World Blog Tour . . .

WELCOME to the World Blog Tour!

Cindy Thomson is a writer and an avid genealogy enthusiast. 

Her love of history and her Scots-Irish heritage have inspired

 much of her writing, including her new Ellis Island series with 

Tyndale House Publishers. 

Cindy is also the author of 

Brigid of Ireland and Celtic Wisdom: Treasures from Ireland, 

and is co-author of the baseball biography 

Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story. 

In addition to books, Cindy has written on a regular basis for numerous online and print publications and is a mentor 

for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. 

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers 

and the Historical Novel Society. 

Cindy and her husband have three grown sons
and live in central Ohio. 

Visit her online at www.cindyswriting.com 

or on Twitter: @cindyswriting.

Thank you, Cindy Thomson for inviting me to join you on this World Blog Tour! 

They can be found on Amazon here:

Amazon

Now on to the questions and my answers!
What am I working on?

• I'm finishing up the second book of my mystery series, called Bat Crazy and here's a brief blurb about it:

Overhearing a strange conversation while at a dilapidated diner in a dusty town in New Mexico about vampire bats and a murder, Denton and Alex head straight to the new-found/opened cavern. They’re immediately thrown into the search for the person who is holding something over almost every employee working at the facility. What is the reason behind the threats and scares, and is there really vampire bats attacking visitors--or is it all a hoax? Are the young girl and boy as innocent as they proclaim or are they involved and hiding the truth? Will Denton and Alex solve this mystery before the vampire bat attacks them?

The first one is Hog Insane.

• I'm also finishing edits on a contemporary suspense set in Montana.
• And continuing to work on other books in series, plus a historical, light suspense while plotting other books when the time is right to begin them.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?
I do a ton of research for whatever suspenseful/mysterious novel I'm working on and I also try to inject a touch of humor. In the case of my mystery series, Denton Davies is at the right age to be set in his ways, define life by his own terms, and have a little dry humor about him. It helps keep the mystery novel lighthearted and an easy read, which is what I aimed for.

Even in my other more serious books, I like to share a moment or two of sweetness, humor or lightheartedness that eases the tension just enough to give the reader a chance to breathe. Lol.

And I like to believe (verification from writer friends and readers) that I have my own unique writing style. I insist on delving deep into the personal's feelings and bringing them to bear in the story. Most of all, I thank God for the original talent he's given me and the opportunity to follow my dreams.


Why do I write what I do?

All my life, I've loved suspense and mysteries. I devoured mystery books as a child and teen, so it was the logical choice to write the same. Notebooks were filled with childish-handwritten stories of other children/teens my age solving mysteries.

Even though I devoted years to my husband's and my ministry, I never forgot the love hidden within me to write seriously. One day, I realized and spoke to my hubby: it was now or never. That thought was impressed upon me, and I began writing fiction as a profession.

Only this time it was different. I was serious about pursuing writing as a career. In due process, my debut novel was published, then a second book was released, and now I have a WWII romantic suspense due out in November.

Suspense and/or mystery touches, and will continue to do so, all of my novels. It's my favorite genre, and why would I do otherwise?


How does my writing process work?

• Usually with an idea. 
• Then the hard part begins: the plotting. This will take time, even during the writing, as I'm a seat of the pants writer. 
• Research is vital in my writing. Although I seldom use it all, I like to know what my protagonist may (or may not) run up against. I like details that will bring the setting and era alive. I like to know how the characters would talk, how they dress, what they like to eat, what they do for fun and work. There are always plenty of things, minor and major, details to be worked out. 
• Writing and finishing. It's one thing to begin a project, but quite another to pursue and push through to the end. It takes determination and effort to sit down every day, or as your schedule is, and type, even when the words aren't there or a million other things scream for your attention. 
• Editing. As lots of authors will tell you, it never gets done. Of course, there is a time when you have to lay down your "pen" and say, It's finished. But many of us edit and edit and edit again. Guilty! :)

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out not only my novels, but Cindy's as well!
Blessings!