Wednesday, April 02, 2014

A Warm Welcome to My Author Friend, Cynthia Hickey

I'm thrilled to have Cynthia visiting today. Please be sure to leave a comment and your email addy for a chance to win her book!

How long have you known that you were a writer?  Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life? 
I’ve loved writing since the time I learned to read. Reading became my escape while living in a rural area and soon I was making up stories of my own. In high school, I started my first “book”, a romantic suspense about an evil cult. Who knows, maybe it will see the light of day sometime.


What is the genre you write in?  Would you explain what it is? 
I write cozy mysteries, fun, light-hearted stories of everyday heroines getting in and out of trouble. I also write historical romances, books that take the reader back in history and reveal God’s will on their lives.


How do you spend your writing days?  Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day?  Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel? 
I strive to write 3,000 a day, Monday thru Friday. I can usually write a 50,000 word novel in 4-6 weeks, unless life gets in the way.


What is the spiritual message in your latest book?  What can readers expect to get from reading it? 
To stop and listen to God’s plan for your life. Often we rush ahead without waiting. It’s so much easier when we don’t go at things alone.


You recently had another book published.  Would you take this time to describe it to us?  How and where can readers buy your books? 
All my books are listed on my website at www.cynthiahickey.com. My previous book, as is this one, are both books that deal with the Harvey Girls from history. Women who tamed the west by working in the Fred Harvey restaurants and hotels along the Santa Fe Railroad.


Where do you get ideas?  Character names?  Do you find your characters similar to you in any way? 
Most of my characters are as headstrong as I am. We have to make a conscious effort to slow down. I get my ideas everywhere; something I heard, something I read


Do you ever feel like giving up?  Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer.  How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through?  Who’s inspired you the most? 
I can’t imagine giving up. In May 2013, God blessed me by allowing me to quit the day job and write full time. I want to honor that blessing by writing.


Would you explain how you “chose” (or was chosen by) a publisher? Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced? 
Hmmm. No, if anything the work doubles after getting published. You need to get the next book out while editing and/or marketing another one. It’s a lovely roller-coaster ride that I don’t ever want to get off of.


Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes?  Hobbies, interests?  Where would you like to travel if you could?  Etc. 
I enjoy reading, crocheting, designing my own book covers, and putting family photos onto DVD montages and setting them to music. I would love to tour the US and Europe. This is a great big beautiful world we live in and I would like to see as much of it as possible.


Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out?   Anything else you’d like to share?  Promotional information?
My website has all 30+ of my books, some print, some ebook and can be found at www.cynthiahickey. Thank you so much for allowing me to visit.

BIO:
Multi-published and Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey had three cozy mysteries and two novellas published through Barbour Publishing. Her first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, won first place in the inspirational category of the Great Expectations contest in 2007. Her third cozy, Chocolate-Covered Crime, received a four-star review from Romantic Times. All three cozies have been re-released as ebooks through the MacGregor Literary Agency, along with a new cozy series, all of which stay in the top 50 of Amazon’s ebooks for their genre. She has several historical romances releasing in 2013 and 2014 through Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents. She is active on FB, twitter, and Goodreads. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs and two cats. She has five grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”. Visit her website at www.cynthiahickey.com



Folks, be sure to leave your email and a comment for a chance to win Cynthia's book! Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings.

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