Meet Cynthia Diamond | Paranormal Romance Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cynthia Diamond and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cynthia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always written as a hobby but never took it super seriously. It wasn’t until around 2013 that I decided to take the plunge. I was a costume design major and had worked in the field for a few years. But the stress of the job was taking its toll on my mental health, and personal life. So I left. And for a while, I felt adrift in what I wanted to do with my life. I had a day job that paid bills but wasn’t very fulfilling. I felt a bit like a failure. Then I entered a contest an author I adored held on her newsletter. We were asked to write the story of how we met our significant other. Unfortunately, I was a day late on entering but I sent the story in anyways saying “I know this is late to enter but I wanted to write this anwyay. Hope it’s entertaining at least! ” The very next day she emailed me back asking I was a published writer. After picking my jaw up off the floor I told her no. She responded with a very long letter on why I should go into writing and the ways to get started. It was all uphill from there. I never approached writing as a business plan or a lifelong goal. I sorta…fell into it. And thanks to the author who was nice enough to give me a heads up, I learned how to get started, what to do, and where to find other writers who also write the same genre I do. Now, seven books in, I’m actually building a carreer.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an award-winning paranormal romance author that writes for sassy nerds with a sharp sense of humor. I have so far written seven books, six in my series Wyrd Love and one in my trilogy Magical Husbandry. I adore combing my love of fantasy, romance, and geek culture to create stories that make people laugh, cry, and maybe get a little hot under the collar.

I am an indie author and trust me, that comes with a lot of hurdles. You pretty much are a one-man marching band. It’s tricky being your own publicist, marketing manager, accountant, social media guru, and to write a dang book on top of it all. Juggling that with a day job and relationships is a delicate balance. Yeah, I feel guilty sometimes not dedicating all of my time to writing but hey, a girl’s gotta eat! Some of the best advice I received to alleviate that guilt is to make your writing time sacred. It doesn’t have to be an eight-hour marathon or take up every second of your free time. Even if it’s only an hour, heck, even thirty minutes, that’s thirty minutes of YOUR time. And thirty minutes you have spent on your book. Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Endurance is key.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Usually, when one of my besties come to San Diego we make a trip to Old Town San Diego. I used to work down there in college and it’s become one of my favorite places. We make a stop at my favorite restaurant there, Creole Cafe then just tour the Waley House and El Canto Santo Cemetery. I’m a lover of the creepy. I also try to make a trip to Lost Cause Meadery for a drink (The mead there is amazing!) And if the weather is good, a stroll around Balboa Park is a must, especially the rose gardens. I’m a foodie so anyone who comes to visit me will be dragged to different restaurants. Yakitori Taisho in Clairemont is a must! Lidos in Lemon Grove is amazing comfort food for me too. And Baja Betty’s in Hillcrest has the best margaritas in my opinion.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely have to give a big shout-out to the Southern California Romance Writers guild. They are without a doubt the most supportive and encouraging group of writers I’ve had the privilege to hang out with. Without them, I wouldn’t even have known where to start, let alone have books published. It’s amazing finding that niche of people who share knowledge and cheer each other on. We’re like a great big family…that happens to write dirty books.

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Website: www.cynthiadiamondauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cinsdiamond/

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