tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53758479950479318562024-02-02T13:09:25.060-05:00Cynthia's AtticCynthia had an attic. Not just an ordinary attic. Cynthia’s attic was magic...Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-88130088225357678362018-08-08T15:57:00.000-04:002018-08-08T15:57:02.774-04:00Researching (and writing about) Our Ancestors<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLcDV05fpXE7rMyEGECDwXLEE8hGVxIAy5XMr_NCzherC7n4FlbNYRmJpkQxdFdjhmwToaXfI8AXYhTFveIQY_G2DK-3aSsCzpDSU4559bnX5H8IAwG-eMqmS1lkozJ9hflMCIj7xHYtu/s1600/Mary+looking+cute+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLcDV05fpXE7rMyEGECDwXLEE8hGVxIAy5XMr_NCzherC7n4FlbNYRmJpkQxdFdjhmwToaXfI8AXYhTFveIQY_G2DK-3aSsCzpDSU4559bnX5H8IAwG-eMqmS1lkozJ9hflMCIj7xHYtu/s320/Mary+looking+cute+cropped.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
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I was asked, recently, to write a guest post on the blog of fabulous author, Christine Verstraete on one of my main interests, beside writing. While I love sports (I’m a tomboy from waaaaay back), swim, and play a little golf, my first love, after reading and writing of course, is genealogy. </div>
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Family Search has become one of my favorite websites. I’ve
traced my family tree, on my mother’s side, back to kings and queens in
England, France, and Scotland. </div>
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I relax by digging up research about my ancestors. Sometimes
I relax, too much, and hours have gone by before I know it! My time and
interest in family members and stories paid off, however, by sparking a
five-book middle-grade series, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cynthia’s Attic</i></b>.</div>
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When I realized a recurring dream I’d had for almost twenty
years was about a mysterious attic was in the home of my childhood best friend,
Cynthia, the writing, and my search for characters, began. It didn’t take long
to realize genealogy could provide some interesting characters. </div>
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Like most of us, I had regrets about ignoring my
grandparents, and even my parents, when I was young. Their stories about “the
good ol’ days” bored me to tears. (I would’ve much rather been outside, playing
baseball) </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHQ9SkyOxCbDzA5-8hmHEWFUdf9lbEpF8nH8ZkUnqMKawngePnfTWRwOGeYbfPqyCRd4VdyzWmCoXZ9xBBVYn4_FfaBK9-Uk5K4WoFwckq2r0oUqIxVmCHUhjsqnFl_MK0IgZCtxJhFtB/s1600/Bess+2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="661" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHQ9SkyOxCbDzA5-8hmHEWFUdf9lbEpF8nH8ZkUnqMKawngePnfTWRwOGeYbfPqyCRd4VdyzWmCoXZ9xBBVYn4_FfaBK9-Uk5K4WoFwckq2r0oUqIxVmCHUhjsqnFl_MK0IgZCtxJhFtB/s320/Bess+2+001.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bess Conrad Bulleit</td></tr>
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So, when I came up with the book idea to send Augusta Lee
(Gus) and her best friend, Cynthia, back in time to meet their twelve-year-old
grandmothers, Bess and Clara, I found the perfect opportunity to honor my
ancestors by sharing adventures with them. </div>
Besides my grandmother, I wrote about my dad, my mother,
great-grandparents, Charles and Samantha, and even my great-great-grandparents;
the best story of all! <br />
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As I mentioned above, I had no use, back then, for old
family stories; with one exception. According to family legend, my great-great
grandfather, Augustus Bulleit, made a living transporting “produce” from his
farm in Southern Indiana down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on a flatboat. He
sold his “produce” all the way to New Orleans until, during a fateful trip in
1860, he disappeared. Although some of the “produce”, along with his boat, was
recovered, no trace of him, or his remains, was ever found. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6EJcgGBncXIDl_Xx7zkSi1TKNAcTRGtJRVFVC9k3waOoaD0gQ7kgVB7du2qbt5nmJuQEK9iBuWn0uS02LrqHDvzAATdNl2Kj0dW2LJzKB9xXEa81fBDGfsiTIV3LJ62KAbJzDZliE-_x/s1600/Marie+Julia+Duliu+Bulleit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: right; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6EJcgGBncXIDl_Xx7zkSi1TKNAcTRGtJRVFVC9k3waOoaD0gQ7kgVB7du2qbt5nmJuQEK9iBuWn0uS02LrqHDvzAATdNl2Kj0dW2LJzKB9xXEa81fBDGfsiTIV3LJ62KAbJzDZliE-_x/s1600/Marie+Julia+Duliu+Bulleit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: right; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6EJcgGBncXIDl_Xx7zkSi1TKNAcTRGtJRVFVC9k3waOoaD0gQ7kgVB7du2qbt5nmJuQEK9iBuWn0uS02LrqHDvzAATdNl2Kj0dW2LJzKB9xXEa81fBDGfsiTIV3LJ62KAbJzDZliE-_x/s320/Marie+Julia+Duliu+Bulleit.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6EJcgGBncXIDl_Xx7zkSi1TKNAcTRGtJRVFVC9k3waOoaD0gQ7kgVB7du2qbt5nmJuQEK9iBuWn0uS02LrqHDvzAATdNl2Kj0dW2LJzKB9xXEa81fBDGfsiTIV3LJ62KAbJzDZliE-_x/s1600/Marie+Julia+Duliu+Bulleit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Lots of speculation surrounded his disappearance. Did he
simply vanish into the streets of New Orleans to escape the responsibility of
providing for five children (four additional children died in infancy) and a
wife, Marie Julia, who had a somewhat less than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sparkling </i>personality? (See for yourself!)</div>
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Or, was he murdered for a boat full of corn and soybeans?
That sounded implausible, even when I was ten-year-old! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTg4Qb_Az86YaTdNSkA4-mZzTgc9EIPXQ7eWe1UcOXV4LbD6-hpN-zOb7Z2I5XcteiYMHmlQLmQZxEcIdjybBwyXsZjh9mbAhL-sVV5hCtLRh9yCRFDdPvmVQU0txhD6JDFUWEhwYO6Oo/s1600/Bulleit+Bourbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="693" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTg4Qb_Az86YaTdNSkA4-mZzTgc9EIPXQ7eWe1UcOXV4LbD6-hpN-zOb7Z2I5XcteiYMHmlQLmQZxEcIdjybBwyXsZjh9mbAhL-sVV5hCtLRh9yCRFDdPvmVQU0txhD6JDFUWEhwYO6Oo/s320/Bulleit+Bourbon.jpg" width="231" /></a>Ah-ha! Mystery solved years later when we discovered he was
actually the maker and transporter of his own rye bourbon. I suppose those who
knew the truth thought his image would be tarnished if it was discovered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gramps</i> made and sold booze for a living.
These days his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">reputation</i> is spread far
and wide with sales of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bulleit Frontier
Bourbon</b>. A couple of decades back a very smart cousin of mine discovered
the old recipe and decided to <br />
revive it. Now, it’s one of the leading rye bourbons
in the world. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfpK3gk4PBfxDRtUTwaiBqHWB85nrxnPCiaWtKSz46PWNm9XKOZAJkhSWwwTCZ3Da8QGYkjxk1NrvsOzSwLNiKIxXtIl2j16fB1zODkHDUl4l7NsLy_yUF_Upfw5tX4jwea38BOHfAwW/s1600/CA-COTB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfpK3gk4PBfxDRtUTwaiBqHWB85nrxnPCiaWtKSz46PWNm9XKOZAJkhSWwwTCZ3Da8QGYkjxk1NrvsOzSwLNiKIxXtIl2j16fB1zODkHDUl4l7NsLy_yUF_Upfw5tX4jwea38BOHfAwW/s320/CA-COTB.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
So, what does this have to do with writing, you ask? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfpK3gk4PBfxDRtUTwaiBqHWB85nrxnPCiaWtKSz46PWNm9XKOZAJkhSWwwTCZ3Da8QGYkjxk1NrvsOzSwLNiKIxXtIl2j16fB1zODkHDUl4l7NsLy_yUF_Upfw5tX4jwea38BOHfAwW/s1600/CA-COTB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The third book in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cynthia’s
Attic</b> series, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Curse of the Bayou</i></b>, is loosely based on that fateful trip. The
two best friends time-travel back to Louisiana to see if they can discover what
happened to Augustus, or Beau, as he’s portrayed in the story. Do they find him?
Guess you’ll just have to read the book! </div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Bottom line is, I wish I’d
spent more time</span> “researching” my relatives while they were still alive. Oh,
the stories I could’ve written about their childhood, or what they remembered
about their parents and grandparents. While I enjoy writing fantasy, I
sometimes wonder how exciting the real story could’ve been. Don’t you? </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;">Finding Me On Social Media</span></b></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Website: </span><a href="https://www.marycunninghambooks.com/"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">https://www.marycunninghambooks.com</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;"></span></u></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Facebook Author Page:<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/marycunninghambooks/"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">https://www.facebook.com/marycunninghambooks/</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Cynthiasattic?v=feed" title="http://www.facebook.com/Cynthiasattic?v=feed"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">http://www.Facebook.com/Cynthiasattic</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham" title="http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/gus65/"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">https://www.pinterest.com/gus65/</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">LinkedIn: </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycunningham1/"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycunningham1/</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Goodreads: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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Author Page: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNEK4"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNEK4</span></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-28680400989342207292018-02-19T12:07:00.000-05:002018-02-19T12:12:43.570-05:00Love Across the Bridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Any dog lover...actually, any animal lover, knows that to lose a beloved pet is an indescribable grief. I can relate to dogs because I've never had a cat, bird, hamster, Guinea pig, etc. So, my experiences comes in the canine variety.<br />
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Although I had dogs growing up; cocker spaniels, Taffy # 1 and Taffy # 2, (one, hit by a car and the other given to a trusted home after he tore up living room drapes, and then started on the rug) I didn't then and don't now mourn their passing to any great extent. After all, I wasn't even in school yet.</div>
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<img alt="Valentine" class=" size-medium wp-image-3065 alignleft" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/valentine.jpg?w=308" style="float: left; height: 299px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 1000px;" width="154" /><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Valentine (left)</strong>, border collie/German shepherd mix and the smartest dog, EVER, was a birthday present on my 13th birthday. We actually picked her up on Valentine's day, hence the unusual dog name. From the start, she was more my mom and dad's dog. I loved her and mourned her passing at the age of 15, but the grief wasn't all-encompassing.<img alt="Sam in the Leaves" class=" size-medium wp-image-3064 alignright" height="218" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/sam-in-the-leaves.jpg?w=600" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; float: right; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 218px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 680px; orphans: 2; outline-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="300" /></div>
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Flash forward to <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sam (Right)</strong> Silly, silly Sam. I still remember the day my dad came walking up our driveway with the little ball of fur he'd found running across the street in front of the house. He was part of a litter belonging to our neighbors. They didn't much care about him, his brothers and sisters, or his mama. Dad suggested, and I agreed, this tiny six-week-old pup would be the perfect companion for our six-year-old son. And, oh how Sam was until the year he got bone cancer and died at age 11. The grief caused by his death was overwhelming. I still tear up, almost forty years later.</div>
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It was decades before I let myself consider bringing another dog into my home and my heart. We were living in Fort Myers, Florida, Ken traveled to Miami every week for work and although I was working part-time, the nights were lonely. Until one day, Molly came into our lives. A little terrier/mix who lost her "mom" and her home when she was three. We found her at the Miami Animal Shelter, sitting in the back of a cage with two boisterous, barking German Shepherds. It was love at first sight. <img alt="Molly among flowers NJ" class=" size-medium wp-image-3066 alignleft" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/molly-among-flowers-nj.jpg?w=418" style="float: left; height: 300.5px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 1000px;" width="209" /></div>
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<strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Molly (Left)</strong> was with us through three moves. The first two she tolerated, but the last was very hard on her. She also had many stairs to navigate; a circumstance that took a toll on her arthritic knee. She spend a whole year slowly declining until that awful day she could no longer see or get around the house. I could tell, when I picked her up and she clung fast to me, she was ready to go. This coming October it will have been ten years since she crossed "the bridge". Tears still sting my eyes.</div>
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<img alt="Lucy 1st day in dad's arms" class=" size-medium wp-image-3067 alignright" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/lucy-1st-day-in-dads-arms.jpg?w=534" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; float: right; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 299.5px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 680px; orphans: 2; outline-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="267" /><b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></b><i style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></i><u style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u></div>
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It was almost three years before we both gave in and rescued our sweet <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Lucy (Right - in Dad's arms)</strong>. I can't even imagine the day she leaves us.</div>
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Which brings me to a long-time Facebook friend, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Barbara Techel</strong>. I first got to know her and special fur-daughter, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Frankie</strong>, more than a decade ago. Frankie, her beloved dachshund, suffered a spinal injury when she was young, and spent the rest of her life "on wheels." Barbara had to learn to care for a paralyzed dog; not an easy task, but they both thrived. Barbara became a best-selling author, penning, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Through Frankie's Eyes, One woman's journey to her authentic self and the dog on wheels who led the way</em></strong>, then her children's picture books, <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Frankie, the Walk N Roll Dog</strong> </em>and <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Frankie the Walk N Roll Therapy Dog</strong></em>. <img alt="Through Frankie's Eyes" class=" size-full wp-image-3072 alignleft" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/through-frankies-eyes.png" style="float: left; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 1000px;" width="195" /></div>
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From the time Frankie was seven years-old and rolling in her wheelchair until the day she left this planet at almost thirteen, both she and Barbara formed an amazing team helping children and adults see their challenges in a positive way. They logged over 400 visits to schools and libraries, and made over 250 visits as a therapy dog team to hospitals, senior assisted living facilites and hospice community.</div>
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Losing Frankie left a huge hole in Barbara's heart and life that needed filling. She jumped back into rescuing a special-needs dachshund. Although that sweet girl was only with her for about a year, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Joie</strong> (pronounced Joey) inspired another memoir, <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wisdom Found In the Pause, Joie's Gift.</strong></em></div>
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Through the years, the love of <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Frankie</strong>, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Joie</strong>, and now special-needs dachshund, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Gidget</strong>, have been among Barbara's greatest teachers. "...they continue to serve me in a positive way, as a mirror I welcome looking into, even when it's difficult."<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Then there was </span><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; font-family: "Noto Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Kylie; </strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">perhaps the best teacher of all. Beautiful English lab whose sweet soul instinctively knew she needed to stay in the background while her "sisters" were tended to. She watched over Frankie, Joie, and then Gidget until, finally, it was her turn to cross the </span><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; font-family: "Noto Serif",Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Rainbow Bridge</strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">. Her mom calls her the sweetest soul she's ever known.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9749UY_ijiKADmOt00slLmUXtji5zNLWft0pZlQ5ri2-Nr8gMPNzYv1JoV13cMK7phQdk_bjKubOli9MLfFbXnH7VNqoaP4xMkEV7Rr7aqZ3xuv3JkCtAsCTzetdi9_QkMB9ADwM6LnfK/s1600/Kylie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="980" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9749UY_ijiKADmOt00slLmUXtji5zNLWft0pZlQ5ri2-Nr8gMPNzYv1JoV13cMK7phQdk_bjKubOli9MLfFbXnH7VNqoaP4xMkEV7Rr7aqZ3xuv3JkCtAsCTzetdi9_QkMB9ADwM6LnfK/s320/Kylie.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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During Kylie's remaining two years, she claimed a rug between the living room and kitchen as her own special spot. The family would have to carefully step over or around her. But, they didn't mind. The lab also had her own very large cage that was her sanctuary from the daily hustle and bustle. When Kylie began to decline, Gidget started joining her in the cage; snuggling as close as possible. The "somewhat aloof" Kylie, let her.</div>
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It's been several months since Kylie joined Frankie and Joie, and n<img alt="Joie" class=" wp-image-3073 alignright" height="273" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/joie.png?w=600" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; float: right; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 201px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 680px; orphans: 2; outline-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="221" />ow, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Gidget (Right)</strong> has suddenly taken up her sister's favorite spot on the rug between the living room and the kitchen. It's like she's connecting, in her own way, to Kylie's spirit. I don't doubt that one bit.</div>
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When I read this on Barbara's recent blog about Gidget's new habit, I was comforted; knowing each and every furkid I've been fortunate enough to have in my life will always be with me, in spirit and in my heart.</div>
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<img alt="Barbara Techel and Joie" class=" size-medium wp-image-3071 alignleft" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/barbara-techel-and-joie.png?w=526" style="float: left; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 16px; max-width: 1000px;" width="263" /><em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Barbara Techel</strong> describes herself as Intuitive Guide, Oracle Reader, Author, SoulCollage® Facilitator, Animal Lover, Deep Thinker. You can access <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.joyfulpaws.com/" rel="noopener" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Joyful Paws Website</a></strong> and discover more about Barbara's books, Oracle Reading, Workshops, Blog, and how to contact her.</em></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-41987450533574196242018-01-20T16:29:00.001-05:002018-01-20T16:29:50.280-05:00<br />
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<i>I've been extremely lucky in my writing career.</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWvSa0pzQ8Q7sK5fuIr1BObEXbOSekXi4AbMRB72aCo54l4rcReLrm1pbuUlvecVOzp7X3QmQ8E8QczPXongI-GniX-rs-F33J4UAOItgnsOG8VTM2hpq9TBke0BRSgwQhG242SWNlIUA/s1600/Margaritas%252CMayhem%252C+and+Murder+Q+5x8++1+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWvSa0pzQ8Q7sK5fuIr1BObEXbOSekXi4AbMRB72aCo54l4rcReLrm1pbuUlvecVOzp7X3QmQ8E8QczPXongI-GniX-rs-F33J4UAOItgnsOG8VTM2hpq9TBke0BRSgwQhG242SWNlIUA/s320/Margaritas%252CMayhem%252C+and+Murder+Q+5x8++1+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Two publishers. Two fabulous graphic artists. While I've always had input on covers, my "eye" usually defers to the professionals. I believe, on MM&M, I suggested a margaritas glass and Ryan ran with it! With Cynthia's Attic, the original concept with the clock showing, subtly, in the background, captured the "going back in time" storyline, perfectly.</span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder</i></b> cover was designed by <b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ryan Thomas Doan</b> for <b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.imajinbooks.com/" style="color: #00aadc;">Imajin Books</a></b>. The first time I saw it, I gasped. He sliced through the theme of the story with a creative knife, oh, and the <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">bee</strong> blew me away. </div>
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Why, you ask? Read the book! 😊<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPKctaS41i4_z0NrD-ZWaWT5cueCRidd7uMbjFeFRox0dqFzNUDNieyfVmL0vTnwhhYceTcSDKSFJGbdEJk6VIgA0wmNbV_qI21OmX4glV7Pam_gvAvrt7P1rTuKd_3JeLw0nuMZPq6mn/s1600/TML+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: right; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="369" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPKctaS41i4_z0NrD-ZWaWT5cueCRidd7uMbjFeFRox0dqFzNUDNieyfVmL0vTnwhhYceTcSDKSFJGbdEJk6VIgA0wmNbV_qI21OmX4glV7Pam_gvAvrt7P1rTuKd_3JeLw0nuMZPq6mn/s200/TML+cover.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
My children's series, <b>Cynthia's Attic - Echelon Press</b> - was blessed to have <b>Nathalie Moore</b> creating the covers. What a beautiful eye she had for color and design! I love all five covers.<br />
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<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What is your opinion of covers? Are you attracted to the </i><i>cover, first? Do you pull a catchy cover off the shelf, then read </i><i>the title? I happen to think they matter in this world of </i><i>millions of authors and stories vying for millions of readers.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPKctaS41i4_z0NrD-ZWaWT5cueCRidd7uMbjFeFRox0dqFzNUDNieyfVmL0vTnwhhYceTcSDKSFJGbdEJk6VIgA0wmNbV_qI21OmX4glV7Pam_gvAvrt7P1rTuKd_3JeLw0nuMZPq6mn/s1600/TML+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder</strong> </em>- <b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Andi Anna Jones Mystery</b> is getting great reviews! Get your paperback or Ebook, today<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">!</b></div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">[<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076N6KBM3" rel="noopener" style="color: #00aadc;">Amazon</a>] [<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/756600" rel="noopener" style="color: #00aadc;">Smashwords</a>] [<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mary_Cunningham_Margaritas_Mayhem_Murder?id=0jU8DwAAQBAJ" rel="noopener" style="color: #00aadc;">Google Play</a>] [<a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/margaritas-mayhem-murder" rel="noopener" style="color: #00aadc;">Kobo</a>]</b></div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“If Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in [with] Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.”</i></b> —Regan Black, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">USA Today</strong> bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes series</div>
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<em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“Charming, lively, and unpredictable, Margaritas, Mayhem, & Murder excels in a vivid story mystery fans will relish.” </strong></em>—Diane Donovan, Senior Editor, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Midwest Book Review</em></strong></div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Wow. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages." </i></b>-Jean Rabe, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">USA Today</strong> bestselling author</div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“Grab a margarita and hold on tight; you're in for a wild ride.” </i></b>—Karen MacInerney, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Agatha Award</strong> nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries</div>
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<em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“A clever sleuth, wacky characters, exotic settings, and a large dose of humor will keep readers chuckling to the end.” </strong></em>Nancy J. Cohen, author of the <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Bad Hair Day Mysteries</strong></div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“What a fun ride! This is a cozy on caffeine, and has all the elements you need: a feisty heroine, a handsome sheriff, a mysterious death, exotic locales, and whip-smart, laugh-out-loud dialogue. ”</i></b> --Julia Buckley, author of the <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">acclaimed Writer’s Apprentice Mystery Series</strong> and Undercover Dish</div>
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Mystery Series.</div>
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<b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Follow Author,</b> <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421339851&sr=1-2-ent&pebp=1421339852176&peasin=B002BLNEK4" rel="noopener" style="color: #00aadc;">Mary Cunningham </a></strong>on <b style="line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Amazon! </b></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-12982478704877460152018-01-02T10:45:00.001-05:002018-01-02T10:46:39.605-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUibk1CkCSnqEJiTrZ4CVHUEerOEvOCQaczwK3feJJ8A-V9Z_DJZ2d4fqy7ixDg_ZDTp6fMNx8-QC-lQEtJd_a397tEwPbkiHRGf0Cf-wyYF-YS6tXk6BzlA_yvyd-u-wu4IlDwb7x0bp/s1600/fireworks-new-year-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="620" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUibk1CkCSnqEJiTrZ4CVHUEerOEvOCQaczwK3feJJ8A-V9Z_DJZ2d4fqy7ixDg_ZDTp6fMNx8-QC-lQEtJd_a397tEwPbkiHRGf0Cf-wyYF-YS6tXk6BzlA_yvyd-u-wu4IlDwb7x0bp/s320/fireworks-new-year-2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we prepare for Baby New Year to visit, once again , I notice the groundswell leading to <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;"><em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">2018</em></strong> Resolutions lists. For instance, a morning program did a segment on the probability of keeping certain resolutions, with 1 being <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">highly likely</em> to 5 being <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">Not in this world, Toots</em>.</div>
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Surprisingly, <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">travel</strong> was the only item that made the highly likely list. I guess taking even a short day trip is on most bucket lists. I don't think I've ever had this high on my <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">New Year</strong> priorities, but in my <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">70</strong> years, I can tell you the one item that's been at the top for at least <strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">40</strong> of those years.</div>
<ol style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline: transparent 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li style="cursor: text; outline: transparent 0px;"><em style="cursor: text; outline: transparent 0px;"><strong style="cursor: text; outline: transparent 0px;">I resolve to lose weight! (1987-2017, soon to be 2018)</strong></em></li>
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I still remember talking to my doctor a couple of decades ago about my biggest health complaint. "I really need to lose 10 pounds, Doc. It would be good for my blood pressure, cholesterol, sleeping, and certainly my clothes would fit better."</div>
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This slim 30-something female looked up from her clipboard (No IPads back then) and said, with all the empathy in the world, "Well, then. LOSE 10 pounds."</div>
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<em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">Gee thanks for the advice. Why didn't I think of that? (Btw, that 10 lbs. has turned into 20)</em></div>
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I'm positive the second highest priority throughout the years has been to lower my stress level. <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">Yeah, like that's gonna happen.</em> Coincidentally, this would also be good for my blood pressure and overall health, but I'm the same worry-filled sack of nerves today that I've been for the past <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">60 years</strong></em>. Why change now? Besides, who would run my family and the world without my constant state of psychotic readiness to take on everyone's problems and solve them?</div>
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Never mind my own problems: Weight gain, anxiety. <em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;"><strong style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">I have to fix everyone else!!</strong></em></div>
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So, here's what I've decided.</div>
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<em style="line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px;">I, Mary Cunningham, do resolve to stop pretending any resolution I make in the new year will come to pass. </em></div>
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Whew! I feel better already.</div>
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Sorry to cut this short, but I have to get the rest of the sugar cookie dough out of the freezer. After all, the fudge is almost gone!</div>
<img alt="fudge" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3030" height="225" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/fudge.jpg?w=600" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 225px; letter-spacing: normal; max-width: 1000px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="300" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d596d; cursor: text; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "noto serif" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Pan of fudge for two people</span><br />
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<em><strong>Happy 2018, my friends!</strong></em></h2>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-11000769693798178282017-12-20T00:30:00.000-05:002017-12-20T00:30:26.462-05:00Holiday Inspiration by Cheryl C. MalandrinosMary and I have been online chums for many years, so it’s always a pleasure when she hosts me at her blog. Considering this is the holiday season, I wanted to share how holidays inspire my writing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v39kASkTq6p1QS5gZrRBb745cqAl83BM8M7hJO3XC0Ib9jFuHceXi_YxlTHypfwlenI5BQlPKjvDiZNUiCufPdX7I1s4Fa-N4WU3SDr-wUqGs4mOlKo9UBnwhYzxJK5inQSAVa_utlNS/s1600/Little-Shepherd400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v39kASkTq6p1QS5gZrRBb745cqAl83BM8M7hJO3XC0Ib9jFuHceXi_YxlTHypfwlenI5BQlPKjvDiZNUiCufPdX7I1s4Fa-N4WU3SDr-wUqGs4mOlKo9UBnwhYzxJK5inQSAVa_utlNS/s200/Little-Shepherd400.jpg" width="200" /></a>Holiday gatherings were a big event in my childhood home. Long tables heaving with food. The air filled with scents of extraordinary spices. Multiple generations squeezed into one tiny home. The adults snoozing in front of the television after dinner. We all have our special holiday memories.<br />
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<strong>Christmas</strong> is my favorite holiday. I’ve long said that I am the biggest kid in the house this time of year. Decorations, trees, nativities, music, parties and cookie swaps…I want it all!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg_mQnckCvPZmgrwslb_bFDTr1j5OwaZflpzlOOf4cXJ6kkW3Waw1hsrPV7kFQAr6ycOUtUjGhhabouiOYYZkE2oUTJjAg2oXucPrEL1WzygpoEtTvIeuyZlvBanpm-mG9CUDFDry0O_-/s1600/A-Christmas-Kindness-digital-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="260" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg_mQnckCvPZmgrwslb_bFDTr1j5OwaZflpzlOOf4cXJ6kkW3Waw1hsrPV7kFQAr6ycOUtUjGhhabouiOYYZkE2oUTJjAg2oXucPrEL1WzygpoEtTvIeuyZlvBanpm-mG9CUDFDry0O_-/s200/A-Christmas-Kindness-digital-cover.jpg" width="128" /></a><br />
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It surprised none of my friends that two out of my three books are set around Christmas. Whether it be a young shepherd (<strong><em>Little Shepherd</em></strong>) stepping out in faith to experience the miracle of Christmas or a boy helping a new friend (<strong><em>A Christmas Kindness</em></strong>), I pray my books capture the hope and joy of the season. They were also a great way to teach my kids about the spirit of Christmas. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSz2zWKKql1c5O-EuANIl-rWOvq4OxvCNaT1rDfV3GUXsNE8fHYAzNAAPHx9iRlHkhhM0eWg3jONBWFufSAODEbef7p_qe12wW63s3K1XNoU_3SyVJ1yIOM3qN81u3AQt9Mcn8INzBJaJ/s1600/Mac+%2526+Cheese+for+Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSz2zWKKql1c5O-EuANIl-rWOvq4OxvCNaT1rDfV3GUXsNE8fHYAzNAAPHx9iRlHkhhM0eWg3jONBWFufSAODEbef7p_qe12wW63s3K1XNoU_3SyVJ1yIOM3qN81u3AQt9Mcn8INzBJaJ/s200/Mac+%2526+Cheese+for+Thanksgiving.jpg" width="200" /></a>Other holidays have also inspired my writing. My latest book, <strong><em>Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving</em></strong>, is about a girl’s quick thinking when the dog steals the turkey off the table. Our children’s librarian said she was on the lookout for a different kind of Thanksgiving story, so I locked away my warm and fuzzy story brain and came up with this zany idea that includes a set of fighting twins, a frazzled mom, and a turkey-stealing dog, Mac & Cheese for Thanksgiving. <br />
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I’ll also be submitting to publishers another Thanksgiving story. It is about a turkey who tries to fool the farmer to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner. In my little box of stories is also one about a not so scary ghost and a little girl who tries to avoid accepting the valentine a classmate wants to give her. I haven’t plotted out the Easter story I want to write, but you should be warned it’s coming. Maybe I’ll cover all the major holidays and brand myself as the holiday children’s author. <br />
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Inspiration comes from many different places. What inspires you most?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKSbcvRfrmVUAbP7TQOrp65v6MAPBHVjyzcMvfbxnCDwZ8aB4HUQ1pnGuDA22H6zvoue5LgsS6L6rp_VZ3gHFHeFOG5oFi8IT21yeBVzyNCJoQ9T4kzN7515-aGKHzefGN_w1Fb7Kbduk/s1600/Cheryl+C+Malandrinos.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKSbcvRfrmVUAbP7TQOrp65v6MAPBHVjyzcMvfbxnCDwZ8aB4HUQ1pnGuDA22H6zvoue5LgsS6L6rp_VZ3gHFHeFOG5oFi8IT21yeBVzyNCJoQ9T4kzN7515-aGKHzefGN_w1Fb7Kbduk/s200/Cheryl+C+Malandrinos.png" width="142" /></a></div>
<strong>Cheryl C. Malandrinos</strong> is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of <strong><em>Little Shepherd</em></strong>, <strong><em>A Christmas Kindness</em></strong>, <strong><em>Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving</em></strong>. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married.<br />
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<strong>Cheryl's</strong> <a href="http://ccmalandrinos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Website</strong></a> and <strong>Children's Book </strong><a href="https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Blog </strong></a><br />
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<strong>Social Media Links:</strong><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ccmalandrinos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><strong>:</strong><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.malandrinos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Facebook</strong></a><strong>:</strong><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4341623.Cheryl_C_Malandrinos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Goodreads</strong></a><strong>:</strong>Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-58333565077294933722017-12-07T10:45:00.001-05:002017-12-07T10:45:16.962-05:00A Conversation with Mystery Author Mary Cunningham ~ Omnimystery News<a href="http://www.omnimysterynews.com/2017/12/a-conversation-with-mystery-author-mary-cunningham-660c2090.html">A Conversation with Mystery Author Mary Cunningham ~ Omnimystery News</a>Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-84864785256048347202017-12-05T10:17:00.001-05:002017-12-05T10:17:58.781-05:00GirlZombieAuthors: New Mystery Series, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder!<a href="http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com/2017/12/new-mystery-series-margaritas-mayhem-murder.html?spref=bl">GirlZombieAuthors: New Mystery Series, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder!</a>: Today I welcome author Mary Cunningham, who's talking about her latest release and first book in the new Andi Anna Jones mystery seri...Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-41666514762263016172017-12-04T11:28:00.002-05:002017-12-04T11:28:49.482-05:00Book Release - Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder - Andi Anna Jones Mystery # 1<img alt="Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000447_00052]" class=" size-medium wp-image-2588 aligncenter" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/margaritasmayhem-and-murder-q-5x8-1-cover.jpg?w=376" width="188" /><br />
Finally, after about five years of writing about Andi Anna Jones; putting her away for a couple of years, then starting up, again, It's <strong>RELEASE DAY!</strong><br />
The first (of many, I hope) mystery, <em><strong>Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder</strong></em>, is available to read, download, purchase and order at all your favorite online sites and your favorite bookstores.<br />
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<strong>Buy Today!</strong></div>
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<strong> EBook [<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Margaritas-Mayhem-Murder-Jones-Mystery-ebook/dp/B076N6KBM3/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>] [<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/756600" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>] [<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mary_Cunningham_Margaritas_Mayhem_Murder?id=0jU8DwAAQBAJ" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Google Play</a>] [<a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/margaritas-mayhem-murder" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a>] [<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/margaritas-mayhem-murder-mary-cunningham/1127355519?type=eBook" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nook</a>]</strong></div>
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<strong>Paperback [<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Margaritas-Mayhem-Murder-Jones-Mystery/dp/1772233455" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>] [<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/margaritas-mayhem-murder-mary-cunningham/1127355519?ean=9781772233452" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BN</a>]</strong></div>
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<strong>Read an Excerpt:</strong><br />
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“Tell me what’s going on. Slowly, and about fifty decibels lower. Why are you in jail?”<br />
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“Well, honey, I’m not sure. Oh, I know what they’re saying, but I didn’t do anything. I swear. Well, at least nothin’ I can remember. You see, it all started on the cruise ship dance floor, quite innocently, mind you.”<br />
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“What started?” I located my slippers and shuffled to the bathroom.<br />
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“As I was saying before you interrupted, it all started on the dance floor. You know, they play such romantic music on these cruises like, Shadow of Your Smile and Mandy. Oh, don’t you just love Manilow? Well, anyway, Lenny and I were having a lovely time, and he was obviously enamored, if you catch my drift.”<br />
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I knew this was a mistake. Still, I asked, “Lenny who?”<br />
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“Why, Lenny La Mour, of course!”<br />
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I drew a blank.<br />
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“Lenny La Mour,” Ruby huffed, “The famous Las Vegas performer? He’s the reason I picked this cruise. He had his own humongous nightclub and everything. Oh, Andi Anna, don’t tell me you’ve never heard of him. Why, women my age swoon at the sound of his voice. But, I suppose your generation only has eyes for that Bon Ami person.”<br />
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“Uh, are you, by any chance, talking about Bon Jovi?”<br />
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“Well, you know who I mean.”<br />
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<strong>What Reviewers and Authors are saying about <em>Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder</em>:</strong></div>
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<em><strong>“If Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in [with] Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.”</strong></em><br />
—Regan Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes series<br />
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<em><strong>“WOW. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages.”</strong></em><br />
—Jean Rabe, USA Today bestselling author<br />
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<em><strong>“Cunningham’s wacky characters will have you snorting your drink and wishing you could be protagonist Andi Anna Jones’s best friend…”</strong></em><br />
—Karen MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries<br />
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“<em><strong>An intoxicating mix of laughter, kooky characters, and a yummy setting.”</strong></em><br />
—Joanna Campbell Slan, bestselling/award-winning author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series<br />
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<em><strong>“Prepare for a solid, involving journey; for Margaritas, Mayhem, & Murder offers plenty of twists and turns to keep its ultimate destination a surprise right up to the end.”</strong></em><br />
—Diane Donovan, Senior Editor, Midwest Book Review<br />
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<em><strong>“A zany murder mystery with a touch of romance and a handful of humor.”</strong></em><br />
—Nancy J. Cohen, author of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries<br />
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<em><strong>“A madcap comedy mystery, rich with colorful characters and snappy one-liners.”</strong></em><br />
—Dana Taylor, award-winning author of Ain't Love Grand<br />
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<em><strong>“A hilarious, clever, and fun cozy mystery with unique characters you won’t soon forget.”</strong></em><br />
—Cheryl C. Malandrinos, The Book Connection<br />
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<strong>All My Books on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421339851&sr=1-2-ent&pebp=1421339852176&peasin=B002BLNEK4" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>: </strong><br />
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<br />Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-29573965232138000942017-11-16T16:13:00.002-05:002017-11-16T16:16:35.001-05:00The Power of A Great Cover!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ISGHpZYlg6VB6IVfUpdBYl_HzjW3_xdzMxynZSsFhUg-n5X-IANK2qdayXa-stw8ftr5_eTAWi5nXgLKrLj7-T4J6AnqJcaaBmmE7L-O7eSGP_a5w-NdrlF1NeMRMlH7M_qMFcBK74g/s1600/Murder+Mayhem+and+Margaritas++Paperback+Createspace+5x82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ISGHpZYlg6VB6IVfUpdBYl_HzjW3_xdzMxynZSsFhUg-n5X-IANK2qdayXa-stw8ftr5_eTAWi5nXgLKrLj7-T4J6AnqJcaaBmmE7L-O7eSGP_a5w-NdrlF1NeMRMlH7M_qMFcBK74g/s320/Murder+Mayhem+and+Margaritas++Paperback+Createspace+5x82.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full cover art</td></tr>
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I've been extremely lucky in my writing career. </div>
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Two publishers. Two fabulous graphic artists. </div>
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<b><i>Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder</i></b> cover was designed by <b>Ryan Thomas Doan</b> for <b><a href="http://www.imajinbooks.com/" target="_blank">Imajin Books</a></b>. The first time I saw it, I gasped. He sliced through the theme of the story with a creative knife. The bee blew me away. </div>
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Why, you ask? Read the book! 😊</div>
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My children's series, <b>Cynthia's Attic</b> - Echelon Press - was blessed to have<b> Nathalie Moore</b>. What a beautiful eye she has for colors and design! I love all five of the covers. This is the first.<br />
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What is your opinion of covers? Are you attracted to the cover, first? Do you pull a catchy cover off the shelf, then read the title? I happen to think they matter in this world of millions of authors and stories vying for millions of readers. </div>
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The release of the first (of many, I hope) <b>Andi Anna Jones Mystery</b> is coming, soon! You don't have to wait. <b>Preorder, now!</b> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>[<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076N6KBM3" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>] [<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/756600" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>] [<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mary_Cunningham_Margaritas_Mayhem_Murder?id=0jU8DwAAQBAJ" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Google Play</a>] [<a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/margaritas-mayhem-murder" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a>]</b></div>
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<em><strong>And, it's already getting great reviews!</strong> </em></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>“If Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in [with] Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.”</i></b> —Regan Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes series</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>"Wow. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages." </i></b>-Jean Rabe, USA Today bestselling author</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>“Grab a margarita and hold on tight; you're in for a wild ride.”
</i></b>—Karen MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>“What a fun ride! This is a cozy on caffeine, and has all the elements you need: a feisty heroine, a handsome sheriff, a mysterious death, exotic locales, and whip-smart, laugh-out-loud dialogue. ”</i></b> --Julia Buckley, author of the acclaimed Writer’s Apprentice Mystery Series and Undercover Dish </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mystery Series.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<b>Follow Author,</b> <strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421339851&sr=1-2-ent&pebp=1421339852176&peasin=B002BLNEK4" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mary Cunningham </a></strong>on <b>Amazon
</b><br />
<h2 align="center" style="margin: 0; text-align: right;">
</h2>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-86333936584243907792017-11-02T12:31:00.001-04:002017-11-02T12:34:33.030-04:00Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is ready to Preorder! <img alt="Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000447_00052]" class=" size-medium wp-image-2588 aligncenter" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/margaritasmayhem-and-murder-q-5x8-1-cover.jpg?w=376" width="188" /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
[<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076N6KBM3" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>] [<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MaryCunninghamIB" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>] [<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mary_Cunningham_Margaritas_Mayhem_Murder?id=0jU8DwAAQBAJ" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Google Play</a>] [<a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/margaritas-mayhem-murder" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a>]</h4>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong>And, it's already getting great reviews!</strong> </em></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
“If Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in [with] Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.” —Regan Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes series</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Wow. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages." -Jean Rabe, USA Today bestselling author</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
“Grab a margarita and hold on tight; you're in for a wild ride.”<br />
—Karen MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
“What a fun ride! This is a cozy on caffeine, and has all the elements you need: a feisty heroine, a handsome sheriff, a mysterious death, exotic locales, and whip-smart, laugh-out-loud dialogue. ” --Julia Buckley, author of the acclaimed Writer’s Apprentice Mystery Series and Undercover Dish Mystery Series.</div>
<br />
Author, <strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421339851&sr=1-2-ent&pebp=1421339852176&peasin=B002BLNEK4" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mary Cunningham </a></strong>on Amazon<br />
<h2 align="center" style="margin: 0; text-align: right;">
</h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div>
<br />Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-11334508398031923642017-10-21T13:15:00.000-04:002017-10-21T13:17:18.399-04:00It All Starts With Writing<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;"></span><br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<a href="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/forever-amber.jpg?w=422" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>When I was a kid, I had to cross a busy downtown street to walk the two blocks to t<a href="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/babe-zaharias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Babe Zaharias" border="0" class=" wp-image-2660 alignleft" height="290" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/babe-zaharias.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="186" /></a>he public library. Mom would take me across that first street then let me walk the rest of the way to my favorite spot on earth; well, except for the high school gym on Friday night basketball game night.<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I guess you’d call me a tomboy. I loved sports; playing and watching. Although, I still had fun cutting out paper dolls with my friend, Cynthia, and playing with her Easy Bake Oven (I was so jealous she had one and I didn’t!)<br />
<br />
But, back to the library. I’ll never forget the summer I discovered the sports biographies. A whole set of them! Probably due to my yet-to-be-discovered OCD, I commenced reading them in order – A-Z.<br />
<br />
I’ll never forget the thrill of learning all about <strong>Hank Aaron</strong>. I was a huge fan back then of the <strong>Milwaukee Braves</strong> outfielder. In 1957, as a 10-year-old, I would sit in front of the TV keeping stats during the Braves games. In a record-breaking year, he hit an 11th inning home run that propelled the Braves to the World Series, where he led underdog Milwaukee to an upset win over the New York Yankees in seven games. Yep, “Hammerin’ Hank” was my idol.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/forever-amber.jpg?w=422" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Forever Amber" border="0" class=" size-medium wp-image-2654 alignright" height="300" src="https://marycunningham.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/forever-amber.jpg?w=422" width="211" /></a>I tore through that series in record time. <strong>Patty Berg, Jim Brown, Althea Gibson, Pancho Gonzales, Byron Nelson, Warren Spahn.</strong> Then, the unbelievable happened. I finished <strong>Babe Didrikson Zaharias</strong>. Finished. Caput. A through Z. There were no more.<br />
<br />
I was crushed.<br />
<br />
Back to my reading boredom. Between my eight grade and freshman year, my beloved Aunt Gertrude, began setting books aside she thought I’d enjoy reading. <strong>To Kill a Mockingbird</strong>, of course, and anything by<strong> Steinbeck</strong>. I graduated to slightly steamier novels like <strong>Forever Amber </strong>by<strong> Kathleen Winsor</strong>, and later, in high school,<strong> Lady Chatterley’s Lover</strong>. She made me swear not to tell my mother she let me check that one out. I believe I hid the book under my mattress until I finished reading and returned it, safely, to the library.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
I muddled along reading <strong>Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys</strong>, and then got interested in historical fiction. Then I got bored with the writing and storylines that were beneath my reading level.<br />
As luck would have it, my aunt replaced the ancient librarian who had been in her position for, oh, around 108 years. Or, at least it seemed like it. What a refreshing change! Nothing against Miss Georgia, but she single-handedly destroyed my older brother’s love of reading. It was the summer after the fourth-grade school year. He took “The Bears of Blue River” to the desk to check it out. Miss Georgia wouldn’t let him read it. “This is a Fifth Grade book. You’ll have to wait ‘til then.” Barely a month away. My brother, who had a bit of a stubborn streak, left the library and never <br />
returned.<br />
<br />
I’m sure, by now, you’re wondering, “What’s the point of this post?” I’m getting to that.<br />
I now consider myself to be a pretty fair writer. My children’s book series, <strong>Cynthia’s Attic</strong>, has been well-received by readers of all ages. My new series, <strong>Andi Anna Jones Mysteries</strong>, is about to make its debut and am I ever excited! Writing these mysteries has given me a new perspective. While I love writing for middle-grade, it does keep the creative juices flowing when you change things up every now-and-then.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
I wouldn’t be writing, however, if not for one important fact.<br />
<em><strong>It all starts with reading!</strong></em><br />
<strong>Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder - Andi Anna Jones Mystery # 1 - Preorder, soon! </strong><br />
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-30396459312993413662016-12-07T10:40:00.004-05:002016-12-07T10:40:50.515-05:00Christmas With Daisy - A Cynthia's Attic Christmas Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmBSb_q4Ol5dbkhLuXyVLZtfD0Ngi-JxKq4mxYFnjrvJpqEyaFmJun6VsCvS0OqxfutPv8yCr42r3H3qzTA71qebhA4GD7zky0YAEAGUjdieJqjg8QDj1tesWUxvpmpwk7OFwH3jO2ae7/s200/mc-cwd-cvr.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
Christmas 1964, brings a mysterious visitor to Cynthia's house; a reclusive great-aunt nicknamed, "Crazy Daisy." Is she really crazy or just eccentric? Cynthia and Gus are determined to find out, but a stray ember and a flaming nightgown take the girls on an unexpected trip through time, back to 1914, where compassion and friendship gives new meaning to the spirit of Christmas.<br />
<br />
Read an excerpt! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Christmas With Daisy</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chapter One:</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"How crazy is she?"</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"I don't know. Her real name is Daisy, but I've heard
some members of the family call her Crazy Daisy." Cynthia, my best friend
since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">forever</i>, hangs her favorite
pink ballerina ornament on the tree and then stands back surveying her
artistry.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
I rummage through cardboard boxes filled with
multi-colored decorations and grab a silver garland. "And, she's spending
Christmas with you? What if she sets the house on fire or murders everyone
during their sleep!"</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
She rolls her eyes and flips her blonde, red-ribboned
ponytail. "Gus. Shut down your wild imagination. She's not a serial killer
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or</i> an arsonist."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
I shrug. "I'm just saying that you don't know much
about this great-aunt of yours. Why do you suppose no one has talked about her
before?" <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I'll get the scoop on
Cynthia's Christmas visitor if it kills me! Er...poor choice of words.</i></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
Cynthia makes a big production of straightening the garland
I've just thrown onto a large section of branches.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"I liked it that way." I complain. "Not
everything has to hang in perfect symmetry. So boring."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"I'll decorate my tree, and you, Augusta Lee,
decorate yours. Or, should I say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>
stand ten feet away, throw ornaments and icicles in the general direction of
your tree and hope something sticks."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
I should've expected she'd bring up my given name sooner
or later. My mom and dad just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to
name me after my grandfather, Augustus Leeander, but when my avid love of
sports and my dislike of fussing with my hair and clothes surfaced, they took
to calling me Gus.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"Hey! I'm just here to help, so there's no need to be
insulting." I grumble but can't dispute her description of my decorating
technique. She's seen me in action. So...I change the subject back to this
crazy aunt. "Where's she going to stay? Your room?"</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
Cynthia's attention is squarely on the tree that has stood
in the same corner of the den every Christmas since...since either of us can
remember. "Doesn't it look beautiful, Gus? I think I've outdone myself
this year."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
I give an absentminded nod to the perfectly placed
ornaments: red, green, silver and blue equally spaced. Silver garland drapes
precisely on each branch of the six-foot pine chosen from a tree farm this past
weekend. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bor-rring</i>. "Yeah, yeah,
it's gorgeous. But, what about your room?"</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"Mother hasn't said, but you don't think Danielle has
any intention of being inconvenienced, do you?"</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
I couldn't imagine Cynthia's older sister allowing a
stranger to take over her bedroom, and it would take a bulldozer to get her
brother's room ready for human occupancy. Obviously, Cynthia would spend the
holidays on the living room sofa. "I have an idea. You can stay with me,
if you'd like. I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
Her eyes widen, and a smile breaks across her face.
"I have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">better</i> idea! You stay
with me."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Huh? </i>She won't
have a bedroom. A crazy aunt could be roaming around the house–possibly rooting
around for butcher knives and axes–and she wants me to stay with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her</i>? "Oh, great. Then both of us
would be without a bed. Why not stay at my house? You'll be safe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> have a comfortable place to
sleep."</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
"Oh, but then we'd miss out on maybe the best
Christmas ever. Aren't you always saying that Christmas is so annoying with
your bratty cousin banging on the piano all day and feeding sweet potatoes to
your dog, Sam, just so he'll throw up? Wouldn't you rather be here to
experience, first hand, the holidays with a strange, maybe scary, aunt?"</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
She has me there. Getting away from dear, sweet cousin
Bradley for a few hours has to be an improvement, even if I have to sleep with
one eye open, watching out for a shadowy figure to jam a pillow over my face.
"I'll ask if I can stay Christmas Eve. Mom and Dad will want me home in time
for the family dinner Christmas night, but someone has to watch your
back."</div>
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
Buy <b><i>Christmas With Daisy</i></b> today on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Daisy-Cynthias-Attic-Cunningham-ebook/dp/B0041T5844/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><b>EBook</b></a>!</div>
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
Buy <b><i>Cynthia's Attic Series</i></b> - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421339851&sr=1-2-ent&pebp=1421339852176&peasin=B002BLNEK4" target="_blank"><b>Paperback and EBook</b></a></div>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-3078122989729612612016-10-25T10:44:00.005-04:002016-10-25T11:08:48.579-04:00Baseball and Ben-Gay<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_580f6b94124904063706880">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEvsEikReMoP7tUyN7ZlXmHxzY4wy2UV876seKvMS75sklDeEnepRLm3FiQYh-UPsL3vJSZFJ_3AfdEidE8TGGmfKOAfFOgdPbxTC8CWTohimGFhD7WJ_7NKnBl4BQYbx3Qs_W3Tn0rJb/s1600/chi-wrigley02field-19090704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEvsEikReMoP7tUyN7ZlXmHxzY4wy2UV876seKvMS75sklDeEnepRLm3FiQYh-UPsL3vJSZFJ_3AfdEidE8TGGmfKOAfFOgdPbxTC8CWTohimGFhD7WJ_7NKnBl4BQYbx3Qs_W3Tn0rJb/s320/chi-wrigley02field-19090704.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1945 World Series</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A young boy sat on the windowsill of his grandmother's Sheffield Ave. Brownstone, and watched his beloved Cubbies.<br />
<br />
Binoculars in hand, and radio nearby, his view was unobstructed, straight down the first base line. Grandma would bring him a sandwich and ask for updates on the game. <br />
<br />
The summer heat settling in the top floor apartment, coupled with an over-powering smell stinging his nostrils from his grandmother's "overuse" of Ben-Gay, made it imperative to lean as far out the window, as possible. <br />
<br />
"Now, Kenny. Don't you fall," she'd warn.<br />
<br />
A World Series appearance and win was always first and foremost on his mind. <br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
The last Cubs pennant win was 1945; 7 months after he was born, so another pennant or series win was just around the corner. <br />
<br />
Right? <br />
<br />
It would be a lifetime before the Cubs would make it to another series. 71 years.<br />
<br />
In case you're wondering, Ken isn't still sitting in the window of his grandmother's Brownstone, but he's just as excited now, as he was then, to see his team play. <br />
<br />
It's been 7 decades for this long-suffering fan, but joy, along with relief, came flooding back. <br />
<br />
Go Cubbies!</div>
</div>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-17790281557602366962016-03-23T13:07:00.000-04:002016-04-24T23:16:20.868-04:00Falling in love with reading again - With author, Donna Galanti<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkWfUJAP5ajqudx2Xy9XzZGgiNQzk94ZvEILCztmhHXq-E7Y8yGEvWyp0MK3gxsag_xVIwlaWfp0k7VUOxzCASvK7TZumPuRqV0uupHoTscBoXic_s6hpBSVwZcGHh2JzvplQWB2nCGw8/s1600/Donna+Galanti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkWfUJAP5ajqudx2Xy9XzZGgiNQzk94ZvEILCztmhHXq-E7Y8yGEvWyp0MK3gxsag_xVIwlaWfp0k7VUOxzCASvK7TZumPuRqV0uupHoTscBoXic_s6hpBSVwZcGHh2JzvplQWB2nCGw8/s320/Donna+Galanti.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In becoming
a novelist I soon lost the one thing I had loved all my life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><em>Reading</em>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hard
to imagine, right? My dad likes to brag that I had read every book in the
school library by the time I was eight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
now it was as if I had traded my love of reading for a new love, that of
writing. And writers need to read to write. If success comes with sacrifice
must it be the one thing that I need to do to be a writer? Could the two senses,
writing and reading, not coincide? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It
struck me in way it was like having your first baby. When my son was born all
my love and affection went to him. It was so intense, this new love. It colored
my entire world. It was a force that hit me and covered me in need, driving all
my energy to it. Mothers know what I am talking about. You love your husband
but a child–that is a crazy intense love that takes you unaware. Eventually, I
found my own identity again as a mother and wife–and author. I had balance
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And
I realized I needed to find balance as a new author. I had become so sucked
into the world of creating. My brain burst with words, ideas, dialogue, action,
and characters speaking to me. I couldn’t slow my thoughts down. And in doing
that I lost my love of reading. All of my energy went toward reading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
knew I would need to force myself to read. Slow down my brain and allot time to
read. And I did. From book to book I moved. I would read a few pages then move
on like some wandering nomad. I couldn’t find my joy again. I couldn’t
concentrate on the words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Then
a friend told me something that changed everything. She said now that I was an
author I wouldn’t be happy with easy reads. I would need more stimulating books
to challenge me. She was right. I had become bored with reading. I needed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more.</i> More from an author in the stories
they created and words they chose. I wanted to be affected by what I read. Changed,
transformed, and moved. I didn’t want to just occupy my time with empty
entertainment, like watching TV. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
kept looking for the book to change me. One day I happened upon a sweet young
adult book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sparrow Road</i>. It was
beautiful and sad and hopeful. I cried (twice) as I read it straight through. I
had fallen in love again. You can read my review of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sparrow Road</i> here: (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/335479980"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/335479980</span></a>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Stephen
King said, “The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself
with your pen.” I aim to be less of a fool for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So then
I thought, why not re-read my favorite books over again? The books I held onto
for decades. The ones close to my heart. And that’s just what I’m doing. I’m
re-reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">White Fang</i> now by Jack
London, then it’s on to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fahrenheit 451</i>
(RIP Ray Bradbury), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Secret Garden, The
Crystal Cave, </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Island of the Blue
Dolphins</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">As a
writer I need to keep reading. And I’m glad I found my lost-love again. The
Argentinian writer, Jorge Luis Borges, said “I have always imagined that
Paradise will be a kind of library.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’m
glad my paradise is back. Have you lost and found your kind of paradise lately?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Donna Galanti</strong> is
the author of the award-winning and bestselling novels <em>A Human Element</em>
and <em>A Hidden Element </em>of The Element Trilogy (<a href="http://www.imajinbooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Imajin Books</span></a>) and the <em>Joshua
and The Lightning Road</em> series (<a href="http://www.month9books.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Month9Books</span></a>). Donna is a contributing editor for
International Thriller Writers the <a href="http://www.thebigthrill.org/"><i><span style="color: blue;">Big
Thrill</span></i></a> magazine and blogs with other middle grade authors at <a href="http://project-middle-grade-mayhem.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Project
Middle Grade Mayhem</span></a>. She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a
U.S. Navy photographer, and has had a career in marketing communications. She
lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse. Visit her at <a href="http://www.elementtrilogy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.elementtrilogy.com</span></a> and <a href="http://www.donnagalanti.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.donnagalanti.com</span></a>.<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-26525998781116918732016-03-17T15:24:00.000-04:002016-03-17T15:24:16.789-04:00Cynthia's Attic: Cast of Characters - My dadMy dad was my hero. Not surprising that he would be a character in my series, <em>Cynthia's Attic.</em> I inherited the desire to write from my dad, so I pretty much owe him for anything I am as a writer. 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, then watch said story go from interview to edit to print. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUKeobENqtluIKDtadXrfLUCUj7XX1GsxwTKoNM_NkD0SEla7f_KsGFgxjOSxkoaSVtejg-DJAGoiON6yXYAzZGGKAbGD7X06_kU_VpvzxzjgW1oD0_-gut0aBFxcmPqU4nFoYBXx8rLu/s1600/Dad+photo+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUKeobENqtluIKDtadXrfLUCUj7XX1GsxwTKoNM_NkD0SEla7f_KsGFgxjOSxkoaSVtejg-DJAGoiON6yXYAzZGGKAbGD7X06_kU_VpvzxzjgW1oD0_-gut0aBFxcmPqU4nFoYBXx8rLu/s320/Dad+photo+framed.jpg" width="222" /></a>Wish he'd been around to see my books. Every now and then, when the house is quiet except for the tap, tap, tap of my fingers on the keyboard, I feel him looking over my should as I write. I hope he approves. <br />
<br />
His character, an 18-year-old cave guide in <em>The Magic Medallion</em>, saves Cynthia and Gus from certain death when they are swept into an underground river while searching a Southern Indiana cave for a lost medallion. Didn't I tell you he was my hero? Cynthia and Gus think so, too. <br />
<br />
Read an excerpt: <br />
<br />
I went flailing into the water the split second Cynthia reached out to grab me. I couldn't see what happened to her, but the scream I heard and the following splash said it all.<br />
<br />
The current seemed to be moving faster and faster. I tried unsuccessfully to grab onto the rough ledge, but instead, I floated deeper and deeper into the cave.<br />
<br />
I helplessly tumbled over and over in the blackness and thought about the irony of the swimming trophies and scout badges I'd collected over the past three summers. Hmmmphh. A lot of good that did me!<br />
<br />
With every breath, I gulped more and more water. A feeling that I probably wasn't going to get out of this alive swept over me, and at the same time I wondered if Cynthia was faring any better. For some reason, it was comforting to know that she was probably going to drown with me. Oh, that's a generous thought, Gus! Here you are feeling good about the fact that your best friend is probably drowning, too! I knew I didn't really feel that way. I wanted her to make it out because…well just because. Also, so she'd be able to tell someone where to find my lifeless, broken body.<br />
<br />
Yep, I'm dying all right…there's the bright light I've heard about. I was being pulled straight toward a small glow in the distance as a feeling of peace began to take over. That peace didn't last long, though, as my ears picked up the deafening roar of a huge waterfall…a real one this time! I started paddling backwards as fast as possible but couldn't fight the current and started falling and falling and falling. Moments after I heard screams telling me that Cynthia was falling too, I landed face down in the water. Gathering the strength to look up, I couldn't believe my eyes. We were in a river outside the cave. If I could only swim to that bank, but my arms were like dead weights.<br />
<br />
"Grab onto the rope!"<br />
<br />
I turned in the direction of the voice and saw a splash in the water just in front of me. I reached out and held onto the rope with all the energy I had left and was relieved to feel myself being pulled toward dry ground. As I crawled to the bank, I heard the command repeated.<br />
<br />
"Grab onto the rope!"<br />
<br />
Soon, an equally exhausted Cynthia lay beside me. "Are we dead?" I gasped.<br />
"I…don't know," she said weakly. "I think we're alive because every inch of my body hurts. I don't think you hurt when you're dead."<br />
<br />
"No, you're not dead…but you are lucky to be alive," a voice lectured. As I painfully rolled over on my back, I saw a figure in green khaki pants standing beside me, but the glare of the sun hid his face.<br />
<br />
"How in the world did you two get to the waterfall? There's no way to reach it through the main entrance since it was blocked off years ago, and I know you didn't sneak into the cave the back way…and what in the world are you doing exploring caves in those old granny outfits?" He laughed.<br />
<br />
"Who are you to criticize our spelunking attire?" I asked, indignant. "We just didn't have time to change and certainly didn't think we were going swimming today!"<br />
<br />
"Whoa there, Nellie. I don't care what you thought you were going to be doing…you look silly."<br />
<br />
That did it! I jumped up, in spite of my exhaustion, hands on hips, and spit out a withering comeback…"Oh yeah?"<br />
<br />
That's all I managed to say because it hit me like a pan-full of my mother's burnt biscuits…I knew this person. Although I'd seldom seen him in a hat, the faded green scout cap looked familiar. It was identical to the one I'd found in the tent. He had the same smile and unmistakable twinkling blue-gray eyes. We had made it to 1934…and the young man who pulled us out of the river…was my dad.<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Click on my website for </em></strong><a href="http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/" target="_blank"><strong><em>Buy</em></strong></a><strong><em> links to all 5 Cynthia's Attic series books!</em></strong> </div>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-71446446839834579752016-03-02T10:12:00.000-05:002016-03-02T16:17:22.898-05:00Cynthia's Attic: Cast of Characters - Great Grandma Samantha<div style="text-align: justify;">
A glass jar...sitting on a round kitchen table...filled with candy sticks. That's my one and only memory of my great grandmother, <strong>Samantha</strong>. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<strong>Samantha Jane Huff</strong> was born on Nov. 1, 1865, married a man 20 years her senior (my g.grandfather, Charles Conrad) on Christmas Day, 1882. She died August 20, 1957. I suppose I can be forgiven for not remembering much about her since I was five at the time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
My cousin, Paul Conrad, e-mailed a wonderful picture of Samantha, nicknamed, <strong><em>Mant</em></strong> for no reason I can fathom. Why would you do that to such a beautiful name? She lived with Paul's mother and dad (my great aunt and uncle) after my grandfather's death in 1926, and he remembers her as a kind and wonderful person to be around. Wish I'd had more time with her. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In <strong><em>Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou</em></strong>, <strong>Samantha (Connor)</strong> is portrayed as an excitable, free-spirited mother of <strong>twelve children</strong>; all of whom she worries over constantly. In <strong>COTB</strong>, she is a notoriously bad cook, which is simply literary license, and is married to Cynthia's g.grandfather, Beau Connor. Okay, so I took a LOT of literary license. Confused yet? Here's an <strong>excerpt:</strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<em><strong>Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou (Book Three)</strong></em><br />
<br />
<em> </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">As promised, there was hot
food waiting for us. To say that Samantha Conner was the most awful cook in the
world would not be an exaggeration. I hadn't tasted anything quite as bad as
her dumplings since I'd had the brilliant idea to eat my first-grade art paste.
</span></em></div>
<em>
<br />
</em><div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdQiVdhxbBA0pbJcwCRWfjzOqiprInOSG8QjbJiJfEVPEawhJxok6PqxOgHP0pUBIyue8m5IS3NAPo_ZWvx1_weumsxnsp4TpJn5RSXK73R7ANUL0oMOsyeDRlZN3ytKHE1u3ffjgTt25/s1600/Curse+of+the+Bayou+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdQiVdhxbBA0pbJcwCRWfjzOqiprInOSG8QjbJiJfEVPEawhJxok6PqxOgHP0pUBIyue8m5IS3NAPo_ZWvx1_weumsxnsp4TpJn5RSXK73R7ANUL0oMOsyeDRlZN3ytKHE1u3ffjgTt25/s200/Curse+of+the+Bayou+2.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">But, to be polite, Cynthia
and I ate as much as we could choke down. At least the family stories told at
dinner, helped make the food a little more palatable, especially since we'd
already heard bits and pieces from Cynthia's mom. Samantha mentioned that her
husband was traveling, and had not returned. I could tell she didn't want to
talk about his disappearance, but that didn't stop her from talking about
everything else.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<em>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"Go ahead, Ma," Jay
insisted. "Tell them about how you met <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pa.</st1:place></st1:state> You know you want to."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Samantha laughed
self-consciously. "Oh, Jay. These two don't want to hear tales about some
old couple…well, if you </span><span style="color: black;">insist</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">…" She went on without ever taking a
breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">I shot a sly smirk toward
Cynthia, but she was already caught up in the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"…and so I decided that
no one was going to tell </span><span style="color: black;">me</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> I couldn't ride across that creek. My
brothers were able to cross, and they weren't nearly the bareback rider I
was!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">I could see the smug
satisfaction on her face, even after all these years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"But, Ma. Tell them what
happened when you </span><span style="color: black;">did</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> start to cross."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Her voice took on a mildly
annoyed tone. "I'm getting to that. I </span><span style="color: black;">still</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> say my brother, Thomas, rest his soul,
deliberately frightened Powder, causing that horse to buck me off in the middle
of that raging river."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"Well, that's not the
way Uncle Jude tells it, Ma. But, you tell it your way."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Samantha sniffed, and then
continued the story. "As I was saying…that pitiful horse bucked me off
into a raging current and, </span><span style="color: black;">land sakes</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">…I was sure I was going to drown. I went
tumbling, </span><span style="color: black;">head over applecart</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">, until I felt my lungs were going to
burst right through my chest."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Although Cynthia's
great-grandmother did have a flair for the dramatic, I didn't have to imagine
how Samantha felt. I knew, from my own experience, tumbling helplessly through
the underground river in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Big</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Blue</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Cave</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
exactly what it was like to nearly drown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"But, now to the good
part." Samantha laughed heartily. "I was just about to </span><span style="color: black;">give up the ghost </span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">when I felt a hand on my shoulder." She touched her own
hand to her left shoulder and smiled, sadly. "I didn't see him until he'd
pulled me to land and smacked water out of my lungs with a crack between my
shoulder blades. I still wonder what he saw in a girl spewing river water into
his face, but I knew, as soon as I looked into those kindly, brown eyes, that I
would spend the rest of my life with Beauregard Conner."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</em><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkg9Cp0SsphBXRrV7zS7SgRRLaPZySVtTugDqSxgY6qgbl66JxepF5EdvXMb0c7ZJGh3pgOgVLmyFuJmndDBuUX0NRWrPXhcA5T8NkDZD1KQRdTRWHIaGR7JWhQ9PznaMo3zL-VGps6wU/s1600/2232576723_3043fd250d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkg9Cp0SsphBXRrV7zS7SgRRLaPZySVtTugDqSxgY6qgbl66JxepF5EdvXMb0c7ZJGh3pgOgVLmyFuJmndDBuUX0NRWrPXhcA5T8NkDZD1KQRdTRWHIaGR7JWhQ9PznaMo3zL-VGps6wU/s320/2232576723_3043fd250d_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles & Samantha Conrad, and children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em><strong>Great Grandma, Samantha, I wish I had known more about you, but I suppose there are worse things than being remembered for a full candy jar.</strong> </em><br />
<em><br /> </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Click on my website for </strong></em><a href="http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong>Buy</strong></em></a><em><strong> links to all 5 Cynthia's Attic series books!</strong></em> </div>
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-78882604733850437312016-02-11T13:52:00.000-05:002016-02-15T19:18:45.227-05:00Art, Alters and Animal GuidesI "met" Barbara Techel a number of years ago when I connected with her Facebook page dedicated to her sweet dachshund, Frankie, whose back legs became paralyzed after a fall. Through Barbara's persistence and love for Frankie, she found "wheels" that allowed her sweet furbaby to zip around, carefree, for many more years. She even wrote an award-winning book about the adventure. <strong><em>Frankie, The Walk 'N Roll Dog</em></strong>. Two more books soon followed, and Frankie became an instant favorite among the Dachshund-loving crowd, and pet lovers, everywhere. <br />
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Her deep love of animals and the amazing lessons she’s learned from them encourage and inspire her to listen to her inner voice, and live a more meaningful life with integrity, intent, and joy.<br />
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Now, Barbara has a new rescue, Gidget, and has embarked on a new quest. <em><strong>Art, Altars, and Animal Guides: Understanding the Connection between Animal Teachers, Ourselves and the World</strong></em><br />
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As an author, animal advocate, SoulCollage® Facilitator, and founder of Joyful Paws, LLC and National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day, she enjoys encouraging and inspiring others to pause, listen and capture what it is that matters most to them.<br />
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Exploring how everything is connected can have a profound effect on our lives. All it takes is the willingness to pause, listen and be open to the powerful connections that are with us all the time. In this workshop we will engage our animal guides, discover meaningful links between inner and outer worlds, and learn how to gain deeper levels of awareness through self-exploration and creation.<br />
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Dawn Brunke and Barbara Techel will be your guides into this intuitive excursion of art, altars and animal guides.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMMcd9Ck9jeLSB_LMpyiDU-Hjy706xOlkhrW-v6l8qudOA2TSHe9hGK3iEtxiUfSoUCHp_85tDpV1_RFcsp3jt_pSrCI85K9Q2KpdKAYfdv512xI2aqZliRsEhHAKkFI0HvPyYQKu4d5Q/s1600/dawn-and-me-e-1024x766-1024x766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMMcd9Ck9jeLSB_LMpyiDU-Hjy706xOlkhrW-v6l8qudOA2TSHe9hGK3iEtxiUfSoUCHp_85tDpV1_RFcsp3jt_pSrCI85K9Q2KpdKAYfdv512xI2aqZliRsEhHAKkFI0HvPyYQKu4d5Q/s320/dawn-and-me-e-1024x766-1024x766.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbara and Dawn.</td></tr>
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This workshop consists of three weekly interactive sessions beginning Feb. 27th.<br />
<ul>
<li>Meet your animal guides.</li>
<li>Learn to invoke assistance and advice from your guides.</li>
<li>Design a SoulCollage® card of your animal guide.</li>
<li>Create a personal altar.</li>
<li>Deepen your relationship with animals, yourself, and the world.</li>
</ul>
<strong><em>Please note:</em></strong><em> You don’t need to be an artist. Anyone can do this.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp9hHf1pdBaMRRnyiZDIxg3MCXGT9C6e_m3gNvZxOgFrBBBMGXzwrgfeFtfpDVI_XULTNK44Tb8UzYwgYa8LmnTy6lwflf-tDoyslZrEMFmgyUA82Qz6i0nzjWdVfwMaYDv2RA8lb8kVl/s1600/wolf-altar-e-300x226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp9hHf1pdBaMRRnyiZDIxg3MCXGT9C6e_m3gNvZxOgFrBBBMGXzwrgfeFtfpDVI_XULTNK44Tb8UzYwgYa8LmnTy6lwflf-tDoyslZrEMFmgyUA82Qz6i0nzjWdVfwMaYDv2RA8lb8kVl/s1600/wolf-altar-e-300x226.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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Barbara’s Wolf SoulCollage card and altar</div>
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<em><strong>For more information about the workshop, click on the <a href="http://joyfulpaws.com/art-altars-and-animal-guides-understanding-the-connection-between-animal-teachers-ourselves-and-the-world/" target="_blank">link</a></strong></em><br />
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-30241112236067014972016-02-10T09:41:00.003-05:002016-02-10T09:41:33.775-05:00Mason Creek Elementary - Great teachers, readers, and writersHow excited am I? <br />
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I get to visit <strong>Mason Creek Elementary School</strong>, and experience the awesomeness of media specialist, <strong>Ms. Diereshe Collins</strong>! <br />
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It's been about eight years since I met Diereshe and had to ask three or four times, "Now, how do you pronounce your first name?" For those still wondering, it's DURshee. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoPaRvdvhsrG388stQAbNmd5_chHrzwnfsYD8thsyRjeK6i2BjQsJ1aVbVypi37a-e105Oo-bSeGjyTX96L-Ab4v6CjeLoSCBjMVvIIZQuuCDEcuE95aolWAMKocxy19Z6Xhvc3Bd2DmZ/s1600/80s+Day+at+Mason+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoPaRvdvhsrG388stQAbNmd5_chHrzwnfsYD8thsyRjeK6i2BjQsJ1aVbVypi37a-e105Oo-bSeGjyTX96L-Ab4v6CjeLoSCBjMVvIIZQuuCDEcuE95aolWAMKocxy19Z6Xhvc3Bd2DmZ/s320/80s+Day+at+Mason+Creek.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">80s Day at Mason Creek</td></tr>
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I guess what I love most (there are so many to choose!) about Diereshe is her creativity. Her library/media room, is always an adventure into the wonderment of reading. She even did a pirate theme one year and showcased the third book in the <strong>"Cynthia's Attic"</strong> series, <em><strong>Curse of the Bayou</strong></em>! She is supportive of anyone and anything that encourages reading and writing. If you're an author who supports this same agenda, you are her friend for life. <br />
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Just one of the perks of being a published author is being able to recharge those creative writing batteries visiting schools like <strong>Mason Creek Elementary</strong>! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjGsOvWhO4Lk88uJmeSwP7fnURRzA1nc14GoBmzSQu02QlahjK0UmnJ9AgUq3_jXx4q-IxqMslwosnK-xmlIq591lkwk7oiJ1JJIj_61u78BUlj5uIMPXVEvfp5Y4SHYzTqZYxpcVVeoo/s1600/Author+visit+Mason+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjGsOvWhO4Lk88uJmeSwP7fnURRzA1nc14GoBmzSQu02QlahjK0UmnJ9AgUq3_jXx4q-IxqMslwosnK-xmlIq591lkwk7oiJ1JJIj_61u78BUlj5uIMPXVEvfp5Y4SHYzTqZYxpcVVeoo/s320/Author+visit+Mason+Creek.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason Creek readers are the best!</td></tr>
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<strong><em>Cynthia's Attic paperback and Kindle on </em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421339851&sr=1-2-ent&pebp=1421339852176&peasin=B002BLNEK4" target="_blank"><strong><em>Amazon</em></strong></a>Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-62107436034423288342014-12-20T11:36:00.001-05:002016-02-10T09:11:44.554-05:00Saving Annabelle: Story Four - The Adventures of Max and Maddie<span id="goog_279847389"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Mama? Papa! Where are you?" <br />
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The child turned in all directions, searching, calling, but no one called back. The sun was setting, swiftly behind the tall pines, and a late afternoon chill signaled a cold, life-threatening December night, unless the child found shelter, soon.<br />
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Her long cotton dress, and tattered wool coat, would help, but her teeth were already chattering from cold, or maybe from fear. At this point, it didn't matter which. Both could spell her death.<br />
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Their attempted escape had begun the night before from the rural Georgia plantation; the only home the girl had ever known. That much she could remember. Then sometime, just before sunup, they'd heard the dogs. Vicious sounding, braying madly, having caught scent of fully focused prey—a family trying, desperately, to distance itself from the oncoming battle between the North and the South. <br />
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Annabelle had panicked and run in the opposite direction of the fearsome howling, believing her mother, father, and younger sister were heading in the same direction.<br />
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She was wrong.<br />
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Her voice, barely audible from strain, she stumbled through the thick undergrowth for hours, calling, "Mama? Papa? Where are you?" She slumped to the ground beside the trunk of a Georgia Pine, nestled her exhausted, frightened body into a pile of dry leaves and closed her eyes, <br />
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</span></i></span><span id="goog_279847390">Coming, soon!</span><br />
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<em>All </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNEK4" target="_blank"><strong><em>books </em></strong></a><em>by Mary Cunningham</em>Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-44599855199388531262014-09-26T11:14:00.000-04:002014-09-26T11:14:37.009-04:00Irene Irwin Literary Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unlike 112 years ago, when the Conyers Civic League was founded, the written
word has fierce competition winning the hearts and attention spans of today's
kiddos. With a unique roster of inter-active author presentations, the League
aims to engage youth with a book's possibilities during The Irene Irwin
Children's Literary Day on Sunday, Sept. 28, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the Olde Town
Pavilion. The day will also serve as tribute to Irene Irwin, a former teacher
and CCL member whose generous legacy continues to fund League endeavors
today.<br />
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"We are excited about our slate of accomplished authors," said Event Chair
Julie Rogers. "We've planned for it to be an engaging afternoon activity for
families."<br />
<br />
<strong>12:45 - 1:30 </strong> Chris Rumble, artist, musician and author of
"The Adventures of Uncle Stinky" series<br />
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<strong>1:30 - 1:45</strong> Susan Rosson Spain, author of "The Twelve Days
of Christmas in Georgia," as well as "Deep Cut," a historical fiction work for
middle-schoolers set against the back drop of the Civil War<br />
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<strong>1:45 - 2:30</strong> Michael P. White, illustrator of many
award-winning books including, "The Library Dragon," involves audiences in the
illustration<br />
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<strong>2:30 - 2:45</strong> <strong>Mary Cunningham, author of the award-winning
five book 'tween series, "Cynthia's Attic"</strong><br />
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<strong>2:45 - 3:30</strong> Danny Schnitzlein, author of "The Monster Who
Ate My Peas" and "The Monster Who Did My Math"<br />
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The event is free. Authors will have books on hand to sell and sign, cash or
checks only accepted. Mellow Mushroom pizza will be available for $1 per slice.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please visit the
Facebook page ~ Irene Irwin Children's Literary Day.Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-30654841380350229852014-09-19T09:40:00.000-04:002014-09-19T09:40:12.628-04:00Talk Like A Pirate Day!<strong>It's International <a href="http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html" target="_blank">Talk Like A Pirate Day</a>!</strong> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>AARRRGHH</em>! The day snuck up on me! Captain Buzzard Jack LaBuse, <em>herrre</em>, mateys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And, just in case you're not sure how to <strong>Talk Like a Pirate,</strong> here are some key words ye be 'wantin' ta <em>r'memberrr</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ahoy!</strong> - "Yo!"<br /><strong>Avast!</strong> - "Check it out!"<br /><strong>Aye!</strong> - "Yes."<br /><strong>Arrr!</strong> - "That's right!" (often confused with arrrgh...)<br /><strong>Arrrgh!</strong> - "I'm VERY miffed." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, weigh anchor. Hoist the mizzen. It's a terrrrrific day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">And, in case yer hankerin' ta read about <strong>me</strong> <em>mis</em>-adventures, ye be a'clickin on this </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Curse-Bayou-Cynthias-Mary-Cunningham/dp/1590805755/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">link</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> to <em><strong>Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou</strong></em>! </span></span><br />
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<strong><em>(Don't make me come after ya!)</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Heeeerrr's one of me treacherous scenes from Curse of the Bayou! </em></strong><br />
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<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Gasp! I was soaked and
struggling for air, but there wasn't any! </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><em>Coughing…that's a good sign. At least my lungs were
trying to work.</em></span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> Had a huge
wave come over the side during the night? I nudged Cynthia with my elbow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"Ahhhh! Where did that
water come from?" she cried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"So, you're finally
awake, eh?" Buzzard Jack's voice chilled the air even more. "Nice
job, Snags." The shadow of the captain fell over us, blocking out the
morning sun. His helper, Snags was grinning idiotically, holding a wooden
bucket. An </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><em>empty</em></span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> wooden bucket, I might add.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">I spit out the remaining
drops of water I'd ingested, and glared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">"Don't blame me,"
Snags laughed. If yer mouth hadn't been hanging open like a newborn guppy, you
wouldn't a choked."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">I felt a confirming nudge in
my back, but Cynthia didn't laugh. Nothing was funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Captain Jack didn't think so,
either. He leaned down until the brim of his black hat was inches from making
contact with Cynthia's forehead. "You </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><em>will</em></span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> tell me where to find the watch. It may be now. It may be later. But,
I can assure you, the longer it takes, the more uncomfortable you will
become." He stood up. "So, what's it going to be? I </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><em>promise</em></span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> to untie you and your little friend,
give you a good meal, some water, and send you back to land, unharmed."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><em>Oh, sure. That'll
happen.</em></span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> I may only be
twelve, but I wasn't born yesterday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Neither his threats nor his
"promises" had any effect on Cynthia. "I told you last night. I
don't have it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">I knew when Cynthia was
telling the truth and…she was telling the truth. Thinking back to finding the
watch in the Conners' barn, I remembered watching Cynthia put it in her pocket.
What happened to it after that was a mystery. But, we'd better find out, and
soon, because the captain was now standing over </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><em>me</em></span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">.</span></div>
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<br />
<strong><em>And, in case this doesn't interest you, I hear there's a free doughnut to be had at Krispy Kreme Facebook!</em></strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/290572444468899/" target="_blank"><strong>Free Doughnut!</strong></a></div>
<em></em><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/"><strong>Mary Cunningham Books<o:p></o:p></strong></a></span></div>
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-3251930622288339332014-09-15T14:56:00.001-04:002014-09-16T08:25:38.963-04:00Offsides - Kerry Madden-LunsfordThe best advice I ever got, as an author was, "Write what you know." <strong>Kerry Madden-Lunsford</strong> takes that to a whole new level with her debut novel (republished - 2014), <strong><em>Offsides</em></strong>. <br />
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<em>The daughter of a college football coach, Kerry Madden-Lunsford grew up in a series of hometowns, transplanted from one place to the next with the changing of the football season, uprooted from childhood friends with almost no warning. It is this hectic, whirlwind lifestyle which Madden-Lunsford draws upon in writing her first novel, Offsides.</em><br />
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The first thing <strong>Kerry</strong> will tell you is, "No, my father isn't John Madden." She does, however, pull memories-some good, some bad-from her days as the oldest child of a football coach, being uprooted from one football-crazy college town, to the next. <br />
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I found <strong>Madden-Lunsford's</strong> characterization of an awkward, self-critical, defiant <strong>Liz Donegal</strong>, refreshing and believable. While she protests every move, we know she will eventually give in and pick up roots, once more, in order to follow her father's never-ending search for that elusive head-coaching job.<br />
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On the surface, Liz appears to be an island; never quite fitting in, even with her family, but in between the lines, you feel the love and loyalty the Donegal family possesses, even when her closest confidants, her mother's sister and her father's brother, appear to leave her behind.<br />
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While I'm a dog lover, and cringe at the thought of losing a beloved dog, <strong>Madden-Lunsford </strong>writes an especially vivid scene in which the grave of "Bear Bryant" is dug up by his replacement, "Halfback". Equally traumatic is that all this takes place during Liz's boyfriend's first meeting with her family.<br />
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I highly recommend this book for YA and mature teens. <br />
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Further proof that Offsides is written from experience? Check out this picture from one of the author's latest booksignings. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu1wbeWpYSrn5DFNytvTCJm0wtIB3-zEV06Y64exbXzTXNJ4OiJEOt5Rw2gPwJ3MTbze1v8Y-dN4alPPr5lQKcHeBWfwnJXQqf8Fmwq_2hKjChqXa5mzAjurUNDvo8eqc_eu0Dx9nhxtE/s1600/Kerry+Madden+and+Johnny+Majors'%2Bwife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu1wbeWpYSrn5DFNytvTCJm0wtIB3-zEV06Y64exbXzTXNJ4OiJEOt5Rw2gPwJ3MTbze1v8Y-dN4alPPr5lQKcHeBWfwnJXQqf8Fmwq_2hKjChqXa5mzAjurUNDvo8eqc_eu0Dx9nhxtE/s1600/Kerry+Madden+and+Johnny+Majors'%2Bwife.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kerry Madden-Lundsford with Lynn Majors, wife of famed Tennessee football coach, Johnny Majors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<strong>Offsides: Amazon </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Offsides-Kerry-Madden-Lunsford-ebook/dp/B00KQ4FRW6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Kindle</strong></a><br />
<strong>Kerry Madden <a href="http://www.kerrymadden.com/" target="_blank">Books</a></strong><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Mary Cunningham</strong>, author, <strong>Cynthia's Attic Series</strong>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Adventures of Max and Maddie Series</strong> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Mary Cunningham Books</strong></a></div>
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-64760875872011370772014-09-08T10:56:00.002-04:002014-09-08T10:59:01.110-04:00Christine Eldin Memorial FellowshipI haven't blogged in awhile. You know how life gets in the way. But, this is too important not to share. <br />
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Two years ago the children's writing community lost a dear friend, supporter, and fabulous writer. <br />
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<strong>Chris Eldin</strong> wanted, more than anything...well, other than spending as much time as possible with her two boys...to be a published author. In working toward her dream, she established a blog called <strong>The Book Roast</strong>. I had the privilege to be roasted, on more than one occasion, and never tired of reading her wonderful interviews that included many, diverse books and authors. <br />
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A year ago, a small group of her friends decided to honor her contribution and her passion. We've created the <a href="http://eldinfellowship.org/" target="_blank"><strong>Christine Eldin Memorial Fellowship</strong></a>, designed to: <br />
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1. Honor the memory of <strong>Chris Eldin</strong>.<br />
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2. Provide recognition and financial assistance to an <strong>unpublished middle grade fiction writer</strong> whose work-in-progress reveals potential for a successful writing career.<br />
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In order to make this an annual event, however, we need to raise funds. The <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/eldin-memorial-fellowship" target="_blank"><strong>Eldin Memorial Fundraising Page</strong></a> accepts contributions for this worthy cause, and also give you the opportunity to snag autographed books, by a group of excellent authors, writing courses, SKYPE visits, and even a video with <strong>Travis Erwin</strong> (founder of <strong><em>Lettuce is the Devil</em></strong>), actually eating a leaf of lettuce! What more could you want?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPlwOThfzASIfDus6eBqDq7487oWTMI-Gooec2qyxn6YxIOuhXv3LyTwhXn974cTDNP0glwvMDW1K-fYjPlLdrdpWXcL6xmg_AhYMpxSDNqSCiC6JpNipGegUa79BVDPRPQRI4gvxfDc1/s1600/Chris+Eldin+Fellowship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPlwOThfzASIfDus6eBqDq7487oWTMI-Gooec2qyxn6YxIOuhXv3LyTwhXn974cTDNP0glwvMDW1K-fYjPlLdrdpWXcL6xmg_AhYMpxSDNqSCiC6JpNipGegUa79BVDPRPQRI4gvxfDc1/s1600/Chris+Eldin+Fellowship.jpg" height="144" width="320" /></a></div>
Whether you're a writer, aspiring author, or an avid reader, please consider donating. <br />
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You'll also find a link to the submissions page, so get those manuscripts ready! <br />
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Two things I know, for sure. The world was a better place with Chris in it, and how proud she'd be of the fellowship created to carry on her work.<br />
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Hope we're making you proud, Chris!<br />
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-51327299729912566372014-04-03T14:34:00.000-04:002014-04-03T14:35:35.191-04:00Remembering Rhubarb Pie and Bingo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">My ears perked up at the familiar <i>thud…thud…thud</i>
on the staircase, followed by the <i>slam</i> of the screen door. My brother
was fourteen — six years older than I — and we didn’t communicate much, other
than to fight and say dreadful things to each other. But I could always count
on him to <i>indirectly</i> let me know when it was time to go to our
grandmother’s house for lunch. “Tom!” I’d yell, scrambling to tie my sneakers
and get through the door before he was out of sight. “Wait for <i>me</i>!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">My grandmother and grandfather lived in our small town
“down by the creek,” and even though it was only a couple of blocks, there was
a busy street that I was forbidden to cross alone. Tom would <i>allow</i> me to
go with him…as long as I stayed at least <i>half the distance to the moon </i>behind
in case he ran into one of his buddies along the way. Nothing would be more
humiliating to a high school freshman than to be seen walking <i>anywhere</i>
with his dumb little sister. It was worth the effort to stay out of his way
because at the end of our journey was the promise of a table full of the
greatest food in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">May Blume Rainbolt and Grover Cleveland Rainbolt planted
an “award-winning” garden. Each year they’d grow corn, green beans, tomatoes,
cucumbers, green peppers, cabbage, fresh mint, and much, much more. But best of
all…they grew rhubarb. My grandmother was the best rhubarb pie baker in the
county, which was proven by the stash of blue ribbons she kept
“inconspicuously” in an old Ball canning jar on the windowsill. <i>Oh pshaw, </i>she’d
blush. <i>Those old things? I’m just saving them for quilt scraps.</i> She even
made her own piecrust — an art she passed on to me (for which my husband is
eternally grateful). Come to think of it, the quality of our grandmother’s
rhubarb pie was one of the few things my brother and I ever agreed on when we
were kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Lunchtime was a real event at her house, especially since my mother
worked, which meant I’d usually settle for baloney or tuna sandwiches at home.
And besides, Mom insisted I was too young to stay by myself. I wonder what
she’d think if she knew my “babysitter brother” threatened, on a regular basis,
to hang me by my heels out his second-story bedroom window. I overlooked that
since we always managed to arrive in Mamaw May’s kitchen just as she was
filling the table with bowls of mashed potatoes swimming in real butter, pinto
beans seasoned with country ham, stewed okra, sliced tomatoes — still warm from
the garden sun — and cucumbers smothered with onions. Although peas weren’t a
favorite of mine back then, I enjoyed the days I watched my grandfather
gracefully eat them with a table knife. He’d somehow manage to fill the entire
length of the knife with little round peas, then tilt back his head and let
them slide into his mouth. I tried this once, to my grandmother’s dismay, and
ended up spending the better part of the afternoon picking peas up off the
linoleum floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">More exciting were the August days we’d spend together
at the Harrison County Fair playing bingo. Come to think of it, I probably
acquired my taste for gambling — without the risk of losing much money — from
her. We’d sit for hours under a dusty tent on the Midway, playing two and three
cards at a time, and competing for <i>valuable</i> prizes. I suppose it must’ve
seemed strange that I preferred playing bingo with my grandmother to riding on
the Ferris wheel or the tilt-a-whirl with my friends. I can still remember the
excitement of winning a rainbow-striped pitcher and matching iced-tea glasses
to proudly present to my mother. After all these years, I’m still not sure
whether the tears in her eyes were from joy at the sight of my gift, or from
wondering where in the world she was going to store another set of worthless
glassware. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">My grandmother lived well into her 70’s, but in my
family, that’s like being struck down in the prime of life. She should’ve lived
at least ten more years, but a freak auto accident was responsible for her
early decline in health. My main regret is that, because she died when I was in
my teens ― I wasn’t able to truly appreciate and enjoy her company in my adult
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I learned some valuable
lessons. For instance, the best piecrust is made with vinegar. Yes…<i>vinegar</i>.
And if we’re persistent, the true bingo professionals, like us, will beat the
socks off the amateurs every time. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">But the most important thing she taught me, is that
sometimes, especially on a steamy, <st1:place w:st="on">Southern Indiana</st1:place>
evening, it’s best just to sit on the front porch and rock gently back and
forth in the swing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><em>Add a slice of warm,
rhubarb pie…and it’s perfect.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><em> </em></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><em>Mary Cunningham ©2007<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-92006415299012104752014-03-01T10:25:00.000-05:002014-03-01T10:35:31.327-05:00Reading Recommendations, Susan M. Toy<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buried Treasure: The Adventures of Max and Maddie, was recently showcased on <span id="goog_754025799"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><strong>Reading Recommendations Blog<span id="goog_754025800"></span></strong></a>, created by <a href="http://www.susanmtoy.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Susan M. Toy</span></strong></a>, author, publisher, and overall champion to writers of all genres. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I decided to do a little promoting for Susan! Here's a little about Susan and her "many hats." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>About Susan Toy:</strong> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.susanmtoy.com/home/susan-s-writing/author%20pic.jpg?attredirects=0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.susanmtoy.com/_/rsrc/1355062409025/home/susan-s-writing/author%20pic.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">I </span> ha<span style="font-size: small;">ve</span> been a bookseller, an award-winning publishing sales representative, a literacy teacher, and a promoter of fellow authors and their books through <span style="font-size: small;">my</span> company, <b>Alberta Books Canada</b>. <span style="font-size: small;">I am</span> also an author and publisher, under <span style="font-size: small;">my </span>imprint, <strong>IslandCatEditions</strong>. </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Through <b>Alberta Books Canada</b>, <span style="font-size: small;">I have</span> represented authors directly, helping them find promotion for themselves and their books, seeking out new readers, and assisting them in making wise career decisions. <span style="font-size: small;">I</span> champion Alberta authors in particular, singing their praises throughout the province and online to the rest of the world, and <span style="font-size: small;">I </span>ha<span style="font-size: small;">ve</span> displayed books for authors and publishers at Alberta library conferences. </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">I</span> created the writing contest, <b>Coffee Shop Author</b>, ha<span style="font-size: small;">ve</span> sat on the Board of Directors of the <b>Fernie Writers' Conference</b>, served as a member of the <b>Calgary Distinguished Writers Program</b> steering committee, and was a member of the board of directors for the <b>Writers' Guild of Alberta</b>. </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I </span>ha<span style="font-size: small;">ve</span> made the decision to temporarily suspend operations of <b>Alberta Books Canada</b> in order to concentrate on <span style="font-size: small;">my</span> own writing and publishing, but <span style="font-size: small;">my friends</span> know this is just a cunning plan to spend</span> several months at <span style="font-size: small;">m<span style="font-size: small;">y</span></span> home in the Caribbean, avoiding yet another Calgary winter ... <span style="font-size: small;">I</span> promise to return to Calgary in the spring with even more ideas on how to promote and market Alberta</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">books. <strong>Susan M. Toy</strong></span></span></span></em><br />
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Also visit <strong>Susan's</strong> <a href="https://islandeditions.wordpress.com/tag/susan-toy/" target="_blank"><strong>Blog</strong></a>, <strong>Books, Publishing, Reading, Writing</strong>. <br />
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<strong><em>Island in the Clouds</em>: [</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Island-Clouds-Susan-M-Toy/dp/0987938525/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346876717&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon</strong></a><strong>] [</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0987938525" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon CA</strong></a><strong>]</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And, don't forget to check out <strong><em>Buried Treasure</em></strong> on <a href="http://readingrecommendations.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/mary-cunningham/" target="_blank"><strong>Reading Recommendations</strong></a>!</span><br />
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Mary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.com0