| Welcome to the Fun Page! |
From the author: When I read a book or view a film or see a performance, one of three
things must happen for me in order to find it successful. I call it my "3 Es." I either have to
be Entertained... I have to be Emotionally stimulated... or I have to be Educated in some
way. (My preference is accented on the latter.) Snakes in Paha Sapa has ALL 3.
Did you know... that a director friend of the author calls her Mel (short for her middle
name), and that is why she writes her screenplays under the pseudonym, Mel Styles?
Did you know... that the author named one of the dogs in this book after another of her real
life dogs? Her name is Killer, and is in the photo to the left (with Sherlock the cat hamming
into the photo). Clearly, Killer is not of the same physical description as in the novel,
however, she is just as feisty.
The main female character in this novel owns and runs a ranch in Wyoming. Click on the
to see a diagram of what the ranchhouse floor layout might look like. The top
square is the second level and the bottom square is the first level. To enlarge to full-size,
click on the expand button at the lower right-hand corner after clicking the "ranch" button.
Did you know... it is rumored that the word Sioux (shortened from Nadouessioux) was
translated from a French adaption of this Ojibwa (Chippewa) word in their language? The
word means snake. Since the two tribes were enemies, it is not hard to understand that the
Lakota people preferred the word Lakota instead, meaning allies. Snake in the Lakota
Language is Zuzeca, and clearly a very important word in this story. So one could say that
the title reads Zuzeca el Paha Sapa. Of course, in this novel, the Blue Coats are the snakes.
Click on and see a list of some other words in the Lakota language.
Did you know... it is rumored that the author is from an Algonquin descent? Her great,
great, great, great-grandmother inhabited the Ottawa River valley of Quebec and Ontario
area, and was a member of an Ojibwa tribe.
things must happen for me in order to find it successful. I call it my "3 Es." I either have to
be Entertained... I have to be Emotionally stimulated... or I have to be Educated in some
way. (My preference is accented on the latter.) Snakes in Paha Sapa has ALL 3.
Did you know... that a director friend of the author calls her Mel (short for her middle
name), and that is why she writes her screenplays under the pseudonym, Mel Styles?
Did you know... that the author named one of the dogs in this book after another of her real
life dogs? Her name is Killer, and is in the photo to the left (with Sherlock the cat hamming
into the photo). Clearly, Killer is not of the same physical description as in the novel,
however, she is just as feisty.
The main female character in this novel owns and runs a ranch in Wyoming. Click on the
to see a diagram of what the ranchhouse floor layout might look like. The top
square is the second level and the bottom square is the first level. To enlarge to full-size,
click on the expand button at the lower right-hand corner after clicking the "ranch" button.
Did you know... it is rumored that the word Sioux (shortened from Nadouessioux) was
translated from a French adaption of this Ojibwa (Chippewa) word in their language? The
word means snake. Since the two tribes were enemies, it is not hard to understand that the
Lakota people preferred the word Lakota instead, meaning allies. Snake in the Lakota
Language is Zuzeca, and clearly a very important word in this story. So one could say that
the title reads Zuzeca el Paha Sapa. Of course, in this novel, the Blue Coats are the snakes.
Click on and see a list of some other words in the Lakota language.
Did you know... it is rumored that the author is from an Algonquin descent? Her great,
great, great, great-grandmother inhabited the Ottawa River valley of Quebec and Ontario
area, and was a member of an Ojibwa tribe.
Bright colors? You bet! We wanted our Fun Page to be lively, and, well... fun!
In this Fun Page you will find extra information about each book that not everyone might
know who hasn't visited this page. BEWARE... this page contains spoiler information about
the books. This page was design to enhance the information already read inside each book.
But don't worry, we won't tell you that the butler did it.
Fun Quote:
Blah... fiction writers! What do they know?! They just make stuff up!
In this Fun Page you will find extra information about each book that not everyone might
know who hasn't visited this page. BEWARE... this page contains spoiler information about
the books. This page was design to enhance the information already read inside each book.
But don't worry, we won't tell you that the butler did it.
Fun Quote:
Blah... fiction writers! What do they know?! They just make stuff up!
CMS Enterprises Presents... Author CYNDIE M. STYLES
| Fun Page FAQ for Author Cyndie M. Styles |
| Fun Page about Snakes in Paha Sapa Tale Of A Lakota Nation |
| Killer Sherlock |
| Crossing Burning Bridges |
| Snakes in Paha Sapa |
| "Killer" is the name of one of the characters in Snakes in Paha Sapa |
| Foxy Lady The model for one of the main characters in Crossing Burning Bridges |
What does the title (Crossing Burning Bridges) refer to?
Greetings everyone, and thank you for reading and visiting this website. I think the most
common inquiry is about the title and the meaning behind why I chose it. The title
Crossing Burning Bridges is about the many facets of making choices. It's about
standing on a bridge and deciding which way to go... back the way you came - from
what was most comfortable, or forward toward something new and the gamble to make
your life better than from where you began. It's about standing on a burning bridge, and
deciding which way to run. Yes, run! It’s more than about just making the initial choice
to change your life or remain stagnate in it to never experience something wonderful -
but it's also about living with the consequences of that choice while running to embrace
it. Throwing yourself 100% into your choice. It's about the agony of being "in the
middle," "on the fence," and not being able to get on with your life because you can't
decide whether to go forward or back. I believe not being able to make a decision is
much harder than making one, no matter which way you decide to go. Then after you've
made that decision, you should embrace it and live by the ways of that choice as if it
was the only choice. The decision making is amplified with the fire burning brighter with
each tragedy of the main character's life, and forces her decisions to become expedited
before it devours her chances to make a choice as it could be made for her.
Can you tell me about your heroine and the creation of your other characters?
Most every character that I have invented came from a personality of someone that I've
known in my life but not necessarily of the same relationship or even the same gender as
these characters. However, her grandfather was very much like my beloved grandfather
(my mother's father) and of course, for Foxy Lady. For the rest of them, I just thought
of what kind of character that I wanted them to be and recalled who in my life they
would most likely resemble. Everyone in the story has their fair share of idiosyncrasies,
even the heroine of the story, Jordan Walsh. I wanted her to grow strong from her
adversities but still vulnerable to be likeable. The personalities of her parents were created
to help her to become stronger and to be able to cope with what life may cast upon her.
Stick with what you know or rather who, was my goal for my first novel in order to
make them easier to visualize.
What would be your advice to new writers?
Don't be detoured if you are turned away from publishers, in fact, expect it. There are
100-200 books published everyday in the U.S. and the competition is fierce. Persevere -
don't take no for an answer. You may have to move on to another publishing company,
but don't give up. Writing the novel is the easy part. There is also the option of self-
publishing, as many people are now choosing, but expect to pay a hefty amount.
What do you do when you're not writing?
That alone keeps me quite busy, but I also have a "day job" and have been a Flight
Attendant for over sixteen years. I reside near L.A. with my two dogs (with one being
the dog on the back cover) and one cat. I like spending time with my family and friends
even if it's only an occasional hour-long telephone call. I have done sports photograph
(mostly tennis and basketball) which has taken me to Wimbledon, Queen's Club in
London and the Meadowlands in New Jersey, to name a few, and develop my own
photos in my darkroom. I was a day-trader mostly during the mid to the end of the
1990s when the dot coms were hot. I was a theatre major in college and still enjoy
performing occasionally. Mondays are my favorite day of the week . . . write and ask
me why.
Why did you choose monkeys for the big practical joke?
It was originally suppose to be elephants. Elephants are my favorite animal because I had
a stuffed one as a child (instead of the typical teddy bear). I had begun the outline for the
book early in 2003 including the stuffed elephants but set it aside until January of 2004 to
work on another project. The 2003 Big Brother aired in July of that year spoofing "The
Elephant Murders." So there went that idea... and that's when the Monkey Murders were
born.
Thanks again for visiting and reading. More questions and answers to come . . .
Greetings everyone, and thank you for reading and visiting this website. I think the most
common inquiry is about the title and the meaning behind why I chose it. The title
Crossing Burning Bridges is about the many facets of making choices. It's about
standing on a bridge and deciding which way to go... back the way you came - from
what was most comfortable, or forward toward something new and the gamble to make
your life better than from where you began. It's about standing on a burning bridge, and
deciding which way to run. Yes, run! It’s more than about just making the initial choice
to change your life or remain stagnate in it to never experience something wonderful -
but it's also about living with the consequences of that choice while running to embrace
it. Throwing yourself 100% into your choice. It's about the agony of being "in the
middle," "on the fence," and not being able to get on with your life because you can't
decide whether to go forward or back. I believe not being able to make a decision is
much harder than making one, no matter which way you decide to go. Then after you've
made that decision, you should embrace it and live by the ways of that choice as if it
was the only choice. The decision making is amplified with the fire burning brighter with
each tragedy of the main character's life, and forces her decisions to become expedited
before it devours her chances to make a choice as it could be made for her.
Can you tell me about your heroine and the creation of your other characters?
Most every character that I have invented came from a personality of someone that I've
known in my life but not necessarily of the same relationship or even the same gender as
these characters. However, her grandfather was very much like my beloved grandfather
(my mother's father) and of course, for Foxy Lady. For the rest of them, I just thought
of what kind of character that I wanted them to be and recalled who in my life they
would most likely resemble. Everyone in the story has their fair share of idiosyncrasies,
even the heroine of the story, Jordan Walsh. I wanted her to grow strong from her
adversities but still vulnerable to be likeable. The personalities of her parents were created
to help her to become stronger and to be able to cope with what life may cast upon her.
Stick with what you know or rather who, was my goal for my first novel in order to
make them easier to visualize.
What would be your advice to new writers?
Don't be detoured if you are turned away from publishers, in fact, expect it. There are
100-200 books published everyday in the U.S. and the competition is fierce. Persevere -
don't take no for an answer. You may have to move on to another publishing company,
but don't give up. Writing the novel is the easy part. There is also the option of self-
publishing, as many people are now choosing, but expect to pay a hefty amount.
What do you do when you're not writing?
That alone keeps me quite busy, but I also have a "day job" and have been a Flight
Attendant for over sixteen years. I reside near L.A. with my two dogs (with one being
the dog on the back cover) and one cat. I like spending time with my family and friends
even if it's only an occasional hour-long telephone call. I have done sports photograph
(mostly tennis and basketball) which has taken me to Wimbledon, Queen's Club in
London and the Meadowlands in New Jersey, to name a few, and develop my own
photos in my darkroom. I was a day-trader mostly during the mid to the end of the
1990s when the dot coms were hot. I was a theatre major in college and still enjoy
performing occasionally. Mondays are my favorite day of the week . . . write and ask
me why.
Why did you choose monkeys for the big practical joke?
It was originally suppose to be elephants. Elephants are my favorite animal because I had
a stuffed one as a child (instead of the typical teddy bear). I had begun the outline for the
book early in 2003 including the stuffed elephants but set it aside until January of 2004 to
work on another project. The 2003 Big Brother aired in July of that year spoofing "The
Elephant Murders." So there went that idea... and that's when the Monkey Murders were
born.
Thanks again for visiting and reading. More questions and answers to come . . .
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| Crossing Burning Bridges |
| Snakes in Paha Sapa |
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