This interview was a part of my “featured author” spot at the Romance Studio this past spring. You can see the whole spread at The Romance Studio.

HH: Cindy, thank you for talking with us at TRS. Please tell us about your featured book, Dilemma of the Heart.

CKG: Dilemma of the Heart is a sweet historical taking place in post-Civil War near Philadelphia. I loved writing this story. I have a degree in history and have done special research on this time period so I’d always wanted to write a historical set at this time. Dilemma is the story of loss and making a decision that could affect the rest of your life. It is poignant, moving and yes I threw in some sass as well. There is a full-length sequel in the works.

HH: A gentle woman torn between a love she thought was past and a man offering her a future. Where did you get the idea for this emotionally charged tale?

CKG: This is a familiar theme that truly did take place at this time. So many young men lost their lives in the war. Sweethearts who never returned. I began this story with quite a melancholy tone which just seemed to match the time frame. I had intended it to be a 2,000 words one scene story but it morphed into so much more with secondary characters who have a greater story to tell in the sequel.

HH: What do you like best about Cassandra and how do you relate to her?

CKG: Cassandra has a sweet spirit. She’s caring and spends a lot of her time assisting the poor and ailing. She also longs to do what is right and obey her parents, but she finds that perhaps she must follow her heart in this instance. I’m sure I relate to Cassandra on so many levels. She gives her heart whole-heartedly and once given she is forever a part of Frederick. Loyal. That’s Cassandra.

HH: What sort of research went into bringing this tale to life?

CKG: My hero is thought dead at the Battle of Bentonville in North Carolina. I was able to visit the site and learn a lot about the place and battle. And it helped in coming up with the backstory of what happened to Frederick. I also did a lot of research on clothing and buggies of the era. Those little details that make a story seem real.

HH: What can you tell us about The Princess and the Rogue?

CKG: You can’t see it right now but I am smiling from ear to ear. I absolutely adore this book. The Princess and the Rogue is a full-length high fantasy romance novel. It was a story that I absolutely had to write and the first draft finished in four weeks. I was driven! The hero of the story is part Robin Hood and part Scarlet Pimpernel—two of my favorite literary adventure heroes. When I wrote this book, I decided right off the bat that it would have a fun tone. So many fantasy books out there are heavy and bleak. I wanted mine to make the reader laugh, to fall in love with my irresistible hero and in the end to feel for the plight of my characters—because there are true villains and good must triumph over evil.

The tagline of the story is— A sheltered Princess, a masked Outlaw, and a Land forbidden of magic. I think that just about sums it up.

It is Coming Soon to The Wild Rose Press

HH: You write sweeter romances with wonderful humor. How do you see such works fitting into today’s market?

CKG: Oh definitely. I’m beginning to see more and more sites opening which cater to the readers and writers of sweet/non-erotic books. Admittedly, in the small, electronic press, sweet romance is not the biggest seller but it is a growing trend with readers and I look forward to see where it takes us. It’s about marketing to the right readers. They are out there and as soon as they hop on the band wagon with electronic readers we will see a surge in the genre.

HH: What’s your writing schedule like?

CKG: At the moment, sporadic. I homeschool my two boys ages 5 and 11. In between the schooling, I attempt to get promotional work done, maybe some research, and of course housework. In the afternoons, I try to get some writing done. I take two evenings a week to write. My husband makes sure that I have no interruptions during that time. I write a little bit on the weekends. But things are hectic in our house. It’s loud and busy. I take any time I can get to write something down.

HH: Where and when do you do your best work?

CKG: Well, we just moved so I don’t have a designated spot yet. In our old house, I had my own office. We are working to have that for me again soon. Right now I have a desk set up in my bedroom. I also use the desk in our school room in the evenings when the boys aren’t in there. I use a lap top so I just go wherever I need to in search of quiet. Evenings and nighttime are my most productive hours.

HH: What do you enjoy reading?

CKG: Just about everything. I read several classics a year. Right now it’s North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I read Inspirational fiction both contemporary and historical. I read non-fiction history. For mainstream romance, I love romantic suspense and historicals best. Oh and fantasy too. And I can’t forget the good old contemporaries. See everything! At the moment, I’d say Janet Evanovich is one of my favorites for a good escapist read.

HH: What goals have you set for yourself at this point in your career?

CKG: Right now I’m still working on writing the best book that I can and getting it published. I’m working up my fan base, and I plan in the future to submit to more and larger publishers. I’m just glad that I’ve made it as far as I have. Writing is something that I’ve always enjoyed, but when I was teaching there really wasn’t time for it. Now that I’m home and working on this writing career, I’m just enjoying myself.

Thanks so much for the great interview questions, Holly.

HH: Thank you!