Shannon here: Cynthia Herron shares how she met her husband. Help her celebrate the release of her debut novel, Her Hope Discovered. And she’s helping me clean out my bookshelves. Comment or answer the question at the end of any post dated Jan 8th – llth for chance to win a rare print copy of Book 6 in my Texas Rodeo series, Rodeo Song. Deadline: Jan 19th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Cynthia:
Marriage and Writing with a Side Dish of Life
The Early Years…
“Cindy, I wish you’d reconsider. Come on. It’ll be fun—you’ll see.”
Was she serious? Did my friend (and coworker) really think I’d cave to this new tactic? The one where a blind date is made to sound oh so dreamy and then…you discover…ewww. It turns out to be the date from—well—you know.
Uh-uh. No thanks.
“Is this the same guy you’ve tried setting me up with for the past six months? The same guy who doesn’t have a phone and whose car is always in the shop?”
Debi laughed and steered me toward a quiet corner of the break room. “Think of it more as a get-to-know-each-other kind of thing. The whole gang is meeting for pizza so if you two don’t hit it off, no big deal. It’s a public setting, no commitment, and if nothing else, you might just make a new friend.”
Well, she had me there. How could I argue with that?
I loved socializing and I was all about making new friends. Still new in my job and new to town, I was eager to ride the friendship train.
“Okay. But remember—I’m not interested in the dating scene again for a while.” Not after my broken heart experience in college. Not after dating someone who had no interest in God, much less anything remotely connected to Him.
As it turned out, the pizza was delish and the conversation fun and lively, but the “guy” and I were polar opposites. Where I was talkative, he was a man of few words. Where I was outgoing, he seemed reserved. Where I thrived on the social scene, he preferred solitude.
Well, at least I’d found out early.
But then—he called. And asked me out on a real date. We saw Splash and we dined on pizza again. At my apartment door, he shook my hand. And asked me out again.
By then, I guess he found a phone and his voice. And on our second date, he asked if he could kiss me goodnight. A gentleman! At last…
By our third date, we talked often. About life. World peace. Our faith. Children. Career goals. Marriage.
He said I love you.
Yes. I love you. That would be the third date.
Some folks (especially my parents) thought it was too soon. I tended to agree, but God had other plans.
Stay tuned for Part Two on Friday!
About Cynthia: Cynthia writes Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction from the beautiful Ozark Mountains. A hopeless romantic at heart, she enjoys penning stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Her Hope Discovered, her début novel and the first in a three-book series, released December 2018 with Mountain Brook Ink.
“Cindy” has a degree in psychology and a background in social work. She is a member of ACFW, ACFW MozArks, and RWA.
She is a 2017 ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2016 ACFW Genesis (Double) Finalist, and a 2015 ACFW First Impressions Winner. Her short story Words from the Heart appears in The Story Anthology (Karen Kingsbury/Family Fiction) via Salem Publications, 2014. Her work is represented by WordServe Literary.
Giveaway
Besides writing, Cindy enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has a fondness for gingerbread men, miniature teapots, and all things apple. She also adores a great cup of coffee and she never met a sticky note she didn’t like.
Cindy loves to connect with friends at her online home. She also hangs out on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. For love, fun, and encouragement ~ Sign up for Cindy’s monthly e-NEWSLETTERS
About the book – Her Hope Discovered:
Is the sure thing worth risking for the possibility of maybe?
Charla Winthrop, a savvy business woman seeking a permanent lifestyle change in small-town Ruby, learns that things aren’t always what they appear when she takes up residence in a house steeped in charm and a hint of mystery.
Rumor has it that Sam Packard the town carpenter is her go-to guy for home remodeling, but can Charla convince him to help her—with no strings attached, of course? Alone far too long, Sam’s prayed that God would send him a wife and a mother for his daughters. However, the new Ruby resident is hardly what he imagined. A new place to call “home,” the possibility of what might be, and the answer to someone’s prayers unite this unlikely pair with the help of the town’s residents.
Nestled in the Ozarks’ hills and hollows is Ruby, Missouri, a quaint, cozy town where “neighbor” is merely another word for “friend.” Ruby will charm and delight as will her quirky, lovable characters who will steal your heart, but hand it right back—with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Savor your new friends’ sorrows and successes in the community where offbeat is perfect and mishaps and mayhem never tasted so good!
Question for Readers: Are you talkative and outgoing or more reserved and quiet? Are you drawn to people who are your polar opposite or those who mirror your personality?
Come back Jan 11th for Part 2 of Cynthia’s love story!
I am shy and reserved, I will talk more after I get to know you! my exhusband was just like me but even more quiet.
Hi Shelia, in our case, conversation would have been extremely limited if I hadn’t broken the ice first! 🙂 But sometimes – that’s fun.
I am more reserved than outgoing. But I will talk when I get to know you. My husband is very similar to me. We are more comfortable in small groups of people, and not crowds.
Hi Linda (see my comment to Shelia – 🙂 ) I know a lot of people who will chat more openly once they get a little familiar with the other person. Nothing wrong with that.
Sweet!
Thank you, Jennifer! That’s one word for it! haha
Oh, I love this Cynthia!
What a sweet meeting and even more so that you wasn’t all that impressed at the first meeting. But “I love you” by the third date is very romantic!!!!
I was a bit of a skeptic after college, Connie. Glad the Lord coordinated our “first date” at just the right time! 🙂
Talk, listen… talk, talk , talk! Love communicating but the hubby is a little more on the quiet side unless you are interested in his work as a utility Linemann or fishing!!! Then he can talk a blue streak!
*Giggle* I SO identify with this. All of it! Lol Give my guy “quality” issues, and he’ll chatter all day about it. Thanks for visiting, Sugar!
I am an extreme introvert. My home is my sanctuary. I don’t welcome anyone who just drops by, they be will be met at the door, and ushered on their way with a reminder to call and ask if they can come over. I know that people think i’m rude, but I think they are rude and intrusive. I understand the open door policy, I grew up with it, but I get very anxious, and just shut down. I am drawn to extroverts as friends and they draw me out and into the world. I understand that my extreme need to isolate and hide in my home is not healthy so I need extroverts to help me navigate the world. When I’m with a group of people I’m quite, and speak only if I have something of value to add to the conversation. Once I get to know someone I will open up and talk more, but I don’t do chit-chat. I was married to an extrovert but it ended when he was unfaithful. I have been single for the last 30 yrs. While the “idea” of having someone to love and be married to is appealing, reality is not an option.
Oh, Pam, although my personality is a wee bit different, I so get where you are coming from. I have loved ones and friends who feel the same way you do. God wired us all differently. 🙂 I bet if I met you in a coffee shop someday, I could draw you out. 🙂 Do you like chocolate? Coffee? BOOM. We’re friends!
I’m reserved and quiet. I would choose someone like me.
Looking forward to hearing the rest of Cynthia’s story.
Linda, quiet is just fine. I’m quiet when the occasion calls for it, certainly. Come back Friday…and see what happened!
Fun story, Cynthia! What a fast romance timeline! I’m an introvert, but my friends tend to be social. My husband is in between.
Fun story, Cynthia! And a fast romantic timeline, but it was the right match.
I’m an introvert, married to a middle of the social spectrum guy.
Looking forward to part 2.
It was indeed a FAST courtship, and one that had a few tongues wagging. haha I will add, it was a different time then, and also – we were semi-friends before our first date. 🙂 Thanks, Sherida, for stopping by!
You might say I am a little bit of everything.
I can be shy and quiet when I want to be but I can be outgoing also.
I have friends who are quiet and I have friends who are the life of the party.
So, life is never dull around here, that’s for sure.
Janet, obviously you navigate life well! Sounds like you’ve hit a nice stride.
“I love you” on Date #3? I love it! That’s a man who knows what he wants! I’m very talkative in small groups, but the larger the group, the quieter I get. I think it’s because I like to get to know people, so I do a lot of listening. Plus, Mark Twain said something like it’s better to let people think you’re a fool than to open your mouth and prove it. 🙂
Listening (active listening) is such a noble quality, Karen. I admire that!
Reserve and quiet.
That’s okay! Some of my favorite people are reserved and quiet. 🙂 We balance each other out.
I am more shy and reserved and I would say that it depends on the person and as to whether I’m attracted to am attracted to them. Some outgoing people can be so in a good way and others not so much, the same with someone who is shy and reserved.
wfnren at aol dot com
Yes, some outgoing folks are a little too overbearing and that can be a turn-off. Balance, either way, is important.
Thanks for being here Cynthia. I’m quiet and reserved until I get to know you, then I talk your ear off. In a crowd of people where I feel in my element – like church or a writing conference, I’m talkative. But in a crowd of people outside my element – I’m quiet as a mouse. My husband is outgoing in any situation.
Shannon, I sat in your ACFW workshop years ago (2011, maybe?) and I thought you were just wonderful and totally at ease.
Thank you for hosting me!
I am quiet and reserved until I get to know you I do better in small crowds but once I get to know you I love to talk Thank you for sharing this!
Sarah, I think we all come out of our shell a little more when we get to really know others. As you might guess…I do love to talk! 🙂