Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for us at FAR- Fallen Angel Reviews. We know a few things about you such as your website:http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna and your yahoo site of: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cindyappelnewsletter to find out what is going on with you but we are all curious to know more. So by answering these questions you can help us get to know you.

What is the one thing that you would want us, the readers to know about you?

That I’m a really nice person and mostly harmless? That I’m fairly intelligent in spite of my reputation as a “dizzy blonde”? :) I guess what I’d like my readers to know that I enjoy writing and reading romance and that I’m open to their suggestions. They are free to tell me what kinds of situations or characters or subgenres of romance they like to read about. They are free to tell me what they don’t like to read about, too. Without input from my readers, how do I know how to craft the next story that they can’t wait to pick up? :)

Being such a busy person can you tell us what you do in your spare time?

Spare time? Whazzat? :) I don’t often get much time “just to myself”, but when I do I like to read (what else?) and watch movies on DVD. I enjoy watching the deleted scenes, too, so I can see what the director cut from the final film and why… It’s very educational and helps me with my writing. Oops! I guess that’s sort of “work-related” activity, isn’t it? :)

What does the future hold for you?

Hopefully a New York Times bestseller (or twenty) and a Rita Award! :) Nah, I’d be just as happy continuing what I’m doing now—writing stories I’d love to read and sharing them with others. Of course, winning the lottery or hitting the bestseller lists so I had a little money in my pocket would be nice, too. :)

If you could pick one of your many books, which one is the nearest and dearest to you?

Hmm… That’s like asking a mother which one of her children is her “favorite.” I don’t think it’s possible. I loved writing them all—and hated them all with a passion while revising and polishing them. Each one of them reflects a slightly different aspect of my personality I feel. So like a big, happy family each one is unique and special. :)

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I write and read way too much. I’m blonde. (But it’s starting to go white/gray now.) I like to sing harmony and I'm a member of a championship Sweet Adelines chorus. (Go River Blenders!) I have a loving husband and two girls—both teenagers. (*Shudder*) I’m a very nice person once you get to know me. If you want more details, check out my bio page at http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/bio.html

What is the greatest attribute that you think a person can have?

Patience—or to be more specific, perseverance. I feel this is a trait successful writers must have, since you have to keep writing and writing and writing and then you have to suffer rejection after rejection while you perfect your craft. My nickname for this attribute is the “three P’s”: persistence, perseverance and plain ol’ pig-headedness. You got to have all three of them to make it in the world, no matter where your talents lie.

What is the one thing you hate to do?

To give up. Or I should say I hate it when I get to feeling so down and out that I want to give up. Then I get angry at the person or situation that made me feel that way about myself. Sometimes righteous anger is good since it motivates you to keep on keepin’ on. If I had given up when I received my first rejection slip from a publisher, I wouldn’t be writing today, and I’d be the most miserable person on the planet. I’m so very glad I didn’t give up!

If all of your professions could be categorized into a book what would you call it and why?

Great question! I’d call it, “Dizzy Blonde Tries to Save the World and Doesn’t Quite Know How But Keeps Trying Anyway”. I think that title is fairly explanatory. :)

What new books do you have coming out this year? Can you tell us about them?

Oh, wow! This has been quite a good year for me… Where do I begin? :)

I’m hoping my funny writer’s reference book, The Slush Pile Survival Guide will be out from Gryphon Books for Writers in hardcover very soon. (Keep your fingers crossed!)

This year I had two romantic-comedy releases with Triskelion Publishing: Beautiful Dreamer and Scrambled Eggs. I also will have chick lit story coming out sometime next year with Triskelion with the tentative title of Seven Ways to Seduce a Martian. You can read a brief synopsis and excerpts from my novels at my web site: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna (or at http://cynthianna.bravehost.com)

My “alter-ego”, Celine Chatillon, published an erotica short story in Xodtica magazine this year (“Playmate”) and will have a Christmas erotic romance short coming out with eXtasy Books tentatively entitled Yes, Virginia… Here Comes Santa Claus. My first eXtasy erotic novella, A Middle Class Existence, should be out later this year or early next. And I'll have several more erotica/romantica titles coming out with eXtasy this coming year, including a wild and wacky SF/Romantica/Comedy series called Brandi Whyne… and Her Incredibly Erotica Adventures with Robin Manhood and His Totally Sexed-Out Space Pirates. (I dare anyone to say that title three times fast!) I call this series “Star Wars meets Sherwood Forest meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Fanny Hill”. Or in other words, it’s funny and different!

I’m working on a vampire romance, too. So, I suggest readers sign up for my newsletter at my web site and stay tuned for coming attractions… It’s only going to get better from here on out! :)

What is that we hear that you write a column called Every Day Is Mother's Day and it has won awards? Can you tell us about it? My curiosity is peaked!

I call it, “The world as seen through the eyes of a mom—who just happens to be blonde”. I’ve been writing “Mother’s Day” since early 1998. This was back in the dark ages of the Internet before the word “blog” had been invented. I simply called it a column.

(It does have a “blog site” now at http://momsday.blogspot.com ) It started out as a weekly at the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram Online. After that site folded, the column became a monthly and moved on to Miscellaneous Ramblings and then most recently, The Coffee Cramp Reviews. It’s won several “reader’s choice” awards over the years, and my Mom still says she enjoys it. :)

I’ve recently put together a collection of my early columns about parenting, writing and whatever and titled it after one of my personal favorites Salsa Therapy… and Other Home Remedies. I’m giving it away as an ebook to anyone who purchases either of my current Triskelion releases this month… Check out this exciting promo at my site at http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/promo.html

Not only do you sing but you belong to so many organizations, when do you find the time?

I don’t sometimes! During the school year I just go from one group meeting to the next on most weeknights. That’s why I have no idea what the latest TV series are—I simply don’t sit down and watch much TV during primetime. That’s why I enjoy movies on tape/DVD. I can watch them whenever I get a free moment.

I find being involved in the community and enjoying other artistic pursuits are well worth the investment of time and energy. Writers and artists of all types need to “replenish the creative well” from time to time. It really helps my writing to get away from my keyboard and books and interact with other human beings. Where else would all the ideas for stories come from? :)

If you had any free time what would you do with it?

See question number two. :) If I had a big block of free time, I’d like to take a nice long, relaxing trip. I can’t afford to go anywhere currently with one kid in college, the other in high school and way too many bills to pay.

But I can always dream about my “fantasy vacation” on a remote, deserted island with just me and Mel Gibson (Pierce Brosnan, David Duchovny, Colin Firth, or any other handsome hunk who’s willing) can’t I? Hmm… sounds like good erotic romance plot forming there…:)

I want to thank you for taking out the time to do this interview with us at FAR; we are very pleased to have had the honor of interviewing you.

These were terrific questions--thanks for the interview.
Cindy :)

Discover love, laughter, romance, and eccentric, meddling neighbors among other things... Discover a novel by Cynthianna Appel: http://cynthianna.bravehost.com

Interviewed by: Wendi