Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Synithia Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Synithia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.
My first failure as an author was losing my first agent. I don’t consider the original rejection letters I received as a failure, because I accept that rejection is part of the process. Everyone isn’t going to like my stories and that’s okay. I met my first agent at a writer’s retreat. We hit it off and I reached out to her because I had a few requests for full manuscripts from publishers. I signed and agreed to work with her, but it was very clear early on that we weren’t compatible. The publishers who’d requested my manuscript eventually declined the offers. I sent new ideas and the feedback from my agent was that she didn’t like the heroines I wrote. A manuscript went to publishers and my agent feedback was that the editors didn’t want it because the manuscript was full of errors. When I checked what was sent out, it was some kind of glitch that changed the characters in my novel. Something she didn’t catch and made me feel as if she wasn’t even reading my items. I felt like a bad writer while working with her. When we agreed to end our work together, I considered myself a failure and thought I’d never sell anything again. That was not the case. I immediately wrote stories the way I wanted to write them and not the way she suggested I change them. I sold those stories. I found a new agent and she absolutely loves my writing and constantly hypes me up instead of tearing me down. I don’t dislike my former agent. She’s great for other writers, she just wasn’t great for me. The lesson I learned is that if your gut feeling tells you that the relationship isn’t working then walk away. I wanted to make our author/agent situation work so bad that I put myself last. Your agent should be a supportive member of your author team. If they aren’t walk away.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I write sexy, messy, emotional romances. I started writing romance novels because I’ve been reading them since I was about thirteen years old. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first story when I was about six years old, and hand wrote my first romance novel on 300 notebook pages in high school. That book will never go to press, but I still have it in a three-ring binder. I let my dream of being a writer go to the wayside during college and afterwards when I got a job, got married and had kids. But one day, a co-worker quit her job to pursue a dream and I decided I would actively pursue my dream of being a writer. It was 2010. I spent time researching publishing, learning the craft of writing, submitting to competitions and taking classes in person and virtually. I also joined writing organizations so that I would be around other writers. I’m still friends with some of the writers I met in those early days and they’ve helped me throughout my career. I published my first romance, You Can’t Plan Love, with Crimson Romance in 2012. Now, I’ve published over 25 romances and women’s fiction novels both traditionally and independently. I write romances with Black main characters, because that’s what I grew up seeing and it’s the life I live. Growing up I was surrounded by happily married couples, my husband and I hang out with other married couples. I see that Black love does exist, but I didn’t always see that watching television or movies. I grew up in the 90s and the message I received constantly was that Black women are the least likely to find love or that if you do, the person you love is going to leave you. Life is already hard enough. There are bad things on the news everyday. Bad things happen to Black people every day. I chose to write stories that are fun, entertaining, and have a happy ending. A story doesn’t have to be tragic just to be good. I also grew up watching soap operas, that’s where the messy comes from in my stories. I don’t believe in perfect people so I don’t write perfect characters. I don’t expect readers to agree with every decision my characters make, but I want them to understand the reason they did it. I want the characters to be relatable. When a reader asks “how did you come up with that” or says “I cried when I read that story” or “that really made me mad when I got to that part” then I feel like I’ve done what I hoped to do. To get some type of emotional reaction from the readers. I’m proud that I’ve gained some recognition for my writing. through nominations, magazine write ups, and starred reviews, but what makes me the proudest is getting the emails from readers. That’s what makes me sit in the chair and work on the next novel.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ve had to pivot several times. First when I lost my agent. Another was the closing of two publishing lines I wrote for. I started writing for Crimson Romance, which was a small, digital first, publisher. I loved working with Crimson. My editor was fantastic and really helped make my stories better. The other Crimson writers were fun to work with and were constantly looking for ways to cross promote each other. But Crimson was purchased by Simon and Schuster, which later closed the line. That was devastating because I wasn’t sure if I’d get the same support at a larger house that I got a Crimson. I was fortunate enough to sign with Harlequin’s Kimani line. It was the line at Harlequin that focused strictly on Black stories. I understood why they had it, but it was also kind of a form of segregation. All kinds of stories were put in that line and the only common denominator was the character’s race. When they announced the closing of the Kimani line in 2018 I was once again left without a publisher. I wasn’t sure if the other lines are Harlequin would even be interested in publishing my stories. I didn’t give up and was able to take a pivot into writing Women’s Fiction as Nita Brooks with Kensignton and later getting a contract with Harlequin’s HQN line for longer, more widespread distribution, novels. Publishers closing lines, agents leaving, editors moving on are all possibilities when you’re traditionally published. I’ve learned to feel the disappointment, but don’t take the loss as proof that there isn’t room out there for my stories. Find a new route and keep on writing.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a romance writer is the community. Writers, publishing professionals, but especially the readers. The love and support when you find your people is invaluable. Other writers understand when a character won’t “do what they’re supposed to do” and can help you fix the problem. They can give support when you’re feeling down or cheer you on when things are going great. My favorite thing is talking to and connecting with readers. they see my stories in such a different way. They notice things that I didn’t even realize would resonate with them. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.synithiawilliams.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/@SynithiaW
- Facebook: facebook.com/synithiarwilliams
- Twitter: twitter.com/@SynithiaW
- TikTok: @SynithiaW