Interview with Soon-to-be-Published Author Lindsay Cummings

Hi Lindsay and thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us.

Normally I wouldn’t ask this, but I know you’re young and I feel so inspired by your age, will you tell us how old you are?

Before I answer that, I want everyone to know that I’m not the next literary Justin Beiber. I’m 19, but…I’ll be 20 in exactly 10 days!

You have something else that sets you apart from other author stories too. Will you tell us how Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has affected your life?

I grew up surfing, running, and playing ice hockey as the only female in an all-male league in high school. I’ve always been super super active. Until I got sick about 2 years ago. It’s been a rough journey, feeling exhausted, dizzy, nauseous, and just plain weak every day of my life. BUT..I would not trade it for the WORLD! Getting sick allowed me to open my eyes and see that, hey, I’m going to have to find something I love to do, that my body can handle! And that was writing. It has saved my life, given me something to look forward to every day!

What advice do you have for people who want to follow a dream, but think they can’t?

Dreams are just that….dreams. Something you think about every day, that you can NEVER get out of your mind. If you’re like me, you think about your dreams first thing in the morning, and last thing at night before your head hits the pillow. If you have something you are THAT passionate about, nothing should be able to stop you. Seriously. Nothing. Sometimes it’s a rough road to reaching your dreams, but hey…imagine the day you finally do…that’s a moment you can’t ever replace.

How did you get interested in writing? Do you remember a specific moment when you thought, “That’s what I want to do?”

I’ve written since I was tiny. My dad is an amazing writer, so I guess I just followed his lead! But when I got sick, at 18, I remember a year of surgeries, painful recoveries, etc. Reading books helped me escape. I thought, “hey, I can do this for someone else. And while I’m writing those books, I can escape too!” It just went naturally from there.

How many books have you written and what inspired you to write them?

Two full novels. My first involved a world full of walls…literally and figuratively. It helped me escape from my own walls in my life. My second one, whose title will remain unnamed (because It’s the one I just signed with my agent with and I don’t want anyone to steal my wonderful title or idea!), is my favorite by far…I guess you could count the 30pg horse story I wrote in middle school about all of our farm animals.

What does your writing space look like, is it a laptop on the go, or the same quiet corner every time?

Most of the time, it’s just our awful centuries-old blue plaid couches that are still just squishy enough to feel comfortable for a few hours. When I need a change of scenery, I take my Ipad to Starbucks and guzzle peppermint hot chocolate while writing.

How much of your personality interjects your story’s characters?

Oh gosh. This one is sort of a joke with my awesome beta readers. I am literally my main character in every book. I’m brave, way too sarcastic and pessimistic, I love to kick (insert cuss word that starts with an A) and my hair is tangly, blonde, and way too long! I also have a tendency to make the man who loves me chase me until he’s just at his wits end (I could write another novel about my poor, wonderful boyfriend Josh and his journey to getting me to give in).

I know you recently had some exciting news in your efforts to become a published author, please share.

 I GOT AN AGENT!! It still feels crazy to say that. After obsessing over Querytracker and Publisher’s Marketplace for 3 months, I’m like… “what the heck am I supposed to do now?! Guess I could always start my next novel…Or watch reruns of America’s Next Top Model. Yes. That is what I’ll do.”

If your book sold tomorrow for some insane amount of money, what are the first five things you would do?

Scream. Dance with no rhythm. Yell at my German Shepherds, b/c in my hysteria they’d get stoked and chase my cat. Then I’d call Candie Campbell and scream her ear off. Also, I’d have my mom cook me spaghetti for dinner. (I realize this is sort of a let down…I’m not the type to go splurge on a Ferrari. Although I would actually buy a pair of these amazing leather boots at Freepeople.com …so let’s add that to my list!) OH! And another German Shepherd! And a black Escalade with blacked-out rims and tinted windows and leather seats and…..yeah. I guess I would buy some nice things…

Thanks for joining us, Lindsay and please tell us where we can follow your fabulous books, blog and tweets.

Twitter= @lindsaycwrites

Facebook= Lindsay Cummings (I have an author page and a regular one! Add me. I love new people!).

Blog= http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Candie! (Psst…You guys… She is my favorite. I call her my Literary Mommy. Give her loads of comments!).