cynthianna

My Every Day Is Mother's Day column has been published regularly since 1998. I recently started posting it as a "blog" , too.

I enjoy reviewing books, but some nights I find myself staying up late reading. The majority of my book reviews can be found at Fearless Book Reviews.

And I read and evaluate manuscripts for Authorlink as well as other freelance sources. It can be a time consuming position, but I think I learn a lot from reading other writers' work and helping them strengthen their manuscripts' weaknesses. In fact, my manuscript evaluation job is the inspiration for my books, The Slush Pile Survival Guide and Straight Answers to Tough Writing Questions.

DENISE: With Country Boy, City Girl Ronnie Hawthorn has found an old farmhouse in the Missouri Ozarks where she can run her arts-and-crafts store. Can a city girl be content in the country? So who is this country boy, Dave Darden? Is he a man with a plan?

CYNTHIANNA: Of course a city girl can be content in the country - especially if she finds Mr. Right! J That's pretty much the premise of Country Boy, City Girl. And Dave definitely has a "plan"...After their first meeting he's sure she's the woman for him, but it's difficult to convince Ronnie of that fact. She's on her own for the first time ever and trying to make a name for herself. Ronnie's pride and Dave's "nosiness" into Ronnie's business fuels their conflict. Plus the fact that Dave is one of the richest men in America doesn't help. Ronnie is determined to make it on her own without anyone's help - especially some rich guy's, no matter how well-meaning or how much her young daughter likes him.

DENISE: In The Fixer-Uppers you introduce Cassie, a single mom and Mike a down-on-his luck blind date. Why do these two get along so well?

CYNTHIANNA: Cassie and Mike have both experienced a series of "set backs" in life - financially, emotionally, romantically. Cassie relates well to Mike because he's a nice guy who is
struggling like she is. What Cassie doesn't bet on is falling in love with Mike...and of course her two rambunctious boys think Mike is the perfect father-substitute and do all they can to bring the two adults together.

DENISE: You have essays in several anthologies. "Cyber Witness," is in Journeys of Friendship, published by Barbour Publishing. You also have two humorous essays about parenting in Misadventures of Moms and Disasters of Dad. Then there's "The Nativity Scene at Easter," in God Allows U-Turns. Tell us about the essays and why you love these anthologies.

CYNTHIANNA: Anthologies are fun to submit to because there's usually a wide range of writing styles and topics (albeit the essays are related by theme usually). I think I enjoy writing essays because I'm opinionated and like to express myself directly and succinctly at times without going through the process of developing plot and characters for a 100,000 word novel.J

DENISE: Your novel Scrambled Eggs, which was published by Triskelion Publishing, is about a woman who falls for the father of her unborn child and she doesn't even know him. You better explain this one. What inspired you to write it?

CYNTHIANNA: Scrambled Eggs knocks the classic "secret baby" romance storyline on its head. Instead of the heroine having a baby that the hero doesn't know about until later, it's the other way around. Sharlene conceives a child via a fertility clinic and doesn't know who the father is and later meets and falls in love with Zack. Zack, who has enough guilty feelings for selling his seed anonymously in the first place, accidentally discovers that he is the father, but is afraid to tell Sharlene for fear of what she'll think. Hence the title.J

The inspiration was sort of a combination of things. Someone mentioned to me once that most contemporary romances dealt with "secret babies, cowboys and/or amnesiacs." I decided to tackle the first "classic storyline" in Scrambled Eggs, and I worked hard to make it funny and different. I hope I succeeded. J (Scrambled Eggs is available at Triskelion Publishing's website.

I have cowboys in Beautiful Dreamer, so that only leaves me the amnesiacs. Hmm...It may take some thinking to come up with an original story utilizing that plot device! J

DENISE: Both Scrambled Eggs and Beautiful Dreamer have great covers. Who designed them? Did you have any input about what art should be used?

CYNTHIANNA: Kristi Studts, my publisher at Triskelion, designed my covers. And yes, the authors do have the chance to offer feedback on cover art. That's one of the advantages of publishing through a small press. But since I'm not much of an artist, I generally do go along with cover artwork, unless I feel it doesn't quite capture the story's tone. Then I make a few suggestions and most of the time these suggestions are incorporated into the cover quite well. I'm always impressed. J

DENISE: This is a first, "A sexy, sleepwalking librarian." What is Marianne's goal and who is involved? When not working with cattle, where can we find this confirmed bachelor? What's he up against with Marianne?

CYNTHIANNA: Cody is actually the sheriff of Starling County, a West Texas county where the prairie dogs outnumber the humans by a factor of a thousand to one. But that doesn't mean exciting things don't happen in small town, rural life...This story takes place during the excitement of Rodeo Week.

Marianne is the town's beautiful librarian who is learning to love again after losing her husband in an accident a year ago. Marianne's friend and co-worker, Dulcie, plays matchmaker and gives Marianne a "sleeping potion" to help her sleep. Unbeknown to Marianne, the potion makes her "sleepwalk" into the arms of the handsome sheriff where she acts out her erotic dreams. Cody has always admired Marianne from afar, but under the spell of the potion she seduces him and there's no way he can deny that he's smitten with her.

Throw in some cattle on the loose and a UFO crazy deputy sheriff with the host for a pink-haired environmentalist, and you can see all the wacky mayhem Cody is up against the week Marianne sleepwalks into his arms. J

Beautiful Dreamer is available at Triskelion.

DENISE: What are you currently writing?

CYNTHIANNA: I'm currently working on a romantic chick lit novel with the working title of Seven Ways to Seduce a Martian. It's actually not a SF story, but a story about a "token male" (the "Martian") working in an office full of women. You can imagine some of the social and romantic complications that entails. J (It's tentatively scheduled for release early next year.)

You can read a brief synopsis and excerpts from my novels at my website.

DENISE: You also have a few non-fiction titles. Tell us about these.

CYNTHIANNA: My non-fiction titles tend to run toward "self-help." I figure that since I've learned many a lesson the hard way, there's no reason for others to repeat my mistakes! J

In Straight Answers to Tough Writing Questions I let writers in on the things I've learned in my many years as a freelance writer, manuscript evaluator and published novelist. I'll tell it straight, and I don't mince words. My philosophy is, "Heck, why should you have to suffer everything I've suffered as a writer--let me take some of the mystery out of the business so you can concentrate on penning that NYT best-seller."

In The Slush Pile Survival Guide, my funny how-not-to guide for serious writers, you'll laugh while you learn about improving your manuscript's chances of surviving the arduous submission process. Find out how "Only You Can Prevent Formatting Follies" and how to avoid those "Prose Pile-Ups on Publication Road." (Slush Pile should be available in hardcover soon from Gryphone Books for Writers.

Even in my humorous column collection, Salsa Therapy...and Other Home Remedies, I offer advice on numerous topics, from how to deal with pre-teens ("The Cure for Adolescence") to efficient housecleaning ("The Buck Stops Where?"). Of course, they're just suggestions. J

DENISE: What was it like working with the publishers who made your manuscripts into books?

CYNTHIANNA: Exciting, anxiety-producing, creative, confusing, challenging...Just about every emotion a human can experience a writer experiences during the publishing process. It's definitely something you have to go through in order to fully appreciate. Even then, you never fully understand the business.

Thanks for the thought-provoking interview questions. Readers and wannabe writers can contact me at cynthianna@hotmail.com with their comments and questions.