Guest Spot: Author Cindy Green

Today I welcome a special visitor: By Grace author Cindy Green. She'll be taking over my blog for today as part of her virtual book tour for her new release, Meeting Mr Right Online. Take care of the place, Cindy!

-- Jessica

This past May marks the date for the release of Cindy K. Green’s sixth book title, Meeting Mr. Right Online. It is a sweet chick-lit novella. What is chick-lit you might ask? Here is a little introduction from the author:

Chick-lit is primarily about young women in their 20’s or 30’s dealing with life (some newer titles include older women as well). It contains a light, humorous and most importantly a confiding tone (like you’re speaking to your girlfriends)—almost always in the first person. The themes focus around love, relationships, friendships, professional dilemmas, and a penchant for fashion—usually facing hilarious and embarrassing situations. But what it all comes down to is the heroine figuring out herself and what she really wants out of life. There is usually some kind of epiphany that blows her mind away and finally she can see clearly about what she really wants—or more importantly—needs.

Chick-lit is a completely different genre from romance because the focus is on the woman and how she navigates her way through the twists and turns life throws at her. But the romantic angle is usually at the forefront of the story. Another thing about chick-lit is that it does not always end in a happily ever after for the heroine and her love interest. Now I am an HEA girl all the way, so never fear, mine is very romantic and sweet and ends with an HEA.

-- Cindy

A few questions for Cindy about writing this book...

How did you go about writing this story?

This story resulted from a few factors. I was reading a couple of chick-lit novels last spring, I’d just watched several episodes of a certain TV show with my sisters which resulted in the names of all the side characters, and I really did have an online friend like this who I had come to rely on and then all of a sudden didn’t hear from. My friend though was only a friend and we started writing again in a very short time. But the situation made me think…What if??? It all went from there.

Did you plot out this story or write it pantser style?

There was no plotting to this story until toward the end and then it was only ideas of what I wanted to happen to bring about the conclusion. I began writing this story on my PDA late at night in the dark (this is also how I wrote NovelTea #1). Sounds weird, right? :) Well, we authors are an odd lot. LOL! I was in the middle of editing a full-length novel and to those of you who have ever done that we know how consuming it is. I needed to write something new. So, there in the dark as my husband slept, I began this story.

Is the finished version much different from your first draft?

Yes, actually, it is. It is about 5,000 words longer to begin with. I changed the heroine’s profession, adding a secondary plot line about her work worries. And I made her love interest British instead of American. My husband calls me an Anglophile as I love all things British, especially Period Dramas and British television. I thought, ‘I can write an English bloke.’ I had a couple English author friends read through his passages to make sure he seemed real. It seems he passed muster.

About the Book...

Meeting Mr. Right Online by Cindy K. Green
Sweet/Chicklit Novella
By Grace Publishing
$1.49

Watch the book trailer

What’s a girl to do when she’s thirty-three and all her friends have started their lives and left her behind?

Lucinda Kelley works for a local cable television show, assists her sister in her tumultuous relationships, and yearns for the day she can meet Mr. Right. All that seems to change when she meets Londoner Julian Crawford in an on-line tv chat room. Eight months later, via email he has become her best friend and closest confidant. Then one day the messages cease, and Lucinda feels lost until she makes a vow to end this infatuation with someone she has never met and move on to something real. When an alarming revelation is exposed, it could be Lucinda’s undoing or it might be exactly what she was looking for.

Excerpt #1: The Opening

Good evening, this is Amber Heffernan reporting live for Channel 11 entertainment news outside the beautiful Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. In just a few minutes, the glamorous Lucinda Kelley will emerge with her new husband, that handsome British financier. This couple has been in the media limelight since they first started seeing each other almost six months ago, outshining all of the other popular Hollywood pairs. The bride was married today in a Vera Wang strapless scoop-neck wedding gown, and I’m told she looked absolutely stunning. When the couple exits the hotel, they will travel to JFK International Airport to board the family jet to Jamaica where the twosome plan to depart for a two week honeymoon. After that they will settle into their Malibu home in California where Lucinda produces her award winning television sitcom…

The computer beeped letting me know it had finally booted up, and there I was, daydreaming again. I really had to stop doing that. I clicked the button once more, hoping this time it would be there. I held my breath for the few seconds it took to check my email messages, feeling that depressed, empty sensation yet again when I didn’t see it. Rubbing my forehead, I closed my eyes. This was absolutely ridiculous. Why did I torture myself so?

Read some more excerpts and watch the book trailer on Cindy's website.

About Cindy...

Cindy K. Green is a multi-published author with degrees in History and Education. Previously a middle school English & History teacher, she now homeschools her own children and writes in several genres: Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense and Historical romance. Find out more about Cindy and her books at www.cindykgreen.com.

Pies, Pies, and More Pies

Unfortunately, it's not the sort of pie that one would eat. Although on second thought, that's probably a good thing -- I could do without the extra calories. No, the pies my title refers to are those that feature in the "fingers in many..." saying, since I currently have numerous things in process on the career/work front.

I am still proofreading as well as trying to write when the opportunity arises, although I admit that this is not happening as often as I would like. I'm also looking for a part-time job to bring in some extra cash, due to plans we've made for some home improvements and, basically, the soaring cost of pretty much everything in the current economic climate... The third thing that is ticking along in my little mind is an idea for a business that I would very much like to start up. I think it would fulfil a popular need in my local area and it is something I would enjoy doing, plus the financial outlay would not be too monstrous. I've started doing some market research and planning and am feeling quite excited about it all. Will have to see if it pans out.

In home news, Little Frog has now started to crawl, is saying "Mummy" on a regular basis (and something that sounds like "doggy" but could be "Daddy"), and turns one year old in less than TWO WEEKS!

Good news from the Diabetes Auction -- my gift box eventually sold for USD $62! I was very pleased and privileged to be able to help with this year's fundraising effort, not just from my own donation but also from the couple of auctions that I won myself (but not the trip to Las Vegas, alas!).


Just finished reading: Body Work by Fiona Brand