1. How did you get started writing?
I never wanted to be a writer. I was a whale reader, from the moment I could hold a book. But one morning I woke up with an idea in my head and it grew and grew until I had no choice but to start putting it down on paper. That idea became a YA series, Curse of Kin.
2. Out of all your books, which one is your favourite and why?
Taming the Outback is the first book I had picked up by a publisher and the story that got me hooked on writing what I know – small towns and cowboys. In Australia we have a different name for them, but they ride horses, work the land and make our hearts beat faster, so potato, potato.
3. If your friends were asked to describe you in one word, what would it be?
Bossy (I call it organized).
4. What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?
Baking. I’ve always loved to cook but I inherited a thermomix recently and during covid, I’m not sure that was a good idea. If we ever get back to the gym I just might be able to reverse the damage. Maybe. Meh!
5. What do you love most about the genre you write?
Everyone loves a cowboy, right? I grew up on the land and it’s my happy place. Every time I start a new story its like coming home to old friends. Sounds corny but its true. So much of me is in my stories.
6. What do you want readers to take from your books?
Everyone wants to be happy and no matter what your circumstances are, you deserve it. A lot of my stories are second chance romances. Just because your first love didn’t work out, doesn’t mean the next one will fail too.
7. Describe yourself in 3 words.
Organised, caring, tired.
8. What made you decide to write in your current genre?
My first stories were YA paranormal but I wanted to push myself so I entered a romance competition. That book got picked up within 24 hours of me submitting it and my publisher pushed for more books. I did six for them before I went over to the dark side.
9. Tell us about your current release/or new release?
I’m busy writing madly for my new series, Wishbone Texas. Texas Cowboy and Texas Lawman are out already. Texas Crooner is in edits and I’m flat out writing the next book, untitled as yet. I have a vet as my hero, the girl he stood up in high school as the local animal rescuer and an ex-racehorse headed for the meat works over the border. With the no kill rule in Texas, she has insiders rescuing as many animals as they can and rehoming them.
All is fine until the Kentucky breeder who sent the horse away finds out the vet he fired for incompetence has managed to get the animal back on its feet and demands its return. I’m a little bit excited about this story and its coming along well.
I’m aiming for a book release a month until the main stories in this series are out. Eight to begin with and then I’ll decided if there will be any extra characters calling for their own story.
10. What does your writing space look like?
You don’t want to know, honestly. I have a huge antique desk a friend gave me and by the time the current WIP is done, you can barely see it for the mess. It does get cleaned up before I start the next book though so I’m not a full on slob. Promise.
11. What’s the one piece of technology you can’t live without?
My Mac. It goes with me everywhere like a faithful friend.
12. Do you find it hard to kill off your characters?
Not at all. I’m more scared about what my readers will say to me.
13. How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
I don’t set out to use people I know but sometimes it’s like the perfect scenario. I never use their names though. That would be weird especially during ‘ahem,’ sex scenes. ‘whistles off key’
14. What are you working on now? Can you share a teaser of it with our readers?
This is an excerpt from my Texas vet story unedited –
Lissa followed her into the office. “Be sensible, Rebel. These animals need medical help and we have no money or credit left. Your bank is dry so I don’t think we have much choice. I hear tell that he’s working on the family ranch, bumming around until he finds something more ‘suitable.’ Maybe if you ask nicely, he’ll come here and do some work for charity.”
“I can’t do it.” The shame still burned her gut. She was vulnerable back then and he’d let her down. That wasn’t a forgivable scenario. Not in her book.
“You have no choice. Unless you want to throw yourself on your father’s mercy, that is.”
Damned sneak! She knew that would get a reaction. Rebel swallowed. How hard could it be. She’d pretend he hadn’t embarrassed her in front of the whole school and act like the adult she was. She could do it. Rebel had crawled over broken glass to raise money for the rescue center. What was one meeting with her lifelong crush going to do to her?
“I don’t think it’ll work.” She was such a chicken when it came to it. Especially the Wilson boys. Cody in particular.
Lissa sat on the corner of her desk. “Pull on your big girl panties and make it work. Cody or your father. Choose one.”
15. Is there one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing?
I adore reading suspense. Like Karin Slaughter, Michael Robotham suspense. Maybe one day….
16. What do you do when a flash of inspiration hits you at an inopportune moment?
Write it down anyway because I know if I don’t, I’ll never remember. My family are used to it.
17. What keeps you going while writing?
Being the family breadwinner and the next story tapping my brain for its turn. Lucky I love what I do.
18. What’s next for you?
Finish this series while trying to figure out the next one. I do have some ideas brewing. My brain has a mind of its own, if thats possible. It never stops.
19. Where can we find you on the internet?
Hey Ann I loved reading your blog interview and learning a bit more about you. I love reading your books. Cheers Cindy.
Good interview!