Cindy Sproles’s love of books started with the the story of an adventure seeking duck. These days, she’s the award-winning author of Appalachian stories that touch the heart and soul.

Today she’s answering s few questions about how her love of books started and some of her favorite stories.

Thank you for being here! What was your favorite picture book as a child? What did you love about it?
The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese. Ping was a spirited little duck who has some pretty exciting adventures living on the Yantze River. I loved this book when Captain Kangaroo read it and I still love it.

What was the first adult novel that you read (not “adult,” but not in the young adult section)?
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. I loved it because it whisked me away to my first real reading adventure. I could feel the breeze from the ocean and I could pretend I saw the world from the sky.

What was the first book you read that you couldn’t put down?
Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. I heard her read a page on the Oprah show and that deep sultry voice drew me into the story. I loved the voice of the Song of Solomon. The feel of the story was hard yet touching. I knew if I ever wrote a novel, I wanted that relatable voice to ring true to my novel. I think I have accomplished that.

If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be?
Delores Price, the main character from Wally Lamb’s She’s Come Undone. Though this was an adult novel it was so relatable and I can remember as a young teen, going through some of the same things this young teen experienced. It was her opportunity to think her way into adulthood. I just loved the book. I just did.

If you could visit any fiction place, where would you go?
Honestly! Don’t laugh. But I’d love to go to Whoville. I just love the whole town and it’s quirkiness.

Who’s your favorite author?
Toni Morrison and Adrianna Trigiani. It’s a tie and my love their unique stories is because they bring me deep into the culture of who and where they write. When you read either you feel as though you understand the hard life of a slave or sweet life of a sassy Italian family. I can’t choose between the two. They are by far, my favorites.

Share a few books from your TBR (to be read) pile.
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Belding Brown
Oral History by Lee Smith

Tell us about your newest release:
What Momma Left Behind (Revell – June 2020).

In 1877, typhoid and influenza ravage an Appalachian Mountain community, leaving behind a growing number of helpless orphaned children. Seventeen-year-old Worie Dressar’s mother has been secretly feeding them. But when she suddenly dies, Worie is left to figure out how and why she was the one called to care for them. This is a story of the beauty of unconditional love and forgiveness. It’s one that you don’t want to miss.

Cindy Sproles is an author, conference speaker, and teacher. Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains, she is proud of her heritage. Cindy is an award-winning, best-selling author who loves writing about the culture of the Appalachian mountains. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and is a managing editor for Iron Stream Media/Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas managing SonRise Devotionals and Straight Street Books. She is a writing mentor with Write Right Mentoring Services and travels teaching and speaking at conferences nationwide. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.