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Cydney Rax is the author of My Daughter's Boyfriend and My Husband's Girlfriend. Born and raised in Detroit , she earned a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Michigan University . Cydney is also an author promoter and her reviews have appeared on numerous books. Her novels have been featured in magazines such as Ebony, Essence, Upscale, Jewel, Today's Black Woman, Publisher's Weekly, Quarterly Black Review and Romantic Times Book Club Magazine.
To contact Cydney Rax:
When did you know you wanted to write?
I knew I wanted to write the minute I finished reading the last sentence of the novel Disappearing Acts. I immediately tried to start doing what Terry McMillan did. I wasn't very good at it, but kept trying (for years) until I felt comfortable enough to take a serious stab at writing. Many ideas for books came to mind but for some reason, the storyline and title My Daughter's Boyfriend caught my attention. I earnestly worked on the story, shopped for an agent, and the book got the attention of my publisher in spring 2002.
What does your writing corner look like? How do you get in the mood to write?
I'll be honest. I am the type of writer who writes in the midst of chaos. It's not organized. There are dozens of notebooks, or pieces of paper, envelopes with notes jotted on them, sticky notes, everything you can imagine - whenever an idea comes to me, or a line of dialogue, I'll write it on whatever is available. And I place those items near my computer. And when I am in the mindset to write, I write. It's difficult to get in the mood to write. I don't force myself. But I wait until the story consumes me, the characters start talking, or a line or two comes to me and I feel compelled to write. In the early days, I'd write basically on a daily basis. But these days, my life is so complex that I normally write on the weekends.
Tell us about your most recent book? What inspired you to write this story? What message are you trying to convey in this story?
My latest novel is called My Husband's Girlfriend. I truly love this book. It's the story about a husband whose wife doesn't feel like having sex with him. So, she feels sorry for him and suggest he get a sex partner - an oral sex partner, but of course, things don't turn out quite like she planned. I wanted to write this story because years ago, there were many real life occurrences of men that were married to one woman, but had either another woman or a wife in the same city. The women would bear children for the men, but these ladies didn't know each other existed. So I wanted to pen a story about two women who had kids by the same man, but the women DO know about each other. I wanted them to try and make things work. I wanted to see how they reacted around each other. I liked the tension of that explosive situation and that's how the story was birthed. Now, even though my book is fiction, I do get emails from readers who have gone through similar situations or who know of others that have survived marital agreements or extra baby mamas, etc. My books are highly emotional. You will feel anger, sometimes extreme anger, but that's what I'm shooting for every time I write a book.
Do you have any other books or contributions to the writing industry?
I just have my first two novels, but I've also written countless book reviews some of which have appeared on the books such as Mister Mann Frisby, Victoria Christopher Murray, Marissa Monteilh, Cheryl Robinson, Keith Lee Johnson, Benilde Little and Gloria Mallette.
Whose work do you love to read? What is your favorite book?
These days I don't get to read much; life is so busy I want to cry sometimes. But I have enjoyed novels by authors such as Kim Roby, Sidney Sheldon, Mister Mann Frisby, Marissa Monteilh, Margaret Johnson-Hodge, RM Johnson, Shannon Holmes, Connie Briscoe, K'wan, Terry McMillan, Victoria Christopher Murray, E. Lynn Harris, and dozens of others. I cannot name a favorite book; that's just too hard of a question. But I do love contemporary fiction, some street fiction, and topics that cover women's issues or relationship issues.
What can we expect from you in the future?
If I can continue publishing books, I'll be happy. So that's what I expect to do. And if my fans like what I write, that's even better. I've really enjoyed hearing from the readers this time around; it's nice to know people are out there, and they have been extremely supportive.
What advise can you give aspiring authors?
I don't mind answering the aspiring author questions, but the most important thing that aspiring authors must do is follow the advice they're given. This is not an easy business. There is no overnight success. You must commit yourself to doing so many different things and only the strong and determined survive. There are no shortcuts. You must learn how to write a novel; you must do the research about the publishing industry. You must possess enough passion to understand that you can only succeed by doing everything you're required to do for yourself and not expecting everyone to hold your hand every single step of the way. It's just not realistic. You've gotta want it bad enough to do the work yourself.
ISBN: 1-4000-8313-3
Pub. Date: 06-05
ISBN: 1-4000-8219-6
Pub. Date: 11-06
Books can be purchased at
Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Wal-Mart www.walmart.com
Barnes and Noble www.bn.com
CushCity
www.cushcity.com