Quick Six with Loucinda McGary
Wooot! Auntie Cindy is hanging out with us today for the Quick Six – and she’s giving away her wonderful new book, THE SIDHE PRINCESS!
I am so in love with this cover. The colors, the feel, and the ethereal drama of it make it one of my all-time favorites! What do you think?
Thanks for having me as a guest today, Tawny!
My latest release, The Sidhe Princess is a bit of a departure for me. It’s not a novel (it’s only 14,000 words) and it’s not a romance (more like a modern-day fairy tale). It’s a prequel to my debut novel The Wild Sight (which is currently on sale for 99 cents on Kindle) and takes place in Northern Ireland in 1964. It is available in e-book format only on Kindle and SmashWords.
I love your Quick 6 questions, and usually surprise myself with my answers.
Historical or Contemporary?
I love reading historicals, but I write contemporaries. Go figure!
I’d love to write an historical one of these days, but I’m afraid I’d get so ensnared in the research I’d never get down to the actual story! I have a hard enough time with my contemporaries. I’ll start researching some aspect of the story and the next thing I know, I’ve gone off on a tangent. Research is so much fun, and you never know where it will lead you.
Chest hair or bare?
This is one of my pet peeves on most romance covers. I like men with some hair on their chests! Most romance cover models have none. I’ll admit, I’m a lot like Goldilocks, I don’t want too much, or too little, I want just the right amount. (Big Evil Grin) And I also like that little ‘treasure trail’ that goes down the stomach and disappears inside the waistband.
Introvert or Extrovert?
I’ve taken the Myers-Briggs test multiple times and I always come out far over on the Extrovert side. Based on their definitions, I can’t argue. I really do like to be around people and feel energized by most group interactions. However, when I say groups, I don’t mean crowds. I really do detest large crowds. Plus, I value my privacy and my alone time. I guess that’s why I write, I get to be alone with my thoughts and let my imagination go wild.
Ocean or mountain?
Ocean! I don’t know what it is about the smell of salt air, or the sound of waves, but I just love them. Perhaps it’s some primeval calling in my genetic code that makes me long to be near the ocean. Mind you, I don’t necessarily want to go IN it, especially here in northern California where the water is freezing. I don’t even necessarily want to go ON it (in spite of all my cruises). I just want to be near it.
Besides, I get a headache and can’t breathe at high elevations. I’m such a flat-lander. So mountains are nice to look at, but not to climb.
Car or plane?
I’m waaay too impatient to drive for long distances in a car. Get me to the airport! Actually, I hate long plane flights too. The flight from LA to Auckland was a KILLER (14 hours), but so worth it once I got there. Ditto on flying from California to Europe (10 to 12 hours). But then, you can’t exactly drive to New Zealand or Europe, so what choice did I have? Staying home is NOT an option.
Bunny slippers or bare feet?
I have notoriously tender feet, didn’t even go barefoot as a kid, so slippers are a must. I don’t have bunny slippers, but I have this pair of red fuzzy slides I wear most of the time when I’m in the house.
For travel, I have white terry slippers the hotel in Istanbul gave me on my last trip to Turkey. They are GREAT because they roll up to almost nothing and I just throw them in the washer and dryer when they get dirty. They are very well-traveled slippers. Don’t know what I’ll do when they wear out… Guess I’ll have to go back to Istanbul and get another pair. LOL!
Do you have a favorite pair of slippers? What do they look like? And are you dressing up for Halloween?
I’ll give away a copy of The Sidhe Princess to one commenter today.
Hi, AC! Congrats on The Sidhe Princess, which I can’t wait to read (although I’m a little clueless on how exactly to pronounce it… I need to Google that
) As for slippers? I don’t often wear them (I mostly wear warm socks around the house) but I admit I do quite admire my daughter’s fuzzy sheep slippers–they have little sheep faces on them… too bad they’re too small for me! 
And I’m not likely to be dressing up for Halloween–boo on me! ;p
love that cover ! i wear pink slippers, i dont dress up for halloween but my 4 girls do
Regina please email me at cindymm18 AT gmail DOT com. You’ve won a free download of my novelette!
Aunty Cindy
That is a beautiful cover!
As for a costume, nothing this year… just some orange and black…maybe paint something on my face if I have time…
I do not usually wear slippers, but I do have a cute pair of bunnies when my feet get too cold…
Happy October!
Thanks Colleen,
I think of my four books, it is my favorite cover… though Treasures of Venice DID take first place in Judge a Book By Its Cover.
Wearing orange and black definitely counts as being in the Halloween spirit.
I have this wonderful black witch’s hat with black maribou feathers around the brim. A friend gave it to me last year and I will wear it again this year, too.
AC
Hi Fedora! Glad to see you here this morning!
Actually sidhe is pronounced SHEE (as in banshee). Ya gotta love Gaelic, 14 letters, only 3 are vowels and you only pronounce two of them. Oh and don’t forget to throw in some letters that aren’t there.
I live fuzzy sox too, and usually wear them WITH my slippers in the winter.
AC
Ah… OK, let me cram that into my wee little brain–and I do love Gaelic! I just wish I had the time to learn more
Hee on the letters that sneakily hang out and don’t contribute aurally…
Makes for some very interesting road signs in the Republic of Ireland (they don’t speak/read Gaelic in the north), I can personally attest! ;-P
AC
Hi Regina,
Thanks for the cover LURVE! It was the first cover I had actual input on and I’m very proud of it. It was designed by my chaptermate, the lovely and talented Kim Van Meter. Here are more of her covers:http://bit.ly/pbVV45
AC
Waving madly to my Bandita sisters Tawny and AC! Tawny, one of the many things I love about your quick six (just typed quick sex – hmm, seems appropriate somehow!) is that I always find out something interesting about your guests even when I think I already know them pretty well. Cindy, had to laugh at chest hair. The guys in my books usually have a bit too – as you say, not too much, though! And I so agree with you about research being a bottomless hole. I try to do as much of it on the fly as I can, otherwise I’d never do any writing.
Waving back
I think thats what I love about the Quick Six, too, Anna. It’s always cool to find these neat new bits of info. I do love the questions the authors ask, too, though. Slippers… one of my favorite things!
By the way, congratulations on the release of the Sidhe Princess. I agree with Tawny – that cover is gorgeous!
Thanx a bunch, Fo! You have definitely been blessed by the “cover gods” on your books.
Appreciate you popping by today.
AC
Cindy, that truly is a gorgeous cover! My favorite “slippers” are footies that are kinda like fake fur and kinda not, in varied black, brown and white. The dh’s sister gave them to me, and they are soooo warm and cozy.
Thanks so much for popping by, Nancy!
Your “footies” sound like the slippers my mom and gramma used to knit. I know how to make them, but it’s just not the same as theirs.
I still have the last pair my mom made before she died. I couldn’t stand to wear them out so they are packed away in my cedar chest.
AC
Apparently I posted my earlier comment in the wrong place. Now I have to go find it and put it here. Duh!
Okay – here’s the comment I made earlier on the wrong post. Sometimes my brain works at hyperspeed and it gets me in trouble. Other times, my brain won’t work at all and I get the same results.
Great interview/post! You just want it all don’t you Cindy. No long rides anywhere or crowds or ventures into or on the ocean, but you love cruising. You’re an extrovert who loves to be alone. Me thinks you’e just a bit on the koo koo side. But seriously, I love you anwyay.
I’m a big bull riding fan (watching not riding), so my absolute favorite pair of slippers is my floppy tan slippers with huge long-horn steer heads on the front. I’d post a picture of them, but I don’t have one (note to self – take picture of bull slippers).
Thanks for the interview Tawny. Looking forward to seeing you in January!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
LOL Patricia
do you want me to find your other post and delete it?
I love reading about Auntie’s adventures. She’s got it all going on, and great books too.
And I am SO excited to visit SVR in January!! Some of my favorite people belong to your chapter, making it double-the pleasure. Thank you again for the lovely invitation.
Tawny – You’ll probably find my post. It’s on your book give-away post right below this one. I did’t realize the comment button was at the top of the post instead of the bottom. Some people learn the hard way! You can delete it if you want but I don’t suspect anyone else is going to even see.
Patricia
LOL Patricia!
And I simply MUST see a picture of those long horn slippers. They sound GREAT!
I never claimed to make sense!
AC
Waving Auntie Cindy and Tawny (so happy I get to see you in January baring the snow). My favorite slippers aren’t really dainty little things. They are UGGS! In a house in the mountains with no heat but a wood stove and a pellet stove, toes get cold so I live in my wonderful Australian lined UGGS!! Not too dainty, though.
You know how much I love your stories. I couldn’t put Wild Sight down so know I will enjoy the prequel. Lots of luck, Cindy!!! Hugs!
Hey sweetie!!! Oh man, I miss you
I am going to hope SOOOO hard for no snow, because I need me a Paisley hug!
AH Darlin’ Paisley!
Thank you for popping by and for being such a wonderful supporter of my work! really can’t thank you enough…
And dainty takes a distant back seat to cold toes. I’d LURVE some UGG slippers! They sound GREAT!
AC
Ooooh, slippers. I love slippers. Actually I love me feet being warm more than anything else LOL. As much as I’m obsessed with shoes, I do tend to go barefoot at home. When the weather chills, I slip on the socks. But a few years back my sweet hubby gave me the ugliest pair of lilac colored UGG slippers for Christmas. I admit it, I’m a shoe snob. But the minute I slipped them on, I fell in love. They are so comfy and warm, and give my feet fabulous support. I wore through them pretty fast, so last year on my wish list I asked for another pair. But in black. That way I don’t have to squint and pretend they are pretty *g*
LOL Tawny!
I like pretty shoes, but gave up pretty for COMFORT long, LONG ago! I MUST put UGG slippers on my wish list too. If you and Paisley BOTH recommend them, I know they must be something special.
AC
There’s a reason they’re called UGGs. Ug – lee. But I agree, they are warm and comfy.
ROFL!
Smooches, Tawny! You are beautifully stylish, to be sure!
Hola AC! Hi Tawny!
I have several pairs of slippers, but I prefer wearing ankle socks in the house. Speaking of UGG boots…my cousin who’s from Sydney sent me a pair twenty years ago before they were popular here. I got some strange looks, but they were so comfortable.
Hi Jen!
Thanx for stopping by! What a trendsetter! Ugg boots 20 years ago? I remember the first time I saw them, I thought anything that ugly MUST be comfy.
AC
Cindy! It is great to hear about your new novella! I am so excited and will be looking for it. You know how much I “lourved” The Wild Sight, so this will be a delightful read. Congratulations! And the cover is divine.
My only question for you is: When the heck you coming down my way so we can have lunch? LOL! I miss you and am thrilled to know that Auntie Cindy is going strong. Take care and best of luck. Oh, as an FYI, Emily is getting married in a week!
Your friend, Sharon Lathan
I don’t dress up for halloween, I wear flip flops most of the time, but also have a pair of LLBean slippers I wear quite a bit.
Great interview, Tawny and Cindy! I love the quick six; they’re such interesting questions and I get to learn all the “secrets” of writers!
As a kid I always went barefoot, but as an adult I can’t stand dirty feet. I don’t need support (have very good arches), so I wear sox winter and summer.
For Halloween I’m just gonna watch the grandkiddies in their darling outfits.
I totally missed it! Oh well, can’t wait to read Sidhe Princess Aunty Cindy.
Loved the interview, and I loved the book, too. Happy Halloween!