Cynthia Vespia

An Interview with Cynthia Vespia: Author, Editor & Personal Trainer

Sylvia: Hi Cynthia, it is such a pleasure to interview you.  Please give our readers a brief introduction of yourself and a little about your book.

Cynthia: Hello Sylvia. My name is Cynthia Vespia, The Original Cyn, I have a background as an award-winning video editor; certified personal trainer; licensed private security guard; and trained mixologist. But the allure of writing has always my biggest passion.

Today I write character driven suspense fiction. During my down time I enjoy getting lost in a good book or movie and keeping active through various forms of martial arts and fitness. My latest suspense SINS AND VIRTUES takes you inside a unique hostage situation that is about to turn ugly unless author Ben Haskins can use his gift of words to befriend his captor.

 

Sylvia: Wow, martial arts… security guare? You are super woman!  What inspired you to write your first book?

Cynthia: I used to read a lot as a child and so I dabbled in writing short stories. It was after reading Dean Koontz novel INTENSITY that I realized I wanted to write my own novels. I wanted to draw emotions out of readers the same way Koontz had for me.

 

Sylvia: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Cynthia: I usually write to entertain rather than try to implement a message. Sometimes they slip in there without me knowing it. I suppose for SINS AND VIRTUES it is really just an exploration of the good and bad in people. In addition, simply to not judge a book by its cover as they say. 

 

Sylvia:  Do you have any advice for other writers? 

Cynthia: Don’t follow the trends. New writers come out of the gate trying to be the next Rowling or Meyer. But by the time you finish writing your vampire novel zombies are now the “in” thing.  Write what you’re passionate about writing and be the next trend-setter.

 

Sylvia: Good advice Cynthia.  Just as in business you should do what you love… as a writer, the advice is the same.  What marketing techniques have you used to sell your books and which ones have been most successful?

Cynthia: Writing the book becomes easy in comparison to marketing it. Even if you’re with a big name publisher you have to put in the grunt work yourself. I’ve done everything from press releases; interviews in print, audio, and TV; book trailers; social media sites; giveaways. What I’ve found most useful and what I’m trying to focus on is getting books reviewed. This breeds word of mouth. You can say how great your book is all day long but people aren’t going to listen to the author as much as they will listen to an outside party who has read the book and given it an honest review.

 

Sylvia: Why should we buy your book?

Cynthia: In the midst of this unique hostage situation the pace is nail-biting and suspenseful, leaving the reader guessing in each chapter. At the same time it is a strong, character driven piece that peels away the layers of raw human emotion through intense passages of dialogue. It is the type of situation you want to read about but hope you never find yourself in.

 

Sylvia: Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?

Cynthia: I like writing in bookstores, especially if they have a cafe on sight. It’s fun for me to be around all the other books. It is inspiring and the coffee keeps me going!

 

Sylvia: Ok, that’s a new one but make sense.  You surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of books… all genres!  What projects are you currently working on?

Cynthia: I’m in the process of finishing a short story about a hit man I started last year. After that I have to decide if I want to pick up on my Demon Hunter series with a new installment or if I want to start on a new, more contemporary series. Decisions… decisions!

 

Sylvia: What is your POWER WORD?

Cynthia: My power word is ACTION. Action inspires movement. Action is what a director calls out to begin a scene. Action means going forward.

 

Sylvia: I like that!  So, Cynthia, this has been great. Thank you for your time. I enjoyed learning more about you and your book. Please let our readers know how to contact you. 

Cynthia: You are very welcome. See below.

Website: www.OriginalCynAdvertising.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cynfulcharm