Pump Up Your Book Chats with ‘Into the Crossfire’ Cindy McDonald

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For twenty-six years Cindy’s life whirled around a song and a dance: she was a professional dancer/choreographer for most of her adult life and never gave much thought to a writing career until 2005. She often notes: Don’t ask me what happened, but suddenly I felt drawn to my computer to write about things I have experienced (greatly exaggerated upon of course—I’ve never been murdered!) with my husband’s Thoroughbreds and happenings at the racetrack. Viola! Cindy’s first book series, Unbridled, was born—there are four books to that series so far.

Cindy is a huge fan of romantic suspense series, and although she isn’t one to make New Year’s resolutions, on New Year’s Day 2013 she made a commitment to write one, Into the Crossfire is the first book for her new series, First Force.

People are always asking Cindy: do you miss dance? With a bitter sweet smile on her lips she tells them: Sometimes I do. I miss my students. I miss choreographing musicals, but I love my books, and I love sharing them with you.

For more information, book trailers, and excerpts for all of Cindy’s books please visit her website: www.cindymcwriter.com.

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

The character, Jack Haliday has made several appearances in the other series that I write: Unbridled Series as an ex-Navy SEAL turned police detective. What can I say? I enjoyed writing the character—I simply fell in love, so I suppose you could say that Jack Haliday was the original idea for the first book of the series, Into the Crossfire.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

I really struggled writing the scene where Jack’s house is burning down. As a child a witnessed a horrible fire and a little boy was completely engulfed in flames right in front of me—it took me years to get over that said it took me several days to write the scene.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

I wish I had some deep threaded thoughts or words of wisdom that I am sharing in my books, but the truth is I write to give readers enjoyment and entertainment and possibly escape through the suspense and adventure that my characters experience. If I have accomplished that—I’ve done my job well.

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I started writing telescripts in 2005—that’s right my book series, Unbridled was originally written for television and the Hollywood script runners loved the show. Long story short: we simply couldn’t sell it to the producers, so I turned the television series into a book series—I have no regrets. In 2011 I published my first book, Deadly.com and have published five books since, including Into the Crossfire as part of my new series, First Force.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

Thus far I am only writing my novels—they keep me very busy. My publisher, Acorn Books is always after me to write some shorts for the anthologies that they publish periodically. Funny thing: it seems I can write an entire novel, but I struggle with a simple short. I suppose sooner or later I’ll figure it out, but for now I’m content to do what I’m doing.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

I have no worldly advice to give new writers—no silver bullet, if you will. I will say write, and write often. Writing is a commitment and whether you are a New York Times bestselling author or from a small press or an indie author be prepared for the challenges that marketing your book will bring.

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

I live on a forty-five acre Thoroughbred Farm about twenty-five miles from Pittsburgh with my husband of thirty-four years, Bill and my Cocker Spaniel, Harvey. I have two daughters, and four gorgeous grandchildren.

I am truly a blessed person.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your childhood?

I was raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh called Westwood for which I named the Thoroughbred Farm in my murder/suspense series, Unbridled after the town: Westwood Thoroughbred Farm.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

In the summer I love to write out on my deck or in my gardens. In the winter, I’m in my office.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

Sorry, I haven’t figured that one out just yet.

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

I start promoting my book approximately six months before they release through the social media sites—I show off the cover as soon as it becomes available, I tweet blurbs from the book, and I place each of my books on a virtual book tour so it gets attention through the blogs immediately after the release.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

Absolutely, I participate in quite a few which is an enormous commitment each day. Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Pininterest—it’s enough to make an author’s head spin, but the fact is if you don’t utilize the social networking sites you are missing out on a great marketing tool.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

Social networks have played a huge role in the promotion of books in recent years. Getting the word out about your book has never been easier or faster.

Q: What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

Reviews can be a source of frustration, but mostly marketing. While social networking makes marketing a book easier and faster, growing an audience is like watching grass grow, and digging deep to find that patience can be extremely frustrating.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

When someone comes up to you and says: I really love your books. That is really a great moment.

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

Authors have a choice: they can query a publishing house in attempt to have their work published in the traditional manner, or they can have their work published independently and have complete control over the content of their book, book cover, book trailer etc.

While I suppose it would be nice to be under the umbrella of a big publishing house, I’m too much of a control freak to let anyone tell me what I can write, or dictate the design of my cover. I guess that’s why I was self-employed for twenty-six years—I made my own rules, and I guess I still do.

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

The wars would come to an end and people would learn to love and respect each other.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

Mmmm, I would love to be on a beach in Hawaii at sunset with a glass of white wine in my hand, and a soft breeze lifting my hair. Oh! And the body that I had when I was twenty-one would be really nice, too! Just sayin’…

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

Oh my goodness! As out of this world that scenario is, I would first thank my husband, Bill. He has always supported my in all my endeavors, and my dear friend, Linda Taylor who has been my biggest cheerleader/fan throughout all my writing.

Q: Thank you so much for this interview, Cindy. Do you have any final words?

All of my books from the Unbridled Series and the First Force Series are available in print and ebook at amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM and where all fine books are sold.

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach