About Cindy K. Green:
Cindy K. Green has worked as a middle school history & English teacher, a frozen yogurt server and a golf magazine employee. Today she’s a multi-published, award-winning author, a mother, a wife, and a homeschooler too. This native Californian now resides in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and two cats named Chloe & Kassey.
What inspires you to write?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. Observations, books, TV, but my greatest inspirations come from…research. Can you tell I’m a history nerd? As a trained historian, I love to research! For instance, when researching Nevada for a historical novel, I figured out the backstory for my villain. Research always leaves me itching to write.
Tell us about your writing process.
I consider myself a hybrid somewhere in between a plotter and a pantser. I do some preliminary research depending on the book. I plot out (only a sentence or two for each point) the inciting incident (beginning), 3-6 important plot points in the rising action, black moment, climax, resolution. If I know at least that much, I know where I am going and there is a lot less revising at the end. I do use the program One Note to start organizing my info on each book in each series. That has been a Godsend!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t talk with my characters but their world does play in my head. There are moments when I am sitting in front of my computer, my hands poised over the keyboard and my mind has been transported into the world of my characters as a scene plays out. Then I snap back to reality and start to type.
What advice would you give other writers?
My advice to new or young writers is to read, then read, and then read some more. Read in the genre you intend to write in so that you can get a feel for what’s already out there and what is expected by readers and publishers. Also, read books on craft and learn all you can about writing a good story. Try to get into a critique group if you can. And take a few classes or workshops on writing. the learning process never ends.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I met a friend online about 8-9 years ago and she told me about her small press publisher. I decided to give that a shot and wrote a book specifically for their call for submissions. It was accepted and that was my very first published book back in December 2006. I am still with small/medium publishers and I love being a part of this publishing mechanism. However, I do have a YA fantasy series that I’ve held back from publishing. I am contemplating self-publishing it myself and seeing what that’s like. I do enjoy the idea of taking control of my career but on the other hand it would be all me! You have to decide if you are ready to become a business owner and not just a writer but a publisher too.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Just in the last 8 years things have changed so much in publishing. Now with self-publishing the market is fully open to anyone who initiative and a great product. I think we will see more and more traditionally published authors move to self-publishing.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Young Adult, Sweet & Inspirational Contemporary and Historical Romance, Mystery/Romantic Suspense
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Cindy K. Green Home Page Link
Link To Cindy K. Green Page On Amazon
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