I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was nine years old. I loved books and couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful than telling stories for a living. I sold my first short story when I was 19 and after college went to work for a newspaper as a reporter. I freelanced for magazines and newspapers and wrote and sold more short stories. But it took me a long time to sell my first novel. I wrote seriously for ten years and completed ten book manuscripts before I sold my first book in 1997. I went on to sell a number of those previously unsold manuscripts later, sometimes rewritten, sometimes not.
Even after I sold, I would occasionally have a manuscript that didn’t sell. Some of these were only partial manuscripts — a few chapters and a synopsis. But some of them were complete manuscripts. Ever once in a while I take out one of those and read through it and ask myself if there is anywhere I might sell that story.
A little over a year ago I was cleaning out closets and found one of those manuscripts. It was the story of a man who gets out of prison and goes home to do right by the woman he loves and their son. I had just started writing for Harlequin Superromance and as I read through my story, I thought "This sounds like a Superromance story." I like the characters and the story, so I pitched it to my editor. She agreed to buy it. That story is out this month "The Father For Her Son." It did some 
considerable rewriting from that original manuscript, but the basic story is the same.
I think some manuscripts — and some favorite books — can stand the test of time. Do you have old favorites that you continue to revisit? What are some of those comfort reads?
THE FATHER FOR HER SON
Harlequin Superromance
January 2010
Life hasn’t been easy for single mom Marlee Britton, but she’s proud of her ability to look after herself and her son. Then old flame Troy Denton shows up after seven years, wanting to be a father to his son and to rekindle his relationship with Marlee. While Troy struggles to prove himself trustworthy, Marlee wonders how she can ever give her heart to the man who broke it so long ago.
Buy The Father for Her Son at Amazon!
“MELTING POINT" in BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
with Jennifer Greene and Merline Lovelace
Harlequin Anthology
January 2010
Kristjan Gunnarson is Iceland’s first ever Olympic medalist. Coloradoan Stacy Bristol thinks he’ll be the perfect model for her new advertising campaign, but she isn’t prepared for the impact handsome Kristjan has on her. As she supervises filming around Iceland, Stacy fights her attraction to Kristjan. Can a down-to-business American and a footloose Icelander find love in the land of ice and fire?
Buy “Melting Point” in Baby It’s Cold Outside at Amazon!
A bit about Cindi…
Cindi Myers became one of the most popular people in eighth grade when she and her best friend wrote and illustrated their own historical romance novel. The manuscript was eventually confiscated by her English teacher, who told her she should spend her time learning to properly conjugate a sentence. Since then, Cindi has gone on to write more than three dozen novels, both historical and contemporary. She also teaches writing and is a popular speaker and workshop presenter. She produces a weekly market newsletter at http://www.cindimyersmarketnews.wordpress.com Visit her website at http://www.CindiMyers.com
on January 6th, 2010
Hi, Cindi,
I think you’re an amazingly prolific writer! Getting so many romance novels published is really impressive.
Like you, I don’t throw away my old manuscripts. Many just need a rewrite to make them marketable. I for one greatly appreciate your marketing blog.
Wishing you every success now and in the future,
Jacqueline Seewald
THE DROWNING POOL, Five Star/Gale romantic mystery 2009
THE INFERNO COLLECTION, Five Star hardcover, Wheeler large print 2008
on January 6th, 2010
Thank you so much, Jacqueline. Yes — my motto is to never throw anything out — I might be able to sell it one day. Cindi
on January 6th, 2010
Cindi,
Hi! Again, thanks for being with us! I think you’re absolutely right about not throwing things away. It’s amazing to think anyone would with technology being such as it is today and you can virtually keep anything you type! Just remember…backups, backups, backups!
I’m off to approve comments… ;-)
on January 6th, 2010
I like your books. I enjoy reading more realistic romances. It gives me hope for some of the couples I know. Do you write or plan to write for anyone outside of Harlequin? I like longer books (yes, even longer than Supers).
on January 6th, 2010
My husband would so disagree with your theory of never throwing anything out. I guess there’s a place for all things but if it isn’t his, then it’s okay. Crazy that after nearly 25 years he still thinks my prized reading material should be recycled or given away but not his woodshop magazines. What is the garage and attic for if not to house treasures like these to share with your kids and grandkids?
on January 6th, 2010
Hey, there! I am going to sheepishly say I haven’t read anything by you yet. I thought you wrote for Blaze only. How do you find time to write so many books? Are they all closet keeps?
on January 6th, 2010
How did you get into writing for Harlequin? Did you win a contest?
on January 6th, 2010
I like the snowy cover. In the frigid weather we have going here it seems appropriate. What is with this weather?
on January 6th, 2010
Great story ideas. Not a big Harlequin reader but just might try yours.
on January 13th, 2010
That’s fascinating that you got to reuse that manuscript even if you did have to do a lot of rewriting. Was it harder to rewrite than it would have been to start fresh? I’m assuming not or you wouldn’t have tried to sell it but I can’t help wondering…!