Earlier this year, I started a segment here on my blog called the Thursday Three, where I asked fellow authors three random questions. Well, life intruded for awhile, but the Thursday Three is back! And we’re getting back into the groove with my fellow Romance Bandit Loucinda McGary, aka Aunty Cindy.
Q. You love to travel and have been lots of places. Of all the places you’ve been, where would you move in a heartbeat?
A. Key West, Florida
Way back when Aunty had a dreaded day job and two extra sheckles to rub together, the DH and I went to Florida every February for Speed Week. Once the racing ended, we always drove from Daytona down to the Keys for a few days. Key West was so much fun with beautiful weather and a laid-back atmosphere. We even celebrated Mardi Gras there one year. They have a big parade right down the middle of Duvall Street that was a blast. Plus the city has a long and really interesting history.
But I only want to live there in the winter. Summers in Florida are too hot for me! I’d rather be some place nice and cool like San Francisco in the summer, though I really hate the traffic there. I prefer a little further down the California coast in San Luis Obispo.
Q. If you were to go back to age 20, what would you do differently the second time around?
A. Just about everything! No really, you know how they say hindsight is 20/20? Well, knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have to bumble around and make all those mistakes. I wouldn’t worry so much about whether or not I could ‘afford’ to do something. Instead, I’d just do it! And I really wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me.
But seriously, with regard to my writing, I wouldn’t wait so long to make a real commitment to getting my work published. I wouldn’t worry so much about whether or not I had that magical ‘talent’ because I’d know that dogged persistence is far more important. I’d trust my writing process and not be so afraid to keep submitting and writing. I’m still working on this last issue, by the way.
Q. Tell us about your newest release, The Treasures of Venice. How did it come about?
A. The Treasures of Venice is actually the first romantic suspense manuscript I ever wrote. It finaled in the 2006 Golden Heart (under a different title) and collected a whole slew of rejections from editors and agents, including a generic “not right of us at this time” from the editor who eventually bought it! This was in early 2007, and in September 2007, Sourcebooks bought and published my book The Wild Sight.
Several months later, as I was preparing to submit a proposal to my editor, I asked her if there were revisions I could do on my Golden Heart story to make it publishable. She asked me to send it to her again because she’d forgotten why she rejected it the first time around. So I sent her the full manuscript along with my proposal and about six weeks later she e-mailed me and said she wanted to buy both books!
Needless to say, I was thrilled because I loved the story, and I knew readers would too. Thus far, I’ve been correct. The Treasures of Venice has received many positive reviews including four stars from Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine. I’ve also received numerous wonderful pieces of fan mail, including this from a reader: “An Irish man, an American woman searching for lost treasure in Venice – What a fantastic story!”
Here’s the back cover blurb:
He’s a charming Irish rogue who never met a lock he couldn’t pick…
Keirnan Fitzgerald is desperate to locate the missing Jewels of the Madonna. With danger at every corner and time running out, he must use whatever means possible to uncover the stolen jewels in time to save his sister’s life…
She’s simply in Venice to relax and heal her broken heart…
Samantha Lewis is shocked when a dashing stranger approaches her in a Venetian cafe pretending to know her. She’s ready for something new and exciting in her life, so she throws caution to the wind and accompanies the Irish charmer into his dangerous world of intrigue, theft, and betrayal…
As the centuries-old story behind the Jewels’ disappearance is revealed, Samantha must decide whether the man she’s so compellingly drawn to is her soul mate from a previous life or if they are merely pawns in a relentless quest for a priceless treasures…
Since I have an extra copy of Cindy’s book, I’m giving it away today to some lucky commenter.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Cindy, I am so looking forward to this book!
I did not know you were a race fan. How cool. I’ve never seen the Keys, but I hear they’re beautiful. My family used to go to Florida in the summer to see my dad’s brother and his family. Florida mosquitoes loved me in the summer, and I didn’t miss them the one or two times we visited in the winter, over Christmas. I remember eating Christmas dinner outside, wearing shorts, at the picnic table.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Love your Thursday Three, Trish! What a great idea.
AC’s my critique partner, Nancy, and I didn’t know she was a race fan either. Well, I think she’s a fan of Florida in the winter, actually, right Cindy? I believe Dave’s the actual fan cause I know he’s into NASCAR.
What I love is all the places Cindy’s traveled. Man, I wish I’d been to half of these countries.
If I were 20 again, that’s what I’d do — travel more, soak up the culture and ambience of other places.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Oh Cindy, what a fab excerpt!! Love the sound of this book
As a fellow Californian, I’m with you on the lousy traffic! But I do love the weather. Like you, I’d definitely want to start writing and getting serious about it much earlier than I did. I think of my writing goals and dreams, then look at the calendar and sigh. So much to do, so much time already past.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Hola Banditas!
Sorry I missed the post, but BIG THANX to Trish for having me here. I was on yet another cruise (#15) this past week.
Nancy, unfortunately mosquitoes love me too and I am allergic to their bites. UGH! And actually, I AM an auto racing fan, but only if I can see it live and in-person. The DH and I have been to both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, as well as many many smaller tracks for everything from stock cars, to sprint cars, to super-modified.
And Jo, you’re correct, if not for Dave I doubt I’d be a race fan. And you’ve been to some pretty fabulous places *I* haven’t seen. But, yes! I wish I started traveling sooner.
Hey Tawny, you are NOT old! You are a whippersnapper compared to me. Plus you are a writing dynamo so I’m sure you’ll meet ALL those writing goals and dreams and then some!
Thanx again Trish!
HUGS TO ALL!
AC
November 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Hey Aunty Cindy,
Wow, you were on another cruise? I want to be just like you.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Your book sounds great. I would love to read it. Happy holidays.