The Write Side of Life

June 19, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Good morning and welcome back. Several people emailed requesting to see the DRAGON IN THE SYSTEM book cover. So here it is:

dragoninthesystem_msr1.jpg

ST: Cindy, what made you decide to be a writer?
CSP: I don’t know that it WAS a conscious decision. Like so many other aspects of life it just sort of evolved. Mostly so the voices in my head would have someplace else to talk.

ST: How long have you been writing?
CSP: Seriously, about 7 years. Full-time, since I mucked up my knee last fall, and couldn’t work at the nature center anymore.

ST: Do you find writing to be fulfilling? And in what way?
CSP: If I didn’t I think I’d be in the wwwrrrrrooongggg business! It’s nice to have a creative outlet, to help people find happiness even if they are imaginary.

ST: What’s a normal day like for you?
CSP: Define normal. It’s not a word I’m familiar with. An optimal day is when I throw the menfolk out the door to school and work, crawl back into bed and get another hour’s worth of sleep. Then I get up and write. Somewhere in there I usually shower and eat lunch, then write till the monsters come home. Feed, them, send them off to the teen center, if I’m lucky, and write for another 2 hours till the horde returns. And if you don’t believe three is a horde, you’ve never been around teenage boys! Notice I said this was optimal. In real life pesky things like errands, exercise classes, and housework keep getting in the way of my perfect plan.

ST: With your busy life how do you find time to write?
CSP: By learning to live with a messy house and learning to write on whatever flat surface I can find. I carry a notebook anywhere, and type while I’m watching TV some nights.

ST: Thank you again for your time. See you in the morning?
CSP: Without a doubt. Thanks to everyone who’s posted. I appreciate your comments and questions.

ST: Until tomorrow…

Happy Writing,
Sloane

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7 Responses to “The Write Side of Life”


  1. Melissa Bradley Says:

    I am dying to read about Fitz and Rhiannon. I carry a notebook with me everywhere as well which is why my family complains about my giant bag. I also carry lots of other essentials which they’re only too happy to take advantage of when the need arises.;)

  2. Cindy Spencer Pape Says:

    Thanks Melissa. Fitz and Ree’s story was one of those great ones that just about wrote itself. Those two were so wrong and so right for each other all at the same time.

  3. Renee Says:

    Great interview, Cindy!! You have a very unique writing schedule.

  4. Patti Says:

    Great interview Cindy. Look forward to more! Patti

  5. Gabrina Says:

    Love your book cover! Very cool! What did you do at the nature center?

  6. Stacia Helpman Says:

    I am dying to read this book by Cindy & the cover is excellent! Thanks so much, Sloane, for having Cindy here this week!!!

  7. Cindy Spencer Pape Says:

    Gabrina,
    I’m an environmental educator by training. I taught almost every program the center offered, from arts and crafts to canoeing to endangered species. I still do the occasional live bird of prey program, and volunteer for fundraisers and special events, but the knee doesn’t hold up to the all-day hiking or the high-ropes course much any more.

    And thanks on the cover, I love it too! Both of my publishers have very talented artists.