Here is Cindi Myers for a bit of Straight Talk!
When you are getting ready to start a new book, what’s the first thing you do?
I sit down and make a bunch of notes – everything I can think of that might go into the book. Then I try to arrange the notes in some kind of order.
Have you had any fun fan moments since you became a writer?
I have gotten some wonderful letters from readers. I’ve heard from soldiers’ wives who talked about how reading romance helped them while their husbands were away fighting. I got a really touching letter from a gay man who said he was moved by the way the gay characters in a book I wrote were portrayed. Knowing you’re touched the lives of people you don’t even know is such a wonderful feeling.
Do you usually begin a book with a character or a plot?
Usually I begin with the character. People interest me and I think they’re what make fiction interesting.
Do you usually begin a book with a character or a plot?
The first thing that pops into my head is a character. Sometimes it’s the hero, sometimes the heroine. I usually think about him or her for a few days, and while doing that, a plot starts to take shape. Then I think about more characters and soon I’m ready to start writing.
Do you have any hobbies or special interests you’d care to share?
I love to knit, quilt and garden – and I’ve been belly dancing for five years. It’s such a fun way to exercise and hang out with other fun women.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Don’t give up. Sometimes people are frustrated when their first book doesn’t sell, but for some of us it takes a while to find our rhythm and to learn to be a good writer. Keep reading and writing and submitting. And if one thing doesn’t work for you, try writing something else – try suspense or mystery or historicals or something different.
What jobs have you had on your way to becoming a writer?
Grocery store checker, newspaper reporter, travel agent, medical clinic manager
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I am a plotter. I like to know where I’m headed and I do a lot of plotting before I start the book. It makes the writing go easier. But the most important thing is to try to get a strong feel for the characters and let them lead you. I always discover surprising things about my character that can change the plot as I move through the book.
Where does the magic happen? Where do you write?
I write all over. I have an office in my home, but I usually start the day sitting in bed writing on my laptop. Some days I write in the living room on the sofa, sometimes on the back deck – wherever it feels right that day.
Aside from writing, what do you do in your free time?
My husband has a business and I do all his office paperwork – taxes, payroll, that kind of thing. I love to read, garden, do crafts (especially knitting and quilting) and dance.
Do you prefer print books or eBooks?
I enjoy both. eBooks are fantastic because they’re so portable, plus I love the instant gratification of seeing something I want and downloading it right then. But I still read print books, too.
What’s in the works for you?
I have a book out at the end of November that’s the first in a new women’s fiction series set in a small town in the Colorado mountains. The View From Here follows a woman who inherits a Colorado gold mine from the father she never knew.
About Cindi Myers
Cindi Myers worked as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and medical clinic manager before turning to writing full time. She’s written both historical and contemporary romance, as well as dozens of short stories and nonfiction articles. Cindi thinks writers have the best job in the world.
She and her husband and their two dogs live in the mountains Southwest of Denver. When she’s not caught up in creating new characters and stories, Cindi enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, skiing and hiking. She’s also in demand as a speaker, teaching workshops and making presentations to both local and national writing groups.
Connect with Cindi at her website | Facebook
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