How did you make your first sale?I was a Golden Heart finalist in 1997 (Short Historical). At the reception for finalists, an editor with Berkley asked me what I was working on. I knew she had already rejected the finalist manuscript, so I pitched a book I had just started. Set in post-Civil war Texas, it had a quilting theme. As it happened, Berkley was just beginning a new line of Quilting Romances, so the
editor asked to see "whatever I had." I sent the first three chapters and a synopsis when I returned home from the conference in August.
In October, my husband and I took a vacation to Washington DC We arrived home after midnight on October 10. My answering machine light was blinking. The message was from the editor -- she wanted to buy my book! Needless to say, I didn't sleep that night.
Patchwork Hearts was published in 1999 under my maiden name, Cynthia Sterling. I wrote 7 historicals under that name before turning to contemporary romance, writing as Cindi Myers
Tell us about your book.The Man Most Likely is the third in a series of connected books I'm writing for Harlequin American, set in the ski resort town of Crested Butte, Colorado. I love this book because the heroine, Angela, is working hard to accept herself just as she is. She's a size 16 and determined to stop trying to fit into a mold of how everyone else thinks she should look and make the most of what she has. She's an amateur actress and owns her own business - a chocolate shop called the Chocolate Moose. When she meets the hero, Bryan, she doesn't know what to think of him. He's drop-dead gorgeous and has a reputation as a slacker -- a snowboarder who works odd jobs and spends his time playing. But Bryan is trying to get his life on track. He's working as Assistant Manager of a resort hotel and is putting his slacker days behind him. Bryan is blown away by his attraction to Angela; she's not the gorgeous model type he's used to dating. But he's ready to settle down and decides Angela is worth pursuing, if only he can persuade her his feelings for her are real and true.
If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?Read! I'd work my way through my TBR pile.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?I'm an avid skier and try to get out on the snow as much as possible in winter. In summer, my husband and I like to hike and camp with our two dogs. I love to knit and cook. And for the past two years I've been studying Middle Eastern Belly Dance. I belong to a troupe that dances at local festivals and benefits. It's a blast!
What is your writing routine?I have had different routines over the years. Late last year I listed to a workshop by Eric Maisel on being productive and he recommended writing first thing in the morning, before all the intrusions of the day distracted from creative thought. So beginning in January, I started a new routine that's been working really well for me.
My husband leaves for work about 6:30 every morning. He makes me a cup of tea and brings it to me and wakes me up to kiss me good-bye. I keep my Alpha Smart by the bed and write on it until 8 o'clock or so. Then I get up and start the rest of my day. I transfer the pages from the Alpha Smart to my laptop in the afternoon and often write additional pages. But even if life
throws me a curve and I do nothing else the rest of the day, I at least have written something that morning. I have found I can write between 6 and 8 pages in that hour and a half in the morning.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?I think the hardest part is battling the little voice in my head that says it's not good enough. I try hard not to listen to it, but it is a struggle.
How long have you been writing?I always wanted to be a writer. When I was 8 or 9 I read the Little House books by Laura Ingals Wilder and told my mom I wanted to write books like that. In college I began writing a column for our local weekly newspaper and after I graduated (with a degree in economics) instead of going to work for a bank, I accepted the offer of a job with the newspaper. I covered city and
county government and wrote a weekly column and features. When I left that job I freelanced for magazines for a number of years, fulltime and part time. I sold the occasional short story. I wrote two very long, unsold historical novels. Finally, I landed an agent and she suggested I try
romance. I had never read romance before, so I asked a girlfriend who was a fan to recommend some books. I read a big stack of them and was hooked! After that I wrote eight complete manuscripts that didn't sell, before I finally sold that proposal to Berkley.
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?I teach writing and so many of my students expect success to come quickly and easily. Writing is hard work and no matter how long you've been writing, there is always room for improvement. I learn ways every year to improve my writing. So number one is to be prepared to work hard and never stop trying to improve. Number two is to be patient -- the wheels of publishing turn
slowly and it can take time to get the attention of agents or publishers or to find a home for your work.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?I'm currently working on my 42nd contracted novel. Some I love more than others, but asking me to choose a favorite is like asking a mother to name her favorite child. Sometimes, it depends on the day of the week.
