Recientemente entrevisté a Cynthia Dougherty, una mujer que vengo admirando desde hace mucho tiempo por su magia con las palabras y su personalidad tan humana. Aquí les dejo su entrevista en inglés y ojalá como yo pueda sentirse identificados con esta maravillosa poeta y se animen a seguirla.

Who is Cynthia? Tell us about yourself… 

I am a mother, sister, wife, friend, and colleague. I am a goddess, poet, author, and lover of creativity and art. I am a Hispanic Irish woman who is too white to be Hispanic, and too Hispanic to be white in the eyes of others. My own reflection is true to me, and I am imperfectly perfect to those who know and love me.

At what age did you began writing? 
Before I was enrolled in school, I loved stories. I loved hearing my mother read Mother Goose and other nursery rhymes. In school my favorite part of the day was story time and Library day. Books were my friends, and I wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first story at the age of seven. I still have it, and it allows me a glimpse into the child I was.  

Was there a particular incident that made you want to write?
Yes, I loved words, and creating. I don’t think I took it seriously or gave myself any credit though. To me it was a past time, a moment in my journal for my own reading pleasure. However, Mrs. Diaz, the head librarian in my elementary, guided me to poetry and her praise at my comprehension skills made my heart soar. I thought she was the smartest person in my school, and she thought I was a writer. She gave me the first push in taking my writing in a new direction, it has weight and resonance.  

Who are you favorite writer?
It’s hard to choose a favorite writer, some of my most treasured books are written by Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Robert Frost. I, like any writer and lover of books, can go on forever really, but these are a few at the top of my list.

 What are your writing process, rituals, and routines?   
I write when I can, every moment I can, if I can’t write because I feel drained or empty then I read. I read so that I can rekindle the embers of creativity. I don’t think I have any rituals, but I tend to carry my phone like an extension of me. It’s not necessarily for social media or apps, it’s because I am addicted to using the notepad on it. I write on my phone’s notepad or my journal. In social situations when you are expected to mingle and connect, I can’t drag out my journal but it has become acceptable to glance at your phone for a minute or two. In that time I write, a turn of phrase or a word or a thought that has flitted into my mind and I know that when I sit in my room late at night then that thought can turn into more.

Which topics are frequent in your writing?  
Anyone who has read my works knows I often reference goddesses in multiple cultures, my favorite are Greek or Celtic women of power. I sincerely believe that each and every woman has magic, an essence that should be cultivated and nurtured. No matter your age, class, sexual preference, or ethnicity a woman is a goddess. Embrace that light within that will give you strength and comfort you.

 What genre do you prefer?
I prefer dark literature, tones of murder, suspense, mystery, and definitely female empowerment. I am an eclectic reader and read almost anything that comes in book form, from science fiction, urban fantasy, contemporary fantasy, dark fantasy, mythology, mythic fiction and more.  

What is your favorite thing you have created? 
I have one poem, which I have not released for public consumption, titled Mi Reina. It is a poem I have dedicated to my mother. I’m still trying to finish polishing it, my mother is a strong influence in my life and I don’t want to fall short of expressing what she means to me. My other favorite, really a writer can’t have just one, is my first collection of works. I put it together back in high school, and though I hope I’ve grown in my skill I know that it will always hold a special place in my heart.  

Do you consider yourself a creative person? 
Yes. We all are. I choose words, others choose crafts, math, science, research, or something else. I create and therefore I am creative. I admire anyone who dedicates themselves to their passion. It takes work, planning, and love to create something from nothing.

What are you trying to communicate with your art? 
I am trying to express my soul. I sometimes feel it overwhelms me, this heavy heart of mine. I am empathetic by nature, I try to be self-aware. I have my faults and cannot bear negativity, but the world will not support my bubble of light and I cannot grow if I stay stagnant. I write in order to purge, to cleanse, to process, and to breathe. I hope that those who stumble across my works can also connect with me on some level. You, the reader, are not alone in your pain nor your joy.

What type of difficulties have you faced when it comes to pursuing your writing career?  
I haven’t always felt confident in my works, I still struggle with the public aspect of performing my poetry and reading my short stories aloud. Writing it time consuming, and being open to criticism can be daunting. I shake like a leaf every time I share a poem, story, book, or new idea. The niggling thought I battle to silence that says “who wants to read this, really”.

How have you dismissed your obstacles?  
Balance, as simple and as complicated as that. I try to balance the loves of my life, my husband, children, family, friends, and my writing. I work full time as a public high school English teacher as well, and each aspect of my life is important. I try to remind myself that I am important too. I take care of that which takes care of me, and my writing is therapeutic. I don’t think I dismiss my obstacles, I handle them and conquer them. It all requires balance and planning. Don’t lose yourself in the process of taking care of all your responsibilities.

How do we see Cynthia in the future?  
I see myself as an award winning author/poet. I want to build up my loved ones and love unconditionally. I hope to see my name on the shelves of others.

What’s your plan? 
I plan on writing, singing, loving, living, and being. God laughs at the plans of humans. I live in the moment and dream about the future. Nothing is for certain, and I’m okay with that. All I can do is work towards my goal, and thank the heavens for each day gifted.  

How can we find more of your work?
I am in the process of creating a centralized author website, but in the meantime I am on Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and in my hometown. At this point in time my works on Amazon are “Bleeding on the Page: My Soul Exposed” and “Looking Into Infinity”. I also have the honor of being included in a collection titled “The Rising”. I’ve been published in a wonderful publication called Indie Affair, and I have a few more works out there in the world. I love when my readers contact me, email me, message me. I am an open book about my writings.  

Any advice for new writers? 
Be tenacious, don’t drown in another’s negativity. Your expression, your writing is needed in the world that is drowning in apathy. Share your soul and never give up.

Books:
Looking Into Infinity on Amazon
Bleeding on the Page on Amazon 

Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
My street team: C. Dougherty’s Goddesses
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