Everyone, please welcome a breath of fresh air this planet needs, the glorious Cindy Koepp, and her array of colorful work! =D

1. Where did you grow up?

Did your childhood have any impact on your writing?I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and Austin, Texas. My first published novel, Remnant in the Stars, was originally based on a GURPs Space campaign I was in during high school, and some of my earlier writing was X-Men fanfic because friends and I read the comics.

2. Tell us about the first story you ever wrote, published or not?

I don’t recall the first story, actually, but my mother tells me she has that first story in a box somewhere. It’s about a talking dog and his pet cactus or something like that.

3. What are you currently working on (writing, drawing, comic, project-wise?)

I have several projects in the works. Here are the ones that I actually have in play.
– Animal Eye is a comic book miniseries based on the Animal Eye novel. 1 is out in paper and digital. 2 is in digital only (trouble with the printer). 3 is ready but not out yet. 4 is scripted and out to an editor. 5-7 are planned.

– Animal Eye the mobile game. A set of minigames based on concepts from the Animal Eye novel and the stories in the Animal Eye Expansion Pack. Still in planning stages with a gaming company called Clopas.

– Animal Eye Expansion Pack. I have about 40 story ideas based in the Animal Eye world. 3 or 4 are drafted. I want to write the rest of them and publish it as a collection.  

– For the Glory, the sequel to Animal Eye. Planned out in very much detail but not started yet.
– A Home for the Manatees. This is the 3rd installment of Proxigean Press, a serial on my Patreon site. Once I finish Home for the Manatees, I’ll get it and the first two (Free Lance Words and Trouble Is for the Birds) edited and published.

– A Suitable Arrangement. This is a sequel to Lines of Succession, which is out of print (but still available as an ebook). For now, I’m posting the draft on my Patreon. Eventually, I’ll get it edited and published, too.
– Short story compilation.  I’ve written a pile of short stories. Some of them have been published and gone out of print. Others have only appeared in my newsletter or (now defunct) blog. I plan to get those assembled, edited, and out in a collection.
– Fur coat bears. My folks found some old (old enough that some of them are falling apart) fur coats. I’m disassembling them and recycling them into teddy bears to give folks as gifts. 

– Kenku costume. I have a kenku costume in the works based on the lead character in Condemned Courier. I’m working on the head now. My goal is to have it finished by Spring. This might be ambitious.

– Fairy costume. I started a fairy costume but ran afoul of issues when I was told to wear a knee brace when working cons. The knee brace’s velcro is going to be problematic with the original design. So, I need to redesign it so it still works.

– Griffin amigurumi. I have a griffin half-finished. I need to get ‘im done. My original plan was to finish it in time for the Homeschool Iowa convention (last June) because I was only approved to bring amigurumi related to my books, but I ran out of daylight.

– Unicorn amigurumi. I have a unicorn half-finished, and it, too, needs finishing. I’d aborted this one to work on the griffin.

– Hatchlings. At a con, I made a pile of hatchling eggs. I need to make the dragons to go on them.

4. What is your favorite character you have ever created and why?Favorite character?

OOooo… That’s like asking a parent about their favorite child.   

Um… I’d say my favorite character is Janice Nili from Remnant in the Stars because she’s got my wacky sense of humor. (She’s not the only one, but she tended to stay in the background in the story, which is much like I do).

5. Do you have to write/draw in order or do your ideas just come to you and you put them in order later?

I am a wild and crazy planner. I write lots of detailed notes and plot development info including a scene-by-scene description. I do, however, find that sometimes I write extra scenes that need removing. Other times, I have stuff that’s missing, and it gets added in later.

6. What was your path like until you found writing?

No idea. I don’t recall being a little kid (too many anticonvulsants). At my earliest solid recollection, I was already writing stories. They weren’t fabulous, but they were coherent.

7. How is your relationship with your publishing company?  If you are self-published, what tasks do you have to do to get your project completed? 

I have multiple publishers (all small presses). We’re all pals.

8. Tell us about your covers.

The Under the Moon covers were done by the publisher (they’re both artists).

Lumen Anime covers were done by Matt Ostrom.

Bear Publications hires an assortment of cover artists.

Animal Eye’s art (from Bear Publications) was done by Rowell Cruz (colors by Denver Martirez).

I’m not sure who does the covers for the other small presses.

9. What inspires you to create?

I have a lot of wild ideas, and I hate being bored. I’d like to get my wild ideas out of my head and into someone else’s.

10. How do you get reviews?

Um… well… I have remarkably few reviews. Less than 2 dozen (including star ratings that have no commentary) across 8 books. I haven’t figured out how to get more.

11. What is harder: writing, drawing, editing, or marketing?

Marketing is by far the hardest. Getting the signal above the noise is soooo unpredictable. Nothing seems to work consistently, if at all.

12. If you could publish every book/comic/art idea you’ve ever had, how many would you have out right now? 

O.o  That would be quite the list. As it is, just the stuff I have written (including unpublished and unpublishable), I think we’re approaching 100. I have about 3 dozen projects in plan that would be publishable if I ever get them done. They Day Job and other family obligations slurp up a lot of time.

Now, if we included amigurumis and other types of fiber arts … I don’t know if we can number that high. I have so many in process or planned.

13. Have you ever considered co-writing a series with another creator?

I actually have done it twice. The first was a disaster. He totally hijacked my work then made a couple tweaks and claimed it was all his. We parted company (with a contract that specifically delineated what was his and what was mine), and the book eventually became Remnant in the Stars.

The second time, I tag-teamed with Travis Perry to write The Bond of the Sword (not published yet). He wrote the first and last third, and I wrote the middle. He then tweaked it so my writing matched his style better. This co-writing adventure worked better, and we’re still pals. I’m not sure where it is in Bear Publications’ schedule.  

14. What do you do to relax?

I write, actually. I know it makes some writers crazy, but that’s relaxing to me.I also do crafty stuff. A couple years ago, I started learning tai chi fan forms. I’ve learned 3 so far from YouTube how-to vids. Recently, I started learning tai chi (a non-weapon form) in a class. (YouTube is notoriously bad at giving feedback). I’ve only been in the class for a couple weeks, and I’m learning a lot. The teachers give a lot of good corrections and often explain what the movement would do if it were done full speed against an opponent. Oftentimes, that’ll help me get the movement correct.  
15. If you could tell your 14-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

Be yourself, not what others expect you to be even if you have to get growly about it. 

16. What advice would you have for this upcoming generation?

Be a nice human. Kindness toward others is something to strive for … even when you flatly disagree with them on key issues.
17. Have you ever read a book/comic/series that changed your outlook on life?

Sure. All the best stories do. They make you think a bit.
18. Do you have a classic piece of literature or a classic author you are fond of?

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. The story of grace vs law is very interesting.
19. Any type of music that gets your writing/drawing juices flowing?

I don’t typically listen to music when I’m writing. I end up focusing too much on the music (whether it has words or not.)

20. If you could pick three people who are your heroes or role models, who would they be and why?

Uh… Not sure. I think that list is a perpetually moving target. 
21. Dog or cat person?

Birds. Definitely birds. I have had 4 cockatiels, 3 pionuses, and an African Grey. Most were rescues or rehomes. The only one that wasn’t ended up rehomed somewhere else because he liked that person better than he liked me, and that made it a much better place for him. They all had very different personalities. Sadly, after losing the African Grey to old age, I’m currently birdless. I’d like to get another bird, but my roomies don’t want any pets … especially messy ones like birds.
22. What do you want to eat right now?

I don’t have the munchies at the moment, but I do like PB&J. Or dates. Dates are yummy.
23. If you could be in any movie that has already been made, which one would it be?

If I could be in a movie, I’d be in Ladyhawk.
24. What is your favorite holiday or time of year?

That’s tricky. I’m not generally a fan of any holidays. They’re too people-y and stressful with all the family drama needed to choke an elephant herd. Total nightmare. My favorite time of year … Any time I can take a week(ish) off from work and stay home to write or do crafty stuff.

25. Anything else you would like to add?

I stink at marketing. Buy my books and critters. Please!  

BIO:

Originally from Michigan, Cindy Koepp combined a love of pedagogy and ecology into a 14-year career as an elementary science specialist. After teaching four-footers – that’s height, not leg count – she pursued a Master’s in Adult Learning with a specialization in Performance Improvement. When she isn’t writing and publishing science fiction, fantasy, and GameLit tales, Cindy likes to make critters. She began adventures in amigurumi (crocheted critters) a couple years ago and later added sewn beasties to the repertoire. Cindy is currently working as a tech writer, hat collector, quilter, crafter, and strange joke teller.

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