An Interview With A Dating Queen
Cindy Sample writes the popular “Hot Flash” column for the Gold River Community Newspaper. She is a frequent speaker in the Sacramento area with topics ranging from “Never let a lack of ability stand in the way of success,” “Dating for the Hot Flash Set,” and “You really want to be an author?”
Cindy is the past president of the Sacramento Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Her short story, “Tea Time”, is included in the 2008 Capital Crimes Anthology. She served on the boards of the California Mortgage Bankers Assn., the Sacramento Opera and the YWCA and works with the National Kidney Foundation for their Annual Authors Luncheon.
Cindy recently agreed to co-chair the Left Coast Crime Convention, which will be held in Sacramento in 2012. Volunteers are welcome! You can email her at cindy@cindysamplebooks.com.
Cindy joins us today to let us know just who this dating maven and mystery author is.
cncbooks: Tell the truth, what was the most bizarre date you ever had?
Cindy: My recent dates have all been far tamer than my protagonist’s adventures. I did have one date in college with a guy whose nickname was “Crash.” I wish I had analyzed that more carefully before we took off for a ride on his motorcycle.
cncbooks:Â Do you write to please yourself or Jane Q. Public?
Cindy: I started writing because I wanted to share my experiences as a single Mom, but I’ve discovered that women of all ages, whether single or married, have enjoyed Dying for a Date. What has truly surprised me is the number of men who have contacted me and said they gained insight about women after reading the book. I think if you write to please yourself you will ultimately provide reading pleasure for your public.
cncbooks:Â Do you make deals with yourself when you’re writing, i.e., if you finish X number of pages you get to eat ice cream?
Cindy: No, but that is a far better concept that my routine which is to eat chocolate, write a page, eat more chocolate, etc. etc. Fortunately I write standing up with my laptop on a counter, so hopefully that helps offset all of those carbs. And every couple of hours, I get my writing endorphins going by doing the cha cha or samba around the house. My cat thinks I’m quite entertaining.
cncbooks:Â Do you carry on conversations with Laurel while you’re working on the story?
Cindy: No, but I do run things by my cat, Zoey from the Bronx. She loves watching me act out scenes.
cncbooks: What is the best weapon a lady can take with her on a first date?
Cindy: A can of wasp spray. You can hit your target from 25 feet away. (I am so not going to get asked out on any more dates after that comment.)
cncbooks: Â What five things must you have with you on a deserted island?
Cindy: Books, chocolate, chardonnay, Ipod, a good friend
cncbooks:Â Same question for Laurel?
Cindy: What a coincidence. We chose the same top five except her good friend is Detective Hunk
cncbooks:Â Who did you pretend to be when you were a kid?
Cindy: I’m going to be dating myself here but does anyone remember the TV show “Honey West.” I will admit I dressed in black and attempted to take down my brother with my high powered kicks. What I won’t admit is how old I was at the time.
cncbooks:Â What author causes you to gnash your teeth with envy?
Cindy: There are so many fine authors out there, none of whom make me gnash my teeth. I respect their talent and hope that I will continue to hone my own writing skills. Some of my favorites are Michael Connolly, Harlan Coben and Deborah Crombie for suspense, Jennifer Crusie and Susan Elizabeth Phillips for romantic comedy.
cncbooks: “They” say write what you know about so, tell us, how many bodies have you come across?
Cindy: I think the question should be re-phrased, how many dates have you contemplated turning into dead bodies?
cncbooks: How much online dating did you do for research and did you find a hottie?
Cindy: In the nineties, I joined a dating agency called Great Expectations. The “Love Club,” the dating agency featured in Dying for a Date is loosely based on their operation. In the last couple of years I’ve tried 3 on-line dating sites and had coffee dates with 35 men. I’ve met hotties, hunks, and lukewarms. Most of them have been truly great guys, and several have become wonderful friends. At this age, it’s fun to swap stories and realize how much insight we’ve gained through the years.
cncbooks: What is the most ridiculous thing you’re willing to do to promote your book?
Cindy: I’m not sure, but if you think of something let me know because I’ll probably do it. There is a high probability I’ll be signing books on Halloween dressed in Laurel’s favorite clown outfit. Those red rubber noses are quite the “man magnet.”
October 29, 2010
Posted in: Guest Blogs
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47 Responses
Too funny. Love her idea about eating chocolate while you write and then standing up to use the carbs. Perfect. Will tell all of my writer friends that we have been doing it wrong all these years (by sitting down and drinking wine while we write). Stand up for chocolate, everyone! and read Cindy’s book, it’s a stitch.
You mean not everyone needs to eat a pound of chocolate in order to write? Thanks for the kind plug.
I doubt I dated the SAME men as Laurel/Cindy, but I certainly recognized the types…until they died! Cindy has great energy and great fun and I hope “Dying for a Date” is only the first.
The desser island list is right on, only I’d bring Cabernet. Red wine goes so well with chocolate. Great interview. Kathleen Delaney
Made me think about the best and the worst of dating. Worst was that the three men I dated after I divorced my first husband all decided to go back to their ex-wives and give it another chance. After I got past all the emotions attached to that, I thought of opening a service and single-handedly make men recognize what they’d given up.
My church doesn’t have a nunnery, but I think I’d start one rather than date again. FUN interview, Cindy!
Cindy, I loved this interview — fun. I laughed when I saw the name of the guy you dated, ‘Crash.’ Well, the guy that took me to my senior prom was named ‘Spider’ — does that tell you something???
Betty Gordon
Okay, Betty. I think it’s a toss-up between which of our dates had the less desirable name but you’d probably win. Remind to stay away from guys named Spider.
The energy in your interview and the quips you make (which I know for a fact are off the top of your head–and true!)is exactly what readers get in your book. I’m not “Dying For a Date” but you remind me why I didn’t like dating in the first place!
See you on the cruise. I’m sure you will get your Samba on!
Great interview, Cindy! Although I am thinking that maybe I should stop complaining about my lack of social life…clearly it’s a jungle out there!
Cindy, great interview. Had no idea you write standing up. Love the idea of having some chocolate between writing and I will definately try that for my next book. My worst date was a guy who took me bike riding in a wind storm, then offered to buy me a pizza if I took out my sewing machine and mended a boat tarp for him. I sewed up the tarp, kept the pizza, and kicked him out the door.
Looking forward to hoisting a glass with you, Cindy! We’re gonna have to keep an eye on that pistachio girl, though. So standing up writing does the calorie job, eh? Sure beats these mutts I walk for hours in the clear cuts.
Hi Billie and Sunny. It’s not really a jungle out there. More like a dysfunctional playground. But honest, I’ve met some wonderful new friends.
Okay, back to practicing my samba:-)
Hey, Cindy, loved the interview. Looking forward to seeing you on the cruise. Glad I don’t have to worry about all that dating stuff.
Hi Marilyn and Lou. I can’t wait to hang out with the two of you. But watch out, I may be gathering material for DYING FOR A DAIQUIRI.
Bon Voyage in a few weeks.
Thanks Kathleen, Carolyn and Pauline for your comments. I never realized my dating life would be so entertaining and provide so much material.
That’s just what I needed to hear [sorry...read] with Nanowrimo just about to start. I was so glad to read that someone else writes standing up [in the kitchen] in front of a laptop. Great entertainment, thank you.
Thanks, Maddy. My new writing technique evolved after a “cha cha” injury (sometimes I think I’m younger than my hips are) and it hurt to sit. I can’t believe how productive I can be standing up. And Dr. Oz agrees!
Good luck with Nanowrimo.
Great interview Cindy. What makes you so unique is that you are able to put humor into the crazy, anxious, frustrating, blissful, heart-breaking, ups and downs of the dating world. I love the “wasp spray” idea. Wonder if it comes in 4 oz. spray cans that will fit in our purses?
Wow, Cindy, never thought about writing standing up! Since I’ve hit a wall, I think I’ll try that. Very entertaining interview!
Thanks Marcia. Yes, that big 12 inch can isn’t too subtle is it? But very effective in case you don’t want to break your cell on anyone’s noggin.
Hi Christy. I was stunned how well the standing up thing works. And it helps justify all of that chocolate consumption:-)
Hmm…I’m with Pauline on the dating thing–get thee to a nunnery!
Fabulous and funny interview, Cindy!
Thanks Caitlin. It’s a good thing I’m an optimist. Still waiting for Detective Hunk AKA a really nice guy to enter my life some day. In the meantime, I meet so many great guys.
And I haven’t whacked anyone in years.
Yo, Cindy, Bear Bopper is also a highly recommended carry for first dates, but I found my Glock worked wonders. Might explain why I didn’t get married until I was 47?
See you on the cruise! jinx
Yo Jinx. I can see we’re going to have a great time swapping stories.
cheers!
Reading this hilarious and clever interview makes me SO not miss the dating days.
Thanks for commenting, Karyne. After reading this interview, I think many of you will renew your wedding vows.
Oh, Cindy, what a great interview! The pictures of you acting out your scenes for Zoey and doing the cha cha around the house are wonderful!
Looking forward to meeting you on the Mystery Cruise(should be a lot of chocolate around!)
Much success!
So funny!! The things writers will do to entertain and enlighten us! Thanks for sharing your great interview, Cindy!
Thanks Madelyn and Danna. The things writers do to write, plot and get that creativity moving.
It looks like we’ll all be cha cha cha ing on the cruise.
Cindy, you are so cute! I can just hear your voice as I read your interview! You are a magnet for smiles. You NEVER let me down!
Cindy: great interview and fabulous book. And I think you did an exceptional job on describing online dating for all of us…..I don’t cha-cha but my cat still thinks I’m entertaining!
A smile magnet. Now that is a lovely compliment. Thanks, Kay
Tks Deidre. I love being the guinea pig for on-line dating. You can all live vicariously (or not) through me.
Your kitty is right. You are entertaining:-)
Great interview, Cindy. I don’t think I could stand up for hours like that, but I could stop and dance a cha cha cha to stretch my legs. I’ve been trying the online dating, but all I seem to attract is men who fall in love fast but they either work in Africa or go to Africa to work and suddenly lose their money and think I’m the only one in their lives who can help them. Not!
I look forward to reading your book.
What a fun interview! This age is so much more interesting than those 20 somethings. I never tire of the dating stories, love’m.
Hi Laura. Thanks for the comment. There all types doing on-line dating but I enjoy the social aspect of it so that part is appealing. Okay, maybe I get some material every now and then:-)
Think positive. You never know what will happen.
Dating at 60 is far more fun than at 20. We have so many more stories to share. Of course we may just be retelling the same stories over and over.
At this age who can remember?
Cindy, it has been so much fun having you here and I hope you’ll come back soon and often. By the way, I’m insanely jealous of all of you going on the mystery cruise. I went on one in the Caribbean a few years ago and it’s high time somebody planned one again here on the east coast. And, no, I’m not volunteering
Lelia, thanks for making your interview such a blast which generated all of these great comments. We’ll make sure to toast you when we’re on the cruise.
What a hoot! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Sue. Thanks for checking it out.
Great interview Cindy! Really, wasp spray? Loved the book.
Very witty and had me guessing and changing my mind throughout
the book as to Who-dun-it. Congratulations. Well done!
Stick with the Pepper Spray! Wasp spray will NOT work on those who cannot feel pain i.e. drugs/alcohol. Pepper spray is an inflammatory which will slam the eyes shut no matter the situation. That’s why over 40,000 law enforcement agencies carry it nation wide!
Hi Mike. Thanks for the advice. One of the local police officers up here is a proponent of wasp spray but it’s definitely not the most convenient thing to carry in your purse. Hopefully any hostile encounters will only occur between the pages of my books.
this was great. thanks for the share.
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