Cynthia Ogren's Blog: Midnight Missives by Cynthia Ogren, page 2

June Blog: Interview of Thriller Author Mathew Peters

            



One of the goals of Midnight Missives is to introduce you to some of the wonderfully interesting people I’ve had the privilege to meet along my journey in life. In my current incarnation as an author, I’ve become friends with many talented and creative authors, poets, and publishing industry insiders. One of my favorites—and my first guest blogger—is novelist Matthew Peters.


Matthew is the author of The Brothers’ Keepers (MuseItUp Publishing) and Conversations Among Ruins (All Things that Matter Press), widely available online. He’s currently working on the much-anticipated sequel to The Brothers’ Keepers.

Rather than use a typical blog format, I chose to interview Matthew because he’s far too humble to to toot his own uber-talented horn. Yet you’ll see through his answers what makes him so special. He is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted writers I’ve met—or read. Matthew’s Hemingwayesque prose (in its ability to be concise, yet gorgeously descriptive) keeps me glued to his storylines, eagerly turning pages! His command of the language rivals any celebrated author, and he’s a true master of story structure.  And to top it off, Matthew is one of the nicest men I’ve ever met. Humble, multi-faceted, extraordinarily gifted, and generous: these ingredients add up to a wonderfully interesting novelist and and an even better human being. Without further adieu, I give you Matthew Peters:


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Tell us a bit about yourself and what you are currently working on or promoting.

I am a recovering academic, who turned to the world of fiction writing about a decade ago. I have two books out: The Brothers’ Keepers, a religious-political thriller, and a work of literary fiction called Conversations Among Ruins.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write thrillers and literary fiction. I feel like my creativity is fulfilled by writing both genre and literary fiction.

What sets you apart from other authors in your genre?

The amount of research that goes into my books, and the quality of book I try to give my readers.

Do you have an agent and/or publisher, or are you self-published?

I have two publishers. MuseItUp Publishing handles the religious thriller(s) and All Things That Matter Press publishes Conversations Among Ruins.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

My biggest piece of advice would be not to rush into shopping for an agent or a publisher. Don’t give into a case of premature querying or shopping your manuscript around before it is ready to go. Have your manuscript professionally edited before submitting.

What are your three favorite books?

Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and Dead Souls

Who is your favorite author and why?

Dostoevsky because of his psychological and philosophical depth

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on the next Nicholas Branson novel (i.e., the one that comes after The Brothers’ Keepers).

If you could have a conversation with one person living or dead whom would it be and why?

The historical Jesus. It would answer so many questions.

What are you currently reading?

Frankenstein

What makes good writing?

Good writing is a good story well told. Anything less is substandard.

Is there a theme/message underlying your book(s) that you hope comes across?

Don’t follow others blindly. Form your own opinions and establish your own way of doing things. These are often the most effective means of achieving anything worthwhile.

With all the demands of an author, how do you keep sane?

Sane. I once came across that word in a novel. I had to look it up.

If you could be any character in literature, whom would you choose to be?

Any fictional character, whose story is made into a movie, and who plays the love interest of any fictional character acted by Scarlett Johansson.

Has reading a book ever changed your life? If yes, which one and how?

The philosophical works of Marx & Engels, as well as the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would it be called?

Don’t Try this at Home

Have you had to make sacrifices for your writing, and if so, what are they?

No, writing has actually saved my life on more than one occasion.

What obstacles, if any, have you encountered in being a writer?

Only those I have put it my own way, like the demon of perfectionism.

What do you like best/least about writing?

I like the research the best. I like the messiness of the process of writing the least.

Do you remember the first book that had a strong impact on you? If so, what was it, and how did it affect you?

I think the first book that had a strong impact on me was Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The rest of the books in the series affected me as well, especially the portrayal of a strong familial bond. It was something I desperately wanted growing up, but never did find.

At what age did you develop a love of writing? At what point in your life did you decide to become a professional writer?

I developed a love of writing early on. But I did not decide to become a professional writer until 2010.

How would you describe your style of writing?

Succinct. It is descriptive, yet economical.

What are your thoughts on the current climate of today’s publishing experience?

The current climate of today’s publishing experience is a nightmare. The market is saturated with (mostly) self-published books of poor quality that muddy the waters for writers truly devoted to the craft of writing. The self-publishing revolution is therefore not without deleterious consequences. Of course, traditional publishing and smaller press publishing suffer from serious defects as well. Too little money is given to the author in standard contracts, making writing for a living tenuous at best. I think writers need to form a union and demand that conditions change.

Are excellent writers born to the craft, or can they be taught?

I believe you have to be born with a basic aptitude for writing, and then you can learn how to do it better over time and with much practice.

Would you rather be discovered and lauded as an icon of literature after your death or be a moderately successful author (among many) in your lifetime?

I’d rather be lauded as a literary icon after my death. I tend to go to extremes; mediocrity never appealed to me.

Which author would you give credit to for shaping your style of writing?

Ernest Hemingway

Would you consider yourself a prolific reader? How many books would you guess you’ve read in your lifetime?

I would consider myself a prolific reader. I’ve read thousands of books in my lifetime.

What themes or occurrences from your daily life bleed over into your writing?

That’s a hard question. I think my struggles with alcohol and depression bleed over into my writing.

How do you approach cover art?

My publishers handled the cover art for my books. I had some input, but the specifics were left to them.

If you could pick a perfect setting to write in, what would it be? Describe it, please.

A mountain cabin with a lake nearby

Here are Mathew’s social media links and links to purchase his books.

Mathew Peters’ Website/Blog:  www.matthewpetersbooks.com

Twitter: @MatthewPeters65

Mathew Peters on Facebook

                      Conversations Among Ruins:                                                The Brothers’ Keepers:

                              

 • Amazon Paperback • Amazon Kindle                            • Amazon • Barnes & Noble • MuseItUp Publishing

• B&N Nook • All Things That Matter Press Paperback

THANKS MATHEW!

I’d like to thank Matthew for consenting to be the first guest of Midnight Missives. If you have any questions or comments for Matthew, please post them in the comments section below. One lucky commenter will win an eBook of one of Matthew’s wonderful thrillers! But for those who don’t win the giveaway, do yourself a favor and pick up one of his novels (widely available online). You’ll have won far more than a free eBook, and you’ll thank me for introducing you to this incredibly talented writer.
 
Thanks for stopping by, tribe. Enjoy these summer days and see you in July! ❤️



~Cynthia

May Blog: The Science of Creativity: Are Creatives Born or Taught?

            


I ran across an article the other day that surprised me, yet confirmed what many of us artistic types have always suspected: that there’s a link between highly creative people and mental illness. But the further implications of the cited studies prove even more profound!

“Secrets of the Creative Brain” (The Atlantic), by psychiatrist and neuroscientist Nancy C. Andreasen, (see full article) details the doctor’s decades of study on mental illness and creativity. She shares what she and other scientists have discovered about where genius comes from, whether it’s dependent on high IQ, and why mental illness so often accompanies it.

What does this have to do with creatives being born or taught, you ask? Bear with me, and I promise you’ll be as astounded as I was. Andreasen’s article is lengthy and a bit clinical, so after some preliminary background, I’ll break it down into key points and add some of my own insights.

Although Dr. Andreasen has spent most of her career studying the neuroscience of mental illness, more recently, she has focused on the science of genius and the elements that produce highly creative brains. Specifically, the two following questions fuel her research: How do nature and nurture play into the quandary of why some people suffer from mental illness while others—like close relatives—do not. And why are/were so many of the world’s greatest creative geniuses more afflicted with mental illness than the general population?

Andreasen’s ongoing study grew out of the work of earlier pioneers such as Cesare Lombroso: Francis Galton; Havelock Ellis; and Lewis M. Terman, a Stanford psychologist who developed the IQ test. From Terman’s empiric, extensive study (1920s), scientists learned that high IQ does not predict high levels of creativity, even though the myth of the highly intelligent creative brain persists today. None of the participants in his study won any major awards (like the Pulitzer) for creativity, and few contributed creatively to society. Subsequent research studies confirmed Terman’s conclusion that high IQ does not predict high creativity. What they found, instead, was that highly creative people are generally pretty smart, but above a certain point, intelligence doesn’t have much of an effect on creativity. An IQ of 120 is considered sufficient for the creative genius.

In further studies, Andreasen hypothesized the link between mental illness and high creativity, using distinguished writers from the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop (the most famous creative-writing program in the U.S) and creative legends with mental illness in their families: James Joyce, Bertrand Russell, Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, Kurt Vonnegut, Albert Einstein, and others. She not only confirmed Termen’s findings but also found that 80% of her subjects had suffered some type of mood disturbance in their life, compared to 30% of the control group. The connection between mood disorder and creativity was obvious. She also realized that many of these writers had creative relatives in other fields such as visual arts, chemistry, dance, mathematic, and architecture—and that creative geniuses often had close relatives with mental illness. Creativity tends to run in families, as does mental illness.

Andreasen’s study answered some questions, but raised even more provocative ones: Are writers were prone to mood disorders because of the lonely, introspective nature of the profession? How much of creativity is nature versus nurture? Why does creativity run in families? And if so, what component gets transferred? Is there a difference in creativity between scientists and artisans? She was astounded by what she discovered through MRI and PET studies. I’ll summarize her preliminary findings, highlight the key points, and add some fascinating corollary implications.

Andreasen’s creative subjects (scientists and artisans) and their relatives have a higher rate of mental illness than the control group. They also tend to have one or more close relative with schizophrenia. Other typical mental illnesses include: depression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder.


Highly creative people are better at making associations and connections—at recognizing relationships. They see things that others in the normal population can’t see. They “think outside the box” and are able to see the bigger scope of things.


The association cortices in the brains of highly creative individuals become extremely active during rest. This holds true for both artists and scientists. (which brings into question the wisdom of forcing students to choose between the arts and sciences). When flashes of brilliance strike, they are often triggered by long stretches of preparation, and gestation—and they hit while the mind is at rest. This speaks volumes on the importance of relaxation for both adults and children. Creative people need free time to dream and “veg out” in order for the association cortices to produce flashes of creative inspiration. Now I know why I get hit with brilliant insights or perfect narrative phrases while I’m listening to the radio and driving the car!


Creatives work much harder than normal people, probably because they enjoy their work so much!


Creativity runs in families and takes various forms. These families place great value on education and learning, so nurture obviously plays a role here too.


Other factors contributing to creativity probably have to do with personality, specifically the following: an adventurous, exploratory nature; risk-taking; persistence; obliviousness to the fact that their ideas are unique; feelings of excitement and joy about their gift; the desire to teach themselves instead of participating in traditional education; diverse interests in several fields of study; a tendency to see the big picture.

Do you see yourself in this picture? I do. While I wouldn’t consider myself a creative genius, I certainly fit the criteria. I undoubtedly fall on the spectrum somewhere. Finally, science is confirming what most of us have already secretly surmised: 1. There’s a fine line between creative genius and mental illness. 2. The evidence strongly suggests that heredity plays a vital role in creative genius, but that environment nurtures the creative soul, as well. For writers, this implies that we may be able to learn the craft of writing through education, but we’ll never become masters of literature without a genetic predisposition. And the same probably applies to the other creative fields.

The iconic mad scientist and the crazy creative aren’t just anecdotes or fodder for snappy memes anymore; they’re either genetically predisposed creative geniuses, people suffering from mental illness—or a combination of both. The line of separation is thin, apparently. Throughout history, creative masters were thought to be odd or, worse, mad. I love Nelson Mandela’s wonderful quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” And visionary creatives are always the ones who do it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic! Share your opinions and anecdotes in the section below, and as always—just to prove how much I adore my readers—I’ll send a signed copy of Beautiful Monsters (with matching bookmark) to a randomly drawn commenter. Also, if you enjoyed this blog post, I’d appreciate a “share” on your social media pages. Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading and see you in June, tribe.

~Cynthia

April Blog … So You Want to Be an Author, Eh?

      

I recently read an article in The Guardian that claimed the number one most desired job in Britain is author, according to a YouGov poll. In fact, 60% of Brits desired the authorly life—even topping movie star. I suppose the meteoric success of E L James (Fifty Shades of Grey), Stephanie Meyer (the Twilight series), and J. K. Rowling (the Harry Potter series) has something to do with this poll result. And I bet if polls were taken in most other countries, the results would be similar. Suddenly, being an author is the cool gig!

If you’re a writer like me, trying to sell a book, you’re probably snickering and thinking that, indeed, 60% of people actually ARE authors because of the record number of people hawking books online and at the various social networking sites. But I find that most fledgling authors—and the public, in general—have a skewed notion of what the job of scribe entails. Many people think we’re enigmatic, intelligent oddballs who set our own hours, stare off in space, throw down a story in a month, then rake in the cash as we’re lauded at book signings and interviews. Nothing could be further from the truth! Well, … maybe the enigmatic oddball label fits since we do loiter in the dusty corners of life. lol This snicker-worthy quote by Jules Renard speaks to the possible lure of the occupation: “Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.” It’s true!

Being an author is hard, tribe! There’s so much more to it than committing a story to the laptop. All those exquisite passages that give us goosebumps and make our hearts clench don’t just fly off the tip of an author’s fingers. The fiction writer must first master plot, structure, character, setting, mood, point of view, pacing, subtext, theme, description, dialogue, ad infinitum. These literary elements work together to create the magic of great prose. Add to that a working knowledge of grammar, format, and genre specifications, and the learning curve is high. It’s an arduous, exhausting task that writers continually pursue throughout their careers. It took me over three years to turn Beautiful Monsters into a book I’d be proud to put my name on.

If you don’t believe me on the strenuous nature of a career in publishing, consider this quote by George Orwell (often rephrased and expressed by other icons of literature as well): “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon which one can neither resist nor understand.” And he’s right!

Writing one’s first manuscript is perhaps the most idyllic time in an author’s entire career. There’s no real pressure except to create. But after that, things get dicey! I remember well the first time my pink bubble of naivety was popped by a savvy editor who gave a workshop in my town. He looked out at our inspired faces and said, “You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than of having your first manuscript picked up by a publisher.” WHAAAAAAT??? Pop, pop, pop. (That’s the sound of our naivety bubbles bursting.) He further crushed our hopes by telling us that writing the manuscript was the easy part of a career in publishing—just the tip of what would be required of us with long hours of promotion and social networking. By the end of the seminar, our wide-eyed, hopeful expressions had been tempered with a dose of harsh reality.

To say the least, I was miffed by the editor’s dire pronouncements, but I now realize he was preparing us for the disappointment later when rejection notices and dashed dreams would land in our laps. Nor do I want to discourage anyone who loves to write. You see, writing is not a choice; it’s as necessary as oxygen for some of us. First and foremost, it’s an ART, secondly, a business. Just know that you probably won’t become rich, famous, or successful with your books. Writing rarely pays the bills. And besides, there are much easier routes to those goals. But for those of you born to the craft, an author’s life is the most difficult, demanding, thrilling pursuit of ART you’ll ever know.

To soften the blow of bursting any pink bubbles—and to show you how much I “luvs” ya, I’ll send a signed copy of Beautiful Monsters to one of you (randomly chosen) who comments below. And if you find this blog informative or interesting, I’d appreciate it if you’d share the love. Happy reading and writing, tribe!

~Cynthia

March Blog … The Reluctant Blogger

     

Welcome to the first official post from my new blog, Midnight Missives! As the blog is in its infancy, so is my blog page. The lovely people at DREAMCO will be working with me to improve the set-up, composition, and appearance of the page as time goes by, so please consider me “Under Construction.” I do have a comment section at the bottom of the page, and as always, I’d love to hear your ideas and remarks. However, the most glaring oversight at the moment is my lack of a share button! We writers live by reviews and shares, so I’d be grateful to any of you who would copy and paste the URL of this blog page into Facebook or any of the social networking sites to share my content. Nothing like Stone Age blogging, right? lol

And yes, those of you who know me are rolling your eyes and remembering my protests of “I’m a writer, not a blogger! I’m too busy to blog!” As I sit here and eat crow, I’ll explain my change of heart and fill you in on what to expect from the blog—and why you should spend your valuable time listening to me blather on about everything imaginable.

But first, let me explain the title, Midnight Missives. As you’re probably aware, “missive” is just a snobby word for “message,” “memo,” “letter,”  or “note.” As I’m prone to word crushes, “missive” is my current heartthrob. And beyond the fact that Midnight Missives holds great alliterative value for a word nerd like me, much of my writing happens at night—often after midnight.

Now, why did I finally decide to write a blog? Mmmm … this crow isn’t bad, especially with picante sauce! Several reasons: 1. Common wisdom among the Grand Poobahs of the publishing world dictates that writers and authors need to write a blog to “get noticed” and to gather a following. Since I rarely follow common wisdom, that’s not a primary reason why I decided to blog—but it did influence my decision.2. Probably the biggest contributor to my decision to blog is that—having been through the process of writing, publishing, and marketing a book—I’ve gained lots of knowledge that I’d like to share with those of you on the same path, my tribe. Of course, I have much more to learn, but as I do, I will share it here in Midnight Missives. A blog is the perfect forum to communicate in depth with like-minded people, so I’ll be delighted to learn from you, the readers, as well. 3. Blogging stimulates the mind, flexes the writing muscle, and forces the writer to keep a schedule, even when promotion or research directs the writer’s attention elsewhere. 4. Blogging allows the writer to expound on a given topic, which is difficult to do in other forums on social media. 5. As a blogger, I get to share news about Beautiful Monsters and future books, upcoming events, and the minutia of my crazy, chaotic life. When you’re Queen of your blog, anything goes!

Now that you know why I’m diving into the blog pool, what do I offer you here at Midnight Missives? Well, I hope to offer you thought-provoking posts about various aspects of the literary world. I’ll also feature guest bloggers—writers, creatives, and industry professionals—with interesting lives or viewpoints. I’ll either interview them, or they will entertain you with an guest blog post. Some months, I’ll write book or film reviews, expound on grammar gremlins, or just blather about whatever obsesses me on a given day. And finally, I’ll host fun contests, give away signed copies of Beautiful Monsters and book swag, and keep you updated on any upcoming book signings or events. But mostly, I hope to pique your curiosity about the writing life … or just make you laugh.

So I hope you’ll stop by (around) the first of each month and join the conversation in the comments section. Also, please feel free to send me any questions or topics you’d like to see explored here. As always, I love hearing from you, tribe! And to prove it, I’ll send a signed copy of Beautiful Monsters to one (randomly chosen) person who comments below this post. See you in April! It’ll be worth stopping by just to see if I’ve come out of the Stone Age yet. lol

~Cynthia

Beautiful Monsters Buzz

•  “Cynthia Ogren has raised the bar with Beautiful Monsters! As both a best-selling author and a publisher, I have gone into many literary worlds, into the throngs of numerous genres and I can truly say that Beautiful Monsters is one of the best summer sizzlers around. Erotic Romance is delightfully twisted and turned in this sexily created novel. Beautiful Monsters is not like other novels of this genre that I have read. This novel has a beautifully crafted foundation of plot, scenery and characters that is so exquisite and so precise that the very definition of being a page turner wouldn’t do it justice. I would highly recommend Beautiful Monsters to all readers everywhere. I am truly looking forward to a sequel!” E.K.

•  “First, thank you for giving me the absolute pleasure of reading this beautiful, heart-felt, give-take piece of beautiful literature. Your words, simply made me feel like I was in the rooms with them! I loved it. Love, lust, complicated lives, and yes, I believe in love at first sight, and well worth the fight! I didn’t want it to end!” S.M.

•  “I love this book so far…and that’s only the first chapter…really funny. Riley…lol…and that tongue thing…very cute….Where do I write a review?” R.W.

•  “Absolute page turner, of Love, Lust, & Imagination. So well written, I couldn’t put it down! Loved It!!! Way to Go Cynthia!!!” S.M.

•  “The characters in this book were so flawed but yet so likable. Cynthia did a wonderful job of drawing you into the lives of each character. Riley and Keller are the main characters in this book. They must each face their own demons and past while trying to pave a path for a future. I look forward to more from Cynthia in the future.” A.B.

•  “Simply amazing book! I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I don’t normally read romance books, but this one is by far one of the best I’ve ever read. I would compare it to 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.” T.C.

•  “Look out Hollywood! Your ears must be burning!!”

•  “This novel from Cynthia Ogren is absolutely amazing. It really gives you the sense of being the paparazzi as you read page by page, looking into these brilliantly crafted characters’ lives from the outside.”   G.T.

•  “Quick, get the top Hollywood movie producers in a room and let’s see them fight over this script!” J. S.

•  “I am an avid reader who enjoys a bit of scandal in the things that I read. Beautiful Monsters hooked me up to a transformer, slammed down the switch and poured on the juice! This work energized me and threw me into a world I never realized could be so intense.” S. T.

•  “I have been an author for twenty plus years and all I can say about Beautiful Monsters is wow! Why couldn’t I have written this one? Guaranteed to be a best seller!!”

•  “A headlong plunge into a dark and sensual universe…” T.H.

•  “Beautiful people, Hollywood, romantic, sexy…I loved it!” J.W.

•  “Spicy good time! Sexy summer read!” H.O.

•  “Great story! Easy to read. Fantastic sentence structure! Paced well. A good mix of characters! Great job of keeping the characters real and easy to empathize with and love from the get-go. Well done!…Pivotal scenes are clear and well executed. I loved the humor, and the placement of it. It’s perfect, and never inappropriate.…The development of the relationship, and pacing of it, are great. Excellent conflict, and the conflict resolution is timed very well.” Z.B.

•  “I enjoyed the book very much. I literally couldn’t stop reading it until it was finished.” M.P.

 

Contest … Beautiful Monsters Holiday Bonanza!

Santa Cyn and Elf Jaimie hosted a fabulous contest on my Facebook Author’s Page (Cynthia Ogren Books) to thank all my friends and readers for their support. The contest started Friday, November 28th (Black Friday) and ended Sunday, December 6th. The winners were drawn by Elf Jaimie on Monday, December 7th. And yes, I said “winners”! There were ten lucky winners and ten fabulous prizes.  It was open to U.S. AND international participants. Thank you to all who participated in this contest, and congratulations to the winners! Go to Cynthia Ogren Books on Facebook and please give me a “Like”!

 

BlogTalkRadio Interview November 10th… You can listen to the whole interview any time!

 

On Monday, November 10th I chatted with Jaimie Hope, host of Everyone Has a Story on BlogTalkRadio. We discussed my recent release, Beautiful Monsters, as well as a whole host of bookish things. I gave away a great gift package that included the following: $25.00 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of Beautiful Monsters, and a matching bookmark and magnet. Congratulations to the winner… Pamela J. Stuard of Toledo, Ohio. It was a fun, interesting show, and we had a great time! Check it out here: BlogTalkRadio.

Reviews

5-Star Review By Reader on Amazon.com

(January 2015)

Not Your Mama’s Romance Novel
“It has been a few years since I’ve read anything in the romance/erotica genre. After a while, it seemed that each story followed a predictable pattern. Not so with this gem. Beautiful Monsters is truly unique – sweet but with just the right edginess to make it an excellent read. Authentic, three-dimensional characters set among Hollywood glitterati will have readers panting for a sequel!!” Andanver

5-Star Review By Pamela Stuard for Readers’ Favorite
(November 2014)

“A must read!!! Riley Rinaldi believes she is cursed. Her beautiful looks makes her feel has if that is the only reason why men want her. Until she meets actor Keller Cross. She and Keller become as one but their relationship is very difficult because Keller is still married. Riley and Keller both have a past, but can they both overcome their past and move forward? Does Kellers wife Claudia get Keller back and does she keep Keller and Riley apart for good? You’ll just have to read it.”

5-Star Review By Reader on Amazon.com

(December 2014)

“Well written. I am only a few chapters into the story, but have enjoyed every minute thus far.” C.H.

5-Star Review By Reader on Amazon.com

(December 2014)

A fun book that I simply could not put down!
“What a fun book to read! I don’t normally read erotic books and this book surprised me as I enjoyed the book very much (and learned a few things along the way!). Could not put this book down as the author has a way of ending a chapter in that way that you just have to turn the page to find out what is going to happen next in the lives of these two very complex and interesting characters! Certainly hope Ms. Ogren is working in a sequel as I am very anxious to find out what happens to Riley and Keller in the next phase of their lives and it will not be the cut and dried “living in a house with children and a white picket fence”! This books also shows that money and beauty does not buy happiness although most of us in the general population would certainly like to give that life a try!” P.C.

5-Star Review By Ruth Renwick on Amazon.com

(November 2014)

Loved this little novel! Romantic Erotica?
“Being a retired teacher, I’m a bit of a prude but was laughing out loud reading erotic but hilarious passages. I was pleased with not an over abundance of characters and soon had not only Riley and Keller (Killer?) but the supporting cast clarified easily with apt descriptions, in an amusing introductory plot. In the beginning, embarrassed, successful, Riley, the lead character, a makeup artist in the movie set Beautiful Monsters, with her emotional baggage and her lust for Keller, the Hollywood star, is deeply confounded by this lust for this man who turns out to have a ton of his own psychological baggage, much of it stemming from his bisexual proclivities and strong drive. Their characters are gradually revealed through their sexual magnetism. Other characters provide interesting direction and support to the story as well in this tale of Hollywood with Beautiful People being Monsters underneath while the metaphorical vampire movie they are making involves Keller and Riley’s dance being center stage as it is behind the scenes. Layers upon layers of metaphor and innuendo leave the reader expecting the evil steamy side of this story to prevail. I was fanning my face when Riley as Dominatrix does her dirty on him. This old lady skimmed those pages and shut out the light early that night. Curiosity kept me turning the pages, however, as this book is a well honed piece of literature with some really unique twists in the plot around this ambivalent relationship. She doesn’t really want to do the dance but he does and can be very convincing. The vampire metaphor runs throughout leaving one feel drained at times when their love is completely sapped out, seemingly. Not only in the vampire art form but in their lives they dance a tragic dance of love. I was surprised as the pace quickened at a climatic turning point of brilliant writing. This changed everything and the dance around evil and good behaviors and actions left me wondering right up to the last chapter with a real connection to these two characters, now, what would become of them. A very satisfying ending. I hope Cynthia Ogren has started her second book!” R.W.

5-Star Review By Avid Reader on Amazon.com

(October 26, 2014)

Hollywood Like You’ve Never Seen It Before!
“I received this book for an honest review and liked it so much that I had to purchase an official copy. Before reading a word, I checked out reviews and noticed this book was being put into different genres. I wondered why, so I read the book and now have an answer. This book truly does have something for readers of every genre, over the age of 18.With that being said, this book is predominantly a Romance. It is full of drama, intrigue, plot twists, and steamy scenes. It also has something unexpected, vampires. Okay, they may not play a major role or in the way you’ve come to expect, but they are there.

The main characters, Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross would probably get my vote for favorite literary couple. Although they are among the Hollywood elite, they are nothing at all like the way most of us envision the Hollywood community. They are flawed and don’t go out of their way to hide that fact. For that reason, I found them highly likable and became involved in their story.The writing flowed beautifully. There wasn’t one incident where I thought the story lagged or went too fast. The editing and formatting was spot on as well.

In case you couldn’t tell already, I loved this book. I am now anxiously awaiting the next book by Cynthia Ogren, which I hear is a sequel to Beautiful Monsters. I can’t wait!” A.R.

4-Star Review By Rene Averett for Readers’ Favorite
(October 2014)

“I am not really a fan of the romance genre and seldom read romance novels although I do like suspense romance and some paranormal romance. So, while I did enjoy the read of Cynthia Ogren’s Beautiful Monsters, I wasn’t totally engrossed in it. As a romance novel, it was a bit more of deviant sex than I like to read about but for those who enjoy this type of novel, it does hit some kinks. Ms. Ogren writes very well and has built strong characters. If a racy, sexy novel is your cup of tea or bedtime reading, then give this book a read.”

5-Star Review By Author and Publisher on Amazon.com

(September 2014)

“As both a best-selling author and a publisher, I have gone into many literary worlds, into the throngs of numerous genres and I can truly say that Beautiful Monsters is one of the best summer sizzlers around. Erotic Romance is delightfully twisted and turned in this sexily created novel. Beautiful Monsters is not like other novels of this genre that I have read. This novel has a beautifully crafted foundation of plot, scenery and characters that is so exquisite and so precise that the very definition of being a page turner wouldn’t do it justice. I would highly recommend Beautiful Monsters to all readers everywhere. I am truly looking forward to a sequel!” E.E.

5-Star Review By Manta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite
(August 2014)

“Beautiful Monsters by Cynthia Ogren revolves around makeup artist Riley Rinaldi. Riley Rinaldi is envied by many. She has it all – wealth, beauty and sex appeal. But underneath her shining personality is a lonely woman whom many don’t know. Her life is devoid of love and she feels very lonely. At this juncture, heartthrob Keller Cross comes to the set of Beautiful Monsters and Riley is attracted to him in a big way. What follows is an awakening of her dormant feelings and their wild passion and intense love spill onto the set of the movie. The passion of these two characters dominates the theme, along with the scenes where they fight their own demons while trying to create a future.

The author has portrayed Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross beautifully with all their flaws and shortcomings. The reader will definitely fall in love with these two broken people. The grandeur and fake world of Hollywood has been captured well here through the plot. The glamour, intrigue, wild passion, the flawed characters and the movie set give the much required pace to the story. Readers are swept away as they are pulled into a world of jealousy, love, hatred and greed.

The story is wonderfully executed, making it a compelling and satisfying read. There is a bit of humor that is laced throughout, which adds to the lighter moments in this otherwise intense plot. The setting in Hollywood and the steamy and erotic scenes make it a page turner. It has all the ingredients of an interesting and exciting romance making it a compelling read.”

5-Star Review from Random Reviews – August 23, 2014
Prepare to fall in love with Riley, Keller, and this book.

“Beautiful Monsters is an irreverent romp into the entitlement, complexities, and heartaches of the Hollywood elite. Riley Rinaldi, makeup artist for the stars, collides heart-on with sexual deviant movie star Keller Cross. Cynthia Ogren brings to life these two beautiful, yet broken, people, letting you crawl into their souls to experience their joys and heartaches first hand. The story is well-written, well-plotted, and emotionally satisfying, with light humor scattered amongst the darkness. I wholeheartedly recommend Riley’s and Keller’s story. When you turn the last page, you may look at love and forgiveness a whole different way.”

5-Star Review By Kathryn Bennett for Readers’ Favorite
(August 2014)

“Beautiful Monsters by Cynthia Ogren takes us into the famous land of Tinsel Town, La La Land, Movie Capital of the World, Hollyweird, Gomorrah, Land of Broken Dreams, hell … also known as Hollywood. Once there, we meet the beautiful and talented Riley Rindaldi, envied by many for her life and her wealth. Sadly, her life is lonely and missing the one thing that everyone wants: love. Then the heartthrob of Hollywood, Keller Cross, swaggers onto the set of Beautiful Monsters and Riley finds herself unable to control herself. She and Keller come together in passion and right onto the stage of Hollywood fame and jealousy.

This book is wild and intense and brings a whole new level to the erotic romance game. Cynthia Ogren has created something that is well layered, intense, and hot and it will make you fall in love with the genre in a whole new way. I always wondered what it would be like to try to fall in love in Hollywood and, while this is fiction, it certainly gives us a look into what might befall a couple, from the attitudes to the egos and so much more. I have to say I enjoy Riley as a character; she is not perfect though she may seem to be on the outside. In truth, she is flawed like the rest of us and just trying to find someone who truly loves all of her. If you want to read what I feel is a new form of erotic romance, this is the book for you; it does not disappoint.”

5-Star Review By Faridah Nassozi for Readers’ Favorite
(August 2014)

“Riley’s love life had always been disastrous, to say the least. All her past relationships had ended up in one disaster after another and so she had sworn off relationships. While working as an executive makeup artist on the set of a movie, she found her relationship history repeating itself when she had a one-night stand with the star of the movie. The next day, she was the sole topic of gossip on the set, and as if that was not bad enough, her ex decided to join in the circus. But then she found herself working on the most handsome and charming man God has ever created, Keller – another star in the movie. It was clear from the start that Keller was interested in her and, much as she was interested, she told him that she did not date. But the chemistry between the two was so intense that they could not deny it so they decided to give it a try. But Keller had a soon to be ex-wife who did not want to let him go and a very dark secret that would scare even the most understanding of women. Riley’s emotional issues also did not help matters much.

Beautiful Monsters by Cynthia Ogren is a sad, dark and twisted but beautiful love story that touched the very bottom of my heart. What was most amazing is the way Cynthia Ogren brought out the emotions of the story in such a way that made me feel all the struggles of the characters, their desires, pains and the beautiful moments too. This enabled me to connect with them and understand their actions, whether right or wrong. I have never seen two people so wrong for each other and yet at the same time so right for each other, but the way Cynthia wrote the book made me see clearly why this was so. At times, I found myself rooting for them to make it and at other times fighting the need to scream at them to make up their minds already. And at some points I needed a tissue to wipe away the tears caused by the pain their love was bringing them. Beautiful Monsters is one hell of an emotional story and worthy of every single minute spent reading it.”

5-Star Review By Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite
(August 2014)

“Beautiful Monsters is a contemporary romance written by Cynthia Ogren. Riley Rinaldi is a makeup artist working in Hollywood. When we first meet her, she’s trying to sneak out of a lead actor’s trailer on the set. Stephen had a lovely accent and played a very sexy vampire, but Riley realized after the fact that she was attracted to the character he played, not the star. Riley’s had a hard time romantically. She chooses the wrong lovers and is still smarting over the last unhappy relationship which ended when an irate wife she hadn’t known about burst in on the scene. Ignoring the looks and good-natured ribbing from her friends and co-workers, Riley finds herself attracted once again to another, older actor named Keller Cross, who is quite irresistible and has assured her that his marriage is definitely over, but it’s so very hard for Riley to learn to trust someone again.

Cynthia Ogren’s contemporary romance, Beautiful Monsters, is a well-written and enjoyable story. While it does contain some scenes that could be considered steamy and mildly erotic, they are tastefully written, and I did not find them at all offensive. Riley and Keller are marvelous characters, both of whom are flawed and very human, even if they are both physically beautiful. They each have issues that work to make them fully defined in the reader’s eyes, and their struggles with trust and acceptance keep up the dramatic suspense. There’s also a wonderful supporting cast of characters in Keller’s and Riley’s friends, especially Bebe and Riley’s adopted mom, Carmen, the housekeeper. Beautiful Monsters is quite a good read. I found myself reluctant to put it down until I had finished the last page. It’s highly recommended.”

Comments by ARC Readers
(August 2014)


“Look out Hollywood! Your ears must be burning!!”


“This novel from Cynthia Ogren is absolutely amazing. It really gives you the sense of being the paparazzi as you read page by page, looking into these brilliantly crafted characters’ lives from the outside.”   G. Thomas


“Quick, get the top Hollywood movie producers in a room and let’s see them fight over this script!” J. Spidel


“I am an avid reader who enjoys a bit of scandal in the things that I read. Beautiful Monsters hooked me up to a transformer, slammed down the switch and poured on the juice! This work energized me and threw me into a world I never realized could be so intense.” S. Terranova


“I have been an author for twenty plus years and all I can say about Beautiful Monsters is wow! Why couldn’t I have written this one? Guaranteed to be a best seller!!”


Review of Cynthia Ogren’s Beautiful Monsters


by Author, Mathew Peters (July 2014)

“If you’re like me and haven’t read a romance erotica book, take everything you think you know about the genre and set it to one side. Now, pick up a copy of Cynthia Ogren’s Beautiful Monsters and let the wild ride begin.

It would be easy to focus on the excellent pacing, the well-drawn characters, and the intriguing plot of this book, all of which will fully satisfy devotees of romance erotica. But I’d like to focus on other aspects of Beautiful Monsters, those that appealed to me and led me to read compulsively this wonderfully executed and beautifully told story.

Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross are likable, yet extraordinarily flawed characters. Their journey into and out of love has all the to-hell-and-back-again qualities associated with a glamorous Hollywood production. Oh wait…it IS a Hollywood production. But the fact that the setting is Tinseltown should not lead one to think the characters are shallow and two-dimensional, because all of Ogren’s characters come with fully rounded personalities, idiosyncrasies, and yes, lots of baggage.

What is less obvious is that the setting and the Hollywood production around which all of the action centers, the vampiric “Beautiful Monsters,” serves as a metaphor for Lala Land itself, and for the people which populate its palatial houses and its slapdash sets, its raunchy clubs and seedy tattoo parlors. Beautiful on the outside, monstrous on the inside, the town’s inhabitants are consumed by jealousy, love, anger and greed.

But what Ogren unfolds against the reprehensible backdrop is a lyrical tale of love addiction, one that is intoxicating and breathtaking. The story grabs the reader in a passionate embrace and will not let go until the story is spent. The reader emerges fully satisfied, caring about the main characters, and eager to be swept away in another story from the mind and heart of this truly wonderful new storyteller.”

–Matthew Peters, author of The Brothers’ Keepers (MuseItUp Publishing) and Conversations Among Ruins (forthcoming through All Things That Matter Press).

5-Star Review By Pamela Stuard on Goodreads.com

(November 2014)

A must read!!!

“Riley Rinaldi believes she is cursed. Her beautiful looks makes her feel has if that is the only reason why men want her. Until she meets actor Keller Cross. She and Keller become as one but their relationship is very difficult because Keller is still married. Riley and Keller both have a past, but can they both overcome their and move forward? Does Keller’s wife Claudia get Keller back and does she keep Keller and Riley apart for good? You’ll just have to read it.”  P.S.

5-Star Review By Patrick Loughrey on Goodreads.com

(October 2014)

True love never runs smoothly…L.O.L.

“Beautiful Monsters is the perfect example of that well-known phrase in life. Beautiful Monsters is an awesome read. The storyline is perfect, as its keeps you totally hooked from start to finished to find out what happens at the end. Cynthia has shown great imagination and is an awesome author. The book is funny, exciting, easy to read and fast moving, and it take you on a roller coaster ride, as the storyline unfolds. The characters in the book are awesome, strong, funny, with a great sense of humor. I love this book and I recommend it as a must buy and a must read. You will love it! My rating is 10 out of 10. More books please Cynthia Ogren. I can’t wait till her next one comes out; it will be awesome.”  P.L.

4-Star Review By Kayti Nika Raet for Readers’ Favorite

(August 2014)

“In Beautiful Monsters, an erotic romance by Cynthia Ogren, Riley Rinaldi is a Hollywood make-up artist who feels that she’s cursed in love even though she seems to attract the obsessive attention of every male she meets. So when Keller, an actor in Hollywood’s latest vampire flick, shows some interest, Riley is initially very standoffish even though there is an undeniable attraction between them. They are both very passionate people and when their romance begins it’s white-hot, almost burning out of control as they constantly fight and make up. There is also the specter of Keller’s soon to be ex-wife that is driving a wedge in his and Riley’s torrid, BDSM-filled romance. She doesn’t love Keller but she loves his money and is willing to do anything to keep it all to herself. A wild ride of a novel, Beautiful Monsters by Cynthia Ogren is filled with surprising twists and turns for an unlikely couple crazy in love.

Beautiful Monsters by Cynthia Ogren is a quick read and, while it is a romance, it’s definitely no chick-lit with a navel-gazing heroine obsessing over shoes. Keller is quite the bad guy and the romance between them is very hot and volatile, so much so that I often found myself wondering if the two of them would survive until the end. Filled with an interesting cast of secondary characters, Beautiful Monsters is a very dark romance and might be the perfect choice for an adventurous reader looking for something a little extra in their romance novels.”

 

NEW Facebook Business Page! — October 9, 2014

My new Facebook business page is up and running. Stop by at the following link and give me a “like.” Cynthia Ogren Books Within in a few weeks I’ll be sponsoring a BIG Beautiful Monsters giveaway with great prizes. Stay tuned for updates!

Beautiful Monsters Video