Interview with author Cynthia Sax

It is a pleasure to welcome USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax, who recently released the Sci-Fi Romance, Releasing Rage.

Welcome Cynthia to The Adventures of the Everyday Fangirl and thanks so much for taking the time out your busy schedule to help us get to know you and your story better.

What does the title of this novel, series or set of stories signify?

I can’t imagine calling Releasing Rage, my latest cyborg SciFi romance, anything other than that. Rage is the cyborg hero’s name. He’s enslaved by humans, forced to fight their wars and follow their orders. He plots to free himself, to be ‘released.’
He also vents much of his anger toward his masters and their injustices they inflict on him and his cyborg brethren. He releases his rage. (grins)
Releasing Rage is a dark book. The title signifies this.

Do the names of the characters in your novel have some sort of significance or importance to you?If so, give a few examples…

Cyborgs are normally assigned a model number by their manufacturers and then they might choose to give themselves a name. The hero of Releasing Rage chooses to call himself Rage because he’s often angered by the injustices inflicted on him and his cyborg brethren. He’s a primitive, passionate male and has a primitive, passionate name.
Joan Tull, the human heroine, is a former agri lot gal (i.e. farm girl). Jethro Tull is one of the most recognized innovators in agriculture. Joan is also on a mission, much like another famous Joan – Joan of Arc.
(grins) Yes, I put quite a bit of thought into a character’s name. It is so key to his or her identity.

What prompted you to write in this genre and who or what inspired you to?

I love reading cyborg SciFi romances. Writers such as Laurann Dohner, Eve Langlais, and Mina Carter inspired me to write my own stories.
There were two things that I really wanted to explore.

1) What would cause cyborgs to rebel against their manufacturers? As they’re designed to be the perfect soldiers, loyal and true, I figured it had to be something dark and serious.

2) Cyborg babies—how do cyborgs reproduce? Yes, the early cyborgs were essentially ‘repaired’ human soldiers but eventually, military forces would wish to mass produce them. How would that happen?
Of course, I also wanted to tell a great story with plenty of hot, sexy romance and some spectacular explosions.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer and do your characters reflect some of these attributes?

The myth of the solitary writer, working away by herself in a dark attic, is exactly that—a myth. Success in every field is a team sport and writing is no exception. I owe my sanity to my fellow writers, especially Wylie Snow, J.K. Coi, Amy Ruttan, and Christine d’Abo, whom I email every day.
In Releasing Rage, Rage, the hero, might be one of the best warriors in the universe, but he depends on his fellow cyborgs, especially Crash and Gap. When they plan for their escape, they plan for ALL of them to escape, leaving no warrior behind.

What kind of research did you have to do for the novel, series or set of stories that was different from others?

Releasing Rage required quite a bit of research. For example: I have files and files of theories on how cyborgs might reproduce. I talked to scientists, product developers, other experts.
It’s very important to me that SciFi romance is based on science. That science might not be in the story (much of my research is shared on my blog) but we, writers, should know it. This sets the genre apart from… say… paranormal romance (which is based on myth).

What makes you laugh?

My dear wonderful hubby makes me laugh every dang day. You’ll always find some humor in even my darkest stories because I feel a shared sense of humor is essential for a lasting relationship.

What makes you cry?

I’m a sap. Hallmark commercials make me cry. I cry when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m emotionally moved. I was completing the final read of Breathing Vapor (the follow up story to Releasing Rage) last night and crying my eyes out. It doesn’t take much!

What are you a fan of and is this reflected in your writing?

I’m definitely a super fan of SciFi romance, cyborg stories in particular. The internal conflict between man and machine, between loyal soldier and independent warrior, between following orders and following our own paths, fascinates me.
I love reading in the genre I’m writing because I then know that I’m bringing something new to it.

***

Thank you again Cynthia for the interview and through your answers helping us get to know you better.

Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals–kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal–survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?

Releasing Rage is now available at the following retailers:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ZOL1DRO/

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646

About Cynthia Sax
USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax writes contemporary, SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. Her stories have been featured in Star Magazine, Real Time With Bill Maher, and numerous best of erotic romance top ten lists.
Sign up for her dirty-joke-filled release day newsletter and visit her on the web at www.CynthiaSax.com
You can also follow her Facebook Page, Twitter: @CynthiaSax or her Blog: TasteOfCyn.com