Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Cindy Appel

Interview with Cindy Appel:

Hi Cindy. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

This year I have two romantic-comedy releases with Triskelion Publishing: Beautiful Dreamer and Scrambled Eggs. You can read a brief synopsis and excerpts from my novels at my web site: Cynthianna's Pages.

My latest release is Scrambled Eggs… Sharlene has fallen for the father of her unborn child—and she doesn’t even know it’s him! Scrambled Eggs knocks the classic “secret baby” storyline on its head. Sharlene always wanted a baby, but her husband only wants a child to secure his position in his wealthy uncle’s will. A mix-up at the fertility clinic reveals his hypocrisy, prompting a pregnant Sharlene to strike out on her own.

Single Sharlene “runs into” Zack and falls for him. Will Zack love a child that isn’t his? And will Zack find the courage to tell Sharlene that he’s the real father of her child before she goes into labor?

In my March release, Beautiful Dreamer, I ask the question, “Can a sexy, sleepwalking librarian corral a commitment-shy sheriff during the mayhem of rodeo week?” I call it “a romantic comedy of errors” that takes place in a small Texas town full of nosy neighbors and frantic happenings.

When Marianne the Librarian sleepwalks into the brawny arms of handsome Sheriff Cody Greene, sparks fly and an erotic night of pleasure ensues. A confirmed bachelor, Cody realizes Marianne isn't really the "love 'em and leave 'em" type of woman he's used to entertaining in bed, and he’s worried. But by the end of the week—and after surviving a series of livestock-related calls and some "sleepless" nights—Cody is able to conquer his twin fears of cattle and commitment.

Beautiful Dreamer is available at Cynthianna's Promo Pages.

And don't forget to enter my contest, either here... Cynthianna's Contest.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m hoping my funny writer’s reference book, The Slush Pile Survival Guide will be out from Gryphon Books for Writers in hardcover very soon. (Keep your fingers crossed!)

I will have chick lit story coming out sometime next year with Triskelion with the tentative title Seven Ways to Seduce a Martian. It’s about seven young women in a “cube farm” trying to figure out their lone male occupant… It’s fun writing an “ensemble cast” romance. I’m working on a vampire romance, too.

My “alter-ego”, Celine Chatillon, published an erotica short story in Xodtica magazine this year “Playmate” and will have a Christmas erotic romance coming out with eXtasy Books this December entitled Yes, Virginia… Here Comes Santa Claus. My first eXtasy erotic novella, A Middle Class Existence may be out later this year or early next.

And I should have several more erotica/romantica titles coming out with eXtasy this coming year, including a wild and wacky SF/Romantica/Comedy series called Brandi Whyne… and Her Incredibly Erotica Adventures with Robin Manhood and His Totally Sexed-Out Space Pirates. I call this series “Star Wars meets Sherwood Forest meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Fanny Hill”. Or in other words, it’s funny and different!

I suggest readers sign up for my newsletter Cindy Appel Newsletter and stay tuned for coming attractions… It’s only going to get better from here on out!

- How do we find out about you and your books?

You can find out about me and my books at my web sites either at Cynthiania's Pages, or at Cynthianna on Bravehost. You can also find out more by joining my monthly e-newsletter where I answer your questions about writing/publishing or… whatever! You can sign up for it at my web site or join from the Yahoo Groups site Cindy Appel Newsletter

- How may readers contact you?

Readers can contact me at Cynthianna@hotmail.com . Just be sure you write a subject line that catches my eye and doesn’t contain the words, “Mortgage Refinancing” or “Male Enhancement is Possible”. I get a lot of spam email!

- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?

Yes, I feel humor is very important in women’s fiction. Life is short and not so fun at times… Women need to be lifted up and made to feel better about themselves and their situations if only for a short while as they read a novel. So I believe humor plays a necessary role in how women view their lives and how they learn to cope with the nasty things that life sometimes throws their way.

And besides—it’s fun! I enjoy humorous stories, both reading and writing them. We can’t take ourselves seriously all the time. It gets dull after a while. “Live and laugh a little” is my motto. J

My new email “sig line” is: “Discover love, laughter, romance, and eccentric, meddling neighbors among other things... Discover a novel by Cynthianna Appel.” That pretty much says it all.

- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)

I write and read way too much. I’m blonde. (But the hair is starting to turn white/gray now.) I love to sing both four part barbershop harmony and sacred music. I have degrees in psychology and substance abuse counseling. I have a loving husband and two beautiful and brainy girls—both teenagers. (*Shudder*) I’m a very nice person once you get to know me. If you want more details, check out my bio page at Cynthianna's Bio.

- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

Heavens, yes! I belong to the national RWA and to the local chapter, the Missouri Chapter of the RWA (MoRWA) here in St. Louis. Missouri RWA). I’ve served on the board of MoRWA in just about every area possible, and I’m currently our web master. I also belong to the Darkstormy Writer’s Group, and I’m an honorary member of two local Missouri Writers Guild groups. And I try to attend the CORE critique group monthly with other MoRWAians. I also am an online member of EPIC (the Electronically Published Internet Connection) and recently joined the “Romantic Bitches” online. I just couldn’t resist their name!

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully I’ll have a New York Times bestseller (or twenty) and a Rita Award! Nah, I’d be just as happy continuing what I’m doing now—writing stories I’d love to read and sharing them with others.

- How many books have you written, how many have been published?

Written vs. published? Hmm... I have four romances published, two others under contract, three erotic romances under contract, a writer’s reference that’s suppose to be out anytime now… And I’ve had numerous essays and short stories published in various anthologies and magazines. Does that give you an approximate count on both sides at this point?

- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

Characters. In romance it’s character driven all the way. Characters will dictate the setting and the story. If you imagine your characters fully, then they can’t exist in any other place or time or do other things. Characters have to remain true to themselves.

- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

They are in control. They take over my writing process completely. They do things I don’t want them to do at times. But we both seem to want a “happily ever after” ending, so it works out all right in the end for both of us.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Actually, I’ve written a whole book of encouragement called The Slush Pile Survival Guide and I’ve also put together a short ebook called Straight Answers to Tough Writing Questions, too.

I’d like to tell all unpublished writers out there to never give up writing. I give you permission to feel angry about the person or situation that makes you feel bad about your writing or failed submission attempts, but you can only be angry for ten minutes. Then you have to put away your anger and pick up your pen or keyboard and immediately get back to work.

If I had given up when I received my first rejection slip, I wouldn’t be writing today, and I’d be the most miserable person on the planet. I’m so very glad I didn’t give up! You will be, too.

- What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?

Hmm… “Are you for real?” My answer, “I think so… Ouch. I just pinched myself. I’m real enough.”

And I’m certifiably crazy. But I’m a nice crazy person. I won’t bite or scratch. So please buy my books and read them and keep me off the streets. I might get in trouble if I’m not locked up with my computer and a new novel idea.

Thank you very much Cindy, for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

Cindy Appel Bio Interview Buy Cynthianna Appel Books