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Liz Hillsman

Liz Hillsman's Discussions (13)

Discussions Replied To (9) Replies Latest Activity
Kim Smith

"I sit back and smile when I actually sit down and write. Just making the time to do…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jul. 3, 2007 to Your successes

4 Jul. 7, 2007
Reply by Julie Ann Shapiro
Stacey Lynn Schlegl

"No, they do not have a right to judge you. How very unfortunate for you and your dau…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 29, 2007 to judging others

10 Sep. 4, 2007
Reply by Stacey Lynn Schlegl
Jeff Markowitz

"I picked up "The Secret Life of Bees" purely on the title. I'd totally missed the hy…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 27, 2007 to Book Titles

1 Jun. 27, 2007
Reply by Liz Hillsman
Kim Smith

"Hey Kaycee:) I think the boundaries are being pushed on a regular basis. Take Laure…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 27, 2007 to forbidden subjects

2 Jun. 28, 2007
Reply by Kim Smith
Liz Hillsman

"Karla, I agree this poses a problem. Some stories just don't fit into one category.…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 21, 2007 to Genre definitions

5 Jun. 27, 2007
Reply by Nikki Leigh
Liz Hillsman

"Thank you to everyone for sharing what works for them during the editing and revisio…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 20, 2007 to Editing

11 Jun. 20, 2007
Reply by Liz Hillsman
Liz Hillsman

"Heather, what wonderful advice. Thank you for taking the time to respond and offer s…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 18, 2007 to Editing

11 Jun. 20, 2007
Reply by Liz Hillsman
Liz Hillsman

"Thanks for sharing your process, Jeffrey. Appreciate another way to approach this ph…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 17, 2007 to Editing

11 Jun. 20, 2007
Reply by Liz Hillsman
Kim Smith

"As we've chatted before, sometimes it is really tough to find the time. Between fami…"

Liz Hillsman replied Jun. 15, 2007 to Juggler

10 Jun. 16, 2007
Reply by Julie Ann Shapiro

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MORGAN'S OWN BLOGSPOT

Are you ready?


I am so not ready for Christmas. I just realized I don't have much time either. One good thing is the DH is off Friday and possibly all next week, so I can give him a few chores to do, which may help some. I'm counting on him to put stamps and labels on the Christmas cards, and do a few things around the house to straighten it out some. Unfortunately, I'm the organizer in the family, so I can't expect too much on the getting-the- house ready front. That's pathetic, since I'm not very organized. (g)

Anyway, I hope to get the house into decent shape before Christmas, when I do my annual meal for the family. There's also that Christmas list to get together. Time is ticking away.

What about you? Are you ready for Christmas? Or do you celebrate another Holiday? If so, are you ready?

Please Welcome Mary Cunningham, Cynthia's Attic Author


Discovering Family in Cynthia's Attic


One of the main reasons for writing "Cynthia's Attic" came from my failure - failure to appreciate my ancestors. Our family stories are probably no more or less interesting than most, and I went out of my way to avoid remembering most of them or asking questions about my grandparents lives.

For instance. Did I bother to ask my grandfather what it was like playing in the first night football game in America?

Or did I try to find out just which relative "supposedly" sold a city block on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles for $20,000? Guaranteed, I would not be sitting here writing a blog had that particular relative held on to the property.

Then there's the story, "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou," of my great-great grandfather, Augustus Boilliat who disappeared in 1860 while taking a load of produce down the Mississippi River to New Orleans? Oh, sure I've read different accounts about what happened to him, but lost forever are the stories his grandson (my grandfather) could've told me about facts he'd heard from my great-great grandmother, Marie Julia, about her husband's disappearance.

I remember a few accounts told by my dad about his adventures as a teenage cave guide at one of the largest caves in the Southern Indiana area, Wyandotte, but I only have to guess at some of the adventures he must've had.

That's why I'm writing adventures I wanted my ancestors to have; adventures I can enjoy with them through the eyes and voice of my character, Gus.

The idea for Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle came from detailed genealogy research done by my cousin, Betty. Long before the Internet, she traveled to Switzerland to search for documents that would tie our great-grandmother, Harriet Kistler, to Peter Kistler the First, President of the Republic of Bern, 1470-1480. I've tried to honor the Kistler family in the fourth adventure in Cynthia's Attic.

Thanks, Morgan, for having me as a guest!

          Mary Cunningham

Mary Cunningham is the author of the award-winning 'Tween fantasy/mystery series, Cynthia’s Attic. She is proud to announce the release of book four, "The Magician's Castle," Dec 1, 2009. Her children's mystery series was inspired by a recurring dream about a mysterious attic. After realizing that the dream took place in the home of her childhood friend, Cynthia, the dreams stopped and the writing began.

She is also co-writer of the humor-filled, women's lifestyle book, "Women Only Over Fifty (WOOF)," along with published stories, "Ghost Light" and "Christmas Daisy," A Cynthia's Attic short story.

To celebrate the release of "The Magician's Castle," (Quake/Echelon Press, DEC 1, 2009), a winner will be chosen on each blog stop to receive a copy of the "Cynthia's Attic" short story, "Christmas With Daisy!" So, be sure to make a comment!


Mary Cunningham Books
http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/

Cynthia's Attic Blog
http://www.cynthiasattic.blogspot.com/

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?_encoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=digital-text&field-author=Mary%20Cunningham

Fictionwise
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/a20811/Mary-Cunningham/?

Quake/Echelon Press
http://www.echelonpress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=23&zenid=4ac57b7ae19fa071cab3b4295df7baf3



Please leave a comment to welcome Mary.

Check out the Mystery of the Missing Checks

Monday, I'm over at my group blog, http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/, where I'm blogging about the mystery of the missing checks. Come on over and find out what it's all about.

Thanks,
Morgan Mandel

Can We Talk?

I'm firming up some dates for speaking engagements in 2010. One's tentatively set for March 28, at 1:30 at the Niles Public Library, another probably in mid May at the Schaumburg Township District Library.

Also, coming up is a radio interview at WJJQ again on May 7, at 9:35 a.m. before my booksigning May 8 at Cover to Cover Books in Tomahawk, WI.

I've heard that some people are more afraid of public speaking than of dying. Surprisingly, I find it easier each time I do it. As long as I have my cheat sheet with me to glance down at once in a while for security and I like what I'm talking about, I'm okay.

What about you? Do you like to talk or would you rather not?

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Rascal is sleeping right now. When she gets up, you'll know about it.

When RASCAL wakes up, you'll hear from her and/or her Mom - that would be me, Morgan Mandel.

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