"I just want you to know..."

At a recent school visit in Georgia, a bright, confident 5th grader came up to me after my presentation and said, "I just want you to know, I'm going to be a famous author." No qualification to her statement, no hesitation, no "maybe's." Just flat out, positive fact.

I think my answer back was, "I have no doubt." And, I didn't. Later, I tried to decide if in her statement, she was simply stating a fact; wanting to give me an "FYI," or if she was issuing a challenge. I'm kinda leaning toward the challenge. "Just wanted you to know, I'M going to be a famous author, so enjoy your time in the spotlight while you can."

I still smile when I think about her. When I was in the 5th grade, I was trying to figure out how to keep from showing a mouth full of teeth that were far too big for the rest of me! Or, wondering whether I'd be chosen to play in the elementary school's lunchtime softball game.

Although the enthusiastic young reader in the picture isn't my new-found competition, she is an avid reader of "Cynthia's" Attic". And, who knows? With her quiet confidence, I have no doubt she will grow up to be an author, doctor, inspiring educator or maybe even President.

To all the young authors out there. Bring it on! I love it. I love the fact that maybe...just maybe my books have inspired you to write. There is no higher compliment.


Quake Books - Inspiring young writers!

From The Slums of Mumbai to Disney Land

Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscars last night, but for me, the best moment was learning that all nine actors who play the three lead characters in three stages of their lives, were flown to the ceremony.

Today, they're going to a Southern California theme park (widely believed to be Disney Land)!
Then, it’s back to the slums of Mumbai.

Whirlwind preparations for their trip (passports came through on Thursday!) are detailed in this Yahoo news article:

Meanwhile, all around them the slum continued at its usual pace: Sewing machines thrummed from small, dark rooms. Women swatted flies from fresh-cut meat. Mangy dogs slept in the sun. Barbers sat in their barren shops, waiting for customers.

After their trip to the ceremony and theme park, they’ll fly back to Mumbai and the slums. How do you think this will affect their lives? How will they cope with being dressed in Oscar attire one day, only to return to their lives in shacks and lean-to’s?

I am thrilled that they were given this opportunity after playing such extraordinary rolls, but I wonder…

Gus's First Interview!

Cynthia's Attic meets Starry Night!

Sam takes a break from her sleuthing in Searching For A Starry Night, to talk to her new pal, Gus, about what's going on in her life.

Check out the Candid Canine to see how Gus handles her newfound fame!

Alyssa Montgomery Sees Dead People!

Parker Ryder’s best friend is dead. Everyone says the accident wasn’t his fault, but Parker can barely live with the guilt. Now, Parker is getting strange E-Mails. It seems that someone else doesn’t want Parker to live with the guilt … Or live at all!

Quake Publishing, 2007

Connor Rydell, Parker's BFF, appears in 9:53 PM – The Heat of the Moment – (which is written before he dies), and then in “Where Are You?” (which is written after he dies).

He has a pretty laid back attitude with a sense of wittiness, but is serious when the situation requires it, and cares for his friends and family. His confidence level is high, as he says in 9:53 PM: The Heat of the Moment, “The ladies are lined up all the way down the block just to catch a glimpse of me”.

Gus (Augusta Lee), the twelve-year old time-traveler from the Cynthia's Attic series, recently caught up with Connor, straight out of Alyssa Montgomery’s YA thriller, “Where Are You?” Cynthia’s Attic Blog listened in on the interview!

Gus: Hey, Connor! Thanks for answering some questions. Seems that although everyone says your accident was just that...an accident, your best friend, Parker is feeling major guilt about it. Do you blame Parker for your death?

Connor: Man, that’s a hard question. Guess it depends on when you ask me it. If you asked me before I died, I’d say no. Parker’s my best friend, man, and it wasn’t his fault! But if you asked me after I died…

Gus: I don't know what I'd do if something happened to my best friend, Cynthia! Especially if I felt responsible for her death. So, what kind of friends were, or should I say, are you and Parker?

Connor: Parker and me are best friends! Him, Cal, and I make the invincible trio! Parker’s a little different than me, though. I’m more of a free spirit and the ladies’ man, and he’s so structured. He always plans everything! But that’s okay. It’s not a bad thing. He’s still my best bud.

Gus: What did you like to do when you hung out together? Computer games? Cynthia and I grew up before computers. Bet we would've had fun e-mailing each other back and forth. I can see us spending hours doing this...but we might’ve missed out on a lot of fun softball games in the back yard.

Connor: We mostly just hung around, did stuff. Parker was always so serious about his homework, so I’d end up playing videogames or something while he finished it up. He took so many AP classes, man! Me? I laid back so I would have some relaxin’ time.

Gus: What's it like to be dead? I had a dream once that I was dead. A horrible pirate named Jack LaBuse killed me! It was awful!

Connor: Man, that is not a topic I want to talk about. It’s different from being alive, and while I sound happy right now, something changed in me when I died that I’m not exactly happy about…

Gus: Oh, not fair! What aren’t you happy about? What’s different? What...? Oh. Guess we’ll have to find out by reading “Where Are You,” huh? Anyway, thanks for talking to me. See ya! (or not!)


Alyssa Montgomery

Quake

Where Are You? - Available Now!
Fictionwise

Mr. Mysterious - Available Now!
Fictionwise

Heat of the Moment - Available Now!
Fictionwise

And, see what Gus is up to!
Cynthia's Attic

It's COOL to be a TWEEN!

Tweens. They're a hot market, they're complicated, and there are two in the White House: Sasha and Malia Obama.

What do tweens consider cool? Music was at the top of the list, followed by going to the movies. "Being smart" ranked third tied with video games followed by electronics, sports, fashion and protecting the environment, according to a report.

Read the article in USA Today

Are you a tween? Have a tween in your home? What do YOU think is cool?

Check out some really cool TWEEN BOOKS at QUAKE!

Cynthia's Attic Series for Tweens