Cynthia Hamilton is the author of many books. They include fiction, mystery and memoir. SPOUSE TRAP, is the first book in her Madeline Dawkins Mystery Series, which takes place in Santa Barbara, a town she is happy to call her home. The entire series can be viewed on Amazon.

Cynthia’s memoir, FINDING RUTH was inspired by a photograph she found of her mother taken in 1949 while moving her into an Alzheimer’s facility. It was written as a means to discover who her mother was as a person in her own right, outside her role as “Mom”. ONCE UPON A LYME . . . chronicles her battle with a misdiagnosed disease and the unexpected upside of becoming a writer as a means of escaping the pain. LUCKY AT LOVE, ALLIGATORS IN THE TREES, and GOLDEN STATE are lighthearted looks at life, love and the resiliency of the human heart.

Visit Cynthia Hamilton’s Website and Amazon Author Page. You can also find her on Goodreads. Twitter, and Facebook
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What motivates you to write and how did you get started?

I’m going to turn your question around, Sandy. After nearly two years of trying to find out what was causing my far-flung list of symptoms without any luck, I swore off going to doctors and started imagining what I could do if I became bedridden. It occurred to me that with a laptop computer, I could write in bed. I was so excited to have that small thing figured out, I completely forgot my belief that I couldn’t write if my life depended on it. Once I’d forgotten I was incapable of writing, I had zero fear. I started writing my first novel on my birthday in 2000. On my birthday the following year, I finished it—135,000 words, written on weekends and after work—and started the second book the same day. I was completely hooked on writing, and I never looked back.

What has motivated me ever since is the constant stream of chatter in my head. I figured out soon after I started writing that I could put those non-stop narratives to work and give my brain a useful purpose while doing chores or exercising. I’ve always had the chatter, but at least now I’m not worried about my sanity. Having “voices” in my head is just part of who I am. I think that’s probably true for most writers.

What’s most rewarding about writing?

Getting to the end of a WIP and having it all work. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a more gratifying feeling. Having people tell me they’ve enjoyed one of my books is like being bathed in love.

What’s your favorite genre and why?

I’m not sure. I get sort of torn these days—that’s something I know you can relate to! I started my Madeline Dawkins mystery series several years ago, which came as a surprise inspiration. I love her character and I like being pushed to come up with more harrowing escapades, but I do feel the pull to try other ideas. I guess I am open to anything that lets me explore life and different scenarios. To me, writing is no different than reading in that it’s all about discovery.

Where do your characters come from?

Some have come from encounters with people I’ve met over the years. I met the inspiration for Jake Sorenson from LUCKY AT LOVE (a seven-time divorced mule breeder who hadn’t give up on finding true love) at a wedding. My mom inspired FINDING RUTH. Other characters have come for casual encounters. Some just come to me out of the blue.

Who is an author who inspires you and why?

All the authors I’ve read, because without them, I probably wouldn’t have found my own voice. I think reading and writing comes from the ancient custom of storytelling, something passed down through time, our primary device for communicating our experiences with life and one another.

What do you look for in other people’s books?

A compelling voice, telling me something that either rings true or tells me something I’ve never thought of before. I just want what I read to sound authentic, like the author knows what he or she is talking about. I want to feel I can trust the authenticity of what I’m reading, even if it’s completely fabricated. If it’s fabricated well, taking into account what I already know or suspect about life, or if it riffs on something that adheres to a code I can respect, then I am happy, willing and able to go along with it. I also want, need and appreciate books that are polished and well-edited.

What are you writing now?

I’m working on the fourth book in my Madeline Dawkins mystery series. It’s at the exciting stage where the different plots have been laid out and are now leading in unexpected directions. I really love when a story grows legs and reveals possibilities I hadn’t originally imagined.

What kind of book would you like to be known for?

One that really holds the reader’s attention and gives them something new to consider while being entertained. Books that entice, excite and maybe even enlighten.

What has writing taught you about yourself?

That the incessant voice always yammering on about something can actually be put to good use.

How has your life experience influenced your writing?

Several of my books have been based on actual experiences that I’ve had. ONCE UPON A LYME is about my nine-year struggle to find the right diagnosis to my deteriorating health and the path I took once it was finally discovered I had late-stage Lyme disease. FINDING RUTH is the book I wrote to understand what my mother’s life had been like when Alzheimer’s robbed her of all her memories. Working in the mortgage industry gave me the insight I needed to write GOLDEN STATE, a comical look at the real estate profession.

What encouraging advice can you offer new writers?

There is no wrong way to tell a story. Don’t be afraid to listen to that inner voice—just go with it and see where it takes you. You never know what it may reveal to you. And read, read, read! Also, try not to stress when your thoughts freeze up. That happens to all of us. When it happens to me—almost daily—I walk away from my computer. Usually within a minute or two, my thoughts crystalize and I’m racing back to get them all down.