Cyndera has been my online identity for many, MANY years, and now it’s way too late to change it ^_^
My real name is Aileen. Born in Germany, I now live in Columbia, MD, and am a Technology Strategist by day and gym rat by night; you can find me in the free weights section at the gyms of the Columbia Association: I’m an ACE certified personal trainer, certified group fitness instructor and hold certifications for Les Mills Body Balance, TRX, Tribe, and Balletone. I am also a NASM-certified Sports Nutrition Coach. When I’m not at the gym, I love to bake, cook, draw, sing, and of course read and write. I hold a master’s degree in English Linguistics, Political Science, and Comparative Literature from the University of Münster and a master’s degree in Library & Information Science from the University of South Carolina. I’m a huge fan of the Murderbot Diaries, the Old Man’s War universe and Donna Leon’s Brunetti mysteries, among many other books and authors. I’ve been writing fiction and poems since high school (with friends and just for fun) and have published various professional articles over the years, plus the occasional blog post and sort-of short story. “Rivers of the Mind” is my first published book, and I’m super-excited about being able to share it with the world. You can find pictures of my bakes and other random things on Instagram.