Ask the Author: Cyndi L. Stuart
Answered Questions (11)
Cyndi L. Stuart
I'm actually reading advanced copy books by authors whose novels are getting ready to be released by their publishers. The first one on my list is Death by Jelly Beans by the hilarious mystery author, Susie Black. Pre-orders start on July 26th, so I better get cracking. But no matter the title, you can't go wrong with any book in the Holly Schwartz mystery series. Death by Sample Size, Black's first mystery, is a hoot and a nail-biter all at the same time.
Cyndi L. Stuart
There are actually two family mysteries but not something I can share here. One is a cold case from over forty years ago that remains unsolved and the other would release a skeleton that could cause havoc.
Cyndi L. Stuart
The world of Harry Potter. I would first spend the day in Diagon Alley and then I would apply for a teaching position at Hogwarts.
As for a second choice, it would be Tolkien's middle earth and I would hope to move to Rivendell.
As for a second choice, it would be Tolkien's middle earth and I would hope to move to Rivendell.
Cyndi L. Stuart
Jessie, I am so sorry about not responding to your question until now. I've been down with a back injury and just now getting back into the swing of things on all my media platforms. I'm guessing you have already booked a speaker by now, but thank you for asking. I don't do garden talks any longer but I will be on the road doing readings and speaking once my mystery novel, Deadly Yours, comes out in early 2024. The story takes place in a small, north Oregon coast beach town and does have a nursery owner who tends go barreling in when a friend finds herself being stalked by a killer. If you ever want to book a speaker to talk plants and murder, I'm in! Take care, Cyndi
Cyndi L. Stuart
Well, they aren't a romantic couple but they are my favorite duo of PIs... Maisie Dobbs & her assistant Billy Beale in the Maisie Dobbs Mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear. The two make a great team and the mysteries give you a wonderful perspective of England after WWI and the breaking down of the class system... along with a good murder or two!
Cyndi L. Stuart
Being my own boss and making my own hours. I'm lucky at the moment to be writing full time and I never want to take it for granted. Once my book releases, I'm guessing I'll be adding talking to readers as a "best thing" too. Can't wait to get out there and meet other mystery fans.
Cyndi L. Stuart
I'm still aspiring! But I will say never stop writing and make sure to edit that final manuscript draft BEFORE you send it out. When you think it's ready, have at least three people you trust to read it. Pick people who are avid readers and those that will tell you the TRUTH! I was so lucky to find a publisher willing to take me on because they found the story to be strong. However, my manuscript was a bit of mess even after several readers had read it. They assigned me an editor and she and I worked together and it became magically better (with a lot of hard work). This isn't the norm. I was rejected by two agents and never even heard back from four others after they requested my manuscript. Now that I look back, its a shock to me that The Wild Rose Press didn't just say NO and move on to the next manuscript in the stack.
Cyndi L. Stuart
I feel as though I'm in the middle of a block right now, that's why I'm answering this question when I should be writing. Doing something else normally does the trick. I go for a walk, read someone else's book, or start on a different story. That's what I'm doing today. One story isn't working, so I'm going to work on a different idea. I also try not to beat myself up if the writing doesn't go well for a few days or even a few weeks. It's now my job, so I show up at the page whether I feel like it or not.
Cyndi L. Stuart
Two books are bouncing around in my head. One I'm not ready to share just yet, but the other is a follow-up to Real Food from a Real Farm. I would like to complete a seasonal buying guide of local fruits and veggies for people who are out there trying to shop locally but aren't really sure what is in season and what isn't. Hope to complete that one by Jan/Feb 2017.
Cyndi L. Stuart
I can't wait for inspiration or nothing would get on to the page. But boy, oh boy, do I love it when inspiration strikes. It normally comes as a dream in those moments when I'm falling asleep and when I'm slowly waking up.
Cyndi L. Stuart
It started with a dream about a body floating in water. I woke up wondering why and started to write. I wanted to create a smart woman on the run but with an interesting past. So, why not make her a professor who teaches a class on classic murder mysteries? I also thought a relentless killer would really be exciting to write. My love of mysteries started very young with my dad's enthusiasm for Sherlock Holmes which led me to Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen and the like. As I got older I found Patterson and Connelly which began a fascination of killers and why they kill. And, as a former intertidal interpreter and naturalists, you can't get me away from the beach, so it had to along the north Oregon coast.
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