Cindy Loven, an avid reader all her life, is seeing her dreams fulfilled with the publication of her first novel, Swept Away, part of Abingdon's Quilts of Love series. She co-authored this book with Laura V. Hilton. Born and raised in Arkansas, she loves her home state and is happy to live there with her husband of nearly twenty-nine years and her adult son. She and her family are very active in their local church, serving in many volunteer positions. She and her husband are very serious about informing parents about the dangers of the choking game, after loosing their youngest son to this dreadful 'game' in 2009. When not busy with church or her job as a “PR gal” for another author, you can find Cindy in her craft room,sewing, crocheting or making cards.
Visit Cindy Loven online
Swept Away
He survived a life-altering event. She is facing one. Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her grandmother who doesn’t want to be cared for. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned. Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but also as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between him and his new employer’s granddaughter. It doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts online researching him. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.
- ISBN: 1426773625
- Publisher: Abingdon Press
Interview with Cindy Loven
It is my pleasure to welcome Cindy Loven as featured author this week. Her book, Swept Away, is co-authored with Laura V. Hilton. Cindy is an active pastor's wife and has graduated a son through homeschooling. This avid reader makes her home in Conway, Arkansas.
Cindy, in Swept Away, your heroine is working on a quilt with her grandmother. How big a role does the quilting play in this story?
I designed a quilt (applique) for this story, based on the ballad quilts that I researched from the Appalachians. In the story, I did write a lot of the scenes surrounding the quilt and the blocks
Are you a quilter? If so, what type of patterns are your favorites?
I have quilted in the past and I actually made a wall hanging that will be given away during the launch of the book. I do love applique. And quilt magazines. LOL
Tell us about your main character and what you like most about him/her? Least?
Grandma Sari is my favorite character, she is both of my grandmothers combined. She is feisty, sassy, and afraid that she is losing her mind with what appears to be the onset of Alzheimer's. The thing I like least about Grandma Sari is how she often treats Sara Jane.
Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?
Most significant was having a friend who believed in my story and who was willing to go the extra mile to help get it written. Thank you Laura! This book would not have been without you!!
Pet Peeves when reading a book?
Hidden agendas and hidden faith messages, I don't enjoy being preached at, but please give the characters a strong faith.
What do you consider the greatest moment of your writing/publishing career?
The sale and publication of this story. *Grin*
What led you to choose the genre in which you write?
This question caught my eye, because I actually prefer to write children's stories. In fact, those and devotionals are mainly what I write, so this was a HUGE step for me, but the story idea came so fast and so clear I knew it was a story to be told.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Crafting, and reading. I am a book reviewer and avid reader, but sometimes it just isn't about books and that is when I love to sew, crochet, loom knit, make cards, and try new crafts.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
My Bible, a couple of Love Inspired Suspense books, two Jerry Eicher books, and I can't remember what else. My husband had a cleaning bug recently and moved the big stack to the book shelf.
What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Challenges of bringing this story to life were knowing I had a story and not finding the words to tell it properly, thus relying heavily on my co-author to have those words and working through the differences of thoughts, style and ideas.
LIGHTNING ROUND:
Pride and Prejudice or Gone with the Wind? GWTW
eReader or Paper Book? Paper
Latte or Cappuccino? Cappuccino
Debbie Macomber or Karen Kingsbury? Debbie Macomber
While writing: Music or Silence? Silence
Any parting words?
Believe in yourself, believe in your co-author, and trust God that He knows what is best. Write, write, write. You never learn without trying, sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding.
Thanks for sharing with us, Cindy!
Cindy, in Swept Away, your heroine is working on a quilt with her grandmother. How big a role does the quilting play in this story?
I designed a quilt (applique) for this story, based on the ballad quilts that I researched from the Appalachians. In the story, I did write a lot of the scenes surrounding the quilt and the blocks
Are you a quilter? If so, what type of patterns are your favorites?
I have quilted in the past and I actually made a wall hanging that will be given away during the launch of the book. I do love applique. And quilt magazines. LOL
Tell us about your main character and what you like most about him/her? Least?
Grandma Sari is my favorite character, she is both of my grandmothers combined. She is feisty, sassy, and afraid that she is losing her mind with what appears to be the onset of Alzheimer's. The thing I like least about Grandma Sari is how she often treats Sara Jane.
Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?
Most significant was having a friend who believed in my story and who was willing to go the extra mile to help get it written. Thank you Laura! This book would not have been without you!!
Pet Peeves when reading a book?
Hidden agendas and hidden faith messages, I don't enjoy being preached at, but please give the characters a strong faith.
What do you consider the greatest moment of your writing/publishing career?
The sale and publication of this story. *Grin*
What led you to choose the genre in which you write?
This question caught my eye, because I actually prefer to write children's stories. In fact, those and devotionals are mainly what I write, so this was a HUGE step for me, but the story idea came so fast and so clear I knew it was a story to be told.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Crafting, and reading. I am a book reviewer and avid reader, but sometimes it just isn't about books and that is when I love to sew, crochet, loom knit, make cards, and try new crafts.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
My Bible, a couple of Love Inspired Suspense books, two Jerry Eicher books, and I can't remember what else. My husband had a cleaning bug recently and moved the big stack to the book shelf.
What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Challenges of bringing this story to life were knowing I had a story and not finding the words to tell it properly, thus relying heavily on my co-author to have those words and working through the differences of thoughts, style and ideas.
LIGHTNING ROUND:
Pride and Prejudice or Gone with the Wind? GWTW
eReader or Paper Book? Paper
Latte or Cappuccino? Cappuccino
Debbie Macomber or Karen Kingsbury? Debbie Macomber
While writing: Music or Silence? Silence
Any parting words?
Believe in yourself, believe in your co-author, and trust God that He knows what is best. Write, write, write. You never learn without trying, sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding.
Thanks for sharing with us, Cindy!
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