Cynthia Woolf Interview Published on: 23, Jan 2023
What are some of your favorite childhood memories?
The times I spent playing...and fighting...with my little brother. He's gone now so all I have are my memories.
Out of all the day jobs that you have had, which one gave you the best time of your life?I worked for the Union Pacific Corporation for ten years and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I made great friends there some of whom I still have nearly 30 years later.
What made you decide to finally begin writing historical romance novels?I loved reading historical romance novels and I believe in writing what you love to read.
What were some fears/doubts you had while publishing your first book?That it wouldn't sell at all. It sold a few, but it wasn't until I'd published about ten books that I actually started to see some real great sales figures.
Who or what first got you interested in the history genre?My mother was a big history buff and I loved reading Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Johanna Lindsey and some others.
What inspired you to write the book ‘Her Secret Cowboy Billionaire’?I wanted to try my hand at another genre. After sixty historical romances I was ready to try something else. What is this book about? The book is about a woman who is suddenly thrust into motherhood when her sister is murdered and the painter/handyman she hires to help her turn her grandmother's Victorian mansion into a bed and breakfast. She hates secrets because she feels if her sister hadn't kept secret the life she was living she would still be alive. But he (the painter) has a big secret he's keeping from her.
How did you come up with the character of Maisie MacSheehy?I had a friend and an family member her suffered at the hands of their husbands. I was thinking of them when I came up with Maisie.
How do you decide the names, appearances, characteristics, etc, of your characters?It's just whatever I'm feeling when I am coming up with the characters. My series are always at least 3 books. One of the heroines will be blonde, one brunette and one redhead. That's just how I write. If I have more books in the series, it will just depend on my mood at the time.
What does literary success look like to you?Success is having my books out there for people to read. I have sold and/or given away over a million books. that's a million opportunities to touch someone's life and hopefully bring a little joy to it. Do you think you have achieved it after being a bestselling author? I do think I have, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to retire.
How important is reading for an author?Reading is very important and something that I don't do enough of. What kinds of books do you like to read? I rarely read in my genre. I like scifi romance, Regency, and contemporary western romance.
Would you ever consider ditching your identity, and reforming yourself into a whole new life?No. I love my life. How would you like it to be?
Do you think someone can be an author without having discipline?Yes, but it's harder. Why or why not? As an author you are your own business. You have to be able to do all of that yourself, at least I do. That means writing, editing (before and after it goes to a professional editor), deciding on covers, advertising, research, education, and many other things I can't name right now.
When are you most satisfied with a book or piece of writing?When I have that feeling you have that a book has satisfied me. I get that "Ah" feeling, then I'm good with what I've written. Do you often edit things OUT of your books? Not usually.
What book ideas are you currently working on?I'm actually brainstorming at the moment and don't have anything I'm working on.
How has your experience at AllAuthor been?It's been nice to work with AllAuthor.
