I don’t want anyone to go away empty handed so as an added treat, I just wanted to let you all know that I have TWO FREE READS at The Wild Rose Press. All you have to do is go over and download it at no charge.

A Girl, A Goon, And A Uniform

After an eight-hour graveyard shift, the last thing police officer Jesse Morales needs is to run into his reporter neighbor, Mason Averill, and her teasing smiles. But when she asks for his help, how can he refuse? He may be trained to react to any scenario, but he has no idea what misfortunes await him in the form of the spitfire investigative writer.

Teaser excerpt:

“You’re just the man in uniform I’ve been looking for.”
“Excuse me?”
It was nine a.m., and I was beat after an eight hour graveyard shift, working uniform patrol. I wanted to take a shower and catch some sleep. The last thing I needed was an exchange with Mason Averill and her flirtatious flash of a smile.
“Officer Morales, I need you.” She crossed her arms and tapped the toe of her red high-heel shoe on the sidewalk. I couldn’t help but gulp as I took in her sexy long legs peering out from under that short black skirt of hers.
“I mean, I need your help.” She batted her baby blues, and I knew I was a lost man.

To read more ~ Download it today.

The Thing About Temping

You know it’s a bad day when you come face to face with a corpse. Yep, a dead body. I’m Nora Maitland and little did I know what would happen the day I showed up as a temporary employee at the office of Nicholas Chandler, private detective.

You can download it for FREE Today!

I hope you will go and download those today and enjoy

If you’d like to join my newsletter which includes the free short story series, Valentine’s Challenge, please send me an email at newsletters@cindykgreen.com

Goodnight,

As a published author myself, I’ve been asked on many occasions who my favorite author is…who has inspired me most. Time and time again, I have responded—Jane Austen. It seems like an easy response, almost cliché. I mean how many times have you heard this same exact response from several authors?? But let me reiterate—I really love Jane Austen and if you want to ruffle my feathers spell her name A-U-S-T-I-N. It’s AUSTEN! Get it right people. But now I digress.

When we choose a favorite author, I suppose it is because we love their writing and can’t get enough of it, and as authors—wish we were as good as they. That is exactly how I feel about Jane. Miss Austen had a special gift, a talent if you will, not just in writing but in knowing people. Think about it. Here is this prim and proper (though some would argue this point) Regency era woman, unmarried, and coming from the middle of the social pool—and she has this uncanny ability to write the most terrific characters. She wrote characters to hate, laugh at, and fall in love with. Some of the other greats of classic literature also had this remarkable ability—Dickens for instance and Shakespeare. Think of their casts of characters that once read will never be forgotten.

For me, a good book is dependant on well-written characters far more than plot. Yes, we need a telling plot to keep the story going, but it is the characters which take us on the journey. I have only begun my adventure as a published author, having had my first book published in December 2006 and number nine and ten coming next year; but when I come to the end of this excursion, I hope there is someone out there who can say ‘Cindy Green wrote characters that I will never forget..’

If there is one thing I have learned from Jane Austen it is to observe people and try to make my characters as real as possible. Why is it that the likes of JA and Shakespeare are still read and revered to this very day? It’s because they wrote people that are true of the human spirit which will never change. That is the kind of author I want to be when I grow up. I want to make you laugh, make you think and in the end make you remember.

Anyone want to share a bit about their favorite author?

When you become an author, especially with the small presses, one of the most important things you’re told to do is brand yourself—no not like cattle—more like Frito Lay, Nestle, or Ford. You have to sell yourself and your writing as an author. Create an online presence. Readers need to get to know you—how you write and what you write. But what about those of us who love to skip around and experiment in the genres? Is that you? Do you too feel like you just haven’t found your writing niche quite yet? Okay, put your hands down. You are among friends.

When I’m asked: ‘What do you write? What’s your genre?’ I seriously have to make out a list. And I make no excuses for it. I love skipping from genre to genre, stretching my writer’s legs or fingers. Or to be more precise my imagination and my writer’s niche. It keeps the writing fresh and exciting. In the beginning, I branded myself as a Sweet and Inspirational author. I still do, but recently I’ve added to it sensual—as my last two finished works are much more that way. As for other subgenres, there’s also: Young Adult, American Victorian Historical, Mainstream Contemporary, and Romantic Suspense.

This spring I increased that list when I wrote my first high fantasy romance. I finished it in four weeks. Seriously, I felt like my fingers were on fire. One DAY in fact, I accomplished writing seven thousand words. It was amazing. I stretched my comfort zone and included a new genre to my repertoire. It’s a wonderful story of adventure with a kidnapping, a pampered princess, a land forbidden of magic and a silver-tongued masked outlaw hero. Fun stuff, I tell ya. And I just received a publishing contract for it this month.

Last month, I decided it was time for me to write my first historical western. Now this is not my chosen genre by any means. In fact, I’d never even read this genre until about three years ago when I started reading the work of a friend of mine. But they really are just so darn fun and sexy. I had to give it a try. This short story wrote in three days and I had the most fun. Again I pushed myself to try something new, to expand and move into an entirely new realm of romantic fiction, and I’m so glad I did.

So what’s my writing niche? Ask me again in ten more years. Maybe I’ll have figured it out by then. But in the meantime, I’m having the time of my life figuring it out and writing the stories of my heart.

I find that I write in my favorite reading genres. What genres do you all like to read??

The economy is in a downward spiral and no one is exempt. Companies are closing their doors all over and authors are feeling the crunch as more and more small presses fold to the bigger guys.

I’ll have to add my name to the roster of authors who’ve lost a publishing home for their creations. Two of my publishers, By Grace Publishing and their sister imprint, Moonlit Romance, will close their doors come December 31^st. That means I’ll have four orphans on my hands looking for a new home.

When I heard this news a couple months ago, I was stunned, maybe thrown a little bit off balance, but not completely crushed. I understand the reason our owner and publisher made this decision and I wish her well. In the New Year, I’ll get paid whatever I’ve earned and have the rights to these stories returned to me. It’s all good.

I’ve had other author friends surprised by my positive reaction. In truth, I wouldn’t call myself a glass-is-half-full kind of person. I’m a realist and actually looking forward to sprucing up these titles and shopping them around until I find them a suitable new showcase. I’m sure another reason I’m not devastated is that I have several other books and short stories with another publisher with a couple more to come out next year. It helps not to have placed all my eggs in the same basket.

By Grace Publishing is the place I got my start in the publishing game. They gave me a chance and from that first book I’ve been able to launch a career. I’m thankful for their faith in me and the experience I gained with them. One of the books that will be going out of print at the end of the year is my very first published book, The Spirit of Christmas. I absolutely love this book, and I even read it myself every Christmas. Of course, I’m not biased or anything. Even the reviewer, Krista, here at Coffee Time Romance loved it. Here’s what she had to say:

“This story gets 4 cups because it enthralls you to the end. The characters in this story are very believable for the simple fact that many people have lost their Christmas spirit. The Nick Pringles of this world still cling to the joy Christmas can bring. Ms. Green is a fabulous writer who can write a heartfelt story. She takes you on an emotion filled ride of ups and downs, yet through it all there is hope. Her way with words leaves you wanting more and fulfills. The little tricks Kathryn came up with to try to figure out who her Secret Santa is had me laughing. I laughed often during the book because the friendship that Kathryn and Nick share is really wonderful. The feelings that Kathryn and Nick have came across as very genuine. This book could be read any time, but it is a good Christmas story to remind you to enjoy giving.”

I still get chills reading that review. And it is reading things like this which bolsters my spirit to keep writing, to keep surging forward and to never give up on the dream. I know there are many authors out there who have also lost homes for their books. Never give up. You worked so hard to get where you are today. Persevere and you will see your words available to the eager readers out there. So keep writing. Your next one just might be that New York Times Best Seller.

If you would like to read an excerpt from The Spirit of Christmas or any of my other soon to be homeless books, please stop by my WEBSITE.

Guilty Pleasures, come on, we all have them. What’s yours? Is it chocolate? Okay, if you are female and breathing that one is a given? Shoes or shopping in general?? What is it?

My guilty pleasure is watching period drama films. I love them! In fact, my sister comes over every Tuesday for a weekly dose of handsome, dashing men in cravats. The place that has really keyed me in on several period drama miniseries is YouTube. There is a real community of movie goers on there who love these types of films and they share their love through their videos. I can’t tell you how many great conversations I’ve had with these ladies and how many DVDs I’ve purchased due to their creative undertaking.

I often wonder why I love the Period Drama so much. I’m sure it stems from my love for classic literature, history and romance. And darn it those lovely British men in cravats are just too beguiling. I did mention the cravats, didn’t I?? I’d have to say my favorite ‘recent’ films in this genre would be Pride & Prejudice (2005), Persuasion (2007), North & South (2004) and Becoming Jane (2007). I could watch those ones over and over.

I just had to add a picture here of my favorite literary hero, Captain Wentworth, played here my the wonderful Rupert Penry Jones or as we refer to him over at YouTube—RPJ.

So, now I’ve shared. Let’s hear some of your guilty pleasures. And if you too enjoy the Period Drama, please tell what your favorites are. Okay time for a tea and biscotti break. My dh just bought me a huge box of chocolate biscotti the other day. Gotta love the man.

For those of you unfamiliar with this author, Grace was a Christian romance novelist of another age (called the Mother of Inspirational Romance). Her first book was published way back in 1877 and she continued writing books until her death in 1947—more than a hundred titles. She was incredibly popular in her lifetime and her books continue to be good sellers to this day. Within her romantic stories were plainly defined Christian messages, a clear cut delineation between good and evil, and an ending that brought resolution to problems both physical and/or spiritual.

She is an author I look up to and who still inspires me in my writing today. In fact, it was after reading one of her books back in 2003 that I decided to write my own for the first time. Three years later my first book was published. Authors are busy people. We get wrapped up in our writing and promotion, make time for our families, and try to accomplish some housework. It is very easy to loose track of what we really are doing.

As inspirational authors more than any other genre, we really have a responsibility to our readers. I never realized that until my first Inspirational, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding, released. I received so many emails from readers on how much this book touched them. Then they would give examples from the story on how this situation was similar to something they experienced or that character was just like them or their daughter. Some of their stories were incredibly emotional. I was moved by the response and even educated. I wasn’t just writing for me, I was writing for them and the impact I would make.

At the end of last year, I wrote another Inspirational story, Relationship Rescue. It’s just a short story but one with great emotional drive and a dollop of humor. It’s very hard for me to write without some form of humor. This story came from an idea of—what if a couple broke off their engagement because one still hadn’t figured out what love was all about. He still had some growing up to do both spiritually and emotionally. And what if friends of theirs saw the unhappiness of this broken up couple and decided to get them back together…well, at least talking again? What would happen then?? That is the premise behind this story. It released this past September from The Wild Rose Press. I’m happy to have another Inspirational story to add to my collection. I write in several genres because I just love them all, but Inspirational is close to my heart and no matter where I go or what I do I will remain an Inspirational reader and writer. I really must thank Grace Livingston Hill for that. She instilled the love of romance and even more the Christian romance into my heart and that is something which will stay with me to the end.

So…everybody dish, what was your first experience with romance??

Since I’m going to be here all day today, I thought it would be fun to have a contest. All you have to do is leave me comments and questions. I’ll be sure to respond. At the end of the day, I’ll have a drawing of all participants for a free pdf of one of my books. Sound good. Great! I’l be back in a bit with some more topics of conversation. Make sure to get yourself something hot to drink and settle back into a comfy chair.

Hello Coffee Time readers and authors. I’m Cindy Green and I’ll be your guest hostess today. I have oodles to say and I sure hope you’ll come out and talk with me. But first my official ‘long’ biography and then I’ll be back and post some more after I feed my kids some breakfast.

Cindy K. Green was born in Anaheim, California and lived all her growing up years mere miles from Disneyland. She is the oldest of 5 children and the only non-twin in the family. Her mother was and is a Christian school teacher and her father works for a pharmaceutical company.

Growing up, Cindy loved to read and write. She would write poetry, sometimes even during science class, and silly short stories for her siblings. In jr. high and high school, she won a couple poetry and fiction writing contests, but her favorite subject in school was history. She could remember dates and events without even studying. More than that, it was the story of how events affected people which really drew her in.

In college, she majored in history and put her fiction writing on the shelf. Cindy won academic awards for her writing including the Jack Chinski Memorial Award for Holocaust Studies for her paper “Jewish Women in the Resistance to the Holocaust.” She started working in education at this time as a teacher’s aid in an elementary school. Before graduating from college, she got married and had her first son. Those last college years were crazy with classes, teaching, and being mother and wife. Then she started teaching Jr. High full-time.

When son number two came along, Cindy was able to quit working and stay home with baby and her older 1st grade son. She began homeschooling the oldest, caring for the baby, and attending graduate school. Then a great change came to her life – she and her husband decided to join the rest of her family in North Carolina. There she was in a brand new state away from all that she knew, away from friends, away from college. So what did she do? She finally started to write again.

After writing a YA WWII novel, a suspense, and an inspirational romance, she was introduced to By Grace Publishing. It was July of 2006 when she found they were acquiring Christmas stories. She decided to write one. The Spirit of Christmas wrote in six days and was accepted. Now two years later, she also writes for Moonlit Romance and The Wild Rose Press in several genres including: historical, chicklit, suspense, fantasy, contemporary, and inspirational. Her recent releases include a chicklit novella, Meeting Mr. Right Online, a suspense, NovelTea Next Door and an Inspirational, Relationship Rescue. To learn more about Cindy and her books, visit www.cindykgreen.com.