On the blog today, I am featuring an author who has been in the business for a long time. She and I became acquainted through an unfortunate situation regarding another publisher with whom we are both involved. For that reason, her most recent books, The Demon Hunter series, won't be promoted here. As is the case with a book of mine held up by the same publisher, it would not benefit her, the author, to do so. It's a difficult situation and as the authors, we are in an impossible place. Instead, at the end of her post, I will again post the ways you can contact Cynthia and discover her other wonderful books, such as Life, Death and Back, Theater of Pain, and The Crescent, all of which ARE available and she would love you to obtain and enjoy. In time, we are hopeful, her wonderful Demon Hunter series will be hers again. Until then, please enjoy the illuminating journey of my new friend Cynthia Vespia.
1. How long have you been writing?
I've been writing since I was eight. I got my first piece published at 22. It's been about 2 decades.
I've been writing since I was eight. I got my first piece published at 22. It's been about 2 decades.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what’s your plan?
I have been published for about 2 years. It's a great accomplishment but I'm still not at the level I would like to be.
I have been published for about 2 years. It's a great accomplishment but I'm still not at the level I would like to be.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie” route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?
I've done them all and found success in each arena. Currently, I'm shopping agents. Soon I'll be moving towards a more independent role as I do more self publishing.
I've done them all and found success in each arena. Currently, I'm shopping agents. Soon I'll be moving towards a more independent role as I do more self publishing.
4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
With editing and research my first novel, The Crescent, took about a year.
With editing and research my first novel, The Crescent, took about a year.
5. How long did it take you to publish it?
It took a few months. I went the self publishing route to experience what that side was like. It did well.
It took a few months. I went the self publishing route to experience what that side was like. It did well.
6. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I have a stack of rejections but as I said I went self publishing after that.
I have a stack of rejections but as I said I went self publishing after that.
7. Describe your worst rejection letter.
An agent told me that I was writing about things "no one wanted to read." You take it with a grain of salt. There's alot of stuff that has been published that I don't want to read. Everyone has their opinion.
An agent told me that I was writing about things "no one wanted to read." You take it with a grain of salt. There's alot of stuff that has been published that I don't want to read. Everyone has their opinion.
8. Describe the best news you ever got in your writing life and how it felt.
I got some reviews on one of my fantasy ebooks, Demon Hunter, that compared my writing to Robert E Howard's Conan Series, Gullivers Travels, The Odyssey, and Stephen King...I believe I can die happy now!
I got some reviews on one of my fantasy ebooks, Demon Hunter, that compared my writing to Robert E Howard's Conan Series, Gullivers Travels, The Odyssey, and Stephen King...I believe I can die happy now!
9. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?
Someone once told me to put a screenplay I wrote away because it was too hard to break into the business. Sounds like quitting to me.
Someone once told me to put a screenplay I wrote away because it was too hard to break into the business. Sounds like quitting to me.
10. Now, tell us the best.
The best piece of advice I ever heard was "write for the wastebasket." It referred to how to approach your first draft. Write as if you were going to toss it. That takes the pressure off of making it perfect.
The best piece of advice I ever heard was "write for the wastebasket." It referred to how to approach your first draft. Write as if you were going to toss it. That takes the pressure off of making it perfect.
11. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?
Learn the rules and then break them. Find your voice and follow your own path. What works for one person might not necessarily work for another.
Learn the rules and then break them. Find your voice and follow your own path. What works for one person might not necessarily work for another.
Now that you've had a chance to get to know Cynthia, I know she'd love to meet you. Here's how to connect with her:
Her website:www.OriginalCynAdvertising.com
Her facebook page:www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
Her Twitter: www.twitter.com/cynfulcharm
Her facebook page:www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
Her Twitter: www.twitter.com/cynfulcharm
Let her know how much you enjoyed her story!
It was absolutely my pleasure, Cyn. Your story was illuminating and I was thrilled to see your longevity in the industry. That someone such as yourself has weathered the tumultuous changes in publishing is so encouraging for those of us who are in the storm of them now. You makes us feel optimistic about making writing a career for all of us, so thank you!
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