Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas Spotlight on Cynthia Hickey

To help us celebrate the Christmas season I am posting interviews with some wonderfully talented authors about their Christmas traditions and memories.

Today I am excited to introduce Cynthia Hickey. Cynthia lives with her husband in Arizona surrounded by her seven children. Along with those seven children she is the grandmother of five. Cynthia Hickey has been telling stories since she was a child and we are certainly glad she hasn't stopped.

Cynthia has graciously offered a copy of her book Fudged-Laced Felonies so be sure to answer the question at the end of the post and leave your addy so I can contact you if you win!


Christmas carols are one of my favorite things about Christmas. What is your favorite carol?
O Holy Night sang by Michael Crawford is my all-time favorite. Second would be Mary’s Song by Amy Grant. Both depict the meaning of Christmas, sending the words straight to a person’s soul.

I remember sneaking with my sister into the living room one day where the tree stood and together we untapped all of the packages to see what we were getting. Thinking that we would get away with our little caper we rewrapped all of the presents. As my children would say we were ‘busted’ when our parents came home to presents that were not shall we say wrapped to perfection. Are you a person who loves the secrets and surprises or do you want to know what is hidden in the packages under the tree? As a child did you do any sneaking around to discover hidden presents?
I do love the surprises, but can’t help doing a little snooping, even now as an adult. I did the same as you as a child. Back then, wrapping paper was of better quality. Nowadays, the paper tears so that’s one trick my kids can’t do! Every year there is at least one thing I’ll see and want, then tell my husband, “Go ahead and get that for me. I can use it now. Then just wrap the box.” He hates when I do that.

My husband and I do the same thing. Christmas is a time that many memories are made. What is the best Christmas memory you have?
When my husband and I married, we could only afford bands. On our tenth Christmas, he bought an old book at a thrift store, cut a hole on the inside, and inserted a new diamond wedding ring. I cried.

I love all of the holiday movies but White Christmas is my favorite. I make my family sit down every year to watch this classic. Do you have a favorite holiday movie?
We have two we watch every year. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, because it makes us laugh and takes us away from the hustle and bustle. The other is It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s important to know what a difference each person makes in the lives of those around them.






What does your family do to remember what the real reason for Christmas is?
Along with our stockings, we hang one for Jesus. On Christmas morning, before we can dig into our own things, we must write on a slip of paper something that only we can give Jesus during the new Year.
Oh, that is a wonderful tradition I might have to start that in the Moore house this year. Could you please briefly describe your novel?
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.


Cynthia thanks you for visiting with us and sharing about how you and your family celebrate Christmas. If you want to contact Cynthia besure to visti her at her website or her blog.
http://www.cynthiahickey.com/ http://www.cynthiahickey.blogspot.com/ http://www.mainlymystery.blogspot.com/

If you would like to win a copy of Cynthia's new novel Fudged-Laced Felonies please leave a comment and be sure to answer the question: What is your favorite Christmas time treat? I really love a chocolate candy called Martha Whites. My great Aunt used to make them and I have never been able to get them since.

Don't forget to leave your addy so I can contact you if you win!!!

18 comments:

Edgy Inspirational Author said...

I love those yummy things that have chips and butterscotch and coconut on them and I have no clue what they are called. I'd love to check out Cynthia's book. I'm a chocolate addict. :)

Debra Ullrick said...

What a fun interview. I love what Cynthia's husband did for their tenth Christmas. That took a lot of thought. And how romantic. ~~dreamy sigh~~ That's a definite story for one of your books, Cynthia. *smiling*

Now...I have two favorite Christmas time treats. One of them is Spritz cookies. I bake them with a half of a maraschino cherry in the center and then after they cool I dip them in chocolate. The second one is Ghirardelli's peppermint bark candies.
Yummy!

Please add my name to the drawing. After all, I did answer your question. *smiling* Well, sorta. I cheated and added two things. Does that eliminate me from the drawing? Oh please say no. hehe

christianromancewriter@gmail.com

Thank you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Debra Ullrick
The Bride Wore Coveralls, Heartsong Presents #789
Déjà vu Bride, the sequel to, The Bride Wore Coveralls
Dixie Hearts, coming February 2009
www.debraullrick.com

Ausjenny said...

Please dont enter me I have or will have this book as I am in the club.
I just had to say I love O Holy Night by Michael Crawford to and posted that on my blog.

for treats Im not sure a friend use to make russian toffee its like a hard fudge i guess or like scottish tablet, but I was wonderful I use to love that.

Pamela J said...

Ohhhh... this book sounds delightful! I'd love to see how the whole thing turns out.
Speaking of things that turn out, my mom used to make divinity. I never tried it myself perhaps because she said when she was a young mom, a lady the gals back then called the Divinity Lady used to go to all the young mom's houses around Christmastime and help them all make a batch because she knew how to make it right, no fail. I think my mom didn't get it right after so I never learned. So then this takesme to MY favorite... you all know that rice krispy treat that is stuck together with marshmallow creme or something like that? I never made a successful batch but hear it is easy (so much for success with divinity?). My grandma used to make it every year and that is what I most looked forward to. Still watch for it and when it is shared around, call it a SPECIAL treat.
Pam Williams
cepjwms at yahoo dot com

Becky C. said...

I love Christmas treats, but my favorite, was always, my mother's homemade divinity candy! I'm afraid, my mother is heaven now, and I miss her, and I miss her divinity.

Please enter me in the contest.

Thank you,

Becky C.

rec(at)hiwaay(dot)net

Cherie J said...

I love peanut butter fudge for the holidays. Wonderful interview!

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jo said...

What a delightful interview this was. I loved how creative Cynthia's husband was with her new ring for her 10th anniversary. How special that was!

I love Divinity that a friend of ours from a retreat movement we belonged to always made for the Christmas season for everyone.

Please enter me in the drawing for the book. I would really love to read it.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Carole said...

I also enjoyed the divinity that my grandmother made every Christmas, and miss it very much. Our family enjoys the traditional party mix and also my special-recipe eggnog.

Thanks so much for the giveaway! I enjoy these cozy mysteries.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Robin Jansen said...

Please enter my name!
Robin Shope

Sandee61 said...

My favorite Holiday candy is the white chocolate fudge with candied cherries that my husband makes every year. He makes all kinds, but this is my favorite.
Please add my name to your giveaway. Thank you!

Holiday Blessings,
Sandy

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

Martha A. said...

Well, we make this apple cake with halves of apples baked into the top and serve it with whipped cream only on christmas! It is really good!
martha(at)lclink(dot)com

kalea_kane said...

Oh what a wonderful interview! My favorite Christmas treat is chocolate dipped pretzel rods with crushed candy canes sprinkled on top. Oh they go so great with a nice warm cup of cocoa! Thank you for the opportunity!

Blessings

Kelly

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I have seven kids, love to eat fudge and read mysteries, so you have to pick me :)
my favorite Christmas treat is the Gingerbread Men cookies that my grandma made every year and now my mom makes them! she's passing the tradition down to my girls :)

Kaye said...

This book like so much fun. How could it not be with fudge involved? My favorite treat which we make every year is biscotti dolce with anise flavored glaze. Recipe will be posted Saturday on my blog. There is also a recipe there for micro fudge and peanut brittle. I'd love to win this book

Kaye said...

forgot to leave e mail
florida982002[at]yahoo dot com

grammyellen said...

i love all the cookies recipes that my grandma passed down to my mom. she still makes most of them during the holidays.
i would love to be entered.
thanks,
ellen

grammieofsix@gmail.com

MIMI said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MIMI said...

My all time favorite Christmas treat is white divinity fudge my sister makes, haven't had it in years.

joejacmoore@charter.net