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CINDY GERARD-Interview with the Author
TRC: Hi Cindy and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the upcoming release of KILLING TIME-the first storyline in your new ONE EYED JACKS series
For everyone who doesn’t know Cindy Gerard-would you please tell us something about yourself?
Cindy: Can I just say that I really hate this question because I am soooo boring. I could lie but that’s not me. I’m a home body who loves family and friends, cards, board games and is currently addicted to on line scrabble. I spoil my 2 cats and my dog and enjoy taking care of my new hobby (fresh water aquariums) My favorite way to spend a day is at home in my Pj’s, snuggling up with a good book (still prefer the paper in my hand) with my critters snuggled up beside me. SEE? Boring…..
TRC: KILING TIME is your first storyline in the One Eyed Jacks series. Would you please tell us the premise behind the series and the first installment?
Cindy: Gladly. Thanks for asking. The One Eyed Jacks (a multi-branch military task force formed in 2002 and disbanded in 2005) got their nick name because of the uniqueness of their experimental unit, their tight camaraderie, their slightly reckless reputation, their favorite downtime/pastime of high stakes poker and because each of them made a pact to always carry a One Eyed Jack playing card (either a Jack of hearts or a Jack of spades) as their lucky charm and a sign of unity.
Today, only three men of the original detail are still alive – Mike Brown, Bobby Taggart, Jamie Cooper. On their last mission in Afghanistan, all three were dealt a losing hand and now share one common bond: The military that they proudly served had cut them loose eight years ago with a ‘less than honorable’ discharge when their team led a covert operation that went south and the powers that be laid the blame squarely on their shoulders.
Now Brown, Taggart and Cooper lead separate lives in separate countries, have all dropped out of ‘normal society’ and not only live with the lie that led to their military separation but with the weight of the deaths of both their task force team members and several innocent civilians haunting them.
For these three men, life is now all about getting by, about forgetting the past, dealing with the anger and coping with the hand they’ve been dealt. None of them intend to break the status quo – until a mysterious woman confronts and forces Brown to ask questions about what really happened in Afghanistan and how those events played into a current national security threat. KILLING TIME leads Mike and Eva from Lima, Peru, to Washington D.C. and finally to the Idaho Panhandle where they infiltrate a survivalist group that hides a deep and dangerous secret and the key to Mike’s redemption.
TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series? .
Cindy: I had initially planned 2 more books in the series – RUNNING BLIND and TAKING FIRE. I’ve since been given the opportunity to write a 4th book, one that will come out next December (just in time for Christmas!!) that’s a bonus book in the series. I’m so excited about THE WAY HOME. It’s a homecoming story featuring Tyler Brown (Mike’s brother) and is a little different book than I usually write. Still romance, still suspense, still features our black ops warriors, but THE WAY HOME has a little something extra … something that is leading me on a very special journey as I write it.
TRC: Mike ‘Primetime’ Brown is the hero in Killing Time. Who was the inspiration behind this particular character?
Cindy: Every bad boy I’ve ever known LOL Seriously, Mike embodies everything I love about a man. He’s strong when it counts, funny, irreverent, filled with integrity even though he’d deny there was an honorable bone in his body.
TRC: If you could virtually cast the characters of Mike Brown and Eva Silanas, which models or actors would best represent your ideal?
Cindy: I like Bradley Cooper for Mike and Salma Hayek as Eva.
TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?
Cindy: That I lead a glamorous life. LOL The truth is I’m a home body. If I make the mistake of heading for my PC too early, I may spend the day in my PJ’s and not even realize it until mid afternoon.
TRC: If you could change something about yourself personal or professional, what would it be and why?
Cindy: Are you kidding? Weight and age. Give me less of both :o)
TRC: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
Cindy: My mother. She taught me the value of decency and kindness and honesty. What more can you ask for?
TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?
Cindy: If it’s about life in general, it’s my hubby. If it’s about writing it’s Glenna McReynolds – aka Tara Janzen . If it’s for a girl’s gab session it’s my buddy Susan Connell or Leanne Banks of Carol Bryant
TRC: Would you please tell us what do you do in your free time?
Cindy: Still love to read and I’m an avid movie and TV buff. So excited about JUSTIFIED’s new season starting this month. Timothy Olyphant? Holy cow what a man.
TRC: What are the 5 things you would like to do that you haven’t done in your life?
Cindy: See Macu Pichu, go back to Italy, see Ireland, see Hawaii (nope, never been there), finish a book without feeling total, consuming panic.
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Cindy: THE WAY HOME – the bonus book in the One Eyed Jacks series that I spoke about earlier.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Cindy: Just that I’m so happy to be here and so grateful to my readers and all the support they’ve given me over the years. Means everything.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food – Chocolate, Cheetos, Pizza. Sorry. More than 1
Favorite Dessert – warm apple pie ala mode
Favorite TV Show – You guessed it. Justified
Last Movie you saw – The Rise of the Guardians (took the grand kids) LOVED IT)
Dark or Milk Chocolate – milk
TRC: Thank you Cindy for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best and much success with the new One Eyed Jack series.
Cindy: Thank you so much. I really do appreciate it.
Cindy is offering a signed paper back copy of LAST MAN STANDING to ONE lucky member at The Reading Cafe.
1. You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.
2. Please leave a blog-post comment along with your email address.
3. Giveaway is open to US and CANADA only
4. Giveaway runs January 21-February 3, 2013
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GRAND PRIZE Blog Tour Giveaway
There is also a Grand Prize drawing of a $25.00 Gift Card (Amazon or B&N) and an autographed copy of KILLING TIME for one lucky winner that follows the tour and leaves a comment at every stop.