Cynthia Hickey's Fudge-Laced Felonies, Candy-Coated Secrets, & Chocolate-Covered Crime

Title: Fudge-Laced Felonies, Candy-Coated Secrets, Chocolate-Covered Crime.

Publisher: These three books were originally published through Barbour and are now available as ebooks on www.Amazon.com and www.smashwords.com

Cover blurb: Summer Meadows walked into church on Sunday, not to find God but to search for a killer. While transplanting the rosebush her church's handsome greeter, Ethan Banning, inadvertently killed, Summer and Ethan discover a hidden stash of diamonds, a rusty can full of cash, and a bloody-gardening glove. This discovery sets Summer and her candy-making aunt on a search for a killer.

As Summer gets closer to the truth-not only of the theft but of her true feelings for Ethan-the diamond thief hatches a plan to hush the feisty sleuth.

1) How did this story come to you?
When Barbour announced they were opening their cozy mystery line, a friend told me I should try writing for it. I didn’t know what a cozy was and told her no. She dared me, and the rest is history.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Fudge-Laced Felonies was originally titled Buried Beneath the Midnight Blue and won first place in a contest where I acquired an agent, who sold the book to Barbour in less than a month. Books two and three followed in the consecutive years.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m shy, I’m the detention monitor at my local school, and I have seven children.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My agent has asked me to write historical romance and I have several proposals awaiting answers. Of course, they all hold a mystery of some kind.

5) Parting comments?
NEVER give up. Perseverance wins in this game.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.cynthiahickey.com/

Cynthia Hickey's Candy-Coated Secrets

Title: Candy-Coated Secrets
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: When a carnival train crashes in front of Summer Meadows’s house, she does what comes naturally—she acts without thinking and volunteers to lead an elephant to the fairground. The animal’s trainer follows close behind but disappears when they reach their destination. When Summer goes looking for the trainer, she finds something altogether different—a woman hanging dead in the shower of one of the trailers. A carnival slew of mishap and misadventure ensue when Summer and her fiancé, Ethan, set out to solve the murder.

1) How did this story come to you?
After my first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, I wanted another idea just as fun for the sequel. During one of my many daydreaming episodes, I thought, “What if somebody asked me to walk an elephant a mile down the road?” Ta-da! Book number two.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I wrote my first cozy on a dare when Barbour asked for submissions. A friend dared me to write a cozy. I didn’t even know what one was. I had to look it up on the internet! Then, I figured it would be fun to try. I wrote it, submitted it in a contest, won first place, acquired an agent, and at the 2007 ACFW conference, Barbour presented me with the contract at the Friday luncheon. It was definitely a whirlwind.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m actually very shy.
I’ve been on television twice.
Beneath my fat suit, I’m really a size three

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve recently contracted a contemporary novella with Barbour that is releasing Fall of 2012. I’m working on a historical right now that I hope to find a home for.

5) Parting comments?
NEVER NEVER NEVER give up on your dreams!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.cynthiahickey.com/ and Facebook