As an author myself, I always get excited when I have the opportunity of featuring women authors who are doing the damn thing! Meet Cyn Alexander, the author of multiple bestselling books and also the owner of Cynful Monarch. Cyn and I have been connected virtually for a few years, so it was a pleasure chatting with Cyn about branding and business, a self-reflection of 2021, and how she faces adversity and success in the book industry!

Tell us about your business, Cynful Monarch! What inspired you to start it and what was the process like for you?

CA: “Cynful Monarch really stemmed from the knowledge I gained both in the industry as well as in school. I finished my bachelor’s degree in creative writing with a focus in fiction and decided to write my first book. From there, I was emerged into the industry and soaked up all the knowledge. It wasn’t long before I realized there were so many things I could do within the industry that I loved and could make a career out of aside from writing books, so I took a stab at it. Cynful Monarch truly started with formatting books. That is honestly my first love (service-wise) and it is still my favorite service I offer. To take a simple Word doc and turn it into something beautiful is so satisfying. From there, I dabbled in a lot of other things until Cynful Monarch was born, and I zeroed in on the skills I was truly good at and got rid of the rest (like creating covers – I leave that to the true designers – lol!). Now, I edit, typeset, mentor, and coach for other authors… with some new services coming very soon!”

What are the ups and downs about being a bestselling author?

CA: “I honestly wouldn’t count myself as a bestselling author just yet. I am striving to get there, but it is difficult being an indie author. It is very satisfying to chart on new releases, but to have the number one spot overall (not just in new releases) is the true short-term goal for me. Long term, I want to be a New York bestselling author! The downside of striving to be a bestseller is getting discouraged. Every author goes through those phases, and it is tough, but honestly, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else other than what I love, so at the end of the day it’s worth it!”

Which of your traits do you admire about yourself the most? What is your life affirmation?

CA: “I would say I love my work ethic. It wasn’t until I got into this industry that I realized how much of a hustler and hard worker I truly am. All it took was me finding my passion to pull that out of me, and most days I am in awe of myself. Most days I work from sun up to sun down and accomplish a lot, which is always so satisfying. 

I think the one affirmation I live by is I create the life I desire. I am doing my best to do just that, so it is something I remind myself of often when I start to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or like I am not where I want to be.”

2021 was a rollercoaster year! How did it go for you and what important lessons did you learn?

CA: “Now that is an understatement! 2021 was definitely a rollercoaster and a major year of growth for me. I lost a lot in 2021, but I also gained so much going into 2022. I think the biggest lesson I learned in my personal life was to learn my boundaries, understand them, stand on them, and articulate them as much as necessary in order to live a healthy and peaceful life. That was an extremely hard lesson for me, but I am so grateful because I deserve to treat myself with respect and love on myself in that way. 

Business-wise, I feel as though 2021 was truly a test of will for me. How badly do I want my dream career? How badly do I want to live the life I’ve dreamed up for myself? 2021 was a year of brainstorming and putting things in motion to really gain traction toward what I want in life.

Overall, 2021 was a rough year for me, but I am thankful for it. I needed those growing pains because this year will be much better. I am stepping into 30 years of living, I have no choice but to come in hot this year!”

What are 4 fun facts about yourself that people may not know about you?

1.) Before I found my passion for creative writing and finally finished my degree, I went to school for a lot of other things including interior design and even culinary school!

2.) I hate chocolate and am not a huge fan of pasta.

3.) My real name is not Cyn .

4.) Since I pretty much only edit, work with, and write urban fiction books, my favorite books to read on my leisurely time are dystopian books or fantasy! My first love is always going to be urban fiction, but I work with that genre so much that when it comes to reading for my own pleasure. I like to switch it up!

Which hobbies or interests help you get back in a positive mood when you’re feeling down as an entrepreneur and author?

CA: “Sleeping! I won’t even lie, I love my sleep. Anyone that knows me knows I am the sleepiest person to walk this planet – lol! Outside of sleeping, though, I tend to dive into different forms of media when I am feeling down or out of sorts when it comes to my career. I am very easily inspired, so watching TV, reading, or even scrolling on Tik Tok helps a ton. Whether it is for a laugh, distraction, or inspiration, it helps. I can’t tell you how many Tik Tokers have been the inspiration behind characters in my books!”

What is the hardest lesson you’ve learned in running a business so far?

CA: “I don’t think I have fully learned this lesson yet, but it is something I am striving to get better at in 2022. Marketing and promoting. Staying consistent with those two things is the hardest part about owning a business in my eyes. I have such a hard time with being consistent with my promotions, which sucks because I know if I was more consistent I would be making sooooo much more money! I’ll get there eventually. 

Also, staying in my own lane was a hard lesson for me. In the beginning, I learned how to be self-sufficient in the industry so I could do everything on my own, but eventually, I had to learn that there were people out there that could do some things better than me, and I learned that if I feel as though there were people that could do it better, and I wasn’t willing to put the time in to get on their level, then I shouldn’t be offering those services. Sometimes recognizing what you are willing and able to do is hard, but honestly, it is so much better in the long run because I am able to really put forth all my attention into the services I am amazing at.”

Connecting with you made me learn your symbol is a butterfly! What does that represent for you?

CA: “Growth and transformation. I am obsessed with those two things. It’s why I am so eager to meet new people in the industry and why I am currently working on my master’s in creative writing. I want to soak all the knowledge in on my craft and in this industry. With knowledge comes growth and transformation. I feel like I am a butterfly. If I look at myself last year versus now… I see two different people. The same at the core, but knowledge has changed me.. transformed me. It’s why my company is surrounded by butterflies. I want to help transform and grow other authors with each service I give. “

Name your greatest accomplishment(s) or something that made you proud since you’ve started your business. 

CA: “I would say getting the chance to work with some of the most amazing publishers in the industry. It has truly been an honor to work with the likes of Literary Freedom Publishing and B. Love. I am looking to grow and work with even more publishers in 2022, but I am proud of how many clients I have worked with and how many people I get to connect with on a day-to-day basis. It’s only up from here!”

What is a main goal you want to definitely execute in 2022?

CA: “In the second half of the year, my main goal is to focus on my career as an author. I want to drop consistently and really make a splash in the industry. My main goal this year is to get my name and books out there.”

More about Cyn Alexander

Cyn Alexander was born and raised in Saint Paul, MN. Her passion for reading started before elementary school and grew as she did. When she reached high school she discovered a newfound love of urban fiction. That love spread like wildfire until she decided to put pen to paper and create her own masterpiece. That was when The Urban Fairytale Series was born.

Now, she has immersed herself in the industry as an executive editor, professional Typesetter, writing Coach, and an author. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and is working on her Masters in Creative Writing. Cynful Monarch was born through a combination of these talents, and will only continue to grow.