I was given the chance to chat with a very talented author this month, who took time out of her busy schedule to spend some time with us here at Joyfully Reviewed. 
So, without further delay…let’s hear from.....

Cynthia Eden

Did you always see yourself being a writer or did you have different aspirations?
Well, let’s see…at one point, I was very serious about becoming a magician (look for me at a writing conference one day, and I’ll show you some tricks!). 

Until I got my writing off the ground, I worked in a couple of different positions. I was a college counselor, a history teacher…actually; teaching was another dream of mine.  I loved teaching—loved telling kids about the wonders of history (because I am a major history buff!).

I read you wanted to be Lois Lane…did you follow those dreams of becoming a journalist?
In high school and college, I wrote for the school newspaper.  But, as I neared my college graduation, I realized that I wanted to write fiction—and not the hard-hitting stories of the day. 

Are you able to write full time or do have to balance a day job with your writing?
When I was first published, I balanced writing and my teaching job.  Luckily, I can now write full-time (well, full-time when I’m not busy with my soon to be two-year-old!).

Tell us what makes Cynthia…Cynthia.
Cynthia is…um, Cynthia because she loves the paranormal. She’s loved vampires and werewolves since she was a kid (never knew to be afraid of them). She loves happy endings, hot chocolate, cold chocolate—any kind of chocolate she can get, and she loves to read great books.

What draws you to the paranormal?
I love the idea that there is more to this world than just what we all see everyday.  I like to think that magic exists, that wonders are around us—we just have to take off our blinders and really look at the world. 

With the holidays fast approaching, do you have family traditions that you enjoy?
I’m a “Dirty Santa” fanatic. I love switching gifts with my friends and family.  I love the baking—cookies, cakes.  I also hold an annual gingerbread house decorating contest with my friends.  I never win that contest (because, honestly, my house winds up looking like it was hit by a tornado), but I have fun each year!

How long does it take for you to write a book from start to finish?
It takes me about two months to write a complete novel (100,000 words).    I usually set a goal of writing ten pages a day. 

Do you need to have absolute silence to write or can you write anywhere?
I need silence, but, having said that, as long as I have that quiet, I can take my laptop anywhere—the beach, the garden, the garage—and write. 

Tell us some of your favorites…foods, hobbies, authors, books, movies, music, color, television, or any others.
Foods:  beignets and pizza

Hobbies: snorkeling and horror-movie watching

Authors:  Christine Feehan, Angela Knight, and Jayne Ann Krentz

Movies:  Underworld, The Princess Bride, Hellboy

Music:  Jazz

Television:  Medium, Law & Order SVU, America’s Psychic Challenge

Others:  my favorite time of the day is dusk

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you?
Oh, I love to hear from readers!  The best way to contact me is to send an email to info@cynthiaeden.com. 

What does a typical day in Cynthia’s life involve?
Oh, the glamour.  LOL.  Okay, seriously, I wake up around 6.  Take care of my son.  Squeeze in an email check around 9.  More taking care of my son.  He and I take our one-mile walk.  When he naps at 12, I write as much as I can—usually until 2 or 3.  My husband finishes his work at 4, and then I am back at my computer, often from 4 until 6.  I check email. Write blog posts (I have an individual blog and belong to several group blogs). I work on my PR and write articles (for the RWR, my local writing chapter, for magazines, etc). I update my website and order promotional materials for my books. At 6, I have dinner with my family—and I hang out with my husband and son until little Jack goes to sleep (around 8).  By 10, I’m back at my computer.  If I haven’t met my daily writing goals, well, I’ll keep writing until I do, then it’s off to bed for me.  Sexy, huh? 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Yes, don’t give up!  When some writers get that first rejection, it hurts so much that they lose their confidence—many don’t want to keep submitting their work after that. But, hey, if you don’t submit, you’ll NEVER get published. Keep working, even when those rejections come and you feel horrible.  Just remember—everyone gets rejected at some point.  Only those who persevere get published. 

What would you consider your greatest strength?  What about your weakness?
Tough question.  Okay, I’d say my greatest strength is my imagination.  Even as a kid, I had one heck of an imagination.  My greatest weakness—ah, that one is easier.  I’m an obsessive gal, and I can never stop with one or two edits on my tales. I look at them (ahem, revise) again and again until a voice in my head finally screams, “Enough!” and I send the stories to my editors. 

How do you promote your work?
I advertise—in print magazines (like the Romantic Times) and online. I send out promotional materials—bookmarks, postcards—to conferences and book clubs.  I attend chats. I blog.  I try to meet with as many readers as I can (whether in person or online.)  And I write—I think one book (a good book) is a great promotional tool for the next release. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I have two releases available in December.  Both are anthologies:  A RED HOT NEW YEAR (Avon Red) and SECRETS, VOLUME 21: PRIMAL HEAT (Red Sage Publishing). I had a great time writing these tales, and I’m pleased to say that the anthologies have received very positive reviews!  And, yes, as I noted before, I am paranormal crazy, and my novellas for these anthologies do feature paranormal stories.  For more information about these stories, or to enter my New Year’s Party Contest (I’m giving away enough party supplies for 50 people!), please visit my website at www.cynthiaeden.com. 

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season!

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me!