Cynde's Got The Write Stuff

"Update on What's Been Happening"

2011-09-23T16:40:00.004-04:00

Hello, everybody! It's been quite a while since my last posting and I apologize for that. A lot of things have been going on in my life lately and now I think I'll let you know what's been happening.

Back in March of this year, I noticed a mole on the front of my right leg that was never there before. I showed it to Dion (my husband) and he wanted me to have it checked out right away, but I put it off. (That's why my father gave me the nickname of "Ben", for "Ben-puttin-it-off". I have a fear of doctors that goes way back, and I'm not exactly why it started, but I think it had to do with all the horror stories of what happened to my sister Carol Lee when she had her back surgeries. She was 16 and I was only 12 and well aware of what was happening to her. I felt helpless and ineffectual--I couldn't help her and I was terribly frightened for her, which also made me vow that I would never allow myself to be put in the position she had been in...ever.

Then, about two months ago, I happened to glance at my leg (I had been deliberately ignoring it because I was scared of what I might find) and now there were nine or ten moles instead of just one! It looked like a solar system had formed in the place where the moles were. It scared me, so I showed Dion again, and he wanted me to go to the doctor's right away, but I convinced him to let me wait until I went for my gynecological exam that was already scheduled for a little over two weeks away. My OB-GYN had sent me to have a biopsy on a mole once before, so I trusted him to know what he was looking at.

When my OB-GYN looked at my moles, he was alarmed. He told me that they looked very suspicious and he made me promise that I would get them looked at immediately and get in A.S.A.P.! It was too late to make an appointment when I got home that afternoon, so I called the next day. The dermatologist that I had been going to for years had retired, so I called a new one, and there was no opening until November.

When the secretary heard my hesitation, she said, "Will that be alright?" I said, "I guess it will have to be, but if you have a cancellation, could you please call me? My gynecologist looked at some moles on my leg and said they looked suspicious and wanted them looked at right away." Then she said, "Oh, in that case, we had a cancellation today. Can you come in today?" I believe that was the Lord's intervention! We jumped on it and we in the doctor's office two and a half hours later.

When they did my body check, they said they were amazed at how many moles I had all over my body. We discussed my history, and I told them it started with my having my first mole removed from my bellybutton area within a few days of being born.

After that, I have had a total of about 20 to 25 moles removed, either by surgery, having it burned off, or two of them almost fell off when it was time for them to be removed because I had ripped at them with my fingernails by mistake so many times (because they had been in my way). Only one of them had turned out to be melanoma, and it was benign. That was when I was a teenager--and my father took me to Geneva General Hospital for the surgery. I think I was somewhere between 17 and 19, but I'm not quite sure.

And now to the present. When I went to the Dermatologist's office, they were quite sure that I had a fast-growing melanoma, so they took two biopsies: a shave biopsy, and a plug biopsy, which was pretty deep because the melanoma is pretty extensive.

I got my results back and they are positive. I have malignant melanoma and I am scheduled for a consultation with the surgeon who will be performing my sentinel node biopsy. That biopsy is for determining how far the cancer has spread, and she will also schedule how much chemo I need and she'll determine if I need radiation or not, too.

Also, my husband, Dion, has hurt his back at work again and in a lot of pain. I can't bear to see him in this much agony, but naturally, he has gone back to work, even though he can hardly stand up, because he knows we'll be needing the money very soon and we don't know what we're going to do. The Lord is going to have to provide for us this time, that's for sure.

Please pray for us if you think about it, and in your spare time. It doesn't have to be a long prayer--just a few words would do. We could use all the prayers we can get. Thank you for being our friends and for caring.

"The Lord bless you and keep you--the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."

Until next time...stay safe, stay well and as always, may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Check out: "CHUNKY BLING!"

2011-08-05T00:03:00.003-04:00

Hi there, everybody! I have some IMPORTANT NEWS for you this morning.

I have recently come in contact with an AMAZING jewelry company by the name of:

Chunky Bling

You can click on each of the images below to shop at Chunky Bling:

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Mr. Popper's Penguins GIVEAWAY!"

2011-07-22T17:18:00.008-04:00

Because, overall, Mr. Popper's Penguins is such a great book....

The Twenty-Six Letter Imagination is holding a giveaway!

Mr. Popper's Penguins GIVEAWAY!

Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Richard and Florence Atwater
Originally Released in 1938
From Little, Brown and Company
See the book review HERE.

And, on a side note...

The folks at Savvy Authors who were in charge of the free chat session called WHAT EDITORS LOVE: Tight Third POV on June 18th did something amazing for me!

You may recall that I went to the chat session and tried to participate, but no one could even tell that I was there until the very end. Another participant finally emailed me after the event was over and said she was to busy to respond to my hails because she was copying & pasting the lessons and didn't want to miss it.

Anyway, I had emailed Savvy Authors and told them what happened, and even though I am a little disappointed that I couldn't participate in real time, they did send me a complete transcript of the event, with the other participants questions and the responses that they received and all. So, overall, I am quite please.

Once again, Savvy Authors has come through for me. They really are the best!

Nightie-night, my friends. I'll write again soon.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Disappointed Again!"

2011-06-19T23:28:00.005-04:00

Hello, everyone.

I stayed up late last night (it's around 4 a. m. now) so that I could attend a free chat session sponsored by Savvy Authors called WHAT EDITORS LOVE: Tight Third POV. The only this is that nothing happened. I logged in to the chat and everything was fine, but no one was there. People kept signing in and leaving the chat room, and I don't even know if they saw me. There was one girl there (I don't think I say her name) that I kept sending messages to, but either she didn't see me or she didn't want to be bothered with answering me. I guess I'll never know.

Anyway, I am so disappointed. I don't think I'll sign up for another one of those chat thingies again any time soon. Doggone it. But I don't blame Savvy Authors, so don't get me wrong. It was just one of those things.

Nightie-night, my friends. I'll write again soon.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"We're Baaaa-aaaack!"

2011-06-12T08:27:00.001-04:00

Hi, everyone! It's been so long since I've posted that I have almost forgotten how to do it.

Well, "we're baaaa-aaaack!" We had a fabulous time and it was so romantic!

The weather was absolutely perfect the entire time we were in the Caribbean and everyone was so nice to us. The foldable cane that my husband, Dion, bought for me to use on the trip really helped me a lot. I don't think I could have made it without having it.

Here are a few photos from our trip, just to whet your whistles:

This is our view from the ship at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. ~ You can see another cruise ship off in the distance, ready to set sail.

I just had to show you this odd little storm out to sea. The little storm clouds got so close to us at one point, we could almost touch them, but we didn't catch it on film ~ it happened so fast we didn't realize what was happening!

Then, almost as fast as it came upon us, the sun appeared and whisked it away. I hope you can see what I mean when looking at these photos. It was all so vivid out there on the deep, blue sea...

Here's one of the beautiful white, sandy beaches that we got to visit. Isn't it gorgeous? The weather was perfect and the water temperature couldn't have been more ideal.

This is a close-up of that same beach. If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was like that Chevy Chase movie where he paid everyone in the town to act perfect during the Christmas season so that he and his wife could sell their home and get a divorce.

And then, "Oh, joy!" This is the sight we came home to when we drove in to our driveway at our home, sweet, home. I must add that we were glad to get home, though, because afterall, there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home...

Well, everyone, aside from our trip, I've been busy writing. I took a class at the Writer's Village University and it was awesome. I'm so glad I joined there! I've made lots of new friends and joined a critique group for the first time in my life, and I've learned so much from them. I should have joined a critique group a long time ago, but to tell you the truth, I was too shy. But now that I've taken the plunge, and the Lord lead me to the perfect people, I see that it's not so bad afterall.

I'll write again as soon as I can. And I promise it won't take me five months this time!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"We're Going On A Cruise!"

2011-01-12T16:46:00.007-05:00

Hi, everyone.

Guess what. My husband, Dion, and I are going on a cruise! My husband's boss is sending us on a seven-day, all-expenses-paid-cruise aboard the Crown Princess to the Western Caribbean where we'll visit the Grand Cayman Islands; the island of Roatan, Hondoras; the island of Cozumel, Mexico; Princess Cays, Bahamas; plus we'll have three lovely, relaxing days out at sea.

The weather out here is horrible; we've been having a blizzard and the roads have been icy and slick for two days now. I've been sick with a nasty cold since Christmas and now I have a double ear infection that oral antibiotics and antibiotic ear drops don't seem to help at all, so I have an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist tomorrow morning; I just hope the roads are clear enough for me to get there.

I'm so afraid that either the weather or my ear infections will be the cause of our missing out on this wonderful blessing, and I would feel so guilty if that happened. I am looking so forward to going. When we went to the cruise in 2003 to the Mexican Riviera (his boss, Billy Fuccillo, paid for that cruise, also) we had an amazing time.

Well, I guess I'll let you know how my trip went when I get back. I hope every one of you is doing fine and I miss you all. Can you believe it...I still have not hooked up my new laptop. Maybe this trip will be "just what the doctor ordered" and when I come back I'll finally feel like a human again. That sure would be an answer to prayer!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

2010-12-24T10:30:00.004-05:00

The UNIQUE/ARISE Exhibit which includes my short story, "The Rose", and is located at the Health Sciences Library, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, New York, and begun on, 01 December 2010 will remain in place through 31 December 2010. If you live in the area, please make an effort to visit the display; it really is incredible!

I am still experiencing difficulties with my laptop. I have obtained a new one, but have not been able to set it up yet. My plan is to start the New Year off by using my new laptop in the first of a no less than bi-weekly (and preferably weekly) posting to my blog. That way it won't be so overwhelming for me, and you won't feel like I have disappeared from the face of the earth.

Tomorrow is Christmas and I would like to wish everyone a blessed, safe and Merry Christmas with their family and friends. Furthermore, may you all have the Happiest of New Years as well.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good "write"!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Update On What's Been Happening!"

2010-09-10T15:59:00.012-04:00

Hello, everybody! It's been quite a while since I've been able to post on my blog and to some of you, my story may seem quite hilarious, but at the time, it was not funny to me at all.

I had just signed on to my laptop, and I had only been on it for about ten minutes when it decided on its own to log off and do its own thing. It proceeded to do some strange number entries, then it went blank for a little while, and then (this is what scared me!) it said, "preparing desktop..."

After another ten minutes, it opened up to my laptop's desktop, and do you know what I discovered? That blinking computer had wiped out everything that I had on my desktop! Plus, I did not recognize anything--the font looked weird and the setup looked like it did from my very first computer, back ten years ago.

In addition to that, I went to see if it had done anything to my manuscripts or any of my short stories, etc. and it told me that I did not have access to any of those files. In fact, I went through everything, and I no longer had access to any files! It was like I was living in "The Twilight Zone". I didn't have access to my emails, it wouldn't let me log-in anywhere, and it wouldn't even send tweets to anyone. All I could do was get on the Internet and lurk. It was awful. And it's still like that. I can't do a thing with it.

"Do any of you have any idea how I can fix this?"

My husband is getting my a new laptop (Praise the Lord!), but I still won't have access to my manuscripts until I fix the other laptop, so I need to get that fixed right away. In the meantime, I will keep on writing.

Speaking of writing...

I am now an official "published author"!

A short story that I wrote entitled "The Rose" has been accepted for publication in an eMagazine called "UNIQUE/Arise2010". It will not be available until sometime in October, following The Unveiling Celebration and kick off of a two-week art show/exhibit at the Szozda-McGowan Gallery in the Delavan Center in Syracuse, NY, from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, 20 October 2010, at which time I will post a story with photos and the short story. (I have been asked not to post my short story, "The Rose", until after it has already been published in the "UNIQUE/Arise2010" eMagazine.)

OTHER NEWS:

You may remember that I had a couple of workshops lined up to take at the "Savvy Authors.com" website. Well, because of the "snafu" with my laptop, I missed quite a bit of the "Tickets to Ride: Basic Historical Research Workshop", Dates: 30 Aug-05 Sept 2010, with instructor: Beth Daniels; however, she supplied a pdf of her entire workshop, and I made a pdf of the notes because there is so much good information in there. The little bit I did get to interact with her, I learned a lot! She is a wonderful teacher.

And currently, I am borrowing a laptop so that I won't miss out on the other workshop, which is: "Creating Your Own Book Trailer", Dates: 06 Sept-17 Sept 2010, with instructor: Kris Tualla.

This workshop has been absolutely amazing so far. I have learned so much, and it's been a lot of fun, too.

The instructor, Kris Tualla, is not only an instructor, but she's an incredible author. Without even knowing who she was, back in July, I had already bought one of her books called "A PRIMER FOR BEGINNING AUTHORS" (it's great, by the way) and the other one that she has available, which I'm definitely going to buy is: "A WOMAN OF CHOICE (The Hansen Series)". Be sure to check out: "Kris Tualla's Amazon & Kindle Books" for any new releases because a new book will be released in November 2010.

Well, I guess I've kept you long enough, huh? That's about all the writing-related news I have for you at this time. Stay tuned and keep checking back in, OK? I'll try not to be gone for so long next time. And I should be on my new computer for my next report, unless I sneak a quick one in before if arrives.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"My Quick Review Of: The "Write On Con" Writing Conference"

2010-08-16T22:51:00.019-04:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I thought the WriteOnCon.com free writing conference for kidlit writers was absolutely awesome! Also, since the conference was free, any interested writer was encouraged to attend, plus the curriculum focused on picture book, middle grade, and young adult writers.

WriteOnCon.com did have a few temporary glitches due to the overwhelming response that they had. I'm not exactly sure, but I think that maybe Google wasn't prepared for all of the creatively talented people that would be converging on one tiny little spot at the same time, and it blew their "little minds". Can you imagine what would have happened if WriteOnCon.com had have offered the conference to more than just kidlit writers? Why, it probably would have closed down the entire Internet!

Then on top of that, after Google finally got everything squared away, some of the participants (namely me!) still had trouble getting on to the WriteOnCon.com site because now their own individual Internet Service Providers (ISP's) were having problems with either Google or the WriteOnCon.com site itself. It was a little bit frustrating...

But as far as I'm concerned, none of this should reflect negatively upon the founders/presenters of the WriteOnCon.com event itself. Each one of the people involved in organizing, presenting and the actual nuts-n-bolts working at this fantastic conference are to be congratulated for the excellent jobs that they did!

NOTE: The following are the people in the WriteOnCon.com "gang" that are to be recognized for their outstanding work throughout this event:

THE FOUNDERS:

Jamie Harrington

Elana Johnson

Casey McCormick

Shannon Messenger

Lisa and Laura Roecker

Jennifer Stayrook

THE AGENTS/EDITORS:

Michelle Andelman with Regal Literary.

Regina Brooks with Serendipity Literary Agency, LLC.

Catherine Drayton with InkWell Management.

Natalie M. Fischer with The Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.

Mandy Hubbard with D4EO Literary Agency.

Weronika Janczuk with D4EO Literary Agency.

Mary Kole with The Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc..

Jennifer Laughran with The Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc..

Kendra Levin with Viking Children's Books.

Steven Malk with Writer's House Literary Agency.

Mark McVeigh with The McVeigh Agency.

Martha Mihalick with Greenwillow Books.

Molly O'Neill with Katherine Tegen Books.

Kathleen Ortiz with Lowenstein Assoiciates, Inc..

Paul Samuelson with Sourcebooks, Inc..

Anica Rissi with Simon & Schuster.

Holly Root with Waxman Literary Agency.

Elana Roth with The Caren Johnson Literary Agency.

Joanna Stampfel-Volpe with Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation.

Kate Schafer Testerman with KT Literary.

Suzie Townsend with FinePrint Literary Management.

Michelle Wolfson with Wolfson Literary Agency.

THE AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS:

Josh Berk

Tera Lynn Childs

Rosemary Clement-Moore

Kimberly Derting

Lindsay Eland

Jennifer Fosberry

Risa Green

Rachel Hawkins

P. J. Hoover

Shelli Johannes-Wells

Julia Karr

Kody Keplinger

Lindsey Leavitt

Tom Leveen

J. S. Lewis

Cynthea Liu

Jodi Meadows

Shelley Moore Thomas

Aprilynne Pike

Janette Rallison

Lisa Schroeder

Crystal Stranaghan

Tiffany Strelitz Haber

Stasia Ward Kehoe

Daisy Whitney

Suzanne Young

Michelle Zink

The Illustrators from "Studio Five" are:

J. H. Everett

Bob Singer

Alice and Martin Provensen

Andrew Mitchell

JR Johnson

Marilyn Scott-Waters

I just wanted to publicly acknowledge all of the people that went to so much work bringing us such a fabulous writer's conference...and all for FREE, too, I might add! In addition to that, I wanted to give them a great big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, because I don't know that I would be able to attend a conference any other way. ~If I have missed anyone in error, please accept my apology, then let me know so I can edit this posting right away! Thanks.~ So...here's a special thanks to all of you:

I guess that's all for now, folks. Be sure to use the links above and visit the people that you're interested in checking out. Every one of them is super talented & creative and you'll be glad that you've gotten to know them in one way or another. Trust me!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Update On My Latest News!"

2010-08-04T10:26:00.013-04:00

Hello, everybody!

I just completed the "Summer Symposium Workshops" hosted by "Savvy Authors.com".

While I was a "lurker" in several of the workshops, the workshops that I actually participated in are as follows:

"Great Characters--Great Hooks: How to Put 'Em Together" with Shannon Donnelly.

""Muse. Breathe. Focus. Achieve." with Stacia Kelly.

"Series Pitfalls" with Dyanne Davis.

Furthermore, Dyanne Davis has asked me to be a guest on her website; she will be interviewing me in the very near future. I am so honored! It will be my very first interview on a website ever!

And guess what! I was one of the blessed individuals that won a "raffle prize" from the "Summer Symposium Workshops". My prize was a book entitled "WRITING ROMANCE" that was donated by Beth Barany. "Thanks a lot, Beth!"

The first thing on my agenda is the fabulous, FREE online writer's conference called: "WriteOnCon.com" which will be held from 10 through 12 August 2010, inclusive.

Next in line for my events at the "Savvy Authors.com" site are the following workshops:

"Tickets to Ride: Basic Historical Research"; Instructor: Beth Daniels; Dates: 30 Aug-05 Sept 2010.

"Creating Your Own Book Trailer"; Instructor: Kris Tualla; Dates: 05 Sept-19 Sept 2010.

I guess that's all for now, folks. I'll check in as soon as I have any more news. I let you know when my interview with Dyanne Davis will be posted so you can check it out, OK?

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Check Out the: "Anniversary BLOG TOUR" on: '1RomanceEbooks.com'!"

2010-07-18T18:22:00.012-04:00

"Hi,
Everybody!"

I just wanted to give you a quick heads up on the final half of the Anniversary Blog Tour that's being celebrated over at:

1RomanceEbooks.
(NOTE: "click" link (above) to visit contest site!)

"They are
ONE YEAR OLD!"

They have lined up some of the hottest bloggers for a "BLOG TOUR" and they have offered dozens of fantastic prizes just to show up and comment on their blogs!

One LUCKY reader will win the grand prize:
"a Sony
E-reader!"

Lots of the blogs along the way are also offering prizes, too, so you had better hurry so you don't miss out on the fun!

The first thing you have to do is visit 1RomanceEbooks.com and get a "PARTICIPANT NUMBER" from them, because you need to use it each time you comment on the blogs that you visit. For the rest of your instructions and the details on what blogs to visit, just visit 1RomanceEbooks.com.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Announcing: the WINNER of the Followers' CONTEST with Prizes!"

2010-07-12T16:43:00.007-04:00

"Announcing the
Followers'
Contest Winner"
of the FREE, AUTOGRAPHED
Copy of:

"ROSE: A
True Lady"
~by~
Diane L. Wood

~and~

a
$15.00
Gift
Certificate
from
Amazon

~to~
Debbie
Thompson!

(Note: Here's a picture of the winning ticket that I picked out of the winning fish bowl this afternoon!)

"Cynde's "Spectacular-Saturday" Guest Author Interview!"

2010-07-10T17:46:00.019-04:00

I'm really happy to welcome someone to my blog today that I consider a friend of mine and her name is: Diane L. Wood.
Diane is the author of the book that I just recently reviewed, which is the book that will also be one of the prizes for the contest that ends at midnight, EST on Sunday, 11 July 2010. The title of that wonderful book is: "ROSE: A True Lady".

C: Welcome to my blog, Diane!

D: Thank you, Cynde. I feel honoured to have been included. Your blog is beautiful and it's a pleasure to read.

C: Awww...you made me blush. Thanks a lot, Diane. Now before any of my readers think that I have gone crazy and just not bothered to correct words that are misspelled or maybe you didn't even notice?). I better explain that Diane is from Australia. "What does that have to do with it?" you ask. Well, there are quite a few words that the Australia spells using the British spelling, for instance: "honored" in the U.S. is spelled "honoured" in the Australia and the UK. So, for the sake of clarity, when we come to one of "those words" in this interview, I will put the U.S. spelling in parentheses, to the right of the way Diane chose to spell the word, with one exception: the word Mum = Mom in the U.S.. I'll remind you once or twice when we come upon it, but I won't keep repeating it, because it will be too distracting if I do, OK?

Now...my readers are quite interested about getting to know all about you, so let's get started.

C: What inspired you to become a writer in the first place, Diane?

D: Our house was broken into, twice. I’d lived all my life in Melbourne and loved being close to family, friends, shops and everything else that there is an abundance of in big cities. The robberies however overshadowed those pleasures. We felt unsafe, violated. My husband had lived in sunny Queensland for five years when he was a kid and always wanted to return and live there. The robberies changed my mind about suburbia. I suddenly thought it was a good idea to move.

After we relocated to this rural area I wrote many long letters (there were no computers in those days) to family and friends telling them all about our new life and home. It was a huge contrast to the suburban rush we’d left behind, so there was plenty to write about.

It was then I discovered I loved writing which lead to the first of many writing courses.

C: Who are your favorite authors?

D: My favourite (favorite) authors are those who write their own or family life stories and then one way or another get their books into print and into the hands of readers. Ordinary people do extraordinary things. They’re tremendously inspiring.

The mainstream authors I favour (favor) are Diana Gabaldon ("Cross Stitch" ("Overlander" in the US) and "Lord John books") and Stephanie Meyer ("The Twilight Saga" series). Both tell great yarns. There are many great authors, these two in particular made me feel as if I was there, watching the story unfold before my eyes.

C: Is there a particular novel that you’ve read which made a lasting impression on you?

D: Yes. It was the first novel I read. I was about ten years old and we were away on a family holiday. I was bored. My father handed me a tattered old paperback, "Tarzan of the Apes" by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I read the whole book in one sitting. It was leaps ahead of the library books at school. To this day I can recall pictures the story put in my brain.

C: A project like writing about your grandmother’s life must have been a monumental task. Can you talk a little bit about how you went about gathering all your facts, and then how you organized them into the final masterpiece of "ROSE: A True Lady". (In other words, did you use an outline, etc.?)

D: It began with the idea of bringing together as many memories about Nana as I could possibly collect. To do that I realised (realized) I needed to talk with those who lived a good portion of their lives with her, namely her children. They were all (except Mum) (Mom) two states away in Melbourne or rural Victoria. As it happened, I was going to my niece's wedding in Melbourne and decided to extend my stay to visit those relatives. My parents were there and the three of us spent a day at each of my aunt’s and uncle’s places. The third brother was ill. I did a phone interview with him a month later. While there, I spent a day at the State Library going through old newspapers recorded on microfiche film. I gleaned as much information as time allowed about the 1918 flu epidemic and the horrendous 1939 bushfires.

(Above, is a photo of the "Book Launch" at the 80th birthday party for the author's mom. Seated is Diane's mom, and she perusing "ROSE" for the first time as Diane looks on.)

At home, I transcribed the taped interviews, including three shorter interviews I’d taped with Mum (Mom). People don’t usually remember events chronologically. Once the transcribing was complete, I put the stories from one interview into chronological order, with a subheading (for ease of recognition). Then, I merged the other interviews in with the first. I must add, there was a great deal of editing needed, because our spoken language is quite different from our written language.

The Internet is a wonderful tool for writers. I used it for yet more research on events and historical facts, etc.

All along the way, people were most willing to help when I asked for relevant information. A single phone call to The Royal Life-Saving Society in Victoria and Liz Moran mailed a heap of copies of old records about the Edithvale Branch. It was wonderful of her to do that.

Warren, a friend, offered to do the hypnotherapy session which added another dimension to the story.

Sadly, while working on the story, Mum’s older brother passed away. I knew then I had to give myself a deadline to get it into print. Mum’s 80th birthday was coming up, so I pulled out all the stops and went for it. Our southern rellies (relatives) came to Mum’s celebration along with my family living here and I surprised them all with the book launch.

C: When can we expect something more from you and what will it be about?

D: My current project is the life and times of my Dad. It’s coming together faster because he’s jotting down all he can remember and I have one person to consult with instead of many. It’s an interesting read. He lived his younger days in a time when people made do with what they had or made it with their own hands or went without. And as he has said on a number of occasions, I don’t know why my mother didn’t shoot me when I was a kid. I was a spoilt (spoiled) terror.

In his story, he grabbed a five pound note from off his sister’s hand. He ran with it, with the full intention of having her chase him. She did. You’ll never guess where the money finished up.

Also, a short story is almost ready for posting on: http://dianelwood.blogspot.com/

C: Tell us about the competition in which you won a car and a trip to Tahiti. What were all the particulars of the competition and what did it feel like to win such huge prizes? Was it a writing competition?

D: It wasn’t a writing competition, Cynde. Many years ago, before I discovered writing, I lived in Melbourne and regularly bought the "Family Circle" magazine. In one edition, "Eveready" batteries had a competition in which the entrant was given clues to find the buried treasure on a little map. The spot was 2/3 of the way between point ‘A’ and point ‘B’. Being a stickler for accuracy, I used a ruler to find the exact spot, I marked it with a dot, and put a "cross" over the dot. Obviously, the officiator used a template to check entries, and I won second prize. I hear you wonder, "What was the first prize"? It was a fur coat and a gold ring with a very large diamond on it. I was extremely lucky to have won second prize; the prizes were the car and the trip! At the time, we had three young children and one income, and the win helped us financially, plus it also gave us, a set of struggling young parents, a relaxing, carefree break from our much-loved children.

When I received the letter informing me of the win, I didn’t believe it. I rang the company to confirm it. Before I put the phone down, my heart raced, my body zinged! I rang my husband at work. He had to come home. He couldn’t focus on the job at hand. He walked in the door with a huge grin on his face. I raced the length of the kitchen and jumped into his arms. We twirled around laughing and giggling like a couple of school kids.

Over the following weeks we told all our family and friends. All of them except my mother said something like, "You dirty rat! Congratulations." It doesn’t sound like much, but everyone we knew called us rats or mongrels (or other stronger words) in the same congratulatory sentences. It got to us a bit. We swore we’d never tell anyone if we won something in the future. Mum simply said, "Good on you. Well done!"

C: Your Mom sounds like a special lady. I'm really proud of you for winning that contest, too. It couldn't have happened to a nicer girl. Congratulations, and I hope you win another just like it, but this time for writing!

Speaking of contests: What other contests/competitions have you won/placed in, and what advice could you pass on to aspiring writers about how to prepare for entering into contests themselves?

D: A few years back the local free newspaper ran a Valentines Day Competition. I won it one year and came in second the next.

I used to enter a lot of short story and poetry competitions. I entered one children’s story in a literary eistedford and it would have been a contender, according to the adjudicators critique, had I not used ‘it’s’ when the correct word was ‘its.’ I was so wrapped up in telling the story and getting the presentation right, I totally missed the error.

My advice:
1. Make sure your story has a kick in the tail.
2. Edit your story to within an inch of its life.
3. Ask others to read it, then edit it some more.
4. Read the competition guidelines several times and make sure your entry complies exactly.
5. Enter local competitions (because usually there are less entries), competitions which you are asked to pay a small entry fee (again there are usually less entries), and particularly competitions which supply a critique of you work. (Feedback is worth its weight in gold.)
6. Once you have submitted your entry, get on with your next project and keep writing.

C: What other projects have you already completed and where can we find more of your work published and/or posted?

D: Over the years, Cynde, I have completed many short stories and children’s stories, many poems, a short play, a short song, a 62-part serial and three full-length manuscripts.

A serial entitled: "SYNCHRO"

A short, short story, entitled: "REVENGE"

A short story entitled: "Ancient Earth"

"Diane L. Wood's writing bio"

In 2000, I played a major role in publishing an anthology with our now defunct local writer’s group. It was a huge learning curve. I learned a lot about self-publishing. I recommend any aspiring writer to have a go at self-publishing. It’s the quickest way to get your work into the public arena. A mainstream publisher has its advantages, too. I can dream!

C: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

D: To those who have just begun their writing path I would say, read a lot of what makes your heart sing, be it poetry, fiction, non-fiction, newsletters or whatever. When you find what you most love to read, start by writing in that area. When you’ve got a lot of experience in your heart-held field, you can try other stuff.

Join a writer’s group and/or a critique group. Be brave when told what is wrong with your story/poem and take it as a compliment that your piece has been read and the reader takes the time to give feedback. It’s invaluable. Ask friends and family to read and give honest critiques. Hope they do tell you where your piece needs attention and be grateful. Some writers pay a lot of money to have this done professionally.

Remember, everything can be changed.

Writing a story is the easy part. Editing takes many times longer. Sink your teeth into the long haul and you will produce the highest standard of writing. When you feel the 100 or so edits you’ve done has produced the best manuscript you can, send it to publishers or if you’re impatient like I am, publish it yourself through web-sites like lulu.com. It’s free to use up to the point of buying a copy of your book.

Write till you get it right. Most of all, enjoy it!

C: Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Diane. I hope you enjoyed yourself and that you'll return when your next book is published.

D: I would be glad to. Thanks, Cynde.

Well, there you have it, folks! Another interesting interview with an up-and-coming author. Be sure to keep an eye out for the new stories that Diane will be posting. She is definitely a writer to watch!!!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Awesome: "The 200 Followers Giveway" on Abby Annis' Blog!"

2010-07-04T18:29:00.012-04:00

I have to fill you all in on a great contest that's going on right now. It's "The 200 Followers Giveaway" on Abby Annis' blog.

Included in the prizes are:

1. "IF I STAY" by Gayle Forman.
2. "THE EVERAFTER" by Amy Huntley.
3. Some really cool pens called "Light-Up Pens" (with black ink--one green and one red) that look like this:

4. And...to go with the cool pen, she will also be throwing in a cool journal!

(TO ENTER THE CONTEST: click on "The 200 Followers" graphic, above ~OR~ visit Abby Annis' blog, where you can also get more details about the contest.)

(NOTE: Contest ends at midnight, PST, on Saturday, 31 July 2010. The winner will be announced on August 2nd.)

So, how's that for an awesome "Giveaway Gift Package"?

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"MOCKINGBIRD" CONTEST @ "Southern Princess" BLOG!

2010-07-04T11:29:00.003-04:00

To commemorate the Golden Anniversary of "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" by Nelle Harper Lee heralded as the "Best Novel of the 20th Century", "Southern Princess" blog is having a contest. One of the prizes will be: the 50th anniversary edition of one of the best-loved books in American history: Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD". Featuring some of the most memorable characters in literary history—attorney Atticus Finch, his children Scout and Jem, and of course Boo Radley—To Kill a Mockingbird is the indelible story of race, class, and growing up in the Deep South of the 1930s.

Check out the "Southern Princess" blog for additional CONTEST details. Contest ends 28 July 2010!

Please be sure to tell "the Princess" that I sent you so I can get some extra points!

Nelle Harper Lee was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She attended the local schools and studied law at the University of Alabama. For some years she spent most of her time in New York City, where, until she began writing, she was employed in the reservations department of an international airline. "Aside from writing," says Miss Lee, "my chief interests in life are collecting memoirs of nineteenth-century clergymen, golf, crime and music."

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

2010-06-16T07:35:00.003-04:00

The book that I am going to review today is entitled "ROSE: A True Lady" and it was written by Diane L. Wood. Diane has attended a weekly, six-lesson creative writing class and she enjoys memberships in local writing groups, Romance Writers of Australia and Queensland Writing Centre. She has written many poems, a play, three novel-length manuscripts and many short stories. Two of her poems have won prizes and a short story entitled "Revenge" was published in a magazine. Her next project is going to be "the life of her father".

The Synopsis:

"Rose loved her family, endured the hardship of the economic depression of the 1930s, the savage widespread bushfires of 1939... and lay at death's door four times. By sheer luck or determination she refused to die. Losing her mother without closure hung heavily in her heart and affected her entire adult life. Set in Victoria, Australia during the 1900s this true story is about a family and a mother and glimpses everyday life of over a century ago. A valuable piece of Australian heritage."

My Review:

"ROSE: A True Lady" is the true-life account of the author's maternal grandmother. As you can see by the photo of her on the front cover of the book, she was a very beautiful woman and by all accounts, she was just as lovely on the inside as she was on the outside. She was a God-fearing woman who loved her family and did her best to raise them in the proper way; she was definitely a true lady.

For Diane, this book was a labor of love. She spent hours contacting relatives by email, in person, whatever way she could to get to get as much information as possible about the life and struggles of her grandmother. The following is the "Introduction" to her book:

" A life-time fascination with my grandmother brought this story to fruition. Her life was one of illness, hardship and deathly incidents. She found humour where
appropriate and sometimes perhaps where it was not, and laughed at her own doings. She was deeply loved by her own family and friends who have generously shared their
memories of her. The documenting of this story is therefore a valuable collection of
memories. To those who were not fortunate in meeting her, her story is a fine example of living during the hard times of the early 1900s through to the 1970s and as such is a part of our heritage. It gives a glimpse of how it was back then. Through all of it Rose remained true to herself and her family.
In 2004, thirty years after her passing, she was contacted via the wonder of
hypnotherapy. The session was recorded and transcribed. The edited transcript has been slotted into the story in relevant sections and appears in blocks of Italics.
Hypnotherapy sessions can reveal a lot of information. The details are heard by
the subject while in a trance state, the subject then passes it on to the hypnotherapist, much like the party game where a sentence is whispered from ear to ear down a line of players. At the end of the line the sentence is said out loud. By the nature of the human brain the words are always altered slightly by each person and ends up totally different.
Similarly, during hypnotherapy the details said by the subject often are not the exact words or wording they hear. In this case it may not portray Rose’s exact manner of speech.
Everyone remembers from different perspectives. The police, for example, interviewing those present at an incident scene know they will hear a different story from each witness. The accounts herein are no exception and sometimes may seem
contradictory.
No-one’s life can be compacted down to a few hundred pages of text and be
complete. Life is complex and has many facets, too many to document in one volume.
The following collection of memories gives an overview of a mother and her family. It is a story of a family.
These most memorable moments are intended as a tribute to my grandmother and
her life achievements.
Where possible historical facts have been verified."

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to: anyone who likes to read historical pieces or stories about the true-life struggles of women set in the early 1900's. In fact, anyone who likes non-fiction stories would enjoy this book. It was great.

Ms. Wood did a wonderful job incorporating the transcript from the hynotherapy session. It was added to the text so seamlessly that after a while, it was hardly noticeable and just became another enhancement that added flair to her prose.

I know that when people read the description of this book as "a story about someone's grandmother", that you might think it was boring. Let me assure you that it is not! This story is well told, heart-warming, interesting, informational, and even funny in spots. It's a good book, I am so glad that I read it, and I hope that more people will read it, too.

I read the book two times. I am so amazed that she was able to take snippets of her grandmother's life, plus her own memories and those of several family members, plus the account of a doctor's interview from the transcript, and piece them together into such a compelling, poignant and interesting account of a loving, complex, loyal, strong, and fascinating woman.

This story shows interesting vignettes of how people lived in the past, struggling with extreme poverty and living gracefully in the midst of it, always hanging on to their strong faith and love of family. There were heartbreaks and cute little pranks. It was true-to-life throughout, plus delightfully honest and real. I enjoyed it immensely. I could tell it was written from the heart, and by the end, I felt I knew the essence of Rose, a true lady.

GREAT JOB, Diane! If you would like to learn more about Diane L. Wood, you can also check out her incredible short story "Writing Felicity".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

DON'T FORGET: Keep an eye out for the upcoming "Guest Author Interview" that I will be having with Diane L. Wood in the very near future. You'll be able to learn more information about her and find out what she's working on next.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Announcing the: Followers' Contest with Prizes!"

2010-05-27T13:44:00.029-04:00

Hi, Everybody! In case you didn't notice, I have 84 "followers" now.

and I'd like to reward my followers and maybe even reach the 100 mark, so...

"Let's
Have a
Followers'
Contest!"

WIN A
$15.00
Amazon
Gift
Certificate
plus...

A FREE, AUTOGRAPHED copy of "ROSE: A True Lady" written by Diane L. Wood.

I'll be doing a review of the book within the new few weeks, so you'll be able to see how great a book it really is. And after that, I will be doing an interview with the author herself, Diane L. Wood, so keep watching, OK?

(Note: Contest ENDS at midnight on Sunday, 11 July 2010. WINNER will be announced on this blog on "My Twin Sister, Sande's and My Birthday", Monday, 12 July 2010.)

(I have increased the gift certificate amount from $10.00 to $15.00 because I have postponed the "ending" date so many times. I promise, it will end on 11 July 2010. Thanks for your patience, guys!)

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(ATTENTION NEW FOLLOWERS: If your were recruited by someone to follow Cynde's blog, please don't forget to enter the recruiter's name on the "CONTEST FORM". The recruiter must also be entered in the "CONTEST" to be eligible to use the bonus points. Only one name per entry, please. (Qualifying "recruiters" will be notified (by email) each time they qualify for bonus points, and also who submitted their names.) Thanks to everyone who has entered the contest and best of luck!)

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Thanks to Everyone Who Participated and Made "Blog Jog Day!" Such a Huge Success!"

2010-05-20T15:04:00.011-04:00

Hi, Everyone!

Thanks for everything you did to make this year's "Blog Jog Day!" such a success for my blog and all of the other blogs participating in that fabulous event. We should all give a round of applause to Carol Denbow (a.k.a. Author 101) who started it, organized it, and did the majority of the work, from what I've heard (and she did a beautiful job, too!)

I gained an amazing:
48 New

Followers!

That's pretty good for my humble little blog, and I'm going to do my best to my every one of my followers, old and new, glad that they "follow" me. So thanks again, everybody.

My next order of business is going to be a review of "Rose: A True Lady" written by Diane L. Wood, plus a "Guest Author" interview as well. I guarantee you: they will be interesting!

I think Diane L. Wood is going to give away an autographed copy of her book, "Rose: A True Lady" for my upcoming:

"Followers'

Contest"

How cool is that? Be on the lookout...I'll be posting something about it within the next three or four days.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Announcing The WINNER of the "Blog Jog Day!" CONTEST"

2010-05-17T07:04:00.010-04:00

Hi, everyone! We have now reached the long-awaited moment—the time that so many of you have been waiting for...Yes, it is finally time to announce the winner of the "Blog Jog Day!" CONTEST. But first, let me tell you what happened this morning.

I was up early, getting breakfast and packing a lunch for my husband, and I turned on the computer so I could quickly check once more to find out if there were any late entries into the contest. The last I had checked, it was 11:30 p.m. last night, and everything was all ready for the drawing this morning.

So...while I was checking on my laptop, "TinkerBell", my husband snapped a sneaky shot of me. (the little stinker!) :o)

There were no more entries. So...

It was finally time. Dion (my husband) and I went into the livingroom, and he sat on the couch.

Then he shook the fish bowl that contained the slips of papers with the names of the people who had entered the contest on them (they were all folded in half, then in half again), we said a little prayer, then he fished out the winning name.

We couldn't see to get the camera to focus on the name while Dion was holding it, (maybe because I was shaking?) so I carefully laid it on the pillow next to him and he took the picture. Here it is (I prettied it up a little for the occasion):

I have been trying to download my post to Blogger most of the day, but for some reason my ISP has been A.W.O.L. most of the day, so when they're back on line, my post will go out. I am so upset! Murphy's Law, though, right? That's what I get for living in a small town...but really, I love it here. And this doesn't happen very often. Thankfully, it's not a life or death situation...

And by the way...I thought you all might like to know that I gained 48 new followers (Thanks, everybody!) during "Blog Jog Day!", which means that I will probably try to have another contest of some sort soon, because I'm close to having 100 followers! So keep checking back so you don't miss out, OK?

And now is the time for us to finally announce the winner!

The
WINNER
of the
$20.00
Amazon
Gift
Certificate
for
"Blog Jog Day!"

IS:

Laura Ann Dunks!

to
Laura Ann!

(Note to Laura Ann.: I'll be contacting you by email today. I hope you saw this and were excited and happy that you won. ~Cynde)

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Today Is: Blog Jog Day!" and a "CONTEST!"

2010-05-09T02:30:00.015-04:00

Thank you for stopping by my Blog! Please explore all this Blog has to offer, then jog on over to LWB (Love Without Boundaries) Community. If you would like to visit a different Blog in the jog, then go to:

http://blogjogday.blogspot.com

WIN A
$20.00
Amazon
Gift
Certificate
for
"Blog Jog Day!"

(Note: Contest ENDS at midnight on Sunday, 16 May 2010. WINNER will be announced on this blog on Monday, 17 May 2010.)

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Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Spreading the Awesome": What's It All About?

2010-05-06T17:52:00.016-04:00

Everyone is talking about "Spreading the Awesome!" So, what's it all about?

Here are the facts:

Young adult (YA) author, Elana Johnson came up with the idea that it was about time that someone pay tribute to some of the seriously amazing authors—and their ten-star-deserving books, by having what L. T. Elliot referred to as a "Hug an Author Day!" So, Elana has comprised a list of over 60 blog posts, each with their own tribute to their favorite book and some with contests included. All you need to do is read the posts by the blog owners and decide if the book is the one you want to read, join their contest if you like, and enjoy thoroughly yourself as you are "Spreading the Awesome!"

Here's a list of Recommended Reads: (Any Blogger/Blog Owner with *** have CONTESTS on their sites!)

Blogger/Blog Owner -- Author (Book):
Elana Johnson – Kathleen Duey (Skin Hunger, Sacred Scars)
Christine Fonseca*** – Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games, Catching Fire)
Lisa and Laura Roecker*** – Lauren Oliver (Before I Fall)
Emily Ann Benedict*** - Deeanne Gist
Jenn Wilks*** – Mary E. Pearson (The Adoration of Jenna Fox)
Jenn Johannson*** – Dan Wells (I Am Not A Serial Killer)
Stephanie Thornton – Kate Quinn (The Mistress of Rome)
Susan Adrian – Courtney Summers
Heather Petty – Terri Farley (Seven Tears Into the Sea)
Natalie Whipple – Julie Halpern (Into the Wild Nerd Yonder)
Jamie Harrington*** – Rosemary Clement-Moore (Splendor Falls)
Natalie Bahm – Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me)
Windy Aphayrath*** – Elizabeth Scott
Paul Greci*** – Carol Lynch Williams (The Chosen One)
Amanda Bonilla – Patricia Briggs (Silver Borne)
Shannon Messenger*** – Brandon Mull (The Candy Shop Wars)(Shannon's CONTEST has FIVE Different, Exciting, FREE Prize Packages!)
Kirsten Hubbard*** – Nina LeCour (Hold Still)(Kirsten's CONTEST includes a pocket Moleskin journal!)
Carolina Miller*** – John Green & David Levithan (Will Grayson, Will Grayson)
Stina Lindenblatt*** – Sarah Ockler (Twenty Boy Summer)
Janna Qualman – Joanna Trollope (Second Honeymoon)
Gretchen McNeil*** – Melinda Lo (Ash)
Sherrie Peterson*** – Francisco X. Stork (Marcelo in the Real World)
Courtney Barr*** – Bree Despain (The Dark Divine)
Suzanne Palmieri(Hayze) – Kenneth Harvey (The Town That Forgot How to Breathe)
Christina Lee*** – Lisa McMann (Wake)
Carrie Harris*** – Maureen Johnson
Elle Strauss – Janette Rallison (My Fair Godmother)
Victoria Schwab – Neil Gaiman (The Graveyard Book)
Michelle McLean*** – P.C. and Kristin Cast (House of Night series)
Shelli Johannes-Wells*** – Kim Derting (The Body Finder)
Angie Smibert*** – M.T. Anderson (Feed)
Nicole Ducleroir*** – Margaret Peterson Haddix (Among the Hidden)
Bonny (B. J.) Anderson*** – Kathleen Van Cleve (Drizzle)
T. Anne Adams – Jennifer R. Hubbard (The Secret Year)
Weronika Janczuk – Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain)
Nichole Giles*** – Catherine Fisher (Incarceron)
Beth Revis – Sharon Creech (Love That Dog)
Julia Karr – Saundra Mitchell (Shadowed Summer)
Shannon O’Donnell*** – James Dashner (13th Reality)
Casey McCormick*** – Laurie Halse Anderson (Wintergirls)
Caroline Starr Rose*** – Jamie Richards (Three Rivers Rising)
Jackee Alston*** – Elizabeth Bunce (A Curse As Dark As Gold)
Rebecca Sutton*** – Dia Reeves (Bleeding Violet)
Yamile Mendez*** – Carlos Zafon (Shadow of the Wind)
Amy Holder*** – Eileen Cook (Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood)
Angela Ackerman – Carrie Ryan (The Dead Tossed Waves)
Jon Arntson – Maggie Steifvater (Shiver, Linger)
P. J. Hoover*** – Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry)
Katie Anderson – Laini Taylor (Lips Touch)
Kathy McCullough – Jacqueline Kelly (Evolution of Calpurnia Tate)
Kristi Helvig*** – Melissa Marr (Radiant Shadows)
Nisa Lofthouse – Brandon Sanderson (Elantris)
Chantal Kirkland - Jackson Pearce (As You Wish)
Tiffany Neal – Neal Shusterman (Unwind)
Suzette Saxton*** – Gary Paulsen (Woods Runner)
Danyelle Leafty – Shannon Hale (Forest Born)
Kristen Yard*** – Aprilynne Pike (Wings)
Robin Mellom – KL Going (Fat Kid Rules the World)
Cole Gibsen – Josie Bloss (Albatross)
Dawn Metcalf*** – A.S. King (Dust of 100 Dogs)
Tina Lee – Swati Avashti (Split)
Bethany Wiggins*** - Lindsey Leavitt (Princess for Hire)
L.T. Elliot - Jay Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why)
Marcie Atkins - Tom Angleberger (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda)
Tricia J. O'Brien*** - Suzanne Crowley (The Stolen One)
Kelly Polark - S.E. Hinton (The Outsiders)
Kasie West*** - Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall)
Valerie Kemp*** - Lucy Christopher (Stolen)
Mary Campbell*** - Polly Shulman (Enthusiasm)
Corinne O'Flynn*** - Catherine Ryan Hyde (Love in the Present Tense)
Chris Fontes*** - Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
Tere Kirkland – Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)
Paula Wright*** - Terry Pratchett (Guards! Guards!)
Hannah Oman - Jonathan Carroll (Bones of the Moon)
Chersti Nieveen - Megan Whalen Turner

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's Kindle Review!"

2010-05-01T21:01:00.020-04:00

It's long past the time I said I would review the "Kindle2" that my husband, Dion, bought for me. I have owned it for approximately two months now, and I totally ♥lurve♥ it!

Here is the front view of the "Kindle2":

And here is the back view:

I don't know about you, but I think my "Kindle2" is absolutely adorable!

As you may recall, my husband also purchased a "SkinIt" that is in a gorgeous "Tinker Bell" design, as you can see by looking at the photos, above. Otherwise, the "Kindle2" would have looked like this:
The original version is not hideous or anything; it's just not as pretty as it is with the awesome-looking, Tinker Bell–SkinIt on it. And the "SkinIts" come in lots of different designs. I believe you can even have your own custom-made designs, if you want. I think they're great—and reasonably priced, too.

Here is a list of some of the things that you will be able to do with your "Kindle2" (I've personally tried each one!):

Read books easily (it's fun!) While you're reading, if there's a word you don't know, just rest the cursor on it, and the display will pop up telling you all about what the word means. Also, if the particular book that you are reading at the time allows the text-reading feature, the "Kindle2" will read the book out loud to you. How cool is that!?!

Shop for books (lots of them free) at the Kindle Store

Obtain free books from several different sources online

Download blogs, newspapers, magazines, audiobooks, mp3's and other text. Amazon will store a copy of them for you. That way if you delete them (by accident or otherwise), you will be able to download them (if you want to) without having to pay for them again.

Shop on eBay, and other shopping forums

Search Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other search providers

Bookmark each favorite website visited

Add notes or highlights at special spots in the books that you are reading

Forward pdf documents from your computer to your "Kindle2" so they can be read more easily (I totally ♥lurve♥ that feature!) The same can be done with Microsoft Word, TXT, HTML, RTF, or images like JPEG's and GIF's. If you send them to your dedicated "Kindle2" email address, Amazon will convert the documents into the "Kindle2" format and wirelessly provide it to your "Kindle2" via "Whispernet" for a small fee, or back to your computer for free.

I think that's about it except this:

I purchased a book entitled: "The Kindle2 Cookbook: How To Do Everything the Manual Doesn't Tell You (Kindle Edition)" by David Emberson, that's full of terrific information about how and where to get free books, plus lots of tips and tricks that the "Kindle2" User's Guide, 4th Ed. just does not provide for you. Furthermore, there are other books available on Amazon along these lines, but this one is my favorite. You, of course, are free to choose one of your own, but I do advise you to at least purchase one of them to supplement the User's Guide. Trust me: you'll be glad you did!

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)

If I were asked to give an overall evaluation of the "Kindle2", I would definitely say:

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Blog Jog Day!"

2010-04-26T15:20:00.019-04:00

Have you heard about the amazing event that my friend and fellow writer, Carol Denbow (a.k.a. Author 101) is hosting on Sunday, 09 May 2010? It's called:

"Blog Jog Day!"

"This is the type of event that is designed for the sole purpose of benefitting any and all of those individuals that own a blog. Also, the more that participate in "Blog Jog Day!", the better the results for all!"

What is "Blog Jog Day"?

"It’s a one-day event where bloggers are joining together for a "pyramid effect" promotional rally. We all post on the same day with each post leading the visitor to the next blog, and so on, full circle.

That’s it! Visitors explore your blog, and then click on to the next one, bringing potentially thousands of unique visitors to your site."

"So...How Can "Blog Jog Day" Benefit Bloggers" did you say?

More unique visitors to your Blog

More subscribers

More comments

More inbound links

More Followers

More exposure and sales

Grow your daily hits

And all of these things look great to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and the other search engines, which translates into greater popularity!

And with greater popularity comes a higher Page Rank and greater exposure for your Blog!

So...How Cool

Is That!?!

So jog on over to the official "Blog Jog Day!" blog and sign up. There is a one-time $2.00 participation fee for each blog that you sign up to have in the event (a steal!), which helps support additional advertizing for "Blog Jog Day!" Furthermore, all the information about "how it works" and "where to sign
up" is right:

here

These are some ADDITIONAL BENEFITS of the event:

You'll be able to plug your blog

You could receive potentially thousands of hits in one day!

There will be long-term positive results!

You're bound to receive some permanent links!

Come On! Ask your friends to join us on "Blog Jog Day" on Sunday, 09 May 2010...

and let's have some "FUN!"

Check it all out by clicking on the official "Blog Jog Day" logo, below:

~http://blogjogday.blogspot.com~

and...

(DON'T FORGET TO: "Pass The Word!")

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "Magnificent-Monday" Guest Author Interview!"

2010-04-19T08:24:00.006-04:00

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Mary Cunningham, the author of the wonderful, four-book (so far) "CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES", to my blog.

C: Welcome to my blog, Mary. It's an honor to have you here, and thank you for agreeing to do this interview.

M: You're welcome, Cynde.

C: I have read in several of your personal interviews that your inspiration for the “CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES” came from: a recurring dream that you had for more than 20 years about a mysterious attic. You stated that after finally telling a friend about the dream, you realized it took place in the attic of your childhood best friend, Cynthia and that unfortunately, you stopped having the dreams after that. However, lucky for us, it was then that you decided to write a 5-page memoir that turned into four (4) young reader books (so far).

Could you tell us who inspired you to become a writer in the first place and why?

M: I must have inherited the desire to write from my dad. He was a journalist for over 40 years and my inspiration and roll model. In fact, I'd go with him, on occasion, when he interviewed an interesting character for a story. He was also responsible for my love of fantasy/fiction. When I was a child, hardly a night went by that he wasn't making up a bedtime story. Wish he'd been around to see my books!

C: Awww...I love that story, Mary. My dad inspired me, also. I bet our fathers are together, watching us from heaven, and talking about your books right now.

According to you, the character of “Cynthia” in your series represents your childhood best friend, Cynthia. Furthermore, the character of “Gus” is supposed to represent you, and “Molly” the dog is supposed to represent your beloved 16-year-old terrier/mix dog named Molly that died while you were writing “THE MAGICIAN'S CASTLE”.

Do any of the other characters represent someone special and if so, who?

M: Oh, there are so many! But, I'll try to name one of my favorites. In "THE MAGIC MEDALLION", Cynthia and Gus travel back to 1934 where they meet a very familiar-looking cave guide. Without giving away too much of the story, Gus realizes that the teenage guide is her dad. This storyline is very special to me because, as you know from the previous question, my dad was very influential in my writing, and I loved hearing stories about his true experiences as a guide. That part of the story still gives me chills when I read it.

C: It gives me chills, too, Mary! It's great.

Also, excluding the characters of Cynthia and Gus (who represent your childhood friend and yourself, pictured in the photo on the right), plus Molly the dog, which character is your all-time favorite and why?

M: Without a doubt, my favorite character is Mud Bug from "CURSE OF THE BAYOU" I love his intuitive spirit, his dialect, his sense of humor and his good heart. His character was so easy to get into because I could picture him perfectly and became very attached to his" voice." I lived in Louisiana for a year, and my heritage is French, so I felt much at home not only writing his character, but the entire story.

C: I know that you have been asked several times about whether or not you would write a “book five” in the “CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES”.

Have you made a decision on whether or not you will, and if not, which way do you think you are leaning?

M: Let's just say, I hope to! I was so mentally tired after the whole process getting the 4th book written and released that I felt the need to step away for awhile. My plan is to write book 5, but a great storyline has yet to jump into my thoughts. I can't, however, let Cynthia and Gus go, yet. Stay tuned!

C: Also if not, would you consider a bribe? (LOL!)

M: A bribe? Most definitely! I'll accept a check or cash. LOL!

C: OK, fan--you heard her. Let's get that money rolling (Just kidding!)

C: Do you have plans for a book/series following completion of the “CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES”?

M: Not sure I have a series on the horizon, but I'm working on two adult mysteries. One is a serious, time-travel and the other, a (co-written) mystery/satire. I'm having a tremendous amount of fun writing both of them, and am surprised that I'm able to leap from one to the other without getting the "voices" confused because they are very different.

C: If so, could you give us a tiny hint of what it/they might be about?

M: The serious mystery is about Marley and Kate, lifelong friends. Marley's teenage granddaughter, Claire, has just been killed in an auto accident. They have the ability to travel back in time and change the outcome, but, if successful, will another teenager die in Claire's place?

The satirical mystery is about a (very inept) travel agent/investigator who is reluctantly drawn into trying to clearing her former stepmother, who has been a thorn in her side from the moment they met, of a strange murder.

C: Would you please describe for us one of your typical writing days, from start to finish?

M: I wake up and have some coffee. Turn on my computer. Have another cup of coffee. Open my e-mails. Hit delete 75 times, or so. Have another cup of coffee…well, you get the idea. I try to write every day. I don't like to force it, though. If the words aren't flowing, I do something else and then go back to it. I love writing when my brain is working so fast, my fingers can barely keep up. I guess my only ritual is that (oh, this is going to sound really weird) I must have my shower and be dressed before I can write. I have a friend who writes in her jammies. Not me! Oh, I don't have to be in black dress slacks and white cashmere sweater! Jeans and a T-Shirt do quite nicely. Just so I'm dressed.

C: What are the best pieces of advice you would pass on to someone aspiring to become a published author?

M: I'm going to give two that have been crucial to my writing:

1. A very generous NY editor gave me a critique years ago that probably led to getting the first two books published. She said, "Too much telling. Not enough showing." I had no idea what that meant until I did some research on various writing websites and blogs. I had one of those "light-bulb" moments and spent the next six months doing rewrites that moved the storyline through dialog and action rather than simply telling the reading what was happening.
2. The second is very simple. "Write what you know." It's so much easier to write about familiar topics. Since the original setting for “CYNTHIA'S ATTIC” is in my hometown, Corydon, Indiana, and takes in many childhood memories, much of the research was already in my head. And, I have old family pictures of many of the ancestors that play important roles in the books.

C: Excellent advice, Mary! That's why your books are so much better than others in the same category. You're of the few authors that actually remembers, then follows your own amazing advice.

M: Thanks, so much, Cynde, for the interview. It's been a pleasure being a guest on your website!

C: The pleasure was entirely mine, Mary...and I'm sure that my "followers" and anyone dropping by this blog has enjoyed this interview as well. I really hope that you'll agree to come back again in the future to discuss any new work you've done and catch up on what you've been doing. This has been so much fun for me. Thanks again, and God bless!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The first book in the series, entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"was already reviewed for you on my blog here.

"Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" is the second book in the series, and it was already reviewed here.

The third book in the series is entitled "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" and has already been reviewed for you, here.

"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle" is the fourth and final book (so far) in the four-book "Cynthia's Attic Series" written by Mary Cunningham, and that has already been reviewed for you, here.

Also, anyone wishing to learn more about the author, Mary Cunningham, please visit her website by clicking here.

IMPORTANT COMMENT:

Let me say that you could read each of the books without reading the others, and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I highly recommend that you read all four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on loads of fun and adventure, plus I think you would really regret it.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "Thrilling-Thursday" Book Review!"

2010-04-15T07:23:00.005-04:00

"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle" is the fourth and final book (so far) in the four-book "Cynthia's Attic Series" written by Mary Cunningham, and I'm going to review it for you here on my blog today.

The first book in the series, entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"was already reviewed for you on my blog here.
"Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" is the second book in the series, and it was already reviewed here.
The third book in the series is entitled "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" and has already been reviewed for you, here.

Before I go any further, let me say that you could read each of the books without reading the others, and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I highly recommend that you read all four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on loads of fun and adventure, plus I think you would really regret it.

The Synopsis:

"Magical costumes, disappearing stairs, and a spooky attic filled with dusty antiques–what more could two, adventurous, young girls ask for?

Sebastien the Great, a magician whose fiancée, Kathryn, disappears through the magic trunk, vows revenge. If Cynthia and Gus don't find a missing page from the “Book of Spells,” Cynthia’s family could face financial and personal ruin.

Follow this time-traveling duo as they journey back to a 1914 Swiss castle where Eva, Sebastien’s grandmother, gives them clues on where to begin their search. Their journey takes them through miles of tree tunnels, an enchanted garden ruled by a cranky rock monster, and even high in the Alps.

They get the surprise of their lives when they're sent 50 years into the future, have a shocking encounter with another set of best friends, and receive a fresh set of clues that could lead to Kathryn's return. But, at what price?"

My Review:

As I stated previously, this is the fourth and final book (so far) in the four-book "Cynthia's Attic Series" written by Mary Cunningham that I am reviewing here for you on my blog.

Once again, our delightful twelve-year-old protagonists are paired up together on an exciting adventure. They embark on an urgent journey to try to find the missing page from the "Book of Spells" that is desperately needed so that Kathryn can be rescued from the year 1864 and returned to her beloved, Sebastien, with whom she belongs.

Many of the things that have occurred in this time-traveling episode were familiar, except that this time, Gus and Cynthia have been separated since the previous episode, due to a mistake that took place, and now Gus is frantic to be reunited with her. However, that cannot be accomplished until Annie is returned to her home in her original time period; plus they must also find the missing page from the "Book of Spells". Furthermore, it is now clear that somehow, everyone and everything is connected to each other, in some elaborate, and delicate puzzle that all traces back to Cynthia's family and the friendship between Cynthia's and Gus's grandmothers.

As with all the other episodes, the girls have ultimately time-traveled back in time and have met with relatives and friends from their past, but in "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle", it will be the first time that Cynthia and Gus have time-traveled forward in time, to a time that is in their future—beyond the time where some of their loved ones have already gone to heaven. It is a traumatic time for both of them, but they learn a lot about themselves and each other during this thrilling conclusion to the series—it's an amazing book!

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)

I know I've said it before, but I feel that I must say it again: after each book that Mary Cunningham writes, her writing gets better and better! Her writing is amazing and so is this book!

The characters in this book are well-rounded, believable, and the dialogue flows so smoothly that you'll get lost in it, believing that you're their in the midst of the action, and a part of it yourself. There were parts of this book that were so gripping that I just couldn't put it down; sometimes, it made me want to cry but most of the time, I had a big 'ole smile planted right across my face. Mary knows how to dig deep down inside her characters and make them come "alive"...and she's done that here, in her entire "Cynthia's Attic Series", but most especially with "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle".

I would highly recommend this book for children between the ages of 9 and 13 or to anyone who is interested in fun and adventure. I am 50+ years old and I loved every second of this book.

This is an excellent book—well done, Mary!

Anyone wishing to learn more about the author, Mary Cunningham, please visit her website by clicking here.

Also, don't forget: Mary Cunningham will be coming here next for a "Guest Author Interview!" So...keep watching!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Check out this "NEW BLOG" and "CREEPY COOL CONTEST!"

2010-04-12T19:53:00.013-04:00

We have a new blogger in our midst, and it is none other than Stephanie Boman, YA writer extraordinaire. You can find Stephanie's blog, which uses her name as the title, right here. Stephanie is holding a "Creepy-Cool" contest to get the word out about her new site. Also, her new book, "FADING", has creepy paranormal wraiths in it, so she thought she'd celebrate the new blog by giving away the creepy-cool pendant (pictured,left) made by an Etsy artist (includes ball chain).

Stephanie writes young adult fiction and is now represented by Alyssa Reuben at Paradigm Talent Agency. Congratulations, Stephanie!

IMPORTANT:

All the details for entering the contest are listed here,

so be sure to enter!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Announcing the Winner of the CONTEST to Win a FREE, Autographed Copy of "CYNTHIA'S ATTIC: THE MAGICIAN'S CASTLE" By Mary Cunningham!"

2010-04-12T07:49:00.011-04:00

"Announcing the
Contest Winner"
of the FREE, AUTOGRAPHED
Copy of:

"CYNTHIA'S
ATTIC:
THE
MAGICIAN'S
CASTLE"
By Mary
Cunningham

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Winner Is:
Angie Lofthouse

"Congratulations,
Angie!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~NOTE~
To win, you must have answered the following question correctly:
"What particular item have Cynthia & Gus gone on a frantic search to find?"
The Correct Answer Is:
A missing page
from the
"Book of
Spells"!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

IMPORTANT:

Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest and be sure to watch for my upcoming book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle".

Furthermore, be sure to watch for my upcoming interview with Mary Cunningham, the author of the entire "Cynthia's Attic Series".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

2010-04-07T00:05:00.003-04:00

"Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" is the third in a four book "Cynthia's Attic Series" written by Mary Cunningham, that I am going to review for you here on my blog today.

The first book in the series, entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"was already reviewed for you on my blog here. "Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" is the second book in the series, and it was already reviewed here.

Before I go any further, let me say that you could read each of the books without reading the others, and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I highly recommend that you read all four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on loads of fun and adventure, plus I think you would really regret it.

The Synopsis:

"Colorful pirates. SuRana— a shape-shifting puma, and an old Cajun guide named Mud Bug join Cynthia and Gus as they explore the "Curse of the Bayou". The latest quest for the adventurous, twelve-year-old best friends finds them in a Louisiana bayou. There, they search for answers in the disappearance of Cynthia's great-grandfather, Beau Connor, who was on his way down the Mississippi River to sell a flatboat full of produce.

With the help of a magic truck in Cynthia's attic, this time-traveling duo venture back to 1914 New Orleans. The warm welcome and advice from old friend, Gabriella, is small comfort when Mud Bug warns them to stay away from Buzzard Jack LaBuse, the meanest, orneriest pirate this side of the Mississippi, and his gang of misfits, Snags, Darby, and Salty Sam, their thieving parrot mascot.

A trip to Connor's Southern Indiana farm reveals a strange connection between Beau and Buzzard Jack, and a family curse that might be responsible for Cynthia's great-grandfather's disappearance. Returning to New Orleans, a harrowing ride on a roller coaster sends them farther back in time to 1844, straight into the clutches of the evil pirate, fighting for their lives.

A mysterious treasure and heart-stopping adventure lead to a final confrontation in the girls' mission to save Great Granddaddy Beau."

My Review:

This is the second book in a series of four (so far) exciting books in the "Cynthia's Attic Series". Once again, Gus (Augusta Lee) and her best friend Cynthia, the twelve-year-old, time-traveling duo in these adventures, are reunited to solve another suspenseful mystery.

As the two girl time travel from the Connor's farm in Southern Indiana to the Louisiana bayou, they meet up with several colorful characters. Gabriella, their fortune-telling gypsy friend from book two, "The Magic Medallion", appears to give them friendship, comfort, and much-needed advice. They meet an old, gruff Cajun guide named Mud Bug who warns them to steer clear of the evil pirate, Buzzard Jack Labuse and his gang. They later meet up with the sweet Jasmine and her little boy Mooty, who they finally figure out is Mud Bug as a youngster. You'll have to keep your eyes open in this book because it's fast-paced and there are hidden clues everywhere.

The evil pirate, Buzzard Jack LaBuse and his gang are after them, they have an encounter with a shape-shifting Puma, there are witch's spells, an alligator follows them, people and boats disappear, and Gus even has to use a hunk of bologna to save herself! The intrigue is never-ending in this book. I could't bare to put this book down—I wanted to read the entire book straight through, and I almost did—it's really a great book!

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)

I like this book the best so far out of the three that I've read in the "Cynthia's Attic Series"—and that's really saying a lot. All of these books have been incredible; however, in my opinion, Ms. Cunningham improves with every book that she writes. This episode is extremely fast paced and exciting, plus it's loaded with fun twists and turns that will make it difficult for you to put the book down for a minute. Believe me—you're going to want to read it from start to finish in one sitting, so you had better prepare for a reading marathon! I recommend this book for children between the ages of 9 and 13 or anyone who enjoys fun and adventure—I'm 50+ years old and I loved every minute of it. This is an excellent book—well done, Mary!

I can't wait to read book four in the series, which is entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle".

Anyone wishing to learn more about the author, Mary Cunningham, please visit her website by clicking here.

Also, don't forget: as soon as I have completed reviewing the entire "Cynthia's Attic Series" here on my blog, Mary Cunningham will be coming here for a "Guest Author Interview!" So...keep watching!

Also...don't miss your chance to win a FREE,Autographed copy of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle". The contest details are here and the contest ends: midnight on Sunday, 11 April 2010.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

CONTEST: "Your Chance To Win A FREE, Autographed Copy Of: "CYNTHIA'S ATTIC: THE MAGICIAN'S CASTLE" By Mary Cunningham!"

2010-03-26T07:53:00.014-04:00

~CONTEST~

For your chance to win a FREE, AUTOGRAPHED Copy of:

"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle"
Written By:
Mary Cunningham

To win your chance
for the FREE, AUTOGRAPHED
Copy,
all you need to do
is answer the following
question CORRECTLY:

"What particular
item have
Cynthia & Gus
gone on a
frantic search
to find?"

HINT: Visit Mary Cunningham's site here

Please submit your entries here

(Contest limited to U.S. participants only. Thank you.)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CONTEST ENDS:
midnight, 11 April 2010.
The WINNING NAME (U.S. participants only!) will be selected from all the correct entries received. (Please be sure to include your email address or the url for your blog with your entry, so that we can get in contact with you in the event that you are the winner.) Best Wishes to you all!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Prolific Blogger Award!"

2010-03-24T15:51:00.007-04:00

My dear friend Angie Lofthouse from the wonderful blog, Notes From the Writing Chair, has done me the honor of bestowing the prestigious "Prolific Blogger Award" upon me:

RULES FOR THE "PROLIFIC BLOGGER AWARD":

1. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award. (see above).

2. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to this post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.

3. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we can get to know the other winners.

4. Every winner of the "Prolific Blogger Award" has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Let's spread some ♥love♥!

I'd like to pass this award on to the following "Prolific Bloggers":

1. Leona Shankle from At The Starting Gate

2. Pamela Mac Lean from Two to Write

3. Laura Schaefer from The Teashop Girl's Blog

4. Lisa Holdren from The Truth To Some Extent

5. Lesa Holstine from Lesa's Book Critiques

6. Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor from A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye

and last, but not least...

7. Victoria Strauss from Writer Beware Blogs!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Tag, You're It!"

2010-03-10T16:13:00.005-05:00

Angie over at "Notes From the Writing Chair" posted this little game and I thought it looked like fun, so I thought I'd try it. I've never done one of these before and it looks like a lot of fun. All you have to do is fill in your likes/loves/hates after the bolded words. Have fun!

Here goes:

I like everything to do with "writing". I like the writing itself, brand new pens, new notebooks, and everything new.

I like having "Date Night with my husband, every Friday night. It makes me feel special and even though we usually stay home and watch a movie, it still feels just like it did when we were dating before we got married. (He still gives me goosebumps!)

I like Orville Redenbacher's kettlecorn popcorn. It has a sweet and natural taste that doesn't make me feel all thirsty when I'm done eating it.

I like the smell and sound of rain, especially when it builds up and causes a torrent to flow through the gully behind our house. When it rains really hard, it sounds like a train is in the gully, and believe it or not, my husband and I both think it is a very soothing sound.

I like the Holly Lisle's "How To Think Sideways Career Survival Course For Writers" that I'm taking right now. I'm learning a lot and it's so interesting.

I like to rest my cheek on the cool side of my pillow; it is such a refreshing feeling, no matter what time of year it is.

I like watching kittens and puppies sleep. Sometimes they run in their sleep or whimper like babies and it's the cutest thing to observe.

I like blogging, even though I really don't have enough time to keep up with it like I should.

I like riding on the back of my husband's 1973 Honda CB750 motorcycle, with my arms wrapped around him, watching the scenery whip by us, feeling young, free and very much in ♥love♥.

I ♥love♥ the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Saviour, in Him shall I trust.

Today was the day that the Lord hath made; "I will rejoice and be glad in it, for this is the day that the Lord hath made." (Psalm 118:24)

I hate satan and all of his minions.

I hate it when people are mean to one another.

I hate it when people suffer needlessly.

I hate being disabled; it makes me feel useless!

I hate it when people display "road rage"; they act like they just got out of kindergarten.

I hate it when politicians think they know what we need for ourselves more than we do, and they refuse to even listen to us!

I hate it when I get behind on anything, such as reading/answering emails, etc.

I (secretly) like paying the bills every month. It's not that I like having bills...no, of course not!...it's just that I like making sure that all the bills are paid on time.

I ♥love♥ my husband, Dion, with all my heart. He's my soul-mate and I praise the Lord every day for sending him to me. Before he came into my life, I was miserable and lonely. Now I am so happy and have so much joy! (Can you tell I'm very much in love?)

At this point, I'm supposed to "tag" three of my friends and list them below, but I'm not going to do that. I'll just let you all decide yourself (like I did) if you want to participate. If you leave a comment and want to play the game, just let me know and I'll post your link below, OK?

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

Check Out These "Fantabulous Followers Giveaway" Contests!"

2010-03-10T11:10:00.006-05:00

I came across some "Fantabulous Followers Giveaway" contests this week, so I thought I'd pass along the information to you so you won't miss out on them.

First, there's the one at "Elana Johnson's" blog where Elana Johnson is giving away seven amazing books, all but one are personalized! Go here for more contest details.

Next, there is one at "Shooting Stars", where sisters Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins are giving away five fantastic prizes.

They are as follows:

Suzie Townsend, literary agent extraordinaire with FinePrintLit, has consented to give to the grand prize winner a 40-page partial submission plus a critique of those pages!

Kimberly Derting, author of "THE BODY FINDER" (release date 3-16) has donated an awesome "BODY FINDER" black totebag (perfect size for a whole stack of library books), a signed-in-silver poster, autographed bookmark, and sticker for one lucky winner!

The book "THE HOST", by Stephenie Meyer.

"WRITING THE GREAT AMERICAN ROMANCE" by Catherine Lanigan makes writing almost easy! This step-by-step guide can easily be applied to writing fiction of any genre.

one- 4 ounce box of Enstrom's toffee

Go here for more contest details.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "New-Story-Idea" Folder!"

2010-03-05T08:53:00.010-05:00

Last night, I was thinking about a couple of the little things that I do to organize myself and keep track of all the story ideas that I have floating around in my head, so I thought: "Hmmm...why not share the ideas with my friends? They might be able to use them!"

So...here goes:

First of all, I never go anywhere without a notebook! You never know when a great idea is going to "pop!" into your head...and as quickly as it came, it can disappear. If you have your handy-dandy notebook with you, all you have to do is "jot" a rough draft of your idea down, and then you won't forget it.

Secondly, I alway carry my digital camera with me. The reasoning behind this is pretty much the same as my first idea, but with some extra zip. You never know when you might come across the most amazing photo opportunity, which in turn could lead to a great publishable "story idea".

(Tip: It is at this point that you would normally edit you work, but this is when you actually have some decisions to make:

Do you want to work on coming up with a story that you might be able to publish? (That is entirely feasible. If the story is very good/great and the photo to go along with it is also great, then go for it!)
~OR~
Should you file the picture along with the "free-written" story, and wait for an opportunity when you can write a tailor-made story that will fit the request? (I have two folders: one on my computer & one in my desk, for just those type of stories. If they're in there too long, I pluck them out & work on them. Hopefully someday, I'll get lucky!)

Next, when I get ready to go to sleep at night, I always make sure I have my notebook, a pen, and my mini-cassette recorder on the shelf next to my bed. That way, if I wake up from dreaming—because everybody knows that all the "great ideas" come to you in the middle of the night—I'll have a way to "record" them before they totally escape my mind.

(Tip: At times like these, I have found that using the mini-cassette recorder saves a lot of time and aggravation because it takes a while for my eyes to focus properly after I've been asleep. So, if I whisper the idea into the recorder, I don't have to worry about turning the lights on and waking up my husband.)

I have always loved going through photos and pictures, whether they be from magazines, the Internet, antique stores or even someone's photo albums. After selecting the ones I think are the best, I save them for "writing prompts". I study the photos and get the story pretty much worked out the way I want it in my mind, then set my trusty little timer for ten minutes. Then I "free write", which means I keep writing, non-stop, not worrying about punctuation or anything. Just words, and the story—whatever comes to mind—simply easy, free-flowing words.

(Tip: The same "tips" that were used for my second idea, above, would apply here.)

I have several other ideas, but I think I'll close with this last one, which I think is my favorite because it's fun (for me, anyway). Go to the mall, a restaurant, the library, or wherever there are people and it won't appear too strange if you're sitting around, watching and writing. I'm sure you've probably heard of this, or even done this before— my husband calls it "people watching" or "eye-balling". Pick out some people that you think are interesting or "catch your eye", then write a story about them. Write a whole background for each person, trying to pay particular attention to detail, as if you were a reporter. (It will help you in the future when you need to write decriptions.)

(Tip: If I have found someone really interesting, I have gone up to them and asked them if I could take their photo and explained why. The only thing I have not done yet is found out where I can get one of those "release forms" that people are supposed to sign for that purpose.
Does anyone know where I can get one of those "release forms"?

I hope you enjoyed my article today. If you have some ideas that you would like to share, please
"comment". Thank you so much for stopping by & please come back & visit again soon!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's Kindle!"

2010-03-03T12:24:00.008-05:00

I am so excited! My husband, Dion, just bought me the newest generation of the "Kindle2", plus a bunch of the accessories that go with it.

Here's a list of some of the accessories that he got for me:

the USB cable

the leather cover

the two-year extended warranty

LCD screen protectors

AC and auto chargers

the "Kandle" (an led book light--cool name for it, isn't it?)

a "SkinIt" that covers it with a beautiful "Tinker Bell" design.

♥Dion♥ is so good to me. I ♥lurve♥ him! He's the best husband in the entire world.

Now I can use the "Kindle2" (at night when my husband is asleep) for doing my lessons from the Holly Lisle's "How To Think Sideways Career Survival Course For Writers" that I'm taking, instead of using my computer. I can send the pdf version of the lessons from my computer to my "Kindle2". Then I won't have to worry about going blind from eyestrain (reading from my computer), and I also won't have to be concerned about waking Dion up from a sound sleep, because the "Kindle2" is as quiet as a mouse: <<<<(Ooops! Wrong kind of mouse!)

Here is the front view of the Kindle:

And here is the back view:

I don't know about you, but I think my "Kindle2" is absolutely adorable!

So far, I've only been able to read a few books that I bought from the Kindle Store, but it was great. In addition to that, I have some books that I was sent in pdf form that I need to review, so I'm going to transfer them to my "Kindle2", as well. I find it very difficult to read pdf books on my computer (as I mentioned earlier)--it strains my eyes--and the "Kindle2" is the perfect solution!

After I have had/used the "Kindle2" for around 30 days, I'll review it here on my blog so you'll know what I thought of it. By then I'll know a little bit more about it and maybe I'll have some tips I can share. (Maybe I'll even be able to add some video footage, too--wouldn't that be cool?)

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "Terrific-Tuesday" Book Review!"

2010-03-02T07:40:00.003-05:00

"Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" is the second in a four book "Cynthia's Attic Series", written by Mary Cunningham, that I am going to review for you here on my blog today.

The first book in the series, entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"was already reviewed for you on my blog here.
Before I go any further, let me say that you could read each of the books without reading the others, and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I highly recommend that you read all four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on loads of fun and adventure, plus I think you would really regret it.

The Synopsis:

"Sinister clowns, stalkers on horseback, mystical forests, and the creepy, crawling curse.

A magic trunk sweeps Cynthia, and best friend, Augusta Lee (Gus), back to 1914 where an ill-fated trip to the circus leads to Blackie, a sinister hobo clown. Before they can be forced by Blackie to become permanent clown troupe performers, the girls are rescued by Gabriella, a Gypsy fortune-teller, and are entangled in the theft of her family's treasure. Much to their dismay, Cynthia and Gus appear to be the family's only hope of recovering a precious magic medallion.

Traveling unexpectedly forward to 1934, they meet a 'very familiar-looking' cave guide, and are stalked by a stranger on a black horse. Dangers escalate, as they're swept into an underground river, and later, barely avoid becoming 'campfire marshmallows' in a raging forest fire.

Friendship, loyalty, and an undeniable sense of adventure keep this twosome on a never-ending path of danger, suspense, and merriment."

My Review:

This is the second book in a series of four (so far) exciting books in the "Cynthia's Attic Series". Needless to say, Gus (Augusta Lee), the tomboyish half of the dual 12-year-old lead protagonists, and her best friend and sidekick, a girlie-girl character named Cynthia (the series' namesake), are reunited in this adventure and they are whisked back in time to 1914 where they end up in the circus at the mercy of a mean, hobo-type clown named Blackie who is forcing them to perform as clowns.

When they are rescued by the Gypsy fortune-teller, Gabriella, there is a catch: they need to travel in time to find a lost medallion or they may never be able to return to the present time where they belong. Of course they have to accept, and when they do, they meet some really interesting people along the way.

With each new adventure, Ms. Cunningham packs loads more excitement and action into each one of the episodes! The adventures that arise from the trunk that was found in Cynthia's attic are centered around Cynthia's ancestors and it's fun to meet them and see how everything ties so neatly into the present. Ms. Cunningham has done a masterful job of spinning these tales and I think I like this one even better than the first!

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)

This book was fast-paced, the action was non-stop, the characters were engaging and interesting, plus the story was intriguing. I would recommend this book for anyone between the ages of 9 to 13, plus anyone older who wants to read a fun book that is full of joy and adventure. I'm 50+ and I enjoyed it immensely! Excellent job, Mary!

I can't wait to read book three in the series, which is entitled "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou".

Anyone wishing to learn more about the author, Mary Cunningham, please visit her website by clicking here.

Also, don't forget: as soon as I have completed reviewing the entire "Cynthia's Attic Series" here on my blog, Mary Cunningham will be coming here for a "Guest Author Interview!" So...keep watching!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

2010-02-17T13:33:00.007-05:00

In case you haven't already heard, I have decided that as a special treat for you, my readers, I will be reviewing the entire, amazing "Cynthia's Attic Series", books one through four, followed by an exciting interview with the author, the awe-inspiring Mary Cunningham.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

First, I'll begin by reviewing the number one book in the series, which is entitled, "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket":

The Synopsis:

"Magical costumes, disappearing stairs and a spooky attic filled with dusty antiques–what more could two, adventurous, young girls ask for?

Best friends, Cynthia and Gus as she prefers to be called, are as “different as bubble gum and broccoli.” They are, however, equal in their ability to get into trouble without much effort.

In trying to escape the “boring summer” of 1964, the adventurous twelve-year-old girls stumble upon a trunk in Cynthia’s attic that has been in her family for three generations.

They discover its mystical qualities when they are swept into the trunk and whisked back to 1914, literally into the lives of their twelve-year-old grandmothers, Clara and Bess. The mystery of a missing family locket is revealed. Their quest takes numerous twists and turns, including a life-and-death struggle on a large steamship traveling from England to America.

Along with perilous escapades, they make important, sometimes humorous discoveries about their ancestors, and even manage to change history–for the better–along the way."

My Review:

This is the first book in a series of four (so far) exciting stories that are told through the voice of the tomboyish character of Gus (Augusta Lee). Gus and her "girlie-girl" best friend, Cynthia, are exact opposites, but they are also as close as sisters. They have made the discovery that they can travel through time via an old trunk that they found in Cynthia's attic and by doing so, they are having the most delightful adventures with some of Cynthia's ancestors.

In this particular story, these two 12-year-old girls must solve a mystery involving a locket that was lost fifty years earlier when their grandmothers were also 12-year-old best friends. Furthermore, they must also solve the mystery of the disappearance of Cynthia's great-great Aunt Isabelle, who was the original owner of the locket in the first place. They are exciting and sometimes hair-raising adventures as Gus and Cynthia use their wits and humor to solve these mysteries and fix things in their own special ways.

Even though this is supposed to be a children's book series, trust me when I tell you that anyone of any age would enjoy this book (above infants, of course). I'm a little over fifty myself, and I couldn't put this book down, it was so exciting! I loved the characters--they were well-rounded, believable and I actually cared about what happened to them. The story was thrilling and playful, plus you can tell that every step was carefully planned out in advance. I can't wait to read the next book! Ms. Cunningham is a brilliant and thoughtful writer.

My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to both children and adults alike, and I assure you that neither age group would be disappointed in the least. I'm so glad that I have all four of these books; that way I can read one right after the other. Don't miss out on reading this fabulous story--you should go out and buy it today!

I give this book an absolute rating of: EXCELLENT! Well done, Mary!

To learn more about Mary Cunningham, visit her at her website here.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Black History Month!"

2010-02-06T16:58:00.010-05:00

In 1926, a historian by the name of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who was a Harvard Ph.D., initiated
"Negro History Week" for the purpose of celebrating Black History. Dr. Woodson specifically chose the second week of February because the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were both included within that week. In the 1976 Bicentennial (200th birthday) of the U.S.A., the week-long observance was extended so that there would be enough time for all the celebratory programs and activities.

Another very important day in Black History is Juneteenth Day (also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day) and it is celebrated on the 19th of June, each year. That day is in recognition of the June 19, 1865 anniversary of the emancipation of the last remaining slaves in Texas; the Civil War had already ended two months prior to that, and Gen. Gordon Granger took 2,000 Union troops with him to Galveston, Texas to enforce the freeing of the slaves. On Jan. 1, 1980, Juneteenth was declared an official holiday in Texas and this uplifting celebration of freedom is continuing to gain in popularity around the U.S.A.

In celebration of Black History Month, Lee Verday, owner of the blog, By Pen or by Sword is having a contest and the winner will be awarded two nice prizes. The find out the details, visit his blog by clicking here.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday"Guest Author Interview!"

2010-02-03T09:14:00.003-05:00

I’d like to welcome Kathryn Casey, author of the blockbuster fiction mystery novels, “SINGULARITY” and “BLOOD LINES”, as well as several non-fiction, award-winning, true crime novels, to my blog.

C: Welcome, Kathryn. It’s an honor to have you here.

K: Thank you so much, Cynde. It’s my pleasure.

C: I know that a lot of my readers are very curious about you, so if you wouldn’t mind, I have a few questions that I’d like to ask, so that we can all get to know you a little better. Is that alright with you?

K: It sure is.

C: Great, then let’s get started:

C: When the name “Kathryn Casey” is mentioned, most people would associate you with your award-winning, true crime novels. What inspired you to finally “take the plunge” and try your hand at writing your first work of fiction, “SINGULARITY”?

K: True crime is frustrating. I interview dozens and dozens of people, a hundred or more for each book, but I rarely know what happens at the most important moment, when the crime actual occurs. You see, if I’m writing about a case, it’s probably a murder case. There are most often only two people who know the truth about that last moment: the victim and the killer. Unfortunately, the victims aren’t alive to be interviewed. And, this is shocking I know, but the killers don’t always tell the truth. So, I ultimately have a good sense of what happened and why, but I don’t conclusively know.
That can be frustrating. So at some point I thought, you know, if I wrote fiction, I’d know everything, because all the details would come out of my imagination. So, that’s what I did. I made it all up, using much of what I’ve experienced over my career as a crime writer. And it’s been very freeing, a lot of fun.

C: When you wrote “SINGULARITY” and “BLOOD LINES”, what technique did you use? In other words, did you use an outline or did you just start writing and figure it out as you went along?

K: With both the novels and the third novel in the Sarah Armstrong mystery series, THE KILLING STORM, coming out in November 2010, I had the basic concepts in my head along with some of the major plot points, but I didn’t have anything resembling an outline. I sat down at the computer, typed Chapter One, and I was on my way.

C: Your writing has been compared to that of award-winning novelist Patricia Cornwell. Do you envision yourself being able to build a multi-novel series around your “Sarah Armstrong” character that could have the same endurance as Patricia Cornwell’s “Scarpetta” character?

K: I, of course, hope this will be a long series. Sarah is a multi-dimensional character. She’s a Texas Ranger/profiler/investigator, but she’s also the single mom of Maggie, age 11 in the first book. Sarah is the daughter of Nora, a sometimes opinionated sixty three year old who bakes cakes for fancy restaurants and boards horses. They’re a family with a home, the Rocking Horse ranch. When I invented Sarah, I invented her world. Many of the reviews have remarked that the characters in this series are remarkable for their depth, that they’re changing in the first two books. There’s more development in the third book. I’m hoping there’ll be more books in the series, so I get to spend more time in Sarah’s world. But three is a good start, a very good start.

C: Have you ever considered collaborating with another author on writing a novel? If so, who would it be, and if not, why not?

K: If the right opportunity presented itself, I might, but it would have to be something I considered at the time. I have no plans to collaborate.

C: Would you please describe for us one of your typical writing days, from start to finish?

K: When I’m into the writing mode, I get up about seven, have coffee and a slice of toast with peanut butter, and then sit down at my computer. Except for bathroom and stretch breaks and lunch, I’m there for the duration of the day, until I hear the garage door open announcing that my husband is home from the office. If I get stuck, can’t figure out what to do next, I take the dog for a walk. Fresh air and a bit of relaxation can open up creative channels. It’s a great way to get moving again.

C: What do you think would be the most valuable pieces of advice that anyone could pass on to someone struggling to become a published writer?

K: To realize that along with talent, the most important trait is determination. You have to truly want to write. It’s a tough business for most of us to break into, so be patient and focused, and don’t worry if your first attempts are rejected. I once had a file filled with rejection slips for short stories I sent to magazines. My favorite was from the New Yorker. Most were standard, pre-printed rejection letters, but at the bottom of that particular one someone wrote: “Keep trying.” Wonderful advice.

C: Thanks a lot for visiting us today, Kathryn! I had a great time and I'm sure my readers enjoyed your great answers to my questions. I hope you'll come back and visit us when your new book, the next one in this series, "THE KILLING STORM" comes out in the fall, so we can see what the latest news is with you.

If anyone wants to learn more about Kathryn Casey and the other books that she has written, please feel free to visit her amazing website by clicking here.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

Be on the lookout next for:

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket" written by Mary Cunningham.

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" written by Mary Cunningham.

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" written by Mary Cunningham.

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle" written by Mary Cunningham.

An interview with Mary Cunningham, who wrote the delightful "CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES"

"Cynde's "Terrific-Tuesday" Book Review!"

2010-02-02T10:34:00.007-05:00

I've been looking forward to posting this review of "BLOOD LINES", Kathryn Casey's second fiction novel, and the sequel to her blockbuster fiction debut entitled "SINGULARITY". In fact, I enjoyed this book so much that I read it twice before I even started to write the review, and I can tell you that I don't normally do that. So here goes:

The Synopsis:

"Readers loved Sarah Armstrong, the feisty and vulnerable profiler in Kathryn Casey's mystery, "Singularity". She's back in this second book in the series with her hands full with two cases at once: A persistent and potentially lethal stalker pursues pop mega-star Cassidy Collins, and a high-energy Houston businesswoman is found dead in her house.

Though the businesswoman's death is being called a suicide, when Sarah is shown photographs of the scene, something seems off. It looks too perfect, almost staged, and Billie Cox apparently had every reason to live. The victim's sister is convinced Billie was murdered and urges Sarah to take a closer look. During her investigation, Sarah uncovers a multimillion-dollar scam and traces a trail of greed to Billie's murderer.

Meanwhile, teenage idol Cassidy receives threatening e-mails and text messages and hears creepy whispers over her headset at performances. Cassie's next performance is at a Houston rodeo, for which her handlers request extra security. Sarah once again teams up with FBI agent David Garrity, and together they plot to outwit and capture the stalker, but at the concert the unthinkable happens. . ."

My Review:

It's always harder to begin a sequel than it is to begin a fresh series, in my opinion, because you have to be careful not to give away what happened in the prior novel, in case the reader hasn't read it, yet you also need to give enough background with the new novel to recap so that the two will flow together smoothly...and I believe that Kathryn has done that beautifully with "BLOOD LINES".

As you may recall, Sarah, her daughter, Maggie, and her mother, had a horrendous time in "SINGULARITY". They were all in danger and it was a hair-raising adventure for all of them. Sarah was also dating and embarking on what could be the beginning of a serious relationship with FBI profiler David Garrity and we had no idea where that would be going.

So when we start out with the opening of this story, Sarah has been on extended leave, and has been working from home, mostly half days. For some unknown reason, her relationship with David Garrity has totally cooled, but we don't know why, nor does she.

Her boss wants her to come back full-time, but she needs to make sure that Maggie and her mom are ready for that. And as usual, she will be working more than one case at a time, both of which are very high profile and will be time-consuming and difficult to solve (which makes it fun for us!) It looks as if everyone (well, almost everyone) is doing well, and they want to move on, because Sarah's mom is dating, (how cool is that!) and Maggie thinks her mom should go back to work full-time. The only thing we don't know is: what happened with David?

Now on to the cases that Sarah has to solve:

First there is Cassidy Collins, the pop super-star teenaged singer, who started out poor, living in a trailer and tried to run away from those meager beginnings. Now she has a stalker who feels that she must feel too good for him, and he wants to teach her a lesson, but what's the lesson?

Next, there is the rich businesswoman whose sister insists that she did not committ suicide, and she claims that her sister is trying to provide clues to her murder from beyond the grave by contacting her! Will the clues really lead to the killer and is she really contacting her sister from the afterlife?

And don't you want to know why David Garritty just up and stopped calling on Sarah when things were going so well?

My Rating:

I thought that this book was excellent! I enjoyed the action, the story line, the seamless way in which she incorporated the previous novel's information into the beginning, and it sure was a fun and exciting ride!

Kathryn Casey is without a doubt a master of fiction as well as non-fiction. She is just an excellent story-teller...period. So, go out and buy this book, fast. If you don't, you'll be missing out on a great story. I can't wait until the next one, entitled "THE KILLING STORM" comes out in the fall of this year.

If you want to learn more about Kathryn Casey, visit her website here.

Also...please be sure to watch for:
my interview with the Kathryn Casey coming tomorrow!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"

2010-01-21T19:20:00.013-05:00

The book that I have chosen to review for you this time is "THE HATE LIST" written by Jennifer Brown.

The synopsis reads:

"Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jennifer was able to get into the inside of each of her characters' heads and present what I thought were authentic reactions to a very tragic situation.

Each of her characters were well-rounded, believable, likeable or sometimes hateable characters that you would definitely want to learn more about. I found myself getting very wrapped up in the story, remembering how it was when I was in high school and I watched some of the very same things happening around me. There are always bullies and snots that seem to be mean for no reason, and Jennifer was able to put herself in the shoes of everyone, no matter what side they were coming from.

Be prepared for a gripping and sensitive look at how people would react to a senseless act of violence in a school full of teenagers. This is a thoughtful ficticious account of the reactions of the children that were there, the friends left behind, the widow of a teacher that was killed, the parents of the dead and many more.

The book travels from the present, then back to the day of the shooting, then back again, several times, so that it can keep a running account of each person's reaction. Trust me...the story is done tastefully and the ending is a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend that you read this book.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Announcing: The $5,000 LuShae Sweepstakes!"

2010-01-11T19:06:00.004-05:00

Enter the online sweepstakes competition for the chance to win $5,000 cash (to spend anywhere you like). Simply display one of the jewelry badges that they have for you to select from on your blog, website or social profile page and be automatically entered each and every month. The sweepstake giveaway is open to all countries. They will also draw one $200 monthly random winner.

Every entrant will also receive a 15% discount off the entire LuShae Jewelry range!

Find the rest of the sweepstakes information
and
enter the sweepstakes here.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Upcoming Events at Cynde's "Write Stuff" Blog!"

2010-01-06T15:48:00.008-05:00

So far, we've had a great start for 2010. The winner of our first contest, for a FREE, AUTOGRAPHED, Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of "BLOOD LINES" written by Kathryn Casey, was Pamela MacLean.

The following are the things you can expect to see in my blog in the near future:

A book review of "BLOOD LINES" written by Kathryn Casey.

An interview with guest author, Kathryn Casey, who wrote "BLOOD LINES", the gripping sequel to the amazing book, "SINGULARITY".
A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket" written by Mary Cunningham.

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" written by Mary Cunningham.

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou" written by Mary Cunningham.

A book review of "Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle" written by Mary Cunningham.

An interview with Mary Cunningham, who wrote the delightful "CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES".
An interview with guest author, Allan Mayer, who wrote the amazing book, "TASTING THE WIND".

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Announcing The Winner of the Contest to Win A FREE Autographed (ARC) Advanced Review Copy of: BLOOD LINES by Kathryn Casey"

2010-01-05T08:11:00.005-05:00

"Announcing the
Contest Winner"
of the FREE, AUTOGRAGHED
Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of:
"BLOOD LINES"
by Kathryn Casey

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Winner Is:
Pamela MacLean

"Congratulations,
Pam!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~NOTE~
To win, you must have answered the following question correctly:
"What is the title to the sequel of "BLOOD LINES" by Kathyn Casey, that is scheduled for Fall 2010?"
The Correct Answer Is:
"THE KILLING
STORM"

"Please VOTE for/COMMENT on this CONTEST that I entered!"

2009-12-20T16:46:00.009-05:00

ATTENTION FRIENDS/FOLLOWERS:

I have entered the "Tinsel Tales Flash Fiction Contest" which ends on 31 December 2009. I am asking anyone that has a spare moment, to please visit the site and vote for/comment on the stories that you like. Hopefully, my story will be included in the ones you like. I would really appreciate your support on this. There are some really cute stories (much better than mine) and I just want to see how I do. Will you please support me?

DIRECTIONS:

Comment in the comment section of this blog if you're going to be able to support me, OK? Thank you for your support. It means the world to me! (You don't have to do this one—I would just like you to, for my own information, that's all.)

Click where it says "here" under the "Tinsel Tales" image, below) and it will take you to the "Tinsel Tales" site.

When you get to the "Tinsel Tales" site, it will list all the stories, one right after the other. Just vote for the ones you like and make comments, if you feel like it. There are lots of cute little stories. Happy voting and God bless you!

Please visit the site here to vote/comment. Thank you so much for your support!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

CONTEST: "Your Chance To Win A FREE Autographed (ARC) Advanced Review Copy of: BLOOD LINES by Kathryn Casey"

2009-12-19T14:12:00.009-05:00

~CONTEST~

For your chance to win a FREE, AUTOGRAPHED Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of:

BLOOD LINES by Kathryn Casey

To win your chance
for the FREE, AUTOGRAPHED
Advanced Review Copy (ARC),
all you need to do
is answer the following
question CORRECTLY:

"What is the title
of the sequel to
BLOOD LINES
by Kathryn Casey,
that is scheduled
for Fall 2010?"

HINT: Visit Kathryn Casey's site here!

The contest ends at midnight on Sunday, 03 January 2010. The WINNING NAME will be selected from all the correct entries received. (Please be sure to include your email address or the url for your blog with your entry, so that we can get in contact with you in the event that you are the winner.) Best Wishes to you all!

Please submit your entries here

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CONTEST ENDS at midnight on
Sunday, 03 January 2009.
(contest limited to U.S. participants only.)

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"One Lovely Blog Award!"

2009-12-16T12:35:00.008-05:00

I would like to thank Pamela Maclean of From Barbies to Words for presenting me with a very special award for my blog. It is the:

"One Lovely Blog Award!"

According to the rules of the award, I am now supposed to identify fifteen (15) blogs whom I think are worthy of receiving this wonderful award, then I am supposed to post the nominees on my site, and then notify each of them individually.

Fifteen seems like so many for me to be giving this award out to, when I believe the whole point is to identify the "few" that stand out in my mind. Furthermore, I want to make sure that my nominees know that I am absolving them of the responsibility of having to select that many, because that means a potential total of 225 more nominees being generated on top of the 15 that I would have had to select. As you can see, a thing like this could get way out of hand in no time at all, especially when there is more than one award going around, and I want this to be a blessing to my nominees, and not a burden. So I am giving my nominees permission to nominate only five (5) of their most deserving blogs for the "One Lovely Blog Award!"

And here are the blogs and blog owners that I have chosen to become the recipients of the "One Lovely Blog Award!" :

Author 101 et al from A Book Inside—How to Write and Publish a Book

Carma Dutra from A LOOK AT CHILDREN'S WRITING through Carma's Window

Diana Black et al from Bookland Heights

Mayra Calvani from Mayra's Secret Bookcase

Michelle McLean from Michelle McLean's Writer Rambings

Congratulations to my nominees and I hope you realize what an inspiration your blogs have been to me. It was a really tough decision to have to narrow it down to only the five (5) selections this time, but I think that it made me truly evaluate their sites closely and think about what I had learned from them. It was fun!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "Sunday Sensation" Book Review!"

2009-12-13T09:36:00.010-05:00

It was not originally on my schedule of "Upcoming Events" to review the book that I'm reviewing today, but when I read an excerpt of it following "meeting" the author on Facebook, I was compelled to do so.

The book to which I am referring is, "SINGULARITY", written by Kathryn Casey.

Kathryn is a former magazine reporter, the author of five highly acclaimed true-crime books and this was her first attempt at a fiction novel. She has been featured on numerous radio interviews and has also appeared on such shows as: Oprah Winfrey, Nancy Grace, Montel Williams, A&E and Court TV. She and her husband reside in Houston, Texas with their schnauzer, "Max".

The story centers around protagonist Sarah Armstrong, a Texas Ranger profiler who is one of the few female rangers in Texas. Not only does she have to work twice as hard to prove herself, but she is also a newly-widowed, single mom to a growing eleven-year-old daughter who was having a hard time adjusting to the death of her father.

When Sarah is called in to profile a case, she is met with opposition from some of the "good ole boys". While they go off on a tangent of their own, she is in a race for time to prove that her theory is correct--all before they convict whom she thinks is an innocent women and a serial killer is allowed to run loose, killing over and over again.

Meantime, the psycopath committing the murders and then posing the bodies in grotesque ways, decides to set his sights on Sarah and all she holds dear.

The characters in this thriller are full-bodied, three-dimentional, likable, and believable. I found myself genuinely caring about some of them and downright hating a few of the others, and that's the mark of a really good book.

In some sections of this book I was literally on the edge of my seat, skipping over entire paragraphs, hoping to find answers, but I quickly dragged myself back to where I had left off so that I wouldn't miss a single word.

There were a couple spots in the story that were a tiny bit predictable, but that's what added to the charm of this book, because life is predictable, too. By contrast, right after I thought I had the thing all figured out, it took a turn, and things were not at all as they seemed.

Kathryn's writing style is very pleasant. Her eloquent use of descriptive phrases and words made me forget I was reading while I lost myself in the story, being carried away as if I were a character within it myself.

In summary, I would say that this is an excellent book and I loved it. It's an easy read, I enjoyed it and I am so glad that there will be another Sarah Armstrong mystery. I would recommend this book to anyone who also loves Patricia Cornwell books, like I do.

If you would like to learn more about Kathryn Casey, please visit her website here.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Upcoming Events at Cynde's "Write Stuff" Blog!"

2009-11-30T06:13:00.007-05:00

For those of you that aren't aware of the fact that I've been having trouble with my laptop for quite some time now, you may be interested to know that it's now out for repair. And...it's seriously overdue! I feel totally lost without it, too.

I wanted to let you know that I'm doing great with my Holly Lisle writing course. It's amazing. Also, the following is just a brief list of what you can expect in the weeks to come on my blog. (I'm on my way to the doctor this morning, so I can't spend too much time on this):

A book review of "Wake" written by Lisa McMann.

A book review of "Fade" written by Lisa McMann.

A book review of "One Wish" written by Leigh Brescia.

A book review of "Hate List" written by Jessica Brown.

An update of how my brother, John S. Bond's book, "BLOOD KIN", is doing.

An interview with guest author, Allan Mayer, who wrote the amazing book, "TASTING THE WIND".

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

Exciting Writing News!

2009-10-13T18:50:00.005-04:00

Well, I have finally decided to take the plunge and change my life! My writing life, that is. I have enrolled in Holly Lisle's "How To Think Sideways Career Survival School", and I got in just under the gun. You see, she won't be letting anyone else sign up to be in this course until next year because she wants to be able to " have the time to get involved in discussions" and "to brainstorm with students". She also wants "to play an active role in each class that comes through" and "to be relaxed and present on the boards". I think that is a reasonable request as well as an added benefit for anyone taking the course and I can't wait to dive right it.

I started exploring everything just yesterday, including downloading all the materials she has for us and I don't mind telling you how excited I am. I started reading the first lesson and I had to go get my husband and read it to him! I don't remember ever being so motivated about my writing before and it's as if my mind has become a sponge. Holly Lisle is a great teacher and she seems to know where to help you tap in to your subconscious mind—your Muse—to get it to come alive. Imagine: me, actually having a Muse of my very own!

If you'd like to know more about Holly Lisle's writing courses, just click on the banner in the sideline on the right, or the one below:

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"What's-Up-Wednesday Book Review!"

2009-09-30T14:19:00.005-04:00

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of reading one of the best books that I have read in quite some time. It was engaging; the characters were believable, complex, and likable; the story was very poignant; and there was an even an exciting murder mystery hidden inside this compelling story that puts a very real face on the problem of the abuse of helpless patients in mental institutions by their caregivers.

The book is "Tasting The Wind" written by Allan Mayer.

On the evening of Christmas Eve, in a Victorian Mental Institution, two patients (Eddie and Andrew) with severe learning disabilities watched as another patient helplessly died, choking to death on his own vomit, after having his hands tied to his bed crucifixion style by a nasty, abusive nurse (Della Cahill) in a fit of rage.

When the nurse came back later and realized what had happened as a result of what she had done, she cleaned up the mess and locked Eddie, the only witness that she thought was capable of uttering a word against her, in what was called "The Punishment Room." Then, after a short investigation, the whole thing was written off as an accident, even though they suspected (with no proof) that the nurse may have been responsible for the incident.

Ten years later, when a man named Martin Peach (the protagonist of the story) comes to take a job at the mental institution where Eddie and Andrew are still living, things finally start to happen.

As coincidence would have it, the nurse who left under the cloud of suspicion all those years ago has now returned to fill the position of Manager and Martin's boss at the newly-formed institution.

Immerse yourselves in the intrigue as Martin and his co-workers try to fit together the clues they uncover and solve the mystery of "Tasting The Wind" before Eddie and/or Andrew become one of Della's next victims. TRUST ME...you won't want to miss this awesome book!

Here's a video of the Prologue for this book—it's really great!

For more information on "Tasting The Wind" and its author, visit Mr. Mayer's official website here and his blog here. His website contains author interviews, publishing tips and other goodies that are very useful—you'll really enjoy it there.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:

Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!