Please join me in welcoming the amazing Cindy Nord to the blog!
Have you always had a passion for writing?
My passion for
writing began many years ago. As a young
divorcee completely disillusioned by romance, I sought enjoyment in reading. Then,
finally, on a lonely New Year’s Eve, I tucked my two young son’s into bed,
poured myself a glass of wine, then pulled out my old Tower typewriter. With a
strong belief in a ‘happily-ever-after’ I began to craft a love story which
would contain all the elements I felt a true hero should possess. THAT was the
night I gave birth to a Civil War love story, NO GREATER GLORY, which
ultimately became a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist, which
landed me my fabulous agent. Lo and behold, my journey toward publication began.
Does what you read influence what you write and what are some
of your favorite authors/books?
I
love historical romance. The elements I
look for in a novel that I read for pleasure are a captivating love story,
characters who I can fall in love with, and detailing that sweeps me right straight
back into the time period. I have many
romance novels on my keeper shelf, but as I glance at them several stand out to
me, and are as timely & moving as they were when I first them: THE OUTSIDER by Penelope Williamson. GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell. LOVE & WAR by Patricia Hagan. Good
heavens, the list goes on and on.
What are your biggest inspirations?
People. So many people inspire me to do better,
strive harder, and reach farther. Their
successes are what inspires me to continue in my quest every day.
Do you have a technique in how you choose characters and/or
locational settings?
Some
of my characters have been born in my mind before I even start writing a
book. And others only after I’m in the
process of creating. They literally
‘talk to me’…lol. For example, Dillon [the hero of my third novel &
sidekick of Jackson Neale] just would not take a back seat in my second novel
[With Open Arms…the love story of Callie Cutteridge and Jackson Neale] until I
promised him he could have his own dang book!! And I always place my characters
in settings that I love myself. ♥
Do you listen to music while you are creating your
masterpieces?
Absolutely…especially
when I crafting a love scene or writing involved conflict. And my music choices
vary so greatly from Enya to Garth Brooks to The Eagles to Beethoven. See? I’m a writer, so my mood changes with
the wind.
What do you do to stay motivated and avoid writer’s block?
I
always run things past my husband and we’ll sit down & discuss upcoming
scenes and potential plot twists. Oh,
and bottles of wine….lots and lots of organic Pinot Noir…lol. ♥
How has becoming a published author changed your perspective
on life and is it everything you expected it to be?
I didn’t realize how extremely busy my life would become upon being
published. I find myself with less time
to actually write, so I must be even more focused than ever before and follow
guidelines that I have set for myself. I
love the opportunities and ‘opened doors’ that being a historical romance writer
has presented to me. From interacting with so many amazingly wonderful authors
that I have admired for years, to meeting incredibly supportive bloggers,
readers, and leaders in the publishing industry, I cannot ask for a better ‘career’
than this one.
What are your biggest challenges as an author?
Balancing my
time and attention between writing, social media, my family and my friends…and,
of course, finding just that perfect word to use in a sentence…after all, it’s
all about the emotions.
Do you have any pets?
Two
spoiled-rotten Shetland Sheepdogs….Shelties, of course. Our oldest boy’s AKC name is Charleston’s Own
Captain Rhett Butler Nord, but we just call him Buddy. And our little girl is Atlanta’s Own Katy
Scarlett O’Hara Nord, otherwise affectionately called Katy.
What hobbies do you have outside of reading and writing?
Gardening.
RV camping and traveling. Hiking. Bicycling. And going on luxurious cruises
with the hubster. ♥
Where is the most exciting/memorable place you have been in
the world?
Too
numerous to pick just one…from the Mayan Ruins deep in Mexico’s core to the
beauty and splendor of the Grand Canyon to the hauntingly poignant monuments of
the bloodstained Civil War battlefields across this nation, each and every
place has burned a spot inside our heart. ♥
Tell us about your latest work in progress or most recent
published work…
I am currently writing AN
UNLIKELY HERO, Book Three of my Four-book THE CUTTERIDGE SERIES for Samhain
Publishing. Book One, NO GREATER GLORY, was the #1 Civil War Romance at Amazon
for nearly a year. And Book Two, WITH
OPEN ARMS, just debuted on August 5th, and is currently the #1
Bestselling Historical Western at Samhain.
My webpage: www.cindynord.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Nord/e/B008VJZSPE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1407793476&sr=1-2-ent
Amazon link (With Open Arms):
http://amzn.com/B00KT23WO0
Amazon link (No Greater Glory):
http://amzn.com/B008GWOI9S
Barnes & Noble NOOK link (With Open Arms): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/with-open-arms-cindy-nord/1119742281?ean=9781619225435
Barnes & Noble NOOK link (No Greater Glory): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-greater-glory-cindy-nord/1112120177?ean=9781619212435
Cindy’s Facebook ‘Coffee Klatch’:
https://www.facebook.com/cindy.nord.9
Cindy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnord2
Goodreads (With Open Arms): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22441708-with-open-arms
Hi Owl,
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Loved how your characters "speak to you". Mine speak to me, too, and at any time of the day or the night - which is why I always have pen and paper close at hand. You never know when inspiration will strike, so it's better to be prepared. I also take notes on my iPhone. Your books sounds so interesting. Way to go... from the other Owl, Hibou Perché. :)
OWL!! My Canadian pal! I'm delighted you enjoyed my lil' chat. Thxs for stopping by to share your thoughts. I've just dropped your name into my white wicker basket over here. And yes'm, our characters are livin', breathing folks, are they not? I like that you keep that pad o' paper handy. I do exactly the same thing. Although, a time or two, I've been known to scratch a phrase on a nearby cocktail napkin...lol. ☺ Warmest regards... ~ Cindy
DeleteHoo Hoo to you, my US Owl. Oh well, I've done the same thing... You see, sometimes, I run out of paper. :) :)
DeleteTerrific interview! Your characters become real to me, the reader (the one with the toothpicks holding my eyelids up because I can't put the book down at 3AM, ha), too. Oh, how writers like you enrich my world! P.S. Pinot Noir helps everything, doesn't it?! ;)
ReplyDeleteTeri...so pleased you popped in! I'm delighted you enjoyed my 'ramblings'...I remember chuckling when you first shared about those toothpicks! LOL. And I'll let you in on a lil' secret...I've had to use 'em a time or two myself! Biggest hugs...~ Cindy ♥
DeleteGreat interview, Owl! It's always fun to see behind the scenes and what inspires others to write. Boy howdy, do our people ever speak to us, yell at us and are sometimes just downright ornery, but don't we just love them all. Your stories are magnificent!
ReplyDeleteThxs for dropping in, Rustler...I truly appreciate your wonderful Wyoming cheer!! ♥ And, btw, darlin'...I think your stories are magnificent, too. HUGS!
DeleteOooookay...I've just had the hubster pull out the winning name from my wicker basket! CONGRATULATIONS to Liette Bougie who has won a free e-copy of BOTH my books. And thank you all for dropping into visit! I love sharing about me 'n my journey to writing historical romance. Huge thank you also to Johanna Rae for the invitation to come & sit-a-spell, too! Warmest regards, ~ Cindy ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for stopping by and commenting on the interview. Cindy, thanks for appearing :)
ReplyDelete