Welcome Author Cesya MaRae Cuono!

Today is it my great pleasure to welcome author Cesya Cuono to The Cover Contessa!

Cesya has written two amazing books

Title: Elemental Reality (Elemental #1)

Publication Date: August 21, 2011

Publisher: Revolution Publishing

Buying Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that's only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality.

Title: Battle Scars

Expected Publication Date: 2012

Publisher: Revolution Publishing

How do you carry on fighting for your family when you’re left scarred and broken? When your dreams are plagued by nightmares, how do you strengthen the armor needed to protect yourself again? Callie’s been defeated by the loss of her entire family. With the help of old and new friends, will she build her battle armor up and fight the evil hands of the Demons who threaten to destroy her new home? Or will her battle scars leave her too broken and empty to fight?

Aren't those some of the most beautiful covers you have ever seen????

Here's a little about Cesya:

Cesya MaRae Cuono hails from a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Alvernia University where she majored in Business Administration and also received her certificate of Multi-Media & Production makeup from Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry. You can find any updates from Cesya on her websites.

With that said, she'd like to leave you with this advice: Ideas pop into your head at the strangest of times. Don't let them go. Write them down right away and try to make a story out of it. Who knows, it may be worth while.

I had the pleasure of meting Cesya in August at the YA Fest 2012:

Let's hear what Cesya had to say in response to my questions!

1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else? 

To be quite honest, I hated English in school. Despised it really. But I loved to read. When I went to college I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be. I mean, I was only 18 I wanted to enjoy finally being legal at that age lol. At 19 I decided I wanted to be a makeup artist so I dropped out of college and did that. Then I went back to college and got my BA in Business Administration. I think that’s when I realized I wanted to write even though I still do makeup and business-y things along with being an author.

2. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish? 

The first book, Elemental Reality, took me 8 months (including edits). The second book, Battle Scars, is taking me a little longer because my personal life got in the way for a few months.

3. How do you come up with themes for your stories?

I like being different so I want my novels to be different. Something that you’ve never read about before.

4. Do you have a schedule of when you write? 

I used to but now it’s whenever I have the chance.

5. How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing? Luckily for me the latest I work with my new job is 7pm so I still have hours to write before I need to sleep. It’s a great thing!

6. What elements do you think make a great story line? 

A main character with a backbone, who’s not afraid to be themselves, and kickass powers.

7. What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

Keeping things flowing. I don’t have a timeline for my books or even a summary of each chapter so I know where my story is going. I’ve tried to do that but I just can’t and usually just write whatever my imagination throws my way.

8. How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?

I’ve only written one and in the process of finishing the second one. My favorite is definitely the second.

9. Do you have a favorite character? 

In Elemental Reality my favorite character is Callie. In Battle Scars it’s Orion but don’t let Callie know.

10. Where do you write?

Usually on my bed or in the kitchen when everyone is asleep.

11. When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?

I’m not going to be elaborate on this but I was comfortable with the publisher and those who worked there.

12. Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? 

What do they think? I’ve convinced them all that Faeries are a real thing and now they’re begging for the next book.

13. What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

Makeup, going to concerts, reading, shopping, and spending hours in Barnes & Noble.

14. What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?

Make sure you have your characters named and their backgrounds/personalities/features ready before you even begin writing. It makes things sooo much easier.

15. What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? 

The first two questions are so hard to answer because I don’t have just one. And the author that inspired me to write is Laura Kreitzer.

16. Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such? 

I have about six go to people haha. I’m so lucky they love me and enjoy listening to my novel problems.

17. Are you working on anything now?

Battle Scars (Elemental #2) which is due out this year. Eventually.

You can find Cesya here: Goodreads, Cesya's Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Thans so much for stopping by today, Cesya! Good luck with the publication of your second book!