DIANNA'S WINGS - Cindy Loven - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I'm posting Monday's interview a little early. We're in for an ice storm tonight and tomorrow. I didn't want to miss this interview if we lose power.

Welcome back, Cindy. What has drawn you to writing for children?

I have worked with kid since I was a kid literally. I started teaching children's church when I was 13 years old. I love how kids think and interact and I seem to relate well with kids.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hmm, well in regard to children, I guess it would be dressing up and doing crazy skits for kids at special events, my husband and I do a skit called Bobby Joe, where he is a hillbilly and I basically quiz him about what he is doing? Kids love Bobby Joe.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have always written things down, since I was a kid, I used to take a book to church and write down my notes on the sermons my daddy preached, I journaled a lot as a kid, and I have been reviewing books for about 7 years now. It just kind of happened. But now it is more of a driving force, with stories I need to tell that rattle around in my head.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love mystery and suspense, and I enjoy Amish books too, and if you combine them, I really enjoy them.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

Oh dear, I have story after story that I have written for children, with one of my favorites being The Adventure of Dayzee, I hope to see it come to life this year.  I have more stories ready to go in The Parables of Trevor Turtle Series, the next one will be about a squirrel named Foxxy Squirrel. I also have a series called Timmy and Tessa stories, these are stories that are based on some of the funny events that happen to my cousin's children. I haven't decided if they will be published or not, they may just be a private thing I do for my family.

Those are the children's stories. I have plans to publish a devotional in late January for tweens, I have been working on it for about a year and I think it is time to go forward with it. I also was looking through some memory sticks and I found another non fiction work, that I had been doing about infertility, I tagged it to pray and study some more about finishing it up. So I have tons of books and stories that I have written, I just need to work on getting them published.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Wow, we do live in a busy, busy world, and since I work from home, besides writing, I often find myself snowballed with commitments. I just have to step back and take a deep breath and prioritize. I find that some of those pressing things aren't near as important as I thought.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

I have to say it is the publication of Dianna's Wings and my co-authored book Swept Away, Quilts of Love. There is nothing to compare holding a book you wrote in your hands and seeing that work in a finalized presentation. Awesome, awesome feeling!

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Oh, this one is easy, a cat. And if you have ever owned a cat (well been owned by a cat) you understand, they rule. 

What is your favorite food?

Chicken, I could eat it every day, I love it. I haven't ever had it prepared in any way that I did not like it.

Is it hard to break into the children’s market?

I think it is hard to break into any writing market, and publishing has changed in many ways over the years, I am sure you too know this. I chose to self-publish this story. The artist I worked with teaches creative writing on the college level, and he edited my story as well as drew the pictures, which are awesome by the way. I didn't choose to self-publish on a whim. We, my illustrator and I, both prayed about this story, how it was best suited to be marketed. And we worked hard to present a professional book.

That’s the best kind of self-publishing. What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?

Edit, edit, edit. Work with a critique team, ones who will be honest with you. Also I have to say be patient, Dianna's Wings was 2 and half years in the making. It didn't happen overnight, it was revised, rewritten, nearly scrapped, and finally we started with the original. Also be sure when you work with a critique team to take advice seriously but don't let it change your story line, have your mind made up what your story is saying.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

I think Dianna's Wings is a book that all children need to read or hear. It teaches us that God creates us perfectly and wonderfully. We don't need to look like everyone else. We are unique to God.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I am on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorcindyloven

I also blog at www.cindylovenwrites.blogspot.com

I also have an Amazon page, where you can also find Dianna's Wings.

amazon.com/author/cindyloven

Thank you Lena for having me and Dianna's Wings on your blog, I truly appreciate it so much!

My pleasure and great blessing, Cindy.

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