The Book Worm 691 words

Debut Novel Addresses Timely Topic

by Antoinette May Herndon

Cynthia Kumanchik of Copperopolis has had a lifelong passion for writing and it’s about to pay off big time.

“Deception,” her teen thriller, is debuting this month. It’s a novel timely as today’s headlines for it addresses a scary issue that confronts every young girl with a computer. Since that takes in just about every young girl today, Cynthia may well have a run-away best seller on her hands.

The story line introduces young adult readers (and possibly their parents) to Monique. Now, Monique may seem carefree and bubbly on the outside, but, well, that’s a façade. Remember what it was like to be sixteen?

Actually, Monique is self- conscious and often lonely. She craves the affection of her mother and stepfather, but finds them too immersed in their own lives to pay much attention to her. What little is left of their time and energy is absorbed by her younger brother and his needs. When Monique reconnects with her biological father this merely serves to renew parental conflicts. Monique’s discovery of the website, myteensite.com looks like the answer at last. When exciting messages arrive from the mysterious JS, Monique is certain that she has found a true connection. JS is different from anyone she has ever known. He offers her an escape from loneliness and Monique is ready to run away forever. Well! That’s a plot for you. Cynthia

is off and running. “Deception” is to be the first novel in a trilogy, each to focus on a challenge point in the lives of three young friends. Formerly involved in marketing and public relations, Cynthia was inspired to break into fiction by the success stories she heard from speakers and workshop leaders at the Gold Rush Writers Conference in Mokelumne Hill. Having decided to take the plunge, she analyzed the market and decided to focus on young adults as her target audience. “They’re reading more these days,” Cynthia says. “I believe that Kindle and Nook have them hooked. She thinks, too, that “Deception” will reach out to parents. “They want to know what their kids are reading as well as the kind of challenges they’re facing.” Cynthia got the idea for her book from her daughter, Danielle, who appears in the novel as “Danny,” a voice of caution in the heroine’s tangled life. “I observed the peer pressure in Danielle’s life and listened to the experiences of her friends,” Cynthia recalls. “Broken families and blended families each raise their own issues. Facebook and the social media appear to offer the connection that teens are searching for but they also raise a whole new set of challenges. I saw some of Danielle’s friends get involved in potentially dangerous situations. One young girl was nearly kidnapped.” Danielle, as well as Cynthia’s husband, Brian, has been highly supportive throughout the writing- publishing process. “They’re

proud of me for having seen the project through.” Upon completion of her novel, Cynthia reviewed a number of publishing options before deciding on Tate Publishing and Enterprises. She’s very happy with her choice. “We worked together every step of the way which kept costs down,” Cynthia says. “Unlike a vanity press, they didn’t just take my money and publish the book. I was assigned not only a copy editor but a concept one. The concept editor was wonderful. She’d say, ‘I don’t understand this’ or ‘why are you saying that?’ I re-thought a number of things besides doing some major rewrites. It’s a better book because of that editor.” Tate also became involved in the marketing and promotion of the book. They did a video tape, press releases and are lining up book signings. Cynthia’s next signing will be at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Copperopolis on Sept. 10.

“Deception” is available through bookstores nationwide and from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com or amazon.com. Call Cynthia at 559- 9968 for more information.

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In other news: Don’t miss Linda Field’s “Manzanita Voices” every Sunday morning at 9 on KVGC. Linda, a resident of Angels Camp, is broadcasting interviews with foothill writers coast to coast from Jackson!

Do you have a new book out? Are you planning a reading or signing? Let’s share the excitement. Email the details to me at amherndon@sierralodestar.com