ARe.My publisher"s buy links for the 3 books so far released in The Protector series are:  Diplomat's Daughter (The Protectors Series Book 1): http://bit.ly/16TfxlMThe Scientist (The Protectors Series Book 2): http://bit.ly/10NkfzjThe Actress (The Protectors Series Book 3): http://bit.ly/10UIyf3
(varying heat levels in these books)
Thank you, Carolyn. I really enjoyed getting to know more about you and your writing. I wish you tons of sales and success.
Please feel free to post questions or comments for Carolyn.
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com



Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

A Writer's Mind

I’m reading the book, The Night We Stole The Mountie’s Car , by Max Braithwaite.  He had written something so profound about writers that I had to wake my husband up to read it to him. I thought I’d share it with all you wonderful authors and the friends and families who have to deal with our craziness:
“And this is what happens with every writer.  At some point in every situation he begins to think of it [real life situations] as a story.  It doesn’t matter how intimate it is or whom it involves – friends, parents, wife, children – what happens to them sooner or later becomes material.  Somerset Maugham, the greatest story teller of my generation, once said that sooner or later everything that had ever happened to him was used in his writing.
“It’s a terrible thing in a way. To be always sort of sitting apart watching what is happening to you and to those about you and storing it away for future use.  But it is natural, too.  For a writer can only write that which he knows.  He must start with that.  Invention is important but there must be a board from which invention can spring.  To labour the comparison, fancy twists and turns in the air are not possible without that springboard to set them going.” ~ Max Braithwaite
I found this so amazing! I’m storing people’s real life situations away all the time. And I was just telling my husband that I can’t just make something up, there has to be a real life experience or emotion I can start with that I can then create my fictional story—that springboard!
Hopefully I not only store the experiences for future motivation but help those who have shared their story and, thus, a part of themselves.  Life is precious.  We should live in the here and now. Can you relate to a writer’s mind?
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense…and Dogs!Fly into a good book today at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock PhotosCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author