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I have something special for you guys today! Cynthia Herron is one of my local writing buddies, and her latest book, His Love Revealed, released on October 1st. I asked Cynthia if she wouldn't mind stopping by for an interview, and she said yes!

Q: Welcome, Cynthia! Can you tell us a little about your new release and your Welcome to Ruby series?

A: Sure! His Love Revealed, book #2 in my WTR series is a friends-to-more story set in the little Ozarks community of Ruby, Missouri, a charming community where “neighbor” is another word for “friend.” Ruby is home to quirky, lovable characters, including Come and Get It proprietress Ida Mae Hoscutt and her right-hand man at the diner, Charles “Chuck” Farrow.

Here is the back cover copy:

Will revelations of the past hijack their future?

Since childhood, Ida Mae Hoscutt, the beloved proprietress of the Come and Get It Diner, has loved Charles “Chuck” Farrow from afar. Now on the eve of her thirty-ninth birthday with no marriage proposal in sight, Ida Mae mourns past mistakes and contemplates a makeover. When a radio commercial wrenches Ida Mae’s heart, will a sudden turn of events sabotage her chance for happiness or will a long-held secret be the answer to love ever-after?

As Ida Mae’s right-hand man at the Come and Get It, Chuck yearns to shift gears and start over. He’s ready to shelve bachelorhood and blunders in favor of possibilities and new beginnings. When he prepares to move forward, two things challenge his objective. One is the father who walked away and never looked back. The other? A decades-old question that only Ida Mae can answer.

And Ida Mae isn’t talking.

Q: Is Ruby, Missouri, based on a real town?

A: No, not really. Though, it is indeed a mishmash of several small communities within the Ozarks, including a beloved little Ozarks’ town where I lived until the age of twelve. Everyone knew everyone, including what you had for dinner the night before, what you said to Church Member Martha (because, you know, party lines), and how far your clothes line was from your back door.

Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer? Tell us a bit about your journey to publication.

A: I sensed from a young age I was a little different from my peers. While other kids played at recess, I was the one who sought out a comfy spot beneath a prime shade tree. Armed with my tablets and pencils, I toyed with words that eventually grew into simple stories.

In high school, I met with a lot of encouragers along the way. After college, I worked in a helping profession, but grew weary with burn-out in a high stress field. I eventually left that career to marry and raise a family, and during that season, I tucked my writing dream away for a time, but I continued to read voraciously.

I jumped back into the writing world in 2011, joining writing organizations like American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. I attended national conferences and local writing groups. I connected with fellow professionals who nurtured, guided, and helped me grow my craft. Along the way, I partnered with a great literary team who shared my vision for writing the books of my heart. In December 2017, we received a three book offer on my Welcome to Ruby series from Mountain Brook Ink, with Her Hope Discovered, my debut novel and book #1 in my series, releasing the next year.

Q: Do you have a favorite part of the writing process?

A: I do. Like many authors, I enjoy those initial stages of brainstorming characters and story and watching them come together in a meeting of the minds. I love sharp, witty banter and humor, so dialogue between the characters is a really fun part of the process for me.

Q: You are always posting such luscious pictures of food. Do you like to cook? If so, do you have any favorite cookbooks or recipe sites?

A: I do enjoy cooking! I wish I had more time for it like I used to. From a young age, my sister and I helped my mama in the kitchen. Faith, family, and food were always the centerpiece of our home when I was a kiddo, and I mirrored “my raising” with my own family. I’m a huge fan of comfort foods like fried chicken, mashed taters and gravy, and pie—each and every kind.

A few favorite folks I follow are Brandie, The Country Cook, Ree Drummond/The Pioneer Woman, and The Southern Lady Cooks. I’m also partial to a local Ozarks’ celebrity Aunt Ruthie (Sugar Pie Farmhouse), and a new fave on my radar is Cooking with Brenda Gantt.

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors to read?

A: Ohh, way to put me on the spot! I’m a huge Debbie Macomber fan from waaay back. I also enjoy Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, Rachel Hauck, Denise Hunter, Beth Vogt, and Charles Martin. I also read a lot of mainstream fiction, so it’s really impossible to list all my favorites or we’d be here all day!

Q: Is there a Bible passage that has been speaking to your heart recently?

A: Chapter Four of 2nd Corinthians (Treasures in Jars of Clay). I read the entire chapter on a frequent basis. It’s really encouraged me during some of my harshest seasons.

Q: Where can readers connect with you online?

Thank you so much, Erin, for hosting me on your blog! I’m truly delighted to be here!

It's been great having you here! 😊

Readers, don't miss Cynthia's monthly newsletter, which is full of all sorts of good things. You can sign up here! If you'd like to check out Cynthia's books, here are the links one more time: