We recently connected with Mia Counts Lynch and have shared our conversation below.
Mia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
Before pursuing writing novels, I worked in state government and non-profits. Part of my responsibilities were to write training manuals, pamphlets, grants, you name it. Writing is a skill you must practice, but the biggest lesson I learned was to write for your audience. This applies to any job and industry. The way we communicate must reflect our purpose and goals in a way that our audience finds meaningful. A simple way of thinking about this is to think of how we consume books. Do you prefer a physical copy? an ebook? an audiobook? My books appeal to some people, but not others, and that’s just as it should be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a romance author! I’ve always loved reading and filled up notebooks scribbles pretending that I was writing stories. I write historical fiction and romantic suspense, but the one thing my books have in common is a happy ending. Writing books is simultaneously an individualistic and community oriented endeavor. I put pieces of myself in every story, and letting strangers read your work can be scary. But I’ve also found a wonderfully welcoming community in book lovers and fellow authors. Luckily for me, the best way to get better at writing is to read more books. So if you’ve got any recommendations, send them my way!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Support comes in different forms. If possible, buy from creatives. Purchase a book or artwork. Hire locals for your projects. There are so many talented people out there. I do know, however, that it’s not always possible to support creatives with your wallet. Small batch items are by nature more expensive. If you do purchase from artists, be sure to leave a review. If you can’t buy something, say something. Creatives need reviews, social media shoutouts, comments, shares. You can purchase one book, but a review or a recommendation to friends and family leads to multiple purchases. Ultimately, we want to know if you liked our work. People have copies of my books in their homes, and that’s a pretty amazing thing.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
You can push your message in a way that truly resonates with people. For example, my first book Sins of the Father, is about a young woman of mixed heritage. She passes for Spanish ethnicity but she is also half Maya. Throughout the story she wrestles with both sides of her identity – sometimes feeling too much or too little – and ultimately not feeling like she belongs to either group. I put some my feelings into that. I don’t fit the stereotype of a Mexican American in looks, and my ethnic identity is always something I’ve felt I needed to prove. Writing a book that starts to address some of those feelings is an honor, and it is my hope that it might resonate with a reader.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miacountslynch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mia_lynch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miacountslynch
- Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20850691.Mia_Counts_Lynch