This is like getting 2 points for putting your name at the top of the page, right? Name: Cyndi Tefft. Whew! Hope I get the answers right on the rest. Hehehe
Could you tell us a little bit about your work in progress?
My book is called Between. It’s a young adult paranormal romance about a girl who dies in a car accident and the eighteenth-century Scot who comes to escort her to heaven. I started writing it in 2009 and when I finished, it was over 800 pages long. I quickly learned that was wayyyyyy too long for a debut book (YA notwithstanding), so I cut it in half. The first half is edited and ready to go. I haven’t done much with the second half yet. I’ll need to rewrite the beginning and some other scenes so that it can stand on its own.
What is the first story you remember writing? What was it about?
I wrote lots of “poetry” when I was a teenager. More than anything else, it was a lyrical diary, a way to pour out my angst over unrequited love and the misery of living with brothers. I still have boxes of it under my bed. The last time I read through it, I shuddered to recall what torture it is to be a teenager. It’s tough. No doubt about it.
Are you more of a “plotter” or a “pantser”?
Definitely a pantser. I tried plotting out a whole book once, and then lost all interest in writing it because I knew what was going to happen. Figuring it out as I go along is part of the fun.
All writers need encouragement. Who first encouraged you to write, and who is it that encourages you today?
When I started writing Between, my co-worker Teresa was a huge encouragement to me. She asked to read what I’d written so far and would bug me to get more pages. I had to keep writing to stay ahead of her so she wouldn’t run out of pages to read!
Which authors have had a significant influence on your writing?
I know it’s not popular to admit it, but I was inspired to write after watching a video interview of Stephenie Meyer. I figured, “She’s a housewife who had a dream and decided to write it down. If she can do it, so can I!” Diana Gabaldon was also a big source of inspiration. It was her Outlander series that made me fall in love with Scotland and want to create my own romantic tale featuring a Scot.
What music, if any, do you enjoy listening to while you write?
I listen to piano music, Brian Crain’s Sienna in particular.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
Strengths: Grammar, syntax, spelling. Boring, I know. *grin*
Weaknesses: Dedication (I can procrastinate with the best of them).
What do you hope to achieve with your writing?
When I started writing, I just wanted to see if I could do it: write a whole novel. It wasn’t until after I got most of the way through that I started obsessing about publication, which is a whole lot less fun than writing.
What was once traditionally a print medium is now rapidly branching out into many digital formats. What do you think of this trend?
I was originally skeptical about it, but have recently jumped on board and bought a Nook Color, which I absolutely love. I didn’t think I would, but it’s fabulous. Also, self-publication resources like Createspace and Lightning Source are breaking down the barriers to entry for authors who want to get their work out there. It’s all good.
What was the last sentence that you had to re-read over and over again because of its awesomeness? What struck you about it?
“Life costs blood.” From The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. Those three words summarized the theme of the book in such a striking way that I just stared at the words on the page for a while, letting it sink in.
What book(s) have you recently read that you would recommend to the readers of this blog?
Apart from the one above, I’d recommend The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory and The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne.
What advice do you have to other aspiring authors out there?
Examine your motives. Figure out what you want from writing. Is it a career? Is it just one book and you’re done? Do you want to share your tale with the whole world or just your family and friends? The publishing grinder isn’t for the faint of heart; it’s a business. Figure out your goals and then go after them. Rejection will come, but keep your head held high.
An apocalypse destroys the entirety of human literature, apart from the work of three authors that you can magically save with your wizardry – what do you save from imminent destruction?
Diana Gabaldon- because her Outlander series is my all-time fave. I could reread them a thousand times.
Nora Roberts- because she is the most prolific romance novelist on the planet, so I would be stocked up for years.
Dr. Seuss- because I’d need something to read to my kids.
Our time is at an end. For our curious readers, how can we follow your progress?
www.twitter.com/cynditefft
http://ctefft.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3919989-cyndi-tefft
Between will be coming out in the next couple of months, if all things go according to plan, so if you follow me on Twitter and/or on the blog, you’re sure to hear all about it. Thanks so much for the interview!
***Are you an aspiring author willing to do an interview for my little blog? If so, click here.***
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