Publishing a novel is the milestone of a lifetime. Publishing several novels, perhaps a dozen, is the making of a distinguished career. Way out in another ballpark, author Cindi Myer’s list of novels is three digits long. She’s published more than 100 romance and suspense novels over the last 25 years. She was nominated for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award in 2009 and won the Colorado Book Award in 2013 — but she was recognized by RMFW first! Myers won RMFW’s Writer of the Year in 2005.
“I’ve had numerous books on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list, and I had a book picked up by Readers Digest Condensed Books (The View From Here),” says Myers about her list of accomplishments. “But I think the biggest success is getting letters from readers that say my book helped them through a difficult time. I don’t think any award can compete with knowing you made a small difference in someone’s life.”
Often seen presenting and mingling at RMFW events as well as at wider conferences and Cons, Myers has remained grounded in her community of fellow writers throughout her career. She’s a member of an online group of romance authors who have been together for 20 years and has a group of writer friends she “retreats” with several times a year. Perhaps her most formative feedback from the writing community in her early career came from entering contests for unpublished writers.
“I did terrible at them, but the critiques I got from the contests taught me so much,” Myers says. “It first feels at first like if the judge has marked it up, it’s discouraging, but when I dug into those comments, I would get excited. I could see how their feedback would make it better. That really helped me learn so much.”
One of the most important things she’s learned since then is that, even 100 books into a career, every manuscript hits a point where it feels impossible to complete. Writing consistently, improving your craft, and being productive, she says, will help you break through that wall.
“My biggest success has been persevering and keeping my career going for over 25 years,” she explains. “I’ve been orphaned twice, (meaning) my editor left the house and another editor didn’t pick me up. I’ve had lines dropped. I was dropped by publishers twice. I’ve had spells where I didn’t have a contract, but I kept plugging away and submitting and managed to keep at it.”
Myers didn’t connect with RMFW until she moved to Colorado in 2000, after her first novel, Patchwork Hearts, was published in 1999. However, she’s now spent most of her career thus far as a member, and RMFW will be honored if she hangs around as she continues adding to her already impressive catalog.
As for which RMFW authors she enjoys reading, her favorite is Kay Bergstrom. Note: Bergstrom is also prolific, with 90-plus titles in her catalog. Learn more about Cindi Myers at https://www.cindimyers.com.
Written by Kate Jonuska