Please welcome Cynthia Hickey, whose latest book is An Unconventional Lady, releasing this month from Heartsong Presents. 

Cynthia, you’ve stated that you’ve grown up in a family of storytellers. Are there many authors in your family? I’m the only traditionally published author, although my father has self-published his Korean War memoirs and written a couple of westerns. I grew up listening to stories of my family history which I often inject into my stories.

On your website, it says you used to work at a pickle plant. What was your specific job there? I worked there during high school. My job was to throw out the hamburger slices of pickles that had holes in them. I also worked for a while on the relish line and the spice line. When I worked those two lines, my mother made me change clothes on the back porch before coming into the house because I smelled very strongly of onions.

Do you have a day job now? God blessed me in May of 2013 by allowing me to be a full time writer.

You have written many books in multi-genres. As a wife, mother and author, how do you juggle your time to do all that writing? With only one child left at home, and him being in high school and able to drive himself, I can look at writing as a full time job. I strive to write 2,000 to 3,000 words a day, Monday thru Friday.

I’ve read that one of your favorite things about being a parent is embarrassing your kids I front of their friends. Will you share with us some of your antics? When the boys were young teens, my husband would stop the car next to a car of girls, honk and ask them if they’ve met his sons. I also like to pretend like I’m looking for one of them in a store, while they are right next to me.

Okay, Cynthia, let’s get down to business. What is your writing process for a book from start to finish? I first come up with the idea, then the characters, then the beginning and the end. My titles might change two or three times as the story takes shape.

How was the idea for An Unconventional Lady born?
While researching for a unique idea to base a story on, I stumbled across several articles on the Harvey Girls. Waitresses who served passengers on the Santa Fe Railroad. Their stories were unique and interesting enough that I was intrigued, and a four-book series was born. The Harvey Girls have often been called, The Women who Tamed the West.

What inspired your characters? Once I had my locations picked out, I created characters that I thought would strive in those surroundings. While all of my female characters are strong-willed, but kind, the process was fun in making them each unique from each other.

What other projects are you working on now? I just finished the fourth and last Harvey girl book and am now researching a new series about natural disasters in the United States.

Any upcoming releases?
The third Harvey Girl book, In a Texas Ranger’s Arms, releases July 1.
The fourth book, A Doctor’s Heart, releases November 1.

This last question is for fun, Cynthia. Give us three unknown facts about you. Be creative (first job, inspiration for writing, etc.) with any details that would bring out the real you.
First job was at the pickle plant during high school.

My first published book came about because of a dare. A friend dared me to write a cozy mystery for a publisher’s new line. I had no idea what a cozy mystery was. I looked it up, wrote the book, entered it into a contest, won first place, acquired an agent, and sold the book all within six months.

I am very shy, but once I get to know you, I will talk your ear off. I’m also a goofball and very blunt, not only shocking others, but sometimes myself.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us, Cynthia. It’s been fun finding out about you and your writing. I wish you all the best with this current book, and all future releases.

If you would like to win a copy of An Unconventional Lady, use my Contact page, and type “drawing” in the comments box. The deadline to enter is April 24th.