Please give a warm welcome to Cynthia Sax, author of Flashes of Me.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
Hi! (waves) I’m Cynthia Sax and I write contemporary, SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. My latest release is Flashes of Me, a 200 page contemporary erotic romance published with Avon. This is a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast with one very hunky head of cyber security and a beautiful yet secretive young intern.
What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
Flashes Of Me, my most recent release, is a contemporary erotic romance. I love the purism of contemporary as much of the focus is on the characters. I don’t have to explain how a modern door works. (grins) I also write SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. That’s where I have fun with the big world building.
Who or what inspires you?
I LOVE Romanceland and my goal, as a writer, is to give back to the romance genre (specifically erotic romance), to keep it fresh and different and exciting. I take risks because I think pushing boundaries is important. Many of these risks don’t work out but when they do, I feel as though I’m adding something to the genre I love.
Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
This is a GREAT question because I often explain writing using a dream analogy. In dreams, characters and scenes come from our brains yet we have very little control over them. Often we don’t recognize the ‘strangers’ appearing in our dreams. This is how writing is for me. I picture the next scene as though I’m watching a movie. The characters come from my imagination and usually don’t resemble people in real life.
Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I am represented by Emily Sylvan Kim at Prospect Agency. She ROCKS the house. I publish with Avon, Ellora’s Cave, Loose-Id and Changeling. Right now, I’m working on a 12 novella serial for Avon with the first story releasing in July.
Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
I’ve recently embraced test readers because often reading buddies remember more about my series than I do. (grins) I also have a wonderful pre-editor, ELF. She points out story issues BEFORE I submit stories to my publishers. My publishers, of course, have editors and copyeditors. Yeah, it takes a team to release a Cynthia Sax story.
What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
The usual advice about reading until your eyeballs explode and writing every day is GOLD. I’d also encourage writers to write balls to the wall, all out, putting everything—your heart, your soul—into your writing. If you don’t cry when you read your writing, your readers likely won’t cry either. If you aren’t adding something different to Romanceland, why would readers buy your stories?
Do you set writing goals and if so, what are they?
Other than total world domination? (grins) I have daily, weekly, monthly, annual and long term goals. It is easy for me to get distracted so my goals keep me on track. This year, I’m concentrating on my 12 novella serial for Avon, I’m completing the Tattooed Tryst series for Ellora’s Cave (adding the 2 novellas), plus one additional 3 novella SciFi Erotic Romance series.
Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
I’m a pantser. I write by the seat of my pants with no set plot. I DO however know my characters and they usually drive the story. I know they will face their worst fears. I know they’ll fail before they succeed. I know they’ll change… often reluctantly, to earn their happy ever after.
What does your writing space look like?
I have a very old desktop computer (I joke that it is a Comedy 64) set on the tiniest and ugliest desk ever. This desk, a curbside rescue, faces a blank wall. This eliminates all distractions. I use the ironing board as my side table and rest my feet on my printer. Yes, the writing life is very glamorous!
Do you have any writing rituals or interesting writing quirks?
Cynthia Sax runs on Nutella! (grins) I treat writing as the job it is. I put in long hours, working 14 hour days, 7 days a week, but when you work at something you love, that’s not difficult to do. Writing keeps me sane so I tend to write every day.
I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share writers that you recommend for us to check out.
You can find Cynthia on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon.
Thank you for hosting me today! (big hugs)
Hi Cynthia,
It was my pleasure. I hope you liked it.
Warm hugs,
Blakely