She writes her heroine into dangerous webs of deception while she sips French vanilla iced coffee - and if her cup’s empty, she’s on the trail of her next legend. She’s a three-times five-star Readers' Favorite recipient, YA fantasy romance novelist, and has snagged a few endorsements from notable authors: Jonas Saul, the bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series; Alan Warren, NBC Radio Host/Producer/Author; and Suzy Vadori, Author and critic of the Fountain Series.
An avid reader turned writer, her background as a Recreational Therapy Technician, traveller, historical site owner, and legend sleuth provides a wealth of experience and perspectives that have deeply enriched her storytelling. After marrying, she travelled to Europe and many of the States. However, Ohio is her home, where she and her husband raised two great kids and several energetic dogs.
An avid reader turned writer, her background as a Recreational Therapy Technician, traveller, historical site owner, and legend sleuth provides a wealth of experience and perspectives that have deeply enriched her storytelling. After marrying, she travelled to Europe and many of the States. However, Ohio is her home, where she and her husband raised two great kids and several energetic dogs.
Her love of history was enriched by co-owning a 200-year-old historic watermill with her husband for over 20 years, which has fostered an appreciation of historical knowledge and cultivation of The Therans Series. Cyndi’s just a regular gal—storyteller, speaker, and co-host of the P English Literature podcast. She’s a sidekick podcaster interviewing authors and serving book banter.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. An author writes what they know best… or what their imagination reveals. Some of my best story scenes come from my darkest thoughts—places I’ve explored and left behind, only to revisit through my characters. I found my best scenes are ones where I’ve had to confront my hidden fears, unresolved emotions, or unspoken experiences and write about them.
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CBrecFantasy/
Instagram - @novelnook.cyndibrec
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. An author writes what they know best… or what their imagination reveals. Some of my best story scenes come from my darkest thoughts—places I’ve explored and left behind, only to revisit through my characters. I found my best scenes are ones where I’ve had to confront my hidden fears, unresolved emotions, or unspoken experiences and write about them.
An example is when I almost lost a close family member—I worked through some dark emotions because I almost lost them. Things are raw—real and you can’t bury fragments of yourself and not expect to be transformed by the emotional depth of despair. Outside my faith, my family and writing have kept me balanced.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. I’ve written The Therans series, and book one was just released last month, Secrets Beneath Scars. Book two, The Therans: Legends Never Die, will be released in early 2026. In between the main novel releases, I’ve written prequels and other short stories related to the series.
Okay, I don’t want to give a spoiler, but here are a couple of sentences from the book two blurbs:
The Therans: Legends Never Die
Tagline: Blood Runs Cold Where Secrets Burn
REVENGE CARVES A DEEP SCAR.
Theran protector Callie Tresham uncovered the origins of her volatile powers and worse, the long-buried secrets exposing the brutal truth of her parents’ horrific murder—and the monster responsible.
Q.3 The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars is packed with secrets, conspiracies, and high-stakes action. What inspired the story?
A. There are many things that inspired me to write The Therans series. Initially, I was driven by a fictional character, Callie, who kept stalking my thoughts. Images of her kept popping into my head at random times of the day, and they wouldn’t stop until I wrote them down, whether on a napkin in a restaurant or a notepad beside my bed.
I’m also driven by intrigue and the story behind the secrets, conspiracies, legends, and even the historical site’s buried riddles. The idea that something hidden, buried beneath layers of deception, awakens my curiosity, and it really fuels my drive to uncover more.
Q.4 Did you plot everything beforehand, or did the story take unexpected turns as you wrote?
A. No, I’m a hybrid writer - a mixture of pantser and plotter. I don’t want to know where all the twists and turns are in my book, but I need to have a general idea of where the story path is headed. I kinda take a James Scott Bell approach to writing.
Q.5 Callie’s powers are central to the story. How did you balance her abilities to make sure she remained vulnerable yet strong?
A. Yes, Callie’s powers are central to the story as she discovers who she is, and that is through her gifts. However, I focused on her limitations, emotional depth, and personal struggles, which made her more real in a fantasy world yet kept her vulnerable and believable.
Q.6 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A. In high school, I knew I wanted to be a writer. However, it wasn’t until after college, marriage, and having my kids that I took the passion seriously.
Q.7 The book explores the idea that “secrets stab deeper than a blade.” What message do you hope readers take away from this?
A. Secrets hurt by tearing at the soul, creating isolation and guilt as there’s a battle between truth and the unknown/uncertainty—but honesty/transparency heals by bridging the gap between hearts and can help free the mind. It doesn’t mean it’s easy to accept, but knowing the truth builds unity; secrecy only breeds uncertainty.
Q.8 The romance in the book “grows cold.” Without spoilers, how does this impact Callie’s journey?
A. This question feeds off the previous question of ‘Secrets Stab Deeper Than a Blade.’ Callie has the weight of the world on her hands, secrets start mounting, worries start developing as dead bodies start surfacing, and the one person she’s built trust with has practically gone MIA. It’s the building of the Dark Moment of the story.
Q.9 If The Therans had a moral lesson, what would it be?
A. What’s buried in the past always finds its way to the surface—secrets and lies can’t stay hidden forever; the truth always resurfaces. Also, fear keeps you trapped, while courage moves you forward.
Q.10 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. After writing Callie in The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars, I learned that her emotional aspect was so similar to mine as I grew up—the uncertainty of life, hesitancy, and fear.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. I’ve written The Therans series, and book one was just released last month, Secrets Beneath Scars. Book two, The Therans: Legends Never Die, will be released in early 2026. In between the main novel releases, I’ve written prequels and other short stories related to the series.
Okay, I don’t want to give a spoiler, but here are a couple of sentences from the book two blurbs:
The Therans: Legends Never Die
Tagline: Blood Runs Cold Where Secrets Burn
REVENGE CARVES A DEEP SCAR.
Theran protector Callie Tresham uncovered the origins of her volatile powers and worse, the long-buried secrets exposing the brutal truth of her parents’ horrific murder—and the monster responsible.
Q.3 The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars is packed with secrets, conspiracies, and high-stakes action. What inspired the story?
A. There are many things that inspired me to write The Therans series. Initially, I was driven by a fictional character, Callie, who kept stalking my thoughts. Images of her kept popping into my head at random times of the day, and they wouldn’t stop until I wrote them down, whether on a napkin in a restaurant or a notepad beside my bed.
I’m also driven by intrigue and the story behind the secrets, conspiracies, legends, and even the historical site’s buried riddles. The idea that something hidden, buried beneath layers of deception, awakens my curiosity, and it really fuels my drive to uncover more.
Q.4 Did you plot everything beforehand, or did the story take unexpected turns as you wrote?
A. No, I’m a hybrid writer - a mixture of pantser and plotter. I don’t want to know where all the twists and turns are in my book, but I need to have a general idea of where the story path is headed. I kinda take a James Scott Bell approach to writing.
Q.5 Callie’s powers are central to the story. How did you balance her abilities to make sure she remained vulnerable yet strong?
A. Yes, Callie’s powers are central to the story as she discovers who she is, and that is through her gifts. However, I focused on her limitations, emotional depth, and personal struggles, which made her more real in a fantasy world yet kept her vulnerable and believable.
Q.6 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A. In high school, I knew I wanted to be a writer. However, it wasn’t until after college, marriage, and having my kids that I took the passion seriously.
Q.7 The book explores the idea that “secrets stab deeper than a blade.” What message do you hope readers take away from this?
A. Secrets hurt by tearing at the soul, creating isolation and guilt as there’s a battle between truth and the unknown/uncertainty—but honesty/transparency heals by bridging the gap between hearts and can help free the mind. It doesn’t mean it’s easy to accept, but knowing the truth builds unity; secrecy only breeds uncertainty.
Q.8 The romance in the book “grows cold.” Without spoilers, how does this impact Callie’s journey?
A. This question feeds off the previous question of ‘Secrets Stab Deeper Than a Blade.’ Callie has the weight of the world on her hands, secrets start mounting, worries start developing as dead bodies start surfacing, and the one person she’s built trust with has practically gone MIA. It’s the building of the Dark Moment of the story.
Q.9 If The Therans had a moral lesson, what would it be?
A. What’s buried in the past always finds its way to the surface—secrets and lies can’t stay hidden forever; the truth always resurfaces. Also, fear keeps you trapped, while courage moves you forward.
Q.10 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. After writing Callie in The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars, I learned that her emotional aspect was so similar to mine as I grew up—the uncertainty of life, hesitancy, and fear.
As authors, our experiences and life perspectives play a huge role in the development of our stories. However, when I crafted the character of Callie, I tried to keep her very much in sync with my daughter’s likes, dislikes, experiences, etc.
Q.11 If The Therans were adapted into a movie or series, who would be your dream cast for Callie and her adversaries?
A. That’s an interesting question. There’s a show called The Outer Banks—I believe it’s on Netflix. Anyhow, there’s a character named Kiara, better known as Kie, played by Madison Bailey. I think she’s a great actress and beautiful.
As far as the adversary is concerned, that’s something really hard to answer. It’s easier for me to say I’d dreamcast a cross between a deranged Snape-looking guy and a power-hungry Voldemort personality as the villain.
Q.12 Do you have any advice for aspiring authors looking to write action-packed fantasy novels?
A. Yes, stay in the creative mode of writing and do not edit the manuscript until you’ve completed the novel. Start every scene off with something that stirs the heart or senses and cut it short, leaving the reader on a cliffhanger. And never ever doubt that giving the reader a chance to catch their breath between action-packed fantasy scenes has an impact on the reader's emotional strings.
Q.13 How do you stay motivated to write, especially when you encounter writer’s block?
A. When I encounter writer's block, I’ll pick up a book and read as I’m still in creative mode. Later, I find that creativity inspires me.
Q.14 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite among them?
A. I’ve written five short stories and three novels within the same story world. My favourite story is the one I’m usually writing – but I will say that I have a love for the first novel, The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars, because that’s the story I wrote first, and it’s left the biggest impact on me.
Q.15 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Oh, I suck at writing the opposite sex! It is hard for me to get into a male’s mind because I’ve never walked in their shoes – Men do not emotionally express themselves like women. And don’t get me on the dialogue difference, speech patterns, word choices – ugh!
Q.16 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
A. I started writing as a hobby, and it’s only recently that I’ve taken my writing more seriously. So, it takes a year or two, given that I have other things that I focus on as a mother and wife. My goal is to write one page a day, so I could ideally complete a novel once a year.
Q.11 If The Therans were adapted into a movie or series, who would be your dream cast for Callie and her adversaries?
A. That’s an interesting question. There’s a show called The Outer Banks—I believe it’s on Netflix. Anyhow, there’s a character named Kiara, better known as Kie, played by Madison Bailey. I think she’s a great actress and beautiful.
As far as the adversary is concerned, that’s something really hard to answer. It’s easier for me to say I’d dreamcast a cross between a deranged Snape-looking guy and a power-hungry Voldemort personality as the villain.
Q.12 Do you have any advice for aspiring authors looking to write action-packed fantasy novels?
A. Yes, stay in the creative mode of writing and do not edit the manuscript until you’ve completed the novel. Start every scene off with something that stirs the heart or senses and cut it short, leaving the reader on a cliffhanger. And never ever doubt that giving the reader a chance to catch their breath between action-packed fantasy scenes has an impact on the reader's emotional strings.
Q.13 How do you stay motivated to write, especially when you encounter writer’s block?
A. When I encounter writer's block, I’ll pick up a book and read as I’m still in creative mode. Later, I find that creativity inspires me.
Q.14 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite among them?
A. I’ve written five short stories and three novels within the same story world. My favourite story is the one I’m usually writing – but I will say that I have a love for the first novel, The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars, because that’s the story I wrote first, and it’s left the biggest impact on me.
Q.15 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Oh, I suck at writing the opposite sex! It is hard for me to get into a male’s mind because I’ve never walked in their shoes – Men do not emotionally express themselves like women. And don’t get me on the dialogue difference, speech patterns, word choices – ugh!
Q.16 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
A. I started writing as a hobby, and it’s only recently that I’ve taken my writing more seriously. So, it takes a year or two, given that I have other things that I focus on as a mother and wife. My goal is to write one page a day, so I could ideally complete a novel once a year.
However, I have lots of world buildings and historical research that keep me busy. When I wrote these three main novels for The Therans series, I took the time to make sure each story was consistent with the next.
Q.17 If you could have a conversation with any of the characters from your books, who would it be and why?
A. If it were possible, I’d love to chat with Callie, my main character. She’s a fiercely loyal and refreshingly honest character, and her hesitancy in life only makes her a more organic character.
Q.17 If you could have a conversation with any of the characters from your books, who would it be and why?
A. If it were possible, I’d love to chat with Callie, my main character. She’s a fiercely loyal and refreshingly honest character, and her hesitancy in life only makes her a more organic character.
Interestingly, in some ways, I do get to ‘talk’ to Callie as she’s a fictional version of my daughter. Through the writing journey of The Therans Series, I had the advantage of watching my daughter grow and using character traits/personality/experiences and write my story. Of course, there are elements of me in Callie, too.
Q.18 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. I’m drawn to names that carry a meaning or start with a strong consonant—Callie, in Greek origin, means beautiful or lovely.
Q.19 Who designed your book covers? What were the selection criteria for finalizing the cover and artist?
A. I conceptualized my book cover; however, a previous artist that I worked with helped me come up with the eyes. The eyes have a dual meaning: visions and self-discovery. I wanted a text-focused book cover, not a busy cover but one that carried a fantasy mystery vibe.
Q.20 What has been the most rewarding experience of being an author so far?
A. I appreciate meeting people who have read my book and love it, but more so, when they ask me questions! I find it fascinating when they want to know more about the fantasy world or whether this guy is a good guy or a bad guy. This means they engaged with the story, and that’s my goal.
The reviews are the next best part of the reward experience—knowing that you touched someone’s life, even if it’s a fictional story, is very touching.
Q.18 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. I’m drawn to names that carry a meaning or start with a strong consonant—Callie, in Greek origin, means beautiful or lovely.
Q.19 Who designed your book covers? What were the selection criteria for finalizing the cover and artist?
A. I conceptualized my book cover; however, a previous artist that I worked with helped me come up with the eyes. The eyes have a dual meaning: visions and self-discovery. I wanted a text-focused book cover, not a busy cover but one that carried a fantasy mystery vibe.
Q.20 What has been the most rewarding experience of being an author so far?
A. I appreciate meeting people who have read my book and love it, but more so, when they ask me questions! I find it fascinating when they want to know more about the fantasy world or whether this guy is a good guy or a bad guy. This means they engaged with the story, and that’s my goal.
The reviews are the next best part of the reward experience—knowing that you touched someone’s life, even if it’s a fictional story, is very touching.
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CBrecFantasy/
Instagram - @novelnook.cyndibrec
X - @CyndiBrec
Website - www.cyndibrec.com
Website - www.cyndibrec.com
No comments:
Post a Comment