Writing and Reading with Cynthia Martin

I am working on updating my book, researching, writing and reading. I also spent some time looking at places I can offer it for sale.  I ran into "smashbooks" and they asked me to participate in a written interview.  I thought you might like to read the answer just get to know me a bit better.

Tonight I will be hosting Kelly McCausey on my Facebook @cynthiamartinonline be sure to check it out.

I hope you enjoy learning more about who I am, how I write and what I read.

Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?

Not sure I remember the first story I ever read, but I remember the first book that had an impact on me. It was called “Black Like Me”.  I lived in a very small town in central lower Michigan. I did not know anyone who was black.  I was and still, today question how we can separate people by the color of skin. I couldn't put the book down.

What do you read for pleasure? 

Historical Romance, Biographies, Christian living books, Business Books, Psychology books, Newspapers, Magazines, Cookbooks, and junk mail, basically everything except horror or fantasy.

What is your e-reading device of choice?

My cell phone because it’s always with me. So I am never without anything to read.

What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?

Telling stories, telling my story through written blog posts or videos. My writing and read is 90% centered around helping someone solve a problem.

Describe your desk.

Today my desk is covered, but it usually very neat I like organization, however, we just moved in and not everything is put away as of yet.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?

I grew up and spent the first 38 years basically in the same small town in Central Michigan (one small detour for 9 months to Lansing Michigan). We had one stop light.  When I grew up we could only get three television stations and I lived in the country. So I had to find things to occupy me.  I am an introvert largely and I love to think. So as I grew up I watched people and what kind of life they had, I wondered about people I didn't know what they were doing and where they were going and why.  I was pretty sheltered and didn't have a ton of outside influences so I wondered about life outside of the small sphere I lived in.    All of the former influenced me to ask a ton of questions, and as I grew I realized that is there is always more.

Asking questions and attempting to answer them. And the thought there is always more is reflected in everything I do.

When did you first start writing?

I started writing journals and prayers to God. Then I wrote my story first to help me heal and see the progress that I had made. Secondly, I realized what I had experienced and learned could help others about 18 years ago.

What's the story behind your latest book?

My latest book isn't finished yet. It's called "Be Angry".  The title expresses its topic yet I look at the value of anger. What we can learn from it and how to process it in a healthy way.

What motivated you to become an indie author?

I don't want what I say to be edited, I want to express my thoughts my way so I chose to be an indie author or self-published.

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

Writing is something lets me put thought to a page and then to action. It helps me order my thinking and problem solve.

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

Hanging out with my sweet husband, reading, visiting my adult children and the smartest, greatest grandchildren in the world.  We attend Church, I teach courses, I am a mentor, I speak at events.

How do you discover the eBooks you read?

Recommendations usually from a book I just read.  An author I like or after I've searched for something and a book comes up and the title gets me. I have bought books because I like the title.  I buy books  (eBooks and printed) everywhere.

What is your writing process?

For big projects, (solving a problem) I gather research and I just write, not in any order.  Then I print it out, cut it up by topic and put the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle moving them around until they fit the best way I think they should.

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

Helping others become who they were created to be.

What are your five favorite books, and why?

My first book is the Bible because it contains the answers. It's like the answer book to life's tests.  Another great book is “Hinds Feet in High Places”, Hannah Hurnard or “The Search for Significance by Robert McGee.  “The Messianic Church Arising” by Robert Heidler and last probably my favorite after the Bible “The Final Quest”, by Rick Joyner

 

If you have not read the books I listed as five of my favorites click the links below and get your copy now. Now to be upfront I am an Amazon affiliate and I will receive a commission.

“Hinds Feet in High Places” Hannah Hurnard click here: click here

“The Search for Significance” by Robert McGee. click here: click here

“The Messianic Church Arising” by Robert Heidler click here: click here

“The Final Quest” by Rick Joyner click here: click here

I am always available by email cynthia@dlmm.org.