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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Trading the Corporate World for a Historical Faith Journey

Cindy Violet Portrait

Cindy Violet

Author of *The Saddlebag Preacher of Pike County*

Behind every great story is a collection of moments, legacies, and personal chapters that shape an author's voice. For lifelong Midwesterner Cindy Violet, that voice was born in a fourth-grade classroom, nurtured by a family of avid readers, and ultimately set free after a fulfilling career in non-profit marketing, social service agencies, and event planning. Driven by a lingering desire to write and a friendly reminder of the swift passage of time, Cindy finally sat down to write her debut novel, The Saddlebag Preacher of Pike County, published with the support of the Veltris Media Group.

The Saddlebag Preacher of Pike County Book Cover

Published by Veltris Media Group

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Cindy Violet | Exclusive Interview Hosted by R. Carter — Veltris Media Group
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Interview Transcript

Recorded in June 2026. Transcribed for Veltris Media Spotlight series.

R. Carter Host
All right, so good morning everyone. So we have a very special guest for today. It's one of our authors that we are going to feature for you. We are all very excited here at Veltris Media Group. Okay, from a career in non-profit marketing to the rugged trails of 1850s Ohio, Cindy Violet is a storyteller rooted in legacy and inspired by her own family's history. Cindy has traded the corporate world for a pen, crafting a faith-based journey of adventure and heart in her debut novel, The Saddlebag Preacher of Pike County. A master of dialogue and a lifelong Midwesterner, Cindy proves that the best stories are often the ones we carry with us until the perfect moment to write them. Hi Cindy, how are you?
Cindy Violet Author
Hi, that was a wonderful introduction, thank you very much. I'm great.
R. Carter Host
Awesome. Okay, want to get started. Just want to ask you things about yourself here. So, first off, outside of let's see here, outside of your literary world, how would you describe the person behind the pen? Share with us a brief intro about yourself beyond writing.
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I, as you mentioned, worked for many years in social service agencies. I also did a lot of event planning and had really enjoyed my career very much. Did a variety of different things, which, you know, variety is the spice of life as they say, and I did have an opportunity to do many different things. So I enjoyed it. Always this niggling idea that I wanted to write. And when you work full-time, it's hard to find those moments. So, little by little, I chipped away at this book, and a couple of years ago, finally got serious about it. I have a friend who likes to joke that we are on the short end of life [laughs], and so I thought, well, if I'm going to write this book, I better get started. So that was kind of thinking about how quickly time passes was the impetus for me to buckle down and get it finished.
R. Carter Host
I see. Wow. Well, first off, thank you to that friend of yours. They gave us a wonderful author and a wonderful book. Well, also, can you pinpoint the defining spark? You know, that specific moment you realized you were meant to be an author other than, you know, your friend telling you this is the moment, we won't... yeah.
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I think I've always been interested, and I think I have mentioned when I was just in the grades, I think it was about fourth grade, I was always interested in mysteries and mystery movies and mystery books, and I had written oh just a few pages of a mystery story. And my classmates were like hanging on every word, you know? And I thought that was the greatest thing in the world. I was, I enjoyed the attention, and I liked the fact that they were entertained by it. So that kind of, you know, that spark was born early on. But it was many years before I really followed through on it. But I've always remembered that incident back in fourth grade, which was a long time ago [laughs].
R. Carter Host
Well, elementary, starting young. Will we ever get to see those... what, what are those, short stories?
Cindy Violet Author
Yeah, I'm afraid they're long gone [laughs]. I wish I'd kept them, but no, they're gone. Lost in the sands of time.
R. Carter Host
Well, I imagine you still have a lot of ideas in your mind that you want to write down. But, yeah, actually, from which personal chapter, you know, of your life have most profoundly shaped your unique writing voice?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I mentioned you know I wrote those little stories in the fourth grade, and growing up we always had books and magazines at home, and I remember not being a great reader like in first grade, but eventually I did become an avid reader. And I was greatly influenced by that, and greatly influenced by seeing my parents read. You know, my dad always had a book club, and so that was a good example to me. And that really inspired that, that and movies. I also enjoyed movies very much too.
R. Carter Host
I see. Well, honestly, I don't read too many books myself, but whenever I see a movie that is based on a book, that's when I start, you know, my obsessiveness, especially if I like the movie. I'll start digging into the book, finding out everything about it. And yeah, I mean, as you said, first grade, I don't think anybody in first grade were avid readers [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Well, and the thing is interesting because the movie can either not do justice to the book or vice versa, so it's interesting to see you know which is better, the movie or the book.
R. Carter Host
Oh yeah, absolutely. Actually, I just want to ask you a question about your book here. Do you see your book in the future to be, you know, book to screen?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, quite frankly, yes [laughs]. You know, that's kind of a a wish of mine. I think it would be, you know, it's it's clean entertainment, and I think the world needs more clean stories, so to speak. And I think it would be very easily adapted to the screen.
R. Carter Host
Awesome. You know, and I think the stories in your book are definitely like movie friendly. It's, it's, it's, it's just beautiful, the messaging. And yeah, I want to talk about the book, The Saddlebag Preacher of Pike County. Um, you know, what was the seed of inspiration that grew into this world, this book?
Cindy Violet Author
My mother grew up in Southern Ohio, and um she was she was older when she had me, um so this is a very old story actually. Her grandparents, uh she was crazy about her grandparents. She just spent a lot of time especially with her grandmother. But her grandfather was a circuit rider preacher. And she just spoke so lovingly of them and what wonderful people they were, that um and there was some conflict among the families. Um my great-grandmother's family was not crazy about her marrying a poor, you know, preacher. But that obviously worked out to everyone's benefit [laughs]. And I just always thought it was a very sweet story. So, thought about it over the years, writing about it, and again, never got around to it. Um a cousin sent us genealogy uh of our family, probably in the '70s. And again, that sparked my interest. There was lots of information in there about mom's family and her background. But again, um years elapsed before I really sat down to write the story. But, you know, in doing so, I adjusted the story a little bit. Obviously, I wasn't around when my great-grandparents were living, I don't know what their daily lives were like. But that's kind of where the research came in, and I developed a story around that concept of life uh life on the trail as an outdoor preacher.
R. Carter Host
That is actually awesome. Wow. Would you consider this kind of like a light memoir of your great-grandparents?
Cindy Violet Author
No, because again, I really uh don't know, you know, what life was like for them. And, you know, my mother's um musings about their love story was, you know, from when she was a little girl. And of course, she was my mother when she told me these stories, so how accurate she was, I don't know. So I don't want to say um you know, that it follows the truth, because I don't really know what the truth was. But I just remember, you know, my mother talking about them that was, you know, just a very nice memory for her. So I think that's what inspired me.
R. Carter Host
Well, that's actually really beautiful. Um so these came out of your mother's story, her love for her grandparents, yeah? Her grandparents, sorry [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Her grandparents, yeah. Grandparents.
R. Carter Host
Wow. Um, that is actually really beautiful. I've never thought about that. Um wow. Well, actually, when you imagine, you know, your ideal readers, who are they and, you know, what are they seeking in your pages?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I call this book, you know, it's it's it's hard to identify as just one genre. I call it a historical adventure romance [laughs]. So I think that covers a lot of bases. And I think really, I like to say anyone from 14 to 94 would find things of interest in the book. You know, I know middle-aged men have read it and enjoyed it, and middle-aged women and younger women. So I think it's it's not strictly a romance because there's too many historical things and lots of adventure in it, so it kind of covers those bases, which I think, you know, keeps life interesting when you're reading a book [laughs]. So, um you know, it's not going to appeal to everybody, but I think if people are interested, the least bit interested in history, you know, pre-Civil War history, there are lots of actual historical events mentioned in the book.
R. Carter Host
So that's where your research comes to life. Well, honestly, there are a lot of readers, including myself, that love this kind of history. It's, it's, it's, I don't know, it's I don't want to call it reminiscing because I wasn't born in that time [laughs], but...
Cindy Violet Author
Right.
R. Carter Host
It's, I don't know how it is, but it's, yeah, I don't know how to explain it, it's just so wondrous, I don't know. I just love the idea of um, uh you know, Civil War era, not the war, you know [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Right. Well, it was a very, yeah, it was a very compelling time in our country. There were so many things going on and, you know, there were so many things kind of leading up to, you know, the Civil War was kindpx boiling under the surface, you know, at this point before it actually started. So, um you know, it was a very interesting time in our history, an important time in our history.
R. Carter Host
Very important time. And I was about to say a very exciting time, but [laughs] yeah. It definitely was, but um, you know, at its heart, you know, what's the North Star or the core truth you want your book to leave with the world?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, it is a faith-based book, and I've you know very up front about that. And obviously the protagonist is a preacher, so there will be some um you know, things talked about from the Bible and things like that, Bible lessons. So I think it's important for you know, the people to consider their spirituality. And I just the other thing that really urged me to write this was the legacy of our family, um because and I'm not saying it was just because of him, but we do have a history of people being involved in the church from that time. So I think, you know, number one just um spirituality and legacy, I think, are things that deserve more attention sometimes. We lead busy lives and sometimes those things um you know, take a back seat.
R. Carter Host
Yeah. I mean, in these days, we need more spirituality in our lives, to be honest, especially with everything that's happening these days [laughs]. We definitely need spirituality more. Uh you know, I would consider this um, you know, a masterpiece, your masterpiece, and it's got to have its hurdles. What's the most, you know, demanding part of bringing this vision to life?
Cindy Violet Author
Just writing, writing it. Um you know, it's a little bit of a jigsaw puzzle. You know, you have um at least the way I write, I have ideas for different chapters and different scenes, if you will, and so you have to decide how they fit together, or do they fit together, you know? Sometimes they don't belong. So writing it is the most difficult part. And then, you know, getting it published, getting um people to talk about it, people to purchase it, getting some excitement about it, and I think that's what's so important about what your company does. So, uh I'm excited to have more people read it because I do think, you know, saying this myself, but I think it's it is an enjoyable book.
R. Carter Host
Gotcha. I mean, I can only imagine the sleepless nights you've had just wrapping around what the scene is, what to write down, the pages and pages you had to rewrite.
Cindy Violet Author
Right. That's true, and I would sometimes get stuck, you know, what to do, and I would just kind of think about it and even pray about it, and eventually the solution would come. Um but I did have to sometimes you just have to walk away and wait, you know, 24 hours, 48 hours, whatever whatever it takes to figure out the next step.
R. Carter Host
Gotcha. So that's how you got over kind of like quote-unquote your writer's block, just waiting your time and... ah.
Cindy Violet Author
Yeah, I mean, I think it's important to sit down and write, you know. Some authors, you know, swear that you need to write every day. I'm not an everyday writer, but you can't stay away too long [laughs]. You just have to take a break once in a while. But yeah, you do have to keep at it.
R. Carter Host
Absolutely. Um, you know, the vision, you know, the impact to this book, I really want to get down to the nitty-gritty of this book. And as for you as an author, you know, once a reader closes the final page, what internal shift do you hope they experience?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I hope I hope they number one enjoy it. I enjoy fast-paced books, and I hope that the pace of it is interesting and uh enjoyable and keeps them reading. And ultimately, I just want to, you know, kind of them to see a life well lived, and to consider uh their beliefs and their legacies. You know, what do we do, what do we say, how do we act that contributes to the lives of our current generations and future generations? And, you know, whether we plan to or not, we do leave a legacy of some sort. So I think it's important to be more purposeful about that.
R. Carter Host
Your vision is absolutely beautiful. Um, you know, I've had authors talk to me about their vision, their goals on their book, and most of them tell me it's monetary gain, but you're one of the first authors to tell me that it's for the readers to find their spirituality or reflect on it and their legacy that they're leaving behind. It's honestly wonderful. Um, thank you so much.
Cindy Violet Author
[laughs] Thank you. Thank you.
R. Carter Host
You are a lovely, lovely writer. And, you know, beyond the numbers, how do you personally measure the success of your work?
Cindy Violet Author
When I turned in the manuscript, that was a huge success. And, you know, I would like for more people to read it and enjoy it. And, you know, of course, there are monetary considerations. It's always nice to sell books. But I didn't expect, you know, I didn't go into this expecting a New York Times, you know, number one bestseller [laughs]. I never expected that, that wasn't my purpose. So, and I think you've pointed out that my purpose was more than just monetary. Um but I just wanted people to enjoy a sweet story and and uh, you know, think about, and there's some humor in the book too. You know, my family had a very good sense of humor, and I think that's reflected in the book too. So, I, you know, just find it a very enjoyable story for people that they can share with their families. Of all up of any age [laughs].
R. Carter Host
Absolutely. I mean, you said you're not expecting New York Times, but we'll probably get there. You have the backing of, you know, Veltris, Miss Olivia Warren here, and Mr. CJ Lee, I believe.
Cindy Violet Author
Mhm, yes.
R. Carter Host
And I don't know what they have in store for you, but I think that's where you're going [laughs], especially the book to screen. I would love to see this in some sort of movie theater or maybe a Netflix special, something that will put this on screen.
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I'm very encouraged to hear you say that because that's, you know, I would like that too [laughs]. So it's it nice that you share that vision.
R. Carter Host
Absolutely. Um, I can really see this book being a special on TV screen, so I can't wait for it. I can't wait. So...
Cindy Violet Author
Well, great [laughs]. I'm ready. I'm ready.
R. Carter Host
You have a new fan.
Cindy Violet Author
Well, that's wonderful. I really appreciate it.
R. Carter Host
I'll have to ask Olivia to give me a copy of your book [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Well, yes, people need to have copies of the book. My goodness.
R. Carter Host
Absolutely. Uh, you know, um what global or uh cultural conversations do you hope this book will ignite?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, there are things in there about current events. You know, slavery was a huge topic at the time and still is. And, you know, it was people who worked hard for a living. A lot of the people in the book uh lived and worked on the canal, made their living on the canal. And that was very hard, very challenging. So I think it just indicates that at any point in in our culture, there have been conflicts, and there have been, you know, challenges. And it's just kind of a a picture of, you know, what life is like at any point in time. But there are always cultural uh forces that affect, you know, our lives.
R. Carter Host
And honestly, um once this book comes down running, there is going to be a lot of conversation. Um, conversation, good or bad, is conversation. It's still going to give the book more what do you call this, attention, which is good. That's what that's what we're looking for. We need people to discuss and converse about these kinds of topics, which your book is going to be wonderful for this.
Cindy Violet Author
Well, again, thank you. It's uh I appreciate your sharing that vision as well.
R. Carter Host
Well, uh looking ahead, what is currently capturing your creative imagination?
Cindy Violet Author
I am actually thinking ahead, possibly to a sequel to this. And I have begun to do a little bit of research. I can have the first chapter in my mind. Um so, that's kind of what I'm thinking about. But, you know, the growth and attention to the first one takes precedence right now. But I would like to start the following book at the point of the Civil War. So a few years elapse of time and then move right into the Civil War and how it's affecting um Reverend Chandler and his family.
R. Carter Host
Gotcha. Wow. So, I'm thinking a series is coming, is that correct? [laughs]
Cindy Violet Author
Well, maybe so, maybe so.
R. Carter Host
Wow. Uh, also an entire chapter in your mind. I can't imagine. Um, how do you do it? Um, share with us...
Cindy Violet Author
Well, like I said, I read a lot of books and watched lots of movies [laughs]. So, that's just how my mind works. And I think of dialogue. I'm always thinking about dialogue in my head. Who's going to say what to whom and how and that kind of thing. So, dialogue has always fascinated me.
R. Carter Host
That is wonderful. I'm actually asking this for the writers that are still finding their way. What's the golden rule you've learned?
Cindy Violet Author
Just, well, there are several things. You know, write, write, write, write is the first rule. And I read once that it helps to read books in the genre in which you're interested. So, if you want to write science fiction, you should read science fiction books. You know, if you want to write a romance novel, read romance novels and figure out how to do it better. So, it's not to plagiarize, but to fill your mind with things within that genre that will be helpful to you. So I think that's important. And you know, again, write, write, write, and do it at your own pace, do it in your own way. And I guess I'm a little independent. You know, it's fine to take recommendations from people and and um, you know, their advice, but ultimately, the writer has to find his or her own voice and his or her own way of coming up with results. So it's a very personal very personal individual approach, I believe.
R. Carter Host
People, so inspiration, I would say, right? Um, so for Miss Violet's fans here, if you're considering writing, write, write, write. That's the golden rule for you. Uh I guess a rhythm.
Cindy Violet Author
Yes.
R. Carter Host
That is some solid advice, to be honest. Um I've never written a book. I can't even write a single like page [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
I bet you could. But, it's important too not to get discouraged and not be hard on yourself. I would also say don't be too eager to share what you've written unless you're willing to hear people, you know, offer constructive criticism.
R. Carter Host
Gotcha.
Cindy Violet Author
So, yeah. So, that would be another thing.
R. Carter Host
That is really some solid advice, thank you. And um, Miss Violet, I just want to ask for, you know, your fans, our viewers, um some quick questions if you don't mind, you know? Um are you a morning or a night writer?
Cindy Violet Author
I find I have more energy. I used to be a nighttime person. I wouldn't go to bed till midnight or 1:00.
R. Carter Host
Wow.
Cindy Violet Author
But I am a morning person now. I've converted [laughs]. So, my energy is in the morning, so I have to work around that.
R. Carter Host
Gotcha. So morning is best. So you were an owl person before.
Cindy Violet Author
Oh yeah, definitely a night owl. Night owl, yeah. But, you know, sometimes that changes over time, so [laughs].
R. Carter Host
Well, uh how about your uh essential, you know, fuel, desk fuel?
Cindy Violet Author
Coffee. Coffee with cream.
R. Carter Host
How many sugars?
Cindy Violet Author
I like cream with my coffee. I like coffee with my cream, I should say.
R. Carter Host
No sugar?
Cindy Violet Author
No, no sugar, mhm. Just cream.
R. Carter Host
No sugar, so 100% energy [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Yes, exactly, mhm, absolutely.
R. Carter Host
Awesome. Uh, how about uh one word for your uh book? Anything to describe it?
Cindy Violet Author
Um interesting doesn't seem like a good enough word, but that's I think the best thing I can come up with. It's it's um, I'll stick with interesting [laughs].
R. Carter Host
Well, it definitely is very interesting and I would say fantasy-like, I would say, just the...
Cindy Violet Author
Yeah, little bit, mhm.
R. Carter Host
Yeah, absolutely. And one last thing is how about yourself, anything, one word?
Cindy Violet Author
Um dedicated, I would say once I get started, I'm dedicated to a project and I want to see it through to completion. So, dedication.
R. Carter Host
Wow. Well, awesome. Um honestly, I really can't wait to uh finish your book here and I am waiting for that uh book to screen, you know, I really want to watch this on a movie screen [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Well, great, mhm [laughs]. I hope so too, I hope so too.
R. Carter Host
It really does fit a TV screen or a movie screen, it really does. I believe that is where it's going in the near future. And also uh for the fans out there, for your fans out there, Miss Violet is creating a sequel, sequel right?
Cindy Violet Author
Yes, I'm getting there, I'm thinking about it [laughs].
R. Carter Host
Awesome. Well, uh I just want to shout out um what is called, your um websites where they can reach you, your fans can reach you. I know you have a website: crviolet.com. Please check that out for any of her updates, her books, that's where you can find her book or order it as well. Uh how about any other socials you would like to shout out to uh your fans here?
Cindy Violet Author
Um my Facebook is C period R period Violet. That's Facebook. And unfortunately uh the book is not available on my website, but it is available online to major bookstores, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, those kinds of places.
R. Carter Host
Gotcha. Well, all right. Um any other socials they can reach you, uh only the website and Facebook?
Cindy Violet Author
Yes, those are the two now. The website does have a message board on it so you can leave a message.
R. Carter Host
Awesome.
Cindy Violet Author
If anyone is interested in doing that.
R. Carter Host
Absolutely. Uh so your fans here, listeners, please after you read the book, give uh Miss Violet here some of your uh thoughts and ideas about her book and tell her how wonderful she is as a writer and tell her how excited you guys are for her upcoming movie [laughs].
Cindy Violet Author
Well, thank you, I really appreciate your encouragement and enthusiasm about the book, that's very helpful to me.
R. Carter Host
Absolutely. Well, um Miss Violet, it has been a pleasure, it's really been. Um any parting words for your um fans, our listeners?
Cindy Violet Author
Read, read, read. I was saying write, write, write, I would say read, read, read. It's just so important for people to read and for us to um encourage that among our children, grandchildren, and everybody.
R. Carter Host
So, well, uh I actually have one question actually just for myself because I want to get to know you better as an author. What were the books that helped or inspired you to create this story?
Cindy Violet Author
Well, I can't point to any one thing that um led me to the story, but I just remember kind of reading the classics. You know, Huckleberry Finn had a great influence on me, To Kill a Mockingbird, those kinds of books. And I just I like history so I have read some historical novels before. And, but I think probably the one book that influenced me the most is Huckleberry Finn.
R. Carter Host
Oh, honestly I see this as an absolute legacy for you. So again, guys, please order on Amazon The Saddlebag Preacher of Pike County, please follow Miss Violet, C period R period Violet on Facebook, and also her website crviolet.com, please follow her. Well, Violet, thank you again, um any other words before I stop the recording?
Cindy Violet Author
No, I just really appreciate your time. Thank you very much.
R. Carter Host
No, appreciate you more. Well, I'll stop the recording now and...