will give you a chance to win a free copy of any of my books with each
issue…which I only release when I have
news!!
Hugs – Mimi
first two books in the series are the adventures of twin sisters from the
planet Centauri, one turns out to be the queen while the other was raised as a
slave after being kidnapped. The third book in the series is the story of two
of their friends who find they are the perfect match for each other.
I’m still giving away a book. This is what you can say.
leave a comment. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Cynthia’s book CENTAURI
TWILIGHT, Book 2 in the Centauri series. If the winner is in the US the book
will be a paperback. International commenter’s will receive an ebook, if they
should be chosen.
advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
have someone who can edit well read it for you.
I read each of my books through 3 times before I give it in full to my
critique partners for beta reading. I
also have other beta readers who read it before it gets published.
you have critique partners?
partners. They each have their strengths
and the are all incredibly talented writers.
All but one is currently published and that person will publish by the
end of January.
favorite dessert is carrot cake. My
mother made the most amazing carrot cake with real cream cheese icing. It was to die for.
likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
have something that makes them stand out from the crowd. Some character trait that I can see when I
meet them.
is most difficult for you to write?
Characters, conflict or emotions?
Why?
conflict. I avoid conflict in my real
like as though it was the plague. So I
tend to try and do that with my characters as well. Thank goodness for my critique group who are like
an enforcer and make me put in the conflict the story needs.
your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?
park. I’ve been writing seriously, with
the goal of publication since 1990. It’s
been a long hard process, that culminated with me publishing my books on my
own. So I’d have to say it was fraught
with peril.
mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around
the mountain side with her friends.
Their closest neighbor was one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother
was her playmate and her best friend. That fierce friendship lasted until
his death in 2006.
Cynthia was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought
new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the
storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A
romance about a little boy she liked at the time.
She worked her way through college and went to work full time straight after
graduation and there was little time to write. Then in 1990 she and two
friends started a round robin writing a story about pirates. She found
that she missed the writing and kept on with other stories. In 1992 she
joined Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.
Unfortunately, the loss of her job demanded the she not renew her memberships
and her writing stagnated for many years.
In 2000, she saw an ad in the paper for a writers conference being put on by
CRW and decided she’d attend. One of her favorite authors, Catherine
Coulter, was the keynote speaker. Cynthia was lucky enough to have a seat
at Ms. Coulter’s table at the luncheon and after talking with her, decided she needed
to get back to her writing. She rejoined both CRW and RWA that day and
hasn’t looked back.
Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends
she’s made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her
creativity.
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FROM CENTAURI MIDNIGHT
friend. You must grant me this last
request. Let me go after him.” Tensign Kiti Dolana paced the beautiful
sitting room. Bile rose in her throat
threatened to strangle her. Finally, she
collapsed into a chair it’s soft cushions swallowing her as she sat across the
small, highly polished and gleaming, coffee table from the Queen of Centauri,
her friend.
beautifully distended tummy disallowing much frivolous movement, reclined on
the couch. She sat up to pour the tea
but had trouble reaching the tea pot in the middle of the coffee table. “Kiti would you pour our tea, I’m a bit like
a beached whale right now.” Audra was
anything but a beached whale. Kiti knew
the colloquial term from her study of Earth.
her waist was gathered on one side of her head.
Her clear gray eyes shone bright
in her pale face. She wore a
beautiful royal purple empire waisted dress that highlighted her pale features. She was beautiful. Kiti remembered a time, on their way back to
Centauri from Earth, when she’d not thought so, because she was jealous.
Darius and when she’d still be betrothed to Anton. Kiti had been in love with Anton, at least
she thought she was, and was jealous of Audra.
Some of the things she said were unkind, but Audra had seen them for
what they were, jealousy and forgiven her the words. They were now the best of friends.
beseech her queen. “Audra, you have to
let me go after him. He killed my
brother Joridan, his actions led to Anton being captured and tortured. I need to see they get justice, they deserve
it.”
seek?” Audra softly asked.
tail and swung back and forth with each step she took. The thick, plush carpet kept her boots from
clicking on the floor. “I’m begging you
to let me go with Garrick Marcus. It’s
not just revenge I need. I need
closure. I’m the one who should deliver
Tybold to the authorities. Garrick
Marcus is the best captain in the fleet and I know Darius is sending him after
Tybold. Joridan needs us both to avenge
his death. To bring his murderer back to
Centauri for justice to be served.”
Proconians. By this time, Tybold could
have convinced them we are conquerors and he’s their only salvation. We don’t know. It could be a suicide mission. I don’t want to lose my best friend.” She went on.
“I know you’re grieving.
Joridan’s loss and Lara’s return has been very hard on you.”
Kiti jumped up and started to pace again. “I know what my life has been like. I mourn the loss of Joridan life and Anton’s
capture and torture by Slavarien.
Joridan was my little brother.
Even though he was a head taller than me he will always be my little
brother. I still smell Joridan’s scent
in his room. Sometimes it’s so fresh
it’s like he just passed by.” Her eyes
filled with tears, “I miss the closeness that Anton and I once shared but I do
not bemoan him finding Lara. I’m very
happy he found his lifemate. It was
something he never thought to be able to do.
After the torture that both Anton and Lara suffered at the hands of the
Slavariens, it’s amazing that they found each other. I wish I had a lifemate out there somewhere.
anthropologist, but first I’m Dragonera.
Of course, I am combat trained.
All Dragonera are. We are the
Royal Guard. We are the best.”
You’re right, but I worry anyway.
Must be my maternal instinct.”
Audra patted her belly.
centuries behind us technologically. I’m
the only person who can go on this mission that knows anything about their
culture.”
other planets’ civilizations. You know
that.”
tribes involved. And it’s not as though
Procon doesn’t know we exist. They
already trade with other planets. Just
because they’re not our technological equals doesn’t mean they aren’t
advanced.”
answered. “I must confer with Darius
before I can give you my answer.”
by Garrick, Anton and Lara. The three
men were in their Dragonera uniforms as was Kiti. The only differences being the color
blocking. Darius and Garrick wore
amethyst uniforms with cream colored sleeves, denoting their status as starship
Captains. Darius’ uniform also had a
cream colored stripe from the left shoulder to the waist, denoting that he was
Captain of the Royal Guard. As a general
in the Royal Army, Anton’s uniform was solid amethyst. Lara, Audra’s twin sister, still had the
tanned skin from someone who’s spent too much time in the sun. She wore the House of Danexx royal colors
like everyone else did. Hers were an
amethyst jumpsuit and long cream colored duster. Kiti’s uniform was solid cream. Her rank as Tensign was denoted by a patch on
her left arm.
asked as he took his wife’s arm and helped her to rise from the couch. She gave him a quick kiss. Darius rubbed her stomach then bent and said,
“Hello, my children. Are you being nice
to your mommy today?”
to think you’re crazy,” said Audra.
audience?”
Darius said to his soon to be twice over sister-in-law.”
moons about you,” said Anton waggling his eyebrows at her.
remembered they were not alone. Kiti
glanced at Garrick, who rolled his eyes at her. “Audra, the mission.” She reminded her queen tapping her wrist to
hurry her.
Darius, Kiti has requested to be assigned to go with Garrick to Procon,
to apprehend Lord Tybold. I told her I
would discuss it with you.”
needed,” Darius responded.
entering the room. “I think an
anthropologist would be very useful on this particular mission. Tensign Dolana would be a definite asset to
me in bringing in Tybold.”
him one hundred percent. To her way of
thinking, this mission would only succeed with her help. No one could understand the Proconians better
than she could.
Mimi thanks for having me today. I'd love to hear from your readers. I'm giving away a paperback copy of Centauri Twilight, Book 2 in the Centauri series to one lucky commenter.
Cynthia
Hi Mimi, great site, terrific design. Hello Cynthia, the concept of the two sisters, a queen and a slave is an interesting premise. Out of curiosity, if the kidnapping had not occurred and the twins grew up together, which one would have ruled, the now queen or the now slave, or would they have ruled jointly?
And well done on getting back to writing and then going on to publish.
Jim
Hi Cynthia,
Well this definitely sounds like a great read. Two sisters, one a queen the other a slave. Sounds like an intriguing plot.
Lorhainne
Sounds like a very cool plot, I like the idea of twins being seperated and raised so differently. Best of luck Cynthia in your future works!
Interesting excerpt, Cynthia…wish I knew more about the characters and where they've been – obviously they can't be identical twins, right? Isn't it a bond how many of us who write, started out as avid readers. Best wishes for success of this book in your series.
Thanks for the info… very helpful!
Thank you for featuring Cynthia as your guest blog post. "Beautifully distended belly" is quite a description of a woman pregnant with triplets. Growing up in rural New Mexico and having my family roots from Colorado, I can picture Cynthia's writing spirit gaining inspiration from her surroundings. Sometimes, to me, the story of the author themselves is as intriguing as the book they've written. Great cover for the book. Good luck to Cynthia on her writing adventures.