Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since 2012, but as a kid, I’d always wanted to write. I got married young and had a houseful of babies, and then one day I decided to take my dream of becoming an author seriously. I started writing a book, which quickly turned into plans for a trilogy. Destiny was released in Nov 2013 and Synchrony followed April 2014. Then I got a divorce and writing was put on hold for about two years. I got remarried June of 2016 and that fall I began writing once more. I have decided to rewrite my trilogy into a nine book series and I’ve been working on that for the past several months.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called It Was You. It should be releasing sometime this summer. The fall of 2014 I lived in Atlanta and I did a lot of background acting work for some of the big time film companies that have taken up residence in the area. I ended up in 17 various film productions and lived off of the money I made from extra work. IT WAS YOU is inspired by that time in my life. It’s about a struggling 19 yr old actress who ends up falling for the lead of the tv show she’s been cast in as an extra. It’s a fun story. I really enjoyed reliving my time in the film world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to get really sucked into my writing. When I’m especially in the zone I begin to feel like I am my character, even in the real world. It makes for authentic writing, but it can be kind of strange when you’re in your 30s and you’re running around squealing like a 15-year-old all the time!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephanie Meyer. I saw her success as a young mom and I said, “If she can do it, then so can I!” I loved her Twilight series and it renewed my love of reading.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the rewrite of my trilogy into the 9 book series. It’s hard, slow work because I have to come up with story and character arcs for a third of each book, and it makes my head hurt sometimes. I’ve finished the first book and now I’m just starting the second. It’s my favorite part of the series and I’m really excited to work on it!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Instafreebie! I wrote a short story called How to Begin again from the perspective of my character Hannah from the Destiny Trilogy. It’s just 6 pages long, but I included the first two chapters of Destiny at the end of the book with links to read the rest on KindleUnlimited. Every time someone downloads the short story for free they sign up for my newsletter and are fed into my automated welcome email sequence where they can get to know my books and me on a more personal level.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read and write every day. Don’t give up. Get a webpage set up. Get a facebook page and a Twitter page. Do those things before you even publish a single word. Start building a newsletter list so that when you release your first book you will already have fans lined up, ready to buy.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself and what you’re writing. Don’t allow fear to deter you. Act as if your books are already a huge success. Don’t focus on today. See your book on the shelves at all the stores already. This power will lift your belief from “It hasn’t happened” to “It has happened.”
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a book called Shatter by Nikki Trionfo. It’s coming out this May, and I’m on her review team. I’m a book reviewer and blogger at cinnamoncindy.blogspot.com and I love promoting other authors!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing on with the rewrite of my series. It’s going to be a long, hard journey. I’d like to join some author boxed sets and put out a few short stories along the way to keep readers engaged with fresh content, but I don’t want to release this rewrite of my series until everything is completed.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Book of Mormon/Bible combo. The Complete works of Jane Austen, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and Destiny.
Author Websites and Profiles
Cindy Ray Hale Website
Cindy Ray Hale Amazon Profile
Cindy Ray Hale’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account