Ask the Author: Cindy Vincent
Answered Questions (6)
Cindy Vincent
Write, write, and re-write!
Cindy Vincent
Hello, Ellen, and thank you for your question. The answer is, yes, absolutely! I am working on the sixth book in the Buckley and Bogey series now, with a working title of "The Case of the Perfect Pretty Picture." It's so much fun to get back into their world again!
Cindy Vincent
I have gone back in time this summer and I'm reading (and in some cases, rereading) the Nero Wolfe mysteries by Rex Stout. Fantastic series! Nero Wolfe's sidekick, Archie Goodwin, is the narrator and legman, and his comments are hilarious, snappy, and clever. I'm really enjoying this journey to another era!
Cindy Vincent
Hello, Federica, and thank you for your lovely comment! So glad to hear that you've enjoyed the Buckley and Bogey books. It's been such a pleasure to write them, and yes, they're based on real life cats. Be sure to watch for book number five as it will be out soon! And, I have sent you a personal message with contact information. All the best to you!
Cindy Vincent
Thank you, Gloria, for this wonderful question! And yes, you pegged it! I loved Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys. Even so, my favorites were the Brains Benton and Trixie Belden series. As an author, I especially appreciate the setup with Brains Benton, whereby Jimmy tells the story of the genius detective, Brains. Much like Dr. Watson is supposed to be the character who chronicles Sherlock Holmes. I used this same format in both my Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Capers as well as the Daisy Diamond Detective Series. It's a lot of fun to write, since I can still use a first person viewpoint -- that of the sidekick -- and yet tell of the exploits of the "super smart" detective.
Besides all that, I just loved the clean, wholesome fun of those earlier books, where kids could be kids and simply have exciting adventures. So yes, I most definitely wanted to bring all that back in my own books!
Thanks again for your question!
Besides all that, I just loved the clean, wholesome fun of those earlier books, where kids could be kids and simply have exciting adventures. So yes, I most definitely wanted to bring all that back in my own books!
Thanks again for your question!
Cindy Vincent
The short answer? I take a shower. Yup, that's right. Whenever I get "stumped" while working on a project, a nice hot shower seems to get my brain cells clicking again. Probably because it's relaxing, and takes away the woes of the day, freeing up my creative side.
As for the long answer . . . Ever heard of Pavlov's dog? The famous experiment where he taught his dog to salivate at the sound of a bell, because the dog had learned to associate a bell ringing with being fed? Well, I use a similar process when it comes to writing. I stick to a pretty strict routine, and start each writing session by playing classical music while I play ten minutes of an online mystery game. Then I go directly into writing. I do this on all days, even on those days when the words flow freely. Then when I have a day where the little grey cells refuse to cooperate, the mere act of going through my routine, one that I associate with the process of writing, will usually stimulate the words to come forth once more. Besides that, I associate the mere sight of my desk and my office, as well as a certain time of day, with being creative. It may sound like a lot to go through, but it works!
As for the long answer . . . Ever heard of Pavlov's dog? The famous experiment where he taught his dog to salivate at the sound of a bell, because the dog had learned to associate a bell ringing with being fed? Well, I use a similar process when it comes to writing. I stick to a pretty strict routine, and start each writing session by playing classical music while I play ten minutes of an online mystery game. Then I go directly into writing. I do this on all days, even on those days when the words flow freely. Then when I have a day where the little grey cells refuse to cooperate, the mere act of going through my routine, one that I associate with the process of writing, will usually stimulate the words to come forth once more. Besides that, I associate the mere sight of my desk and my office, as well as a certain time of day, with being creative. It may sound like a lot to go through, but it works!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more