Author Interview: Cindy C Bennett author of Heart on a Chain

Cindy C Bennett lives in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains near Salt Lake City. She has spent several years doing volunteer work with teen girls, whom she finds to be fascinating creatures - hence, her writing stories for and about them. When not reading or writing, she loves to spend time with her family which includes a husband, two sons, two daughters and two dogs. She does her best creating while cruising down the highway on her Harley Davidson Fatboy. HEART ON A CHAIN is currently her only published novel, though she has another coming out at the end of September, and a third the beginning of December.



Author Name Cindy C Bennett aka Geek Girl



Name of Book Heart on a Chain



Description of Book



17-year-old Kate has lived her whole life in abject poverty, with an alcoholic father and drug-addicted mother, who severely abuses Kate. At school, her second-hand clothing marks her as a target. Her refusal to stand up for herself makes her the recipient of her classmates taunts and bullying. That is, until Henry returns.



Henry Jamison moved away six years earlier, just as he and Kate had begun to develop feelings for one another. He returns to find the bright, funny, outgoing girl he had known now timidly hiding in corners, barely speaking to anyone around her, suspicious of even him.



Kate can't figure out what game Henry is playing with her - for surely it is a game. What else would the gorgeous, popular boy from her past want with her? Kate finally decides to trust Henry's intentions, opening her heart to him. Just when it seems he might be genuine in his friendship, tragedy strikes, threatening everything Kate has worked so hard to gain. Can Henry help her to overcome this new devastation, or will it tear them apart forever?



Where to Find

Amazon

Barnes and Noble



Author's Website http://cindybennett.blogspot.com



And now for the in depth questions :)



RJ Palmer

Is there a work of your own of which you are particularly fond? Why?



Cindy C Bennett

Heart on a Chain (so far) because it deals with the tough issues of abuse at home and bullying at school, and how one girl deals with them. It was tough to write in places, because I wanted to show the violence of living such a life, but not be so graphic that it would disturb some of my younger readers. I wanted to show how she's able to rise above this place that others have put her, to become strong on her own terms, and to learn the self-confidence that has been stripped from her.



RJ Palmer

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Your least favorite?



Cindy C Bennett

My favorite part is imagining the stories, then putting them down on (virtual) paper. I've always loved to make up stories. I played with my Barbie's a lot as a girl because it was making up my own world, my own stories, on my own terms. I wasn't bound by anyone elses ideas or rules. When I grew too old for dolls, I began writing which is nothing more than a different form of the same type of creativity.



My least favorite part is a tie between editing and formatting. Both are time consuming, and not fun at all! By the time I'm finished with the two, I'm somewhat sick of whichever book I'm working on. Luckily, after time passes, I become fond of the book again.



RJ Palmer

Describe in your own words (for there can be no other way) what direction it is to which you aspire when it comes to your work. Where do you want your work to take you?



Cindy C Bennett

I really just want to share these stories that I make up. I want to write good, interesting, entertaining books. I have no illusions of writing the next Great American Novel, or even the next Twilight. I hope that people appreciate the entertainment value of my books, and not try to make them into anything more than they are.



It would be nice if eventually I made enough to stay home and just write, and be able to support myself on that. That would be the best!



RJ Palmer

Most writers have a favorite genre when it comes to reading that is not necessarily the genre in which they write, do you write in your favorite genre? If so, why? If not, why not?



Cindy C Bennett

I actually do write in my favorite genre. I love the array of YA books available now. When I first began reading YA a few years ago, my writing changed. Previously, I had started a bunch of unfinished manuscripts in a variety of genre's, but hadn't found the one that I was passionate enough about to write an entire novel. When I discovered YA, I discovered the kind of writing I could be passionate about, and that's when I finished my first manuscript.



RJ Palmer

Do you have a favorite quote from a writer that you use for inspiration? What is it and why?



Cindy C Bennett

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." This is an anonymous quote, but I love it. This encapsulates what I try to accomplish with my books - transport the reader into another world, another life, for a little while.



RJ Palmer

Some writers tend to have a unique step in their writing process that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual writing but has everything to do with inspiration or balance. Most people would call it a little bit OCD. Do you have such a step? Would you care to share what it is?



Cindy C Bennett

When I'm thinking of a concept, or even just a specific scene that's important to the story, I like to be alone, close my eyes, and try to sink myself into the characters minds. I try to figure out why they are making the decisions they are, what in their past has shaped those decisions. Then I imagine it as a movie in my mind, play the whole thing out. This has the dual purpose of helping me write, and also of entertaining myself. Weird, I know, but I am able to completely entertain myself by making up stories.



I would like to thank Cindy C Bennett for participating and encourage readers and viewers alike to please check Cindy C Bennett out, her story may be just what you were looking for.