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Hello fellow animal
lover Cindy Gerard. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me, Love
Romances Reviews and our readers. I have thoroughly enjoyed several of
your books and hope our readers will enjoy them as well.
Now, one of the first
things our readers want to know about your writing—how long have you been
writing?
First –
Hello to everyone. And thank you for inviting me for a visit. Since you
mentioned it yes, I’m an animal lover – as is my hubby. We raise quarter
horses on our mini-ranch in the Midwest and in addition, currently are
allowed to share our house with 2 spoiled dogs – Boomer our old Brittany
and Ellie, our English Pointer – and 2 equally spoiled cats – Buddy and
Sly. For anyone who wants to help the Human Society feed sheltered
animals, I’ve got a great link on my website. You can help every day for
FREE. Check it out.
Okay, to
answer your question, I started writing about 18 years ago. Man. Where
has the time gone? My first book was published in 1991 and now here I am,
all these years later with 36 sales. Hard to believe sometimes.
In your back cover bio
from
To The Edge I saw
you have written over thirty contemporary romances. What draws you to the
contemporaries?
Truthfully,
I started writing contemporaries because I also had a full time career
outside of writing – a career that I only gave up four years ago. With
that kind of demand on my time, I didn’t have a lot of extra hours to
devote to the research required to write a riveting and accurate
historical novel. Additionally, short contemporary category romance was
the perfect length (55 – 60 thousand words) for me to write 2 books a year
and still work full time. Now that I’m deeper into my career, however, I
find that I love the contemporary story lines. They are riveting, current
and I relate to the emotional dilemmas as well as the life crisis issues
my heroes and heroines have to deal with. I like current events too and
writing contemporary romantic suspense helps me keep abreast of trends and
technology.
What inspired you to
write in the first place?
That’s a
simple one: Reading. I love to read. I read everything from biographies
to sweeping sagas, to historicals to paranormal. But after my first
Katherine Woodwiss book, I fell in love with the romance genre. They
couldn’t write them fast enough. So I decided to give it a go myself.
LaVryle Spencer was a huge incentive for me. I loved her books – still do
and I can honestly say she was my inspiration.
What inspired you to
write about Body Guards, especially ones with the background we see in the
men and woman of E.D.E.N? What drew you to them as a group?
The
Bodyguard series actually started out as a proposal for Silhouette
Desire. My editor and I were brainstorming over what kind of stories she
wanted to see from me next and I came up with a bodyguard series. When
the series didn’t quite fit the Desire tone, I decided to flesh them out
into a single title series, got lucky and sold them to St Martins. My
inspiration for the series stems from a great admiration for our military
and all the sacrifices they have made for our country over the years. I
couldn’t help but wonder what happened to all those special operations
soldiers after they separated from the service. What did these highly
specialized warriors become? Many, I found, enter the securities field in
some form or another – whether it’s law enforcement or private. I found
that intriguing and decided to write the series about a group of siblings
who all had specialized backgrounds in the military or with government
agencies.
Does the name Eden have
special meaning to you?
You’re going
to have one of those “Why didn’t I figure that out?” moments when I tell
you. E.D.E.N is an acronym for Ethan, Dallas, Eve and Nolan, the Garrett
siblings. Their father, Wes Garrett, founded E.D.E.N. Securities, Inc.
after he retired from the police force and named it after his children.
Which came first?
E.D.E.N. or the character’s names?
Actually
E.D.E.N. came first. When I first started brainstorming ideas for the
story lines, I was thinking in terms of setting it in Florida. Florida
equates with paradise. Eden equates with paradise … and it morphed from
there.
What made you choose the
Palm Beach locale as the main jumping off point for the series?
Again, I
wanted to set the books someplace warm and sunny with a ‘paradise’ feel –
and ironically, because I had a notion that all the books would have the
word Paradise in the title. Well that changed :o) In addition, I have
good friends who live in the West Palm Beach area who I visit frequently
so I have a feel for the area.
Your characters travel
pretty far and wide. What drew you to sending Darcy, Ethan, Dallas and
Nolan of to the Philippines?
As most
writers will tell you, our story ideas often take root with just a kernel
of an idea. With To The Brink (Darcy and Ethan’s story) I had been
in a dentist’s office waiting for an appointment and was thumbing through
a Newsweek or Time or something similar and there was an article about the
Abu Sayyaf terrorist cell in the Philippines and how they specialize in
abductions. The article was compelling and heart-wrenching and I decided
right then and there that I had to write a story about an abduction that
resulted with a happy ending.
Are Nolan or Jillian
based on anyone you know in real life?
Actually,
very few of my characters are based on any one individual but are
composites of several people I either know or admire. There are little
bits of a lot of good soldiers I have the pleasure of knowing in all of
the Garrett boys.
How about Tiffany or
Eve?
Nope to
Eve. Yes to Tiffany. She is my version of a Paris Hilton-type spoiled
little rich girl. Only I got to make her redeemable :o).
While she doesn’t play
that large a part in the story I really felt drawn to Rachel’s storyline
in To the Edge. Her childhood and Nolan’s perception of her as a
“second run” is wonderfully done. Was it hard to write her scenes? If so,
what did you do for yourself after?
I’m glad you
liked Rachel. I liked her too. And actually, no, her scenes were easy to
write because she was a heroine in her own right. She’s a very strong,
likable person who has gone through some difficult times and yet kept her
head on fairly straight. And above all, she’s a good friend to Jillian.
Will we see Rachel
again in the future?
You’re not
the first person to ask me that. I wish I had an answer for you.
Initially I had planned to write the first 3 books then hoped to get a
contract for Dallas, the 4th Garrett sibling. My publisher was
so pleased with the first 3, however, that they wanted 3 more. I guess
time will tell what happens next but if there are more Bodyguard books,
Rachel is a definite contender for a book of her own.
When you were writing
these books did you feel like any of the characters were living with you
are you wrote the story?
Ha. I’m
laughing because when you breathe, eat, sleep and think about a book
during the writing process, it’s more like I’m living with them instead of
them living with me. They take over and absolutely become a part of my
life. They have to in order to get inside their heads and figure out what
makes them do the things they do, say the things they say, feel the things
they feel.
Of all the men in the
series—Nolan from To the Edge, Mac from To The Limit, Ethan
in To the Brink and Jason in Over the Line, who would you
most want to spend some romantic time with?
Oh, man.
That’s a tough one. I fall in love with all of my guys - sorry, honey :o)
– but it’s kind of a ‘love the one you’re with’ deal. When I wrote Nolan
I didn’t think I could ever beat him as a character. Then I met Mac.
Smart-aleck and all, I loved that guy. And Ethan, well – he was the
ultimate. Jase was a sweetheart too. Now I’m writing Manny’s story (from
BRINK) and let me tell you - this guy is one hunky hero. So, I’m in love
again. :o)
In To The Limit
you delve into the darker side of human nature, especially in the
things that happen to Tiffany. There is no way the book could have been as
intense or as good as it is had those events not happened. What was it
like for you, as an author, to write those scenes? What did you do for
yourself when they were done?
Tiffany was
a troubled little soul. I loved her and I felt so badly for her. And
writing her scenes were difficult emotionally. What I did for myself was
give her a future that held promise, held someone who loved her and in
essence redeemed her. Knowing that she was going to finally have
something good in her life was enough to sustain me through writing the
difficult times she went through.
Eve is also a different
kind of heroine. She more than holds her own as the pivotal character.
While she does eventually team up with Mac, I think she could have done it
on her own. What was it like for you to write Eve’s scenes?
The biggest
dilemma all through writing To The Limit book was holding Eve back
so she didn’t overshadow Mac. She absolutely could have done it on her
own but hey – what’s a romance without a hero, right? And you have to
admit, he came in pretty handy from time to time :o) Eve’s scenes were a
lot of fun to write. I liked her attitude, her mouth, her take charge
nature. I liked that she gave Mac back as good as she got and didn’t
apologize for it.
Now Mac…I have to tell
you, I didn’t like him. He really was a jerk and to your credit as an
author you made him a pretty unlikable alpha male…or at least till almost
the end. It took me until the last few pages to see him as a good guy and
that is really quite rare in romantic heroes. Was it a stretch for you to
write such a different kind of hero?
Reader
reactions to Mac are all over the board. Many adore him – I fall into
that category. I LOVED Mac. I love a smart-ass and he definitely was
one. He was a Peter Pan man. Golden boy in high school. Decorated cop.
And a total failure at relationships. It was my hope that I showed his
vulnerable side as well as his, “I’m a bad dude and I don’t give a crap
what anyone thinks of it” side. Obviously, he didn’t come across as the
ultimate hero for some people but that’s okay. To me he is one of the
most real men I’ve ever written because of all his faults and his choice
of playing the ‘bad ass’ to cover his vulnerabilities. And bottom line –
he really was a good guy – he just hadn’t figured it out until he had a
reason to. Eve was that reason.
I love how you
intersperse chapters from the present with events from the past as you
tell Ethan and Darcy’s story. It is like watching a movie that shows color
in the present and moves to the grainy feeling of distance in the past. It
seemed to me as I read it you really like to stretch yourself in
technique. Is that so? Where did the idea come from to move back and forth
in time telling their story?
In most
novels, it works best to intersperse back-story into the present story
through dialogue or narrative sequences. Back-story enhances the book and
adds richness to the characters. In To The Brink, however, Ethan
and Darcy’s back-story was so rich and romantic and fraught with emotion
and intrigue that I was compelled to show their history together and what
drove them apart rather than relate it all in the present. Flashbacks are
tricky. Some readers don’t approve of them so it was a gamble for me to
use that technique in Brink but as I said, I was compelled. In the end,
I’m very pleased with the way it worked as I think it added another layer
to the danger and intrigue in the part of the story set in the present and
served to enhance both Ethan and Darcy’s character development in a way I
couldn’t have done had I written the book without them.
Now, I have to tell you, here I was,
reading along, loved Nolan’s story, enjoyed Eve’s, was enthralled by
Ethan’s and then I got Over the Line and it’s not Dallas story! I
will admit I had a foot stomping moment. Are we going to get Dallas’
story? Dallas and Amy maybe?
You aren’t
the only one who was hoping Dallas’s story would be next. And yes, Dallas
will be paired up with Amy in his story. But there is a credible reason
for the delay. Amy needed some time to heal – both physically and
emotionally - wouldn’t you agree? For that reason, Jase (from To The
Edge) joins E.D.E.N. and gets his own story along with Manny (from Brink)
who also joins the firm. So don’t worry. We haven’t seen the last of
Dallas or Amy.
And, since you wrote
Jason’s story, how about Manny? There was something so likeable about him
that I wanted to know more. Can we count on his story too?
Guess I
already answered this one. I am currently finishing up Under The Wire,
which is Manny’s story. Check out my website (www.cindygerad.com)
for the cover art that I only recently received and for a sneak peak at
the opening chapter.
Jason is an interesting
character. Not one of the brothers and a freer spirit in terms of him
being more enthusiastic. Was he very different for you to write than the
brothers?
Jase was
interesting. I loved him because he was so pure and unjaded – and yet
such a cynic about himself. Yes, he’d been a Ranger and yes, he’d seen
and done a lot but there was still something very naïve about him that was
refreshing. He was a bit different to write and yet he has all the same
characteristics as the Garrett brothers – integrity, honor, sense of duty
and passion for those he loves.
Now this question may
seem a bit off the wall, but I am curious, have you ever suffered from
"writer’s block"? If so, what did you do to get out if it?
I have a
theory that writer’s block is a term someone uses when they find
themselves deeper into a character or a story than they ever thought they
would go and are afraid they can’t measure up to the challenge required to
pull it off. In other words – to me, writer’s block is usually fear.
Fear that I can’t do it, fear that I won’t do it right, fear that this
book won’t measure up to the last book … pick a fear, it probably fits. I
know them all, trust me. Sometimes, however, it’s just laziness. I get
that way. Especially around deadline time. When I’ve been pounding the
keys for months and it seems like I’m never going to get to the end and
I’m certain that every word I’ve written is crap and that no one will like
it – in fact, they’ll probably hate it – I could easily allow myself a
case of writer’s block. It’s a nice little crutch sitting there in the
corner just begging me to use and limp off into the sunset. The trick is
not giving in and just limping along to the finish instead.
Are you working on
anything right now? Can you tell us a teaser about these projects?
(promises of Dallas and Manny’s stories maybe?)
As I’ve
already mentioned, I’m on a deadline crunch right now writing Manny’s
story, Under The Wire. In fact, I should be working on it now
instead of this interview BUT I’m procrastinating because of that writer’s
block thingy I just discussed :o) Never fear. I’ll do it. As soon as I
finish Manny’s story which will be out in December 2006, I’ll start to
work on Into The Dark, which is Dallas and Amy’s story. I also have a
couple of other things in the works but we’ll just have to see how those
pan out.
Ok, imagination time…or
maybe a prelude of what is to come. You got the call, The Bodyguard
Series is going to be a mini-series of television movies. Who do you want
in to play the different Garretts and their partners?
Oh man.
You put me on the spot on that one. I don’t get to see nearly as many
movies as I’d like to – my writing schedule the past few years since I
started writing full time is pretty demanding. (Not a complaint – I love
that I’m a working writer). That said, I could see Matthew MacConaughy as
Mac – and I could almost see Sara Jessica Parker as his Eve. Both would
be very capable of taking those roles and playing them to the hilt. I
also love
Josh Duhamel. I think we
could turn him into a Garrett :o) Same with Clive Owen – and who could
resist Hugh Jackman? Hillary Swank would make a good Darcy. She’s
strong, steady, solid. And heck, as long as we’re aiming high, let’s cast
Julia Roberts as Jillian.
Charlize Theron as Amy.
She has a fragile, ethereal quality to her yet inside is a core of steel.
Plus she’s beautiful. I’d have to give some more thought to Jase and
Janey – what are your ideas???
What is next on Cindy
Gerard’s writing horizon?
After I
finish Into The Dark in January I’m out of contract. We’ll have to
wait and see what happens next. Much to my delight, The Bodyguard books
seem to have developed a very nice following – thanks to all of you out
there who are buying the books!!!- so I won’t say you’ve seen the last of
them. That will be for my publisher to decide. I do have another series
that I’m dying to write but we’ll have to take that same wait and see
attitude.
Any final advice to
aspiring authors?
There is no
new advice under the sun. I’m sure they’ve heard it all but I would
reiterate that in this business, perseverance will get you just as far as
talent. You really have to want it. Oh – and you have to finish the
book. Sounds simple? It’s not. I know so many wonderful writers who
will never be published because they simply can’t finish the book. They
get bored or bogged down and give it up for a new idea – and then run into
the same trap again. Finish the book, people. No two ways about it.
Do you have anything to
add?
Just that as
a writer I am so grateful to those readers who go out and spend their hard
earned money on new books. Trust me. I know how difficult it is to make
ends meet. I hope you all continue to enjoy my books and do drop me a
note and let me know how things are going. Writers love to hear from our
readers. I look forward to doing a chat session with you all soon. Have a
great summer!!
Thank you some fabulous
reading and your time today.
OVER THE LINE
TO THE BRINK
TO THE EDGE
TO THE LIMIT
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