Interview with Cindy Lynn Speer:
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.
My latest book, Blue Moon, was inspired by, of all things, a radio ad. I asked my self, “What does happen every blue moon? It has to be something magical…” Twice a week, I would drive about two hours, once early, early in the morning to get to work, then once late at night to get home. It gave me a lot of time to think about it…and as I drove, and as I worked during the week or before I went to bed, I would try to build upon it. I saw a woman who collected dead crows, and a woman who lived in a fortress in the middle of the woods. I saw a man who had lost his memory, and a Dragon who had lost his son. I realized, eventually, that this book could explain the idea of the fact that in folk lore we have a lot of things – elves and unicorns and places like Avalon and Olympus – but no proof that they were ever real. I never quite bought the idea that mermaids were really manatees or that unicorns are actually rhinoceri, so, what happened them?
What if there came a time when magic and technology could no longer co exist? I decided that perhaps the worlds were split, and the world we are on is the one with technology. Of course, there are remnants of the magical past, stories, a tiny bit of magic here and there, and most importantly, a prison that contained two fae that were so absolutely evil that even the memory of their existence was destroyed. And that fae…namely, the heroine, Libby’s ex-husband, wants to reunite the world of magic and technology, no matter who might have to pay the price. There are a lot of romantic elements…Libby, the main character, has a lot of trust issues, but despite herself she finds herself drawn to Alex, and Sierra, who is obsessed with leaving this world to go to the magic one is naturally drawn to the Dragon Zorovin.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
My next books include the tentatively titled Balancing Act, which is a murder mystery and romance where Andromeda Pendragon must solve the case before the local clans of vampires and werewolves find out what’s going on, and The Chocolatier’s Wife, which is what I’ve been calling a fantasy mystery. Tasmin Bey has been engaged to marry William Almsley since birth, but when he’s accused of murdering the Bishop with a box of chocolates from his shop, instead of celebrating being freed from the commitment she decides to travel to his land and help him find out what happened. The first is coming out in a year or two from Zumaya, and I’m excited about it because I think people who like shows like Moonlight will like it…I tried to make my take on the modern vampire and werewolf situation as different as possible, and Andromeda, whose an agent of an organization dedicated to keeping the fact that Vampires and Werewolves exist a secret (and keeping them from killing each other) and Alaister, who is a herb shop owner trying to come to grips with his magical ability, really seem to suit each other well. The latter I’m excited about because I think it really captures a feeling…it’s supposed to feel like a fable, it’s supposed to be rich and magical – a bit like chocolate.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
For many years I’ve had a webpage… A Pen and Fire. It has a blog, which people can comment on, and a comment form in case anyone would like to drop me a note or ask questions. I’ve long been a fan of Neil Gaiman, who is a man who knows how to treat his readers, and so I try to emulate him, because readers are the most important thing in the world. There are also excerpts, links to interviews or reviews…whatever I think people will care about (and a great deal that they might not…I’m currently obsessed with fencing, costuming and things naval) can all be found there.
- How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?
I am predominantly a fantasy writer. I like to combine genres…I love a good mystery and I think romance is the most magical thing of all…but once you’ve got dragons or werewolves or spells, it pretty much immediately becomes fantasy. I’m happy with that label, all of my life I have been fascinated by magic, by the meanings of stones and the properties of plants. I’ve also been in love with fables and fairy tales for as long as I can remember, which is why so far I’ve published three re-told fairy tales as short stories for Drollerie Press.
- What are your main concerns as a writer?
Does it work? I write a lot of impossible things…am I giving the context it needs to make it easy for you, the reader, to believe it? Also, when I write mysteries, I want to make sure I hide the clues leading up to the final end in such a subtle way that I still surprise you with the final answer, yet you nod your head and go “Oh, yeah, of course!” and not, “What?” My other concern, my main concern, is always that the reader enjoy themselves. My books are not very funny, even though I do sometimes try to write some humor in here or there…but I want to make the reader happy, give them an escape.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
Just to work on it every chance I get. I’m not big on outlines, though sometimes I make a quick note here or there, or write a scene that happens later in the book because I’m afraid I’ll lose it otherwise…but mostly I just sit down and write. It’s the only way to keep that joy of discovery that the reader gets…to just keep on going and let the book take you where it wants to go.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I like to read, of course, though I’m careful to avoid anything like what I’m writing, because I want to…the best way to put it is going to sound really pretentious, I hope you’ll forgive me…leave my vision of where I want to go undiluted by other people’s ideas. I also love to sew historical clothing, crochet, watch TV or work on my herb garden.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
Humour is important in pretty much everything. In some stories, if you’re writing something really dark, humour gives the reader a break…most times you don’t want to beat your poor reader up constantly, you need to give them a breather. In romance, it’s especially important because I think every romance novel should try to give the reader the whole ideal experience of falling in love, and humour is a huge part of that. How many times have you asked your girlfriends what they want in their ideal mate, and they always say “he makes me laugh” or “A good sense of humour.”?
- What kind of research do you do?
They always tell you, when you start out, to write what you know. People generally take that to mean, write from your own experiences…but I always thought, “But how can I know what magic tastes like? What fangs of a vampire really feel like, going into your neck?” You can’t. But I am a firm believer in feeding myself as much information as possible, so that when I do come to describe something, I can create something that feels real. I read a lot…when I wrote Chocolatier’s Wife I bought tons of books trying to find information about a certain grinding table I’d only seen a picture of. (I never did find it, but I gathered enough information that I didn’t need it.) I visit historic places, or find people who know a certain thing to talk to. Recently I was able to watch a pair of sword fighters give demonstrations, and I gained a whole new perspective on the art. It’s all-important, even if you never manage to make it fit onto the page.
- Fill in the blank favorites -
Dessert - Key Lime Pie
City - Pittsburgh
Season -
Type of hero - Byronic (why do I always like the kind of man who would be the worst for me?)
Type of heroine - sensible
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Still writing – it’s hard to say. I am a little ambitious, I’d love to write a screenplay, I’d love to be able to live a sort of bohemian writer life style. But, if I’m still a secretary who writes during lunch breaks, I’ll be content…as long as I’m still getting published, and sharing my stories with readers.
- What are the elements of a great romance for you?
My favorite romances all have some of the same elements…deep longing, reserved passions, and, most importantly, a happy ending. I love stories where the heroine is a quiet, sensible woman who is strong enough in herself to go for what she wants, but not in a brash way. And I love heroes who are proud lions who become deeply devoted and protective of those they love.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
They are, definitely. It’s so important to let your character act according to their nature, and not try to force them into what you want. If they stay true to themselves, they’ll stay true to the story…it might not be what you planned, but it will make the story feel natural and right to the reader.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
Getting read! Well, not that exactly…but knowing that you’ve written a story that will make people genuinely happy.
- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
Day dreaming in a madhouse. That sounds silly, but really…I make a joke that I write to make the voices in my head go away, but there’s some truth in that. I have a million stories in my head, and they all want to be told. I write in part because I must.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Keep going…don’t stop, not to re-write that beginning yet another time, not to start another story unless you’ve really hit a brick wall and can’t go on. When we first start as writers, we’re butterflies flitting from one pretty story to another and we never get anything finished. Most people who want to be writers never finish anything they start. If you can write something, and finish it, that is the greatest test of all.
Thank you very much 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's Site Bio Interview Review
Buy Author's Books at Zumaya
Buy A Necklace of Rubies at Drollerie Press
Buy Every Word I Speak at Drollerie Press
Buy Cindy's Books At Amazon
Buy Cindy's Books at
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