Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My love of reading romance fiction goes back to those early years when I was raising a young family. It wasn’t until much later in life I actually took up the pen to write my first historical romance, Wind Warrior . I really don’t fit into one specific niche. Once a story starts to flow, it’s only then I know what genre/sub-genre it will fit under.
I have only one regret, and that is not getting to this point in my career much sooner, rather than later. Life has a way of setting up road blocks, which for me I know now, was supposed to work out that way. Because of those detours, I have become a more passionate and expressive writer, allowing me to create the kind of raw human emotion I want my readers to feel.
It is my hope you walk away with not just an entertaining read, but the importance in knowing, “Without imagination & dreams, we lose the excitement of wonderful possibilities.”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Pawn for Malice. I was a Legislative Aide for N.Y.S. Senator, Dale Volker, back in the late 70’s early 80’s, who was the sponsor of the Death Penalty Bill. Being in the midst of the legislative process, I came up with an idea and put together a very rough draft. And then, I became pregnant with my son Jason, who was born two months premature. You’d never know it, if you saw him now. Two years, later, his sister Alyssa was born. Life just got crazy being a mom and working full time.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Would you believe, I just sit down and go at it 🙂 I’ve always been that way. I don’t write out an outline or long summary of what I think the book will be about. I kind of just get this idea in my head, sit down and just let it flow. All of my books have been like that. My Gramma, God rest her soul, told me I was blessed because the words generated straight from my soul, up to my heart, and out through my fingers. I think she was right with 11 books published and more on the way.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Romance … romance … romance. I’m a diehard romantic. I learned much later in life also that my mother’s dad was half Native Indian and from a tribe in New Mexico, which we’re still trying to learn more of. When I discovered, Cassie Edwards and her Savage Series, holy moly!!! I read them all. My love and respect for that culture led me to begin my Iroquois Series, because I originally was born and raised in upstate New York and never found a romance based on tribes of the Iroquois Nation. That’s when, Wind Warrior was born.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m trying to promote the PreOrder Release Launch for ‘A Pawn for Malice’ ~ It’s a thrilling, passionate, and suspenseful romance that entails, self-discovery, survival and a love that is so strong, it conquers the evil trappings of a criminal mind. I’m offering it at 60% right now on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Apple iBooks until Nov. 6th. When it launches on the 7th, it reverts to the full retail price of $4.99.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I literally do everything I possibly can i.e. blog tours, utilize my social media, get the word out via my email list, promotional ads on Facebook, Goodreads, IndTale Magazine and so many other sites that are way too many to note. Exposure is key, but I do believe a lot of it is pure and simple luck.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t ever give up, or let a rejection stifle your desire to become a writer. When I first started mega, mega years ago, no one was open to giving advice. I took a creative writing course at a local community college to learn the formula of writing fiction and it helped immensely.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stay true to yourself and never allow anyone to snuff out your light.
What are you reading now?
Nothing right now. I’m in the midst of my next project and planning out how to market it, plus, tending to all my social media platforms, I’m exhausted … all in a good way though.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I SO SO WANT to make a best seller’s list just once in my lifetime. To me, that’s the “tell all” sign of success. I’ve written three movie scripts, one of which made it in the Top 5, I’d love to see opted for production. That would be way cool. “If you don’t do, you don’t get,” again, my Gramma use to say. I’ll just keep plugging along and hope for the best.
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?
Geez Louise !! As much as I love, love, love reading romance fiction, being stranded on a desert island isn’t going to be a walk in the park. So, my practical side is telling me I need a book on how to a build shelter, a book on survival skills, and a boxed set of Jude Deveraux’s books.
Author Websites and Profiles
Cynthia Roberts Website
Cynthia Roberts Amazon Profile
Cynthia Roberts Author Profile on Smashwords
Cynthia Roberts’s Social Media Links
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