Cynthia A. Rodriguez's Blog, page 8

Writing Chasing the Tide

OK. I’m here. I hope everyone is paying attention because I have some advice from the inside. Here goes nothing.

Writing your second book is not easier than writing the first. Especially if it’s a sequel.

I know, I know. For some people it may be. Hell, for most people it may be. But the greatest catch is, you can’t just make things up anymore. You have a whole story that you’ve already built and you have to follow that! In the first book, you set up the world. In the second book, you discuss conflict in that world, yeah? My problem is, in the second book, you’re being introduced to a whole other world. Yep. My brain hurts. But trust me…this is one story you won’t want to miss.

I always tell people that Mystic Waters is the introduction. Sort of like a handshake. Chasing the Tide is the explosion. I want to make sure you’re in love with my characters, invested in the story, before I blow up your brains. I’m so considerate, I know.

 

Well, off to Mystic to finish working on Chasing the Tide for the allotted hours I’ve given myself. Ciao!

 

Now playing M83′s I Need You.

 

 

All my love,
Cynth

MYSTIC WATERS UPDATES!

Hiya! I know it’s been a long time but I didn’t want to write another post without giving you all something to be excited about. So…

 

I’ve just finished editing the final draft of Mystic Waters!

 

You read right. Mystic Waters is now with Rosemi for the final copyedit and we’re moving toward the release date! Also, I saw the first mock-up of the book cover and let me tell you guys…it’s beautiful. I wanted to cry it was so beautiful. Rosemi is currently working with some super cool web designers on the MW website and can I just say we are working super hard to get all of these things done. I’m so excited to be back on the Chasing the Tide wagon. It’s hard to go back to the beginning when your heads on the next chapter but I always want to make sure I’m doing the best and giving you the best I’ve got.

I read through some of Mystic Waters and I can’t help feeling nostalgic. It also amazes me, some of the things I wrote and the way I wrote them. I’m so proud of myself and my team (Rosemi) for all of the work we’ve put into this wonderful project. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to it!

 

Going out to celebrate! Listening to HAIM’s Falling!

 

 

All my love,
Cynth

 

I Feel Busy, Oh SO Busy

Hello! I hope you aren’t too upset with me. I’ve recently taken up bar tending on weekends. So, I am veryyyy busy these days. Also, I’ve been spending my off time critiquing a manuscript in exchange for mine. It was a good experience!

 

Now, Mystic Waters news. I know my last post discussed Rosemi and I “doing it on our own” but that isn’t exactly what I meant. We’re going through Anterior, a small publishing house. I’ll be posting more information as soon as I get the word. Aren’t we all excited??

We’re still planning an event in my hometown when I come home in June. If anyone is interested, my email address is on the “About the Author” page. Let me know! It’s open to all.

I’ve been working on Chasing the Tide. To say this book is completely different from the first in the series would be an understatement. We see our friends flourish under pressure and I love every minute of it. I know I’d previously posted Mystic being a Quadrilogy but I may just do a trilogy. Then again, there may be six books! It’s definitely too soon for me to tell.

In other news, if you haven’t seen the Divergent movie, please remove your a** from the dingy computer chair you’re sitting at, and make your way to your nearest movie theater. I have such a love/hate relationship with this trilogy due to its timing while reading it but I wanted to cry like a baby when watching it. Do you ever wonder how Veronica Roth must feel, seeing her characters come to life? That has got to be amazing. I couldn’t help, while sitting there, my eyes wide, that maybe one day that’ll be MW. Wishful thinking.

 

Now playing M83 – I Need You.

 

All my love,
Cynth

Rosemi and I Decided To Take Over the World (Kind Of)

Over a week ago, I spoke with Rosemi via Skype and, after many laughs and introducing her to my husband, we got down to business. Before I get to what it was we discussed, I’m going to post what she tweeted today once I sent her Mystic Waters:

Yes. Rosemi and I have decided that we’re going to go it alone. I’m not bashing traditional publishing, self publishing, or utilizing small presses. This was just a decision that fit our situation. Maybe Mystic Waters would’ve gotten better publicity with traditional publishing but I have faith in my story as well as those who read my blog, follow my Twitter and Facebook page. There are some decisions that just make sense. This is one of those.

Today was a great day in (fictional) Mystic. I finished this draft at 95,100 words. I took things away, added things…overall, it was an eye-opening experience. As an author, I had to step back and see the B.S. for myself. There were some sentences that just had to go. Even some paragraphs. But it’s the cleanest I’ve seen it. I’m crossing my fingers that Rosemi agrees. But, if she doesn’t, I know it’s for the best.

I know I haven’t been posting as often as I used to, but again, bear with me. I’m almost at a regular schedule again! I’ll keep you posted if any changes! Details to come soon.

 

Now playing The Beatles’ You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.

 

All my love,
Cynth

I’m Working…I Promise

Now, most of you know I made it home on the 18th (FINALLY). I’ve taken the last few days for myself to get into the groove of things as well as spend some time with friends and family.

Tonight I tried something. We’re on our last draft of Mystic Waters and it’s due to Rosemi in a few days. So today I sat down with my friend and read a few chapters aloud to her. I have to encourage this method to other writers. I found mistakes I otherwise looked over. There were sentences that weren’t graceful or wording that didn’t quite fit. So that’s some advice I’d like to share. Once you have your story down, I encourage reading it aloud to someone who is interested in the story.

It’s weird being back home.

Wonderful.

But weird.

You never really know just how crap a situation is until you’re out of it. At least, when you come home from Afghanistan. I ask you all for patience. I’m still attempting to get into the groove of things. Hopefully next post will give you all a bit more info! Until then:

 

I’m home.

 

 

Now playing Chandelier by Sia.

 

 

All my love,
Cynth

The Post That Was SUPPOSED To Come From Germany

Look at the title of this post. Not the happiest camper to have had my flight home canceled a few days ago. And to make up for me not posting despite my personal issues, I’m going to give you an excerpt! Don’t leave me. I promise to be better next time. Xoxo.

 

 

 

The familiar shock of power flew through me and my hands were set alight. The glow that covered them from wrist to fingertip, shimmering with the promise of something terrible, was enough to shock me back to reality. Hurting anyone was out of the question so I breathed deeply, the steady rise and fall of my chest interrupted by my shivering against the cold wind that stung my wet skin. I couldn’t live if I did something like that again. I watched the lightning crack through the darkness. Even the rain and lightning and thunder in all the world wouldn’t chase away my demons.

“Liza! Elizabeth!” I could hear Farah calling for me, but I stood there and let the rain wash over me, cleansing me. Nothing I could do would ever change what happened. It would never erase my greatest sin, which was beginning to consume me. I saw the way her steps faltered when she noticed the muted glow coming from my fingers, dimming further as I calmed myself. I didn’t bother to hide them. There was no fight left in me, no more denial.

“Wha…what?” Her hands tightened around the stem of the umbrella and I could feel the shock coming from her. I didn’t respond.

 

I hope you enjoyed that bit! I’m attempting to redeploy and plan an event once I get back home. I’ve just gotten word that the Mayor of my hometown will be in attendance! If you find yourself without plans on June 21st, email me…well…before the 21st would be best. ;)

 

Now playing Lea Michele’s Cue the Rain. Her album is genius. I’m in love.

 

All my love,
Cynth

Second Liebster Award!

 

Yesterday I was nominated for my second Liebster award by the ridiculously awesome Hiba Tahir. I’ve grown fond of her tweets and loved the bit she said about me in her post last night.

Anyway, I know we usually follow the rules on my blog:

1. Each nominee must link back the person who nominated them.
2. Answer the 10 questions which are given to you by the nominator.
3. Nominate 10 other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.
4. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
5. Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by going to their blog and notifying them.

 

But…I really don’t have time to! I’m very sorry. Between packing up and making time to write before bed, I’m swamped. I will, however, answer the questions she provided!

 

1.) When did you start writing, and why?
I started writing (seriously) once I deployed because being in a situation that puts you at great risk, it also opens your eyes to great possibilities. It is my life’s goal to help other people find the courage my deployment gave me.

2.) What’s your favorite line you’ve written?
This one is tough. I especially love one line I wrote in the sequel to Mystic Waters, Chasing the Tide:

It was a collision of two hearts, destroyed by one another, healing.

I can’t fully explain why, but that sentence really speaks to me. If we know anything about love, we know that the one who breaks us is often the only one who can fix us. I suppose that’s why I adore that sentence most.

3.) Do you ever base your characters on real-life people?
Yes. Well, I tried. My character Amare, is based off of someone I’m currently deployed with. The reason I tried to do this was the real-life Amare is such a strong, beautiful woman. And she’s quite the a** kicker. And, while MW is all of those things, she couldn’t be Amare. She had to be herself, the person who’d keep the story true. So fiction Amare is a lot more reserved and calculating than real-life Amare. I love them both equally. :) Also, Farah, Liza’s best friend, is loosely based on another friend of mine, Sarah. I hadn’t quite realized this until I’d already written her in. It wasn’t intentional. It just was. However, Edric is not based on my husband. Let’s get that out there now.

4.) Writer’s block – we all experience it. How do you cope?
Write through it. It’s better to edit sh*t than to have nothing to edit. Sometimes you really have to bull yourself into getting into the swing of the story. But there’s a reason there are many rounds of editing. Once you’re out of your funk, you’ll realize that the bit you wrote when you felt hopeless doesn’t fit the story and you change it. You’re the boss, always. Well…whenever your characters let you think you are. ;)

5.) Do you have any special writing rituals?
My readers know it’s music all the way. Whether it’s a post, a chapter, or a sentence. Writing and music go hand-in-hand in Cynthia’s world. Having started writing in Afghanistan, I can’t be picky about noise or people. These things happen.

6.) Which writers, dead or alive, inspire you most?
Gosh. I’ve never really thought of that. While I have authors I like, I don’t think any of them inspire my style of writing. I’m the type of writer who doesn’t mind fragments if they fit the scenario. I love the jumbled mess of emotions and I want to feel it all. If I had to pick someone…J.K. Rowling. She changed my life the day I met Harry Potter.

7.) If you could spend a day inside one of your novels/stories, what would you do?
I’d likely just sit and watch everything unfold. I wouldn’t do anything, I wouldn’t say anything. I’d do just what I’m doing now: observing and loving every bit of it. This is something Liza and I have in common. We’re outsiders and once on the inside, we bring our outsider tendencies with us. :)

8.) What is one thing you hope readers will take away from your novels/stories?
The idea that maybe mermaids could exist. Strength. Hope. Faith. I want people to read Mystic Waters and feel what I felt when writing it.

 9.) What is your favorite book? (I know it can be hard to pick just one, but try to keep it at least fewer than three!)
Today? Making Faces by Amy Harmon and Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren. I’m kind of in a smutty book phase because I’m a girl and I’m deployed. But they cannot be 50 Shades knock offs. I need story and definitely romance (hi, Sylvia Day!).

10.) Share the link to whichever of your blog posts is your favorite and explain why it’s your favorite.
My favorite post is the Dream a New Reality post. It’s always easy to harp on people for not chasing their dreams. But when you’re so happy in what it is you’re doing…when you’ve found your passion, you want to help people find the courage to chase theirs. I’ve witnessed lives gone too soon. If you want it, go for it. Because we’re all going to die. Leave the greatest legacy you can. And when you think of your grandchildren telling their children about you, don’t you want to have the image of shiny wide eyes in your mind? Do something worth being proud over. God bless.

 

Now playing Toby Keith’s American Soldier. This song makes me cry every time. Don’t mind my sniffles.

 

All my love,
Cynth