Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

What drew you to the genre you write?
As a reader, I’ve always loved thrillers. I love the books of Patricia Highsmith, Walter Mosley, Lee Child, and Michael Connelly.

As a writer, you could say that I accidentally wrote a thriller because I originally wrote Danger No Problem, book one of my Domingo the Bounty Hunter series, as literary fiction. I rewrote the book so many times over the years, finally using the POV of a bounty hunter, formerly a secondary character. With the shift in POV, the pacing accelerated because the bounty hunter is all about the chase. My novel organically became a thriller. Once I realized what I’d done, I fully embraced the genre and studied it closely by attending workshops, writing conferences, and reading a lot of thrillers. Today I’m in a happy place as both a reader and writer of thrillers.

Tell us how you got into writing?
When I was a journalist, and later, a marketing writer, I wrote fiction during my spare time. With my day job, I was writing for other people. The topics were assigned to me, and my writing style conformed with the guidelines and policies of my employers. I didn’t really have a voice.

Fiction gives me a voice. As a novelist, I’m finally writing novels that come from my heart and soul. I’m a Filipino American immigrant. I write novels that introduce Filipino American characters to readers.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I’ve done all kinds of writing before I became a traditionally published novelist. In my previous life, I was a news reporter in Manila (where I was born), then in Taipei, and finally, here in the United States. I left mainstream journalism after I got married and had a child. I became a writer at a nonprofit organization in New York City, then a public relations specialist at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, then a marketing writer for a software company also in Salt Lake City.

How many books do you have published?
Five novels, although one of them was published twice by different publishers. My thriller, Multo (meaning ghost in Tagalog), was originally published by Agora Books in 2023. When Agora Books went out of business in 2024, Thomas & Mercer bought the rights to Multo as part of my Domingo the Bounty Hunter series. Thomas & Mercer republished Multo as Danger No Problem (book one) and published Sunday or the Highway (book two) simultaneously in 2025.

Where do you write?
In my office at home.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Thrillers, psychological suspense, procedurals, noirs, historical fiction, and literary fiction.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
My very first job at the age of 14 was as a film extra back in Manila. I didn’t get paid a lot, but I was able to travel for free, and I saw movie stars up close. It was very exciting for a teen!

Who is an author you admire?
I admire Walter Mosley as a writer and as a person. He was friendly and very gracious when I met him at ThrillerFest in 2023. I also admire Patricia Highsmith’s writing. She died in 1995. From what I’ve read about her, she was apparently a difficult person. If she were alive today, I wouldn’t have the guts to approach her!

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Writing is a long process and getting published traditionally is not easy. Decide early on what writing means to you. Is it a hobby? Or is it something you can’t live without? If it’s the latter, then work on improving your writing continuously. Even after you get published, there’s always room for improvement.

What is next for you?
I’m under contract with Thomas & Mercer, which is going to publish my new series, featuring Bethany Briggs, a biracial Filipino American FBI intelligence analyst. Book one just finished developmental editing. It has no publication date yet. I’m currently writing book two.

Where can we find you?
You can always reach me through my website at www.cindyfazzi.com. Just like Dru Ann, I’m a member of the Crime Writers of Color, so if you’re part of it or if you’re planning to join, you’ll find me on the chat forum. You’ll also find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. My handle is @cindyfazzi.

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Dinner

Fruits or vegetables
Believe it or not, vegetables.

Sweet or salty snacks
Salty snacks, preferably peanuts and all kinds of nuts.

Ice cream or cake
Cake

Cooking or baking
Cooking

Dining in or dining out
Dining in. I’m such a homebody.

City life or country living
Suburban living. I don’t want to live in a big city, but I want to be close enough to have access to the benefits of city life.

Beach or mountain
Beach

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
I was born in the tropical Philippines, so definitely summer.

Extrovert or introvert
Introvert

And even more fun . . .

What is your favorite movie?
A Room with a View directed by James Ivory. I’m a romantic at heart.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
My family, books, and wine.

My bio:
Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino American writer and former Associated Press reporter. She’s the author of the Domingo the Bounty Hunter series, published by Thomas & Mercer in 2025. Danger No Problem (book one), previously titled Multo, was a finalist in the Best Literary category of the 2024 Silver Falchion Award. Book two is titled Sunday or the Highway. Her historical novel, My MacArthur, was published by Sand Hill Review Press in 2018. Her short stories have been published in SN Review, Copperfield Review, Snake Nation Review, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, and TOUGH. Her articles have appeared in the Daily Beast, Electric Literature, Publishers Weekly, and Writer’s Digest.