Get Swept Up in a Summer Rainstorm with Cindy Bonds

Today, we meet another Scrivenings Press Author who has had great success with her first Christian romantic suspense book, Hostage. Now, she is introducing us to more excitement, with a summertime Rainstorm. Be sure to comment at the end of the post for a chance to win your own copy of this exciting new book!

Cindy Bonds lives in rural Arkansas where she works for an aviation insurance agency and spends her free time with her husband and children. In between ball games and gymnastics, she loves to read and work on her crafting skills.

Writing has become an outlet for her creativity and she is excited for her novel Rainstorm as well as an upcoming three book series beginning in November 2021. You can check out Rainstorm on the link below and sign up for her newsletter at www.cindybonds.com. She’s also on Facebook @cindybondsauthor.

https://scrivenings.link/rainstorm

Jenny: Welcome to my blog today, Cindy. I wish we had gotten to know each other better in person before the pandemic put an end to our monthly ACFW-Arkansas chapter meetings. Thanks for agreeing to answer  a few questions for our readers.

Jenny: What is the main inspiration behind your  most recent release?

Cindy: In Rainstorm, my most recent release, the theme of why kept popping up as I wrote of the life of Laurel. Why did the female protagonist, Laurel, have to go through so much trial and suffering? There is much we don’t know or understand about the world and how God works. His time-table, His blessings, our failures, He uses all of them for His purposes. It’s a question a lot of us ask and the only answer we have is: it’s God’s will.

Sometimes, we can see the after effects of humanity, the love and compassion that bridges gaps and heals through God’s love. But we always have to remember Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called to his purpose.” The why question is hard as a Christian. But even seeing suffering, pain, sickness, we have to have faith that God’s plan is much greater than our own.

Jenny: I think the Why question is something we all struggle with. Here’s something related to your life as a writer. What do you love doing when you get an unexpected day with no set schedule?

Cindy: My whole life is an unset schedule! I do have a full time job, so I write when I can. Right now, our kids are home and we’re in between sports and activities. For the month of July, I have a little more free time and l struggle to make myself sit down and write in short spurts. Usually, when I write, I go for the long-haul. Ideas come in waves and I follow them down as far as possible before I stop! So when I only have a few hours, I struggle to make myself go ahead and write, knowing I’ll have to stop to go to sleep!

Jenny: Yes. I totally get the idea of writing while you can!  What type of music do you have playing in the background while writing, or do you require total silence?

Cindy: I must have silence! I don’t know how writers write with music in the background. I might be able to handle some orchestral music with no singing, but chances are, it’s something I would recognize and then I’d start to think about where I know the music from. My whole afternoon would be shot because I’d be googling the song and where I would’ve heard it before.

Jenny: Oh, that is so me. Music takes my mind elsewhere for sure. What is the favorite feedback you have gotten from a reader?

Cindy: Anytime I get a compliment from a reader is great feedback. I have people say they’ve read my book and couldn’t put it down or asked when is the next coming out? Those are wonderful words to hear when you’re struggling to keep all the balls in the air and writing seems to fall to the lowest rung! God gives me those snippets of faith to remember why I’m doing this writing thing in the first place. His word gives me truth to weave into the story, to lead those that might not really know or understand Him to who He really is. When I do hear readers mention the questions about God or verses I give and how they spoke to them, it means a lot!

Jenny: One more fun question- What is the most amazing thing you have seen so far today?

I have a 12 year old- on the 18^th, and a 9 year old- 10 in August. My husband and I just let them pick out a puppy each. We’ve been discussing getting them puppies for a while, so this was a huge deal and big step for them! The love and responsibility they are already showing makes me proud and so happy! They’ve never had a puppy, all ours have been strays that we’ve adopted over the years, so it’s a whole new bonding experience for them and has been a wonderful thing to watch.

Jenny: Thanks so much, Cindy.  It is always fun to get a little glimpse into the life on an author.  Now, we’ll hear about your book, Rainstorm. Don’t forget, everyone to post a comment at the end of this blog for a chance to win a copy of this great new book!

Laurel Ashburn has a scarred past, filled with corruption and pain. After an injury overseas sends her home, she moves back in with her foster mother and to a town that hates her. Being home puts her on a path to find a missing friend. But when she’s attacked over and over, who will be willing to help?

Detective Dev Hollister traded in the big city for a slower pace and less crime in rural Arkansas. After rescuing Laurel from an attempted kidnapping, he finds himself intrigued with this headstrong and stubborn woman.

While Dev’s job is to protect Laurel, he wants much more than to solve the case. He wants to give her a new life and reason to stay.

Laurel will have to push beyond her dark past to trust Dev with her life. But after losing so much, can Laurel survive one more storm?

What have you seen today that reminds you that God is always with you, and that he has a plan for your life? Answer below and you could win a copy of Rainstorm!