Interview with Cindy McDonald: Author of Hot Coco

Original Title: Hot Coco
Series: Unbridled Series #2
Author: Cindy McDonald
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release Date: June 1st 2012
Genre: Contemporary

HOT: Coco Beardmore
NOT: Coco's calamities
HOT: Mike West's fantasies
NOT: Mike's reality

That's right, Coco Beardmore is sizzling hot and she's landed in Mike West's lap. The problem is Coco's middle name is chaos! Her driving skills are a real bang--into Mike's horse trailer, and her sultry seduction will set the room on fire--the kitchen that is.
What's worse are her Thoroughbreds ability to mimic their owner's habit of screwing things up. It's enough to drive a normally calm and collected Mike West to the very edge.
But Mike's not the only one having problems with women. His father Eric has taken on more than he can chew, and he's about to get spit out by two women: one that he's in love with and one that thinks he's in love with her.
Oh yeah, things are hot around Westwood Thoroughbred Farm... and someone's about to get burned!

INTERVIEW WITH CINDY MCDONALD

1. Tell us something about your book that is not part of the book description (blurb).. 

There is a subplot in this book that has not been mentioned in any of they synopsis’ or blogs that I have visited on this tour. One of the characters is illiterate. As I’ve stated in other blog stops—this isn’t just a story about a beautiful klutz blonde--the story of takes on a deeper feel as the reader discovers the character’s distress and personal hell in trying to hide this tragic problem.

2. Who is your book cover designer and what do YOU think about the cover?

Todd Aune of Projetoonline designed the cover for Hot Coco. This wasn’t the first cover, oh no, we adjusted the design four times before we decided upon this one. The first one had the same two characters on the front, only she was clutching his gathered shirt in her hands, exposing his chiseled abs, whispering in his ear, as he gazed upon her longingly, clinging to every sultry word. Okay, at least that’s the way I interpreted the pose. It was hot! I was enamored! My publishing manager, Lauren Carr—God bless her—let me enjoy a full day of dancing around my living room in love with the really hot cover for HOT COCO, until she decided it was time to reason with me. “If that’s the cover you want, that’s fine,” Lauren carefully began, “but I think it projects the wrong image for your book.” She took a deep breath, “This cover will insinuate that there is sex in the story. You don’t do sex scenes, Cindy your scenes are suggestive but not sexual. Therefore, some readers that are looking for erotica will be disappointed, and those readers that are not, won’t read the book because the cover gives them the wrong idea. You will have upset two groups of people that will never buy your books again.”  Drats! She was one hundred percent correct. The fact of the matter is you must choose your cover very carefully. You want to tell a story with your cover, but you don’t want to tell too much, and you certainly don’t want to tell the wrong one.

3.  What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?

Presently, I have two published works: DEADLY.COM—which is the first book of the Unbridled Series, and HOT COCO which is the second. A November release is planned for the third book—DANGEROUS DECEPTION. You can view book trailers for Deadly.com and Hot Coco on my website: www.cindymcwriter.com and as soon as Todd is finished with the design for Dangerous Deception a trailer will be available on the site as well on the “coming soon” tab.

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

I’m afraid curiosity has gotten the best of me! The next book on my TBA list is…Fifty Shades of Grey. I don’t know that I will read all three books—I will decide after I’ve read the first, but I am looking forward to reading this book that is causing soooo much buzz.

5. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

I always have trouble with this question—I don’t know why. I suppose I would definitely invite Jesus—I have lots of questions for him. Marilyn Monroe would make for an interesting guest, especially if you have questions about whether the woman was murdered or if she committed suicide. I was always fascinated by the silent film star Greta Garbo, and if I were permitted to invite living people, I’d invite Bill Clinton—more questions, and then I think I’d invite Stuart Reardon—no questions—I just want to look at him.;}

6. What's the craziest writing idea you've had?

*giggle* I’m still waiting for one to hit—but when it does, you can bet I’ll act upon it.

7. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

Hot Coco will make you laugh, make you think, and warm your heart.