Interview with Melissa Cynova

Author of Tarot Elements: Five Readings to Reset Your Life

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Junction City, Kansas and currently live just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

OH so much stuff. My parents were divorced when I was very small and my dad wanted a fresh start for himself, my sister and I. We moved and lived with my wonderful aunt for a while until he got his feet under him again.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I had a tarot blog that was started to help my Canadian friend learn the cards. Phone calls were so expensive! It took off, and I started a tarot business, and then I kept hearing from folks that I should turn it into a book. I’ve wanted to be an author since I was 6 so I jumped at the chance. I turned my blog into a book and wrote everything I knew about learning the cards.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

How to learn tarot cards without all of the esoterica and confusing 18th century descriptions. My book will show you how to use the cards as soon as you have the deck in your hands.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I’ve heard that my writing sounds like my speaking voice. People feel that I am approachable and straightforward, and that helps knock the fear away from learning tarot or magic.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I had NO IDEA that I didn’t get final say about the cover of my books or the titles. Shocked the hell out of me. Then I found out that Stephen King doesn’t, either, so I felt less precious after that.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

Never write a book without an outline. Never assume that your voice isn’t worth hearing, and never ever ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

So many! I would love for people who have always been anxious about learning tarot or magic or insights into their own lives to find my books as an easy way to start accessing this information. I’m a fantastic on-ramp to the mysterious.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

I have been really challenged in the book that I’ve just finished because I didn’t have an outline or a clear direction to write. It had no form and thank GOD for copy editors. I wrote and wrote and sent it to her and she said, “OH, you have all pie and no crust. I got you.” She gave my book the skeleton that it needed and helped me realize the original vision for the book. The lesson I learned is that if you get stuck ASK FOR HELP. Don’t just flail about being miserable.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I can write for days about any topic that I’m knowledgable about. I love writing so much. I love finding just the right tone and word for a paragraph. My greatest strength in publishing is that I am tenacious and don’t stop if I’m told no. Marketing is not my strong suit, but I learned to hire someone who’s fantastic at it and do whatever they say that resonates with my brand. Oh, I also learned what Brand is. 🙂

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

With writing, it’s admitting that what I’m doing isn’t working out. With publishing, it’s impatience with the time that it takes to get to the end of the process. With marketing, it’s that I suck at it.

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I’m currently finishing Kitchen Table Magic and the book for the Scorpio Sea tarot. After this, I’m taking a break. I’ve been writing nearly non-stop for four years and I need a breather. In Spring of 2020, I’ll start the next two projects.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I was published by Llewellyn Worldwide, a fantastic independent publisher.