Meet Cynthia Woolf

Please welcome Cynthia Woolf to the blog today. Cynthia writes, among other things, science fiction romance—my favorite sub-genre. She also writes western historicals.

Welcome, Cynthia, tell us about yourself. 

I’m married to the love of my life for the last seventeen years (almost) and have been together for the better part of 37 years.  It took us a long time to make up our minds.  LOL  I always say I chased him until he caught me. 

I’ve been writing toward publication since 1990 and decided that after all that time, self publishing was for me.  It’s been the best decision of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I agree about self publishing. My best decision, too. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

I started writing at age ten.  When I was graduating from high school I realized I couldn’t make a living as a writer and wasn’t trained to do anything so I headed to college and a degree in Accounting.

How long does it take you to write a book?

A book usually takes me a couple of months to write.  Less if the story flows out and more if I have to dig every word out of my brain.  Then the book has to go to editing.  From the time I start the book to the finished product is 3-4 months.

You are a very fast writer! What does your family think of your writing?

My family is very supportive of my writing.  My husband is one of my proofreaders.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 

I currently have out 10 books and 2 short stories.  My favorites are the Tame series, with Tame A Wild Heart as my most favorite.

How many hours a day do you spend writing? 

Between writing and promo, I spend about 16-18 hours a day in my office, in front of the computer, much to my husband’s chagrin.  90 % of that time is spent on promo.

I know promo is important so it’s a good thing you write fast. What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work? 

I want my readers to be entertained and to feel good after they are done reading.  I’m not trying to write the next ‘great American novel’.  I just want to entertain my readers and take them out of their everyday lives for a few hours.

Great answer. Tell us about your latest book.

My latest book is Heiress Bride.  It is a historical western romance.  In it Ella Davenport has been horribly disfigured in a carriage accident.  She cannot find a husband because of the disfigurement and decides to become a mail order bride.  The agency she works with, Matchmaker & Co, pairs her with a half Arapaho Indian man, named Nathan Ravenclaw.  Nathan had his own internal scars to deal with.  These two young people help each other heal.

Blurb for Heiress Bride

Heiress Ella Davenport survived a carriage accident that killed her father.  Her life saved in exchange for savage scars marring her beautiful face.  Her friends, socialites, showed their true colors, casting Ella aside like damaged goods and leaving her a social pariah. Even her wealth can’t buy her the kind of marriage she wants. Desperate to find a husband who can accept her despite her scars and, without knowing about her money, she seeks to become a mail order bride.  Matchmaker & Co. is her one chance to start over and leave the pain and betrayal far behind her.

Nathan Ravenclaw was run out of town by the father of the girl he was courting once he discovered Nathan’s Arapaho heritage. It didn’t matter that Nathan was a successful rancher, businessman, and a positive member of society.  The white community suddenly saw only a half-breed. Even his money couldn’t buy him a wife. That was ten years ago.   He moved and rebuilt everything that cold rancher once took from him.  He has it all...except a wife.  Matchmaker & Company promises to send him a woman willing to start a new life with him.  But Nathan's battered heart lacks the ability to trust. He longs for children, not romance.  His new bride, scarred and cast aside like himself, promises to be perfect for him.  Until he meets his mail order bride.  Fierce desire and an even more dangerous hope roar back to life within him.   Two things he swore never to indulge in again.

And love?  For these two battered souls, that's the biggest risk of all

Excerpt from Heiress Bride

She arrived in Denver on April 6, 1871.  A date she would forever remember as the start of her life.  It was almost like another birthday.

The weather was cold.  The wind rushed off the plains and collided with the mountains to the west, keeping the chill in the air.  The buildings weren’t as tall as in New York, but the wind still whistled between them and over the platform where she stood.  She was glad of her good wool coat and lined boots.  They kept her warm while she waited for Mr. Ravenclaw to find her.  There wasn’t anyone else wearing a veil so she didn’t think he’d have much problem identifying her.

She wasn’t really sure what she expected, but it wasn’t the tall, devastatingly handsome man that approached her.  He had a square jaw shaved clean and a tiny dimple in his chin.  Black eyebrows slashed over his eyes, the color of which was hidden by the shadow from his hat, pulled low on his head.  For once she was glad of her veil.  He wouldn’t be able to see her mouth hanging open, gawking at him.

“Miss Davenport?”

“Yes.  Are you Mr. Ravenclaw?”

“I am.”

Ella was surprised to find her hand trembled as she held it out to him.  “Ella Davenport.”

He removed his glove and enveloped her hand in his big one.  His fingers brushed the skin of her wrist just above her glove.  The tingle that traveled clear to her toes was unexpected and her gaze snapped up to his.  She looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes.  They seemed to question the chemistry between them as much as she did.

He held her hand for what seemed like a lifetime and they simply starred at each other.

“Miss Davenport….”

“Ella.  Please.”

“Ella.  I would like for you to lift your veil.”

“Are you sure you wish to do this in public.  It can be…shocking.”

“I’m sure.”  He squeezed her hand and then let go.

“Very well.”  She lifted the heavy lace, prepared for him to be taken aback by the ugliness of it.  She wasn’t prepared for him to lift his hand and gently trace the thin, putrid purple scar all the way from her left eye over her cheek and down her neck to the top of her collar.

There was no disdain on his face.  His blue eyes took in everything and accepted it, but even so he said the last thing she expected.

“You are a very beautiful woman.”

She stood there with her mouth open until he raised her chin with his knuckle.

“Why are you surprised?  Surely you have heard the compliment before.”

She shook her head to clear it and find her tongue.  “Not since the accident, except from my brother.  But he’s biased.  He loves me.”

“He but states the obvious.  Your scars do not detract from your beauty.”

“I must thank you because good manners dictate it.  However, I believe we should see about getting you some glasses.”

He laughed.  A rich, deep baritone.  “I’m glad you have a sense of humor.”

“Who was joking?”

Heiress Bride is available at:

Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00BWX9H30

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/297289

Barnes & Noble -http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heiress-bride-cynthia-woolf/1114864489?ean=2940016187310

Wow. This sounds so interesting. One last question:  Where can readers find you?

My website is www.cynthiawoolf.com. 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CynthiaWoolf

Twitter @CynthiaWoolf

Thanks for being here today, Cynthia. Best wishes on your new book.