I’m so excited to introduce you to fellow Scrivenings Press author Cindy Bonds.
Christina: Cindy, can you tell me a little about yourself?
Cindy: I’m originally from northwest Arkansas and currently live in my husband’s hometown in north-central Arkansas. We have two teenagers and are living the life of teendom- activities, friends, sports and church.
My need to write came after I had my second child and was a stay at home mom. I’d never even considered writing as an outlet, but as I began to read more and more, those ideas just started flowing!
Having come from a family steeped in military heritage, I’ve heard stories my whole life. Men that survived not just Vietnam, but also WWII and even one that was at Pearl Harbor when the attack took place.
I’ve been listening to the gift of story-telling my entire life and I do think it’s something that’s fading as generations come and go!
Although God has given me a lot of words, it’s taken a long time to hone that and I’m still learning! But I want to always honor God’s grace and mercy as well as paying tribute to military lives that have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.
Christina: I love that. I think we are always going to be learning. Let’s talk about books!
What is your book called?
Cindy: Failed Protocol
Christina: When was it released?
Cindy: April 8th
Christina: Can you share with us the blurb of your book?
Cindy:
Olivia Lloyd has left the U.K. to work in Texas as head of security for a tech firm. Her training in the
British Army had given her a chance to get into the SAS- Special Air Service. But she washed out with the help of her uncle and his contacts. Now she’s here at her uncle’s request, miserable and lonely after running away from her last life-altering loss.
Kenton Matthews’ Recon days are over as he now works as a detective in Dallas, offering assessments for security when high-value targets come to town. But a request from an old friend has his heart pounding as the threat to the large tech firm holds more than just a breach of security.
Kenton is determined to battle the failed mission from long ago and will do everything he can to protect Olivia from facing the same torturous man her uncle did. But Olivia isn’t sure she’s ready to trust the one man her uncle deems more than worthy.
Will Kenton’s failures destroy everyone he cares about?
Christina: That sounds like a great story! What inspired you to write this book?
Cindy: I’d had this idea of Kenton Matthews-the protagonist- for a long time. His demeanor, attitude, his past. It started at least four years ago and took me a long time to get the story-line, the plot and the female protagonist figured out. This was a little different, usually it’s the female protagonist that hits my brain first and I build around her past/situation and go from there!
Christina: What’s your favorite part of your writing process?
Cindy: There’s a moment when everything starts to click. I’ve got the characters down, their habits, personalities, how they would respond to problems- it’s that moment when it all seems to come together, even with all the challenges the characters face. It’s exciting when the characters and their situations begin to shape the story.
Christina: Can you share any challenges you faced during the research or writing process?
Cindy: When I first started this series, I knew exactly how I wanted Kenton Matthews to be- his demeanor, his past, how he processes things. Olivia Lloyd was a challenge! Accomplished and suffering loss, she has a need to control her life. I struggled to grow her need to trust, to allow Kenton in and accept his help.
Christina: If you could give one piece of advice to budding creatives, what would it be?
Cindy: Keep reading! When you read, it activates your brain and gives you more ideas, shows you how to write and lets you see how those award-winning authors navigate their novels. You can see what it is they’re doing with their plots, story-line and characters. It’s a great way to gain insight into what you need to do in order to succeed.
Christina: That’s so true! What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Cindy: As readers go through all of my books, I want them to see the thread of hope and grace that God gives each character. Even if the situation seems daunting, there is a plan, a way out. The trust my characters find in God’s grace is something I want everyone to see. Sometimes faith is hard, it can be frustrating when life just doesn’t go as planned. But God’s got it! Nothing is new or surprising to Him! Even in doubt, there’s grace.
Christina: What book are you reading right now?
Cindy: I’ve been on a Lynn Blackburn kick and am currently finishing up the last book in her Defend and Protect series, called Under Fire.
Christina: If someone made your book into a movie, who would you cast as the main character(s)?
Cindy: If it were a decade or so ago, Kenton Matthews would definitely be David Boreanaz (protagonist in Bones) and Olivia Lloyd would be Keira Knightley.
Christina: David Boreanaz is one of my favorite main characters! Okay, here’s a fun question: You just won free tickets to anywhere in the world! Where are you going? And who are you taking?
Cindy: Although there are a lot of places in the world I’ve considered visiting, Hawaii has been at the top of my list for the majority of my adult life! I’ve always wanted to visit and I would definitely be taking my husband!
Christina: And because every writer is asked this question: Are you a Plotter or Pantser?
Cindy: I’ve always thought of myself as a Panster- I just type and see what happens! I’ve tried to plot doing the 1/3 method of inciting incidents, etc. but it never works for me. I feel as though I’m forcing a connection instead of allowing my mind to create a flow. I do like the term Discovery writer better because I feel as though it describes more of what I’m doing. I start with the idea of a character, an incident, and then
discover where the story leads by allowing myself to just type!
Thank you, Cindy, for taking the time to share with us a behind-the-scenes look at your writing!
If you would like to learn more about Cindy and her books, check out these links below:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CindyBondsAuthor
Instagram: @authorcindybonds
Website: http://www.cindybonds.com