I’d like to welcome Cindy Goyette to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need the TV on. Doesn’t matter what’s on, but I can’t write in silence and music doesn’t cut it for me. But if I’m on a plane, the background noise is good enough. I also need water, maybe a candle burning.

Things that hamper your writing: I can’t write late in the day. My mind just goes blank.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Now that I’m about to be published, I have to say marketing. I hate putting myself out there and don’t feel comfortable talking in large groups. But it’s essential, so I’m working on getting over it.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Second drafts. I love cleaning up a first draft. First drafts are the second hardest thing about being a writer by the way.

Things you always put in your books: Dogs. My debut doesn’t have many, but everything else I’ve written does.

Things you never put in your books: cruelty to animals. I can’t stand to even think about it.

Things to say to an author: I loved your book, I can’t wait to read your book, you’re so talented. I could go on, but you get the drift. Stroke our ego!

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: You should write a book about…, I could write a book if only…

Favorite places you’ve been: My absolute favorite place is The San Juan Islands. It’s so peaceful and if you’re lucky, you can see orcas from land.

Places you never want to go to again: Laughlin, Nevada. Sounds crazy since my book takes place in Phoenix, but I’m not a huge fan of the desert.

Favorite books (or genre): I like a lot of things, but my favorites are mystery, suspense, and thrillers. I do read some literary fiction and some non-fiction.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Books about sports. But I’m open to almost anything if it holds my interest.

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Oh, so many. Bono, Alice Hoffman, Rachel Maddow… I could go on.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Not to get political, but most politicians.

Favorite things to do: Write, of course. I like working out at Orange Theory Fitness, hiking, spending time with my family and dogs, reading, watching a good series on TV with my husband.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: I used to teach behind the wheel driving. I’d eat bugs to never do it again!

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Probably completing the police academy and being a cop.

Something you chickened out from doing: I’ve turned around on hikes due to my fear of heights.

The funniest thing to happen to you: This struck me funny, although my daughter will say otherwise. I was grocery shopping, and this kid was swinging his foot. He had heavy sandals on. His shoe flew off his foot and nailed me in the throat. I fell into the frozen fish and couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to die, and it kind of struck me funny that I would go out that way. My daughter was with me and did not see the humor in the situation.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: See above.

About Cindy:

Armed with a handgun and a word processor, Immigration Officer Cindy Goyette spent her nights creating fictional friends to help pass the lonely hours between border crossers. A portable black-and-white TV cancelled the unexplained noises coming from the ancient jail cells in the creepy basement. The resulting book will stay in the closet where it belongs, but the seed was planted and she’s been writing ever since.

Cindy spent the ensuing years as a probation officer, dealing with hardened criminals with hard-luck stories that sometimes kept her up at night. Every day was an adventure. She survived by seeing humor in situations where she could find it. She joked about writing a book and then she did just that.

OBEY ALL LAWS incorporates the wild and crazy life of a probation officer with an issue currently in the news. Cindy’s history with flirtatious felons who thought they were charmers and addicts who denied the drugs in their pockets, claiming they’re wearing their friend’s pants have given her ample material for the books she now writes.

Born in New Jersey, Cindy lived in Phoenix for twenty years. She now makes her home in Washington state with her husband and two cocker spaniels.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://ccgoyette.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077005287995