The skirl of bagpipes still brings a tear to my eye. An only child torn from her beloved Scotland by well-meaning parents at age seven, I sailed to Canada where I immersed herself in the imaginary world of books for ten years, surfacing only to eat and attend school. Unfurling my wings at the University of Toronto, I studied Fine Art between social engagements. Shortly after graduation, my first marriage precipitated a move to Ottawa where the federal government displayed discerning taste by hiring a Fine Arts specialist as a computer programmer. After a rocky start in the world of bits and bytes, I soon discovered bridge, downhill skiing, and women’s canoe trips.
Three years later, I graduated again, this time to full-time homemaker and mom, raising two wonderful sons, orchestrating countless dinner parties, playing bridge, and reading romance novels. Eight years later, I took the plunge back into the business world to start a thriving management consulting business in partnership with my second husband. This marriage survived because my husband and I pledged never to work on the same project again. Ever.
After a century in the consulting world, I grew weary of wearing snappy power suits, squeezing into panty hose, and fighting rush hour traffic. I still didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, but one thing was certain -- it wasn’t a consultant. An avid fan of romantic suspense, I announced to my husband, “I’m going to write a book.” After a five-day course, I quit my day job, rolled up my sleeves, and started to write. Fifteen rejections, six tons of chocolate, and ninety-five re-writes later, Lachesis Publishing acquired my prizewinning paranormal romantic suspense and first book, The Jaguar Legacy.
Between trips, my husband and I live in Ottawa where I volunteer for an addiction family program, play bridge, and slave several hours a day over my computer to improve my writing skills.
Today (Friday, November 9) is another spotlight interview for my paranormal romantic suspense, THE JAGUAR LEGACY, as part of my month-long Virtual Book Tour.
I know, I know, you’ve seen these announcements every day this week, but each interview is different. One of the questions asked in today’s interview is: “What brought you
Today (Thursday, November 8) is another spotlight interview for my paranormal romantic suspense, THE JAGUAR LEGACY, as part of my month-long Virtual Book Tour.
One of the questions asked in the interview is: “If you were in the middle of Manhattan (or any busy thoroughfare) and you wanted to call attention to your book, what wou
THE JAGUAR LEGACY: Strong enough for a man ... but WRITTEN for a woman
I am delighted to announce that today (Wednesday, November 7) is another spotlight for my paranormal romantic suspense, THE JAGUAR LEGACY, as part of my month-long Virtual Book Tour.
I like to call The Jaguar Legacy
strong enough for a man ... but WRITTEN for a woman.
I am delighted to announce that today (Tuesday, November 6) is my second spotlight as part of a Virtual Book Tour for my paranormal romantic suspense, The Jaguar Legacy. During the entire month of November I'll be visiting blogs and either guest blogging or doing a Q&A with the
blogger.
I am excited to announce that my Virtual Book Tour for my paranormal romantic suspense, THE JAGUAR LEGACY, starts today (November 1). If you are interested in reading an interview at Romance Readers Blog, check it out at: http://romancereadersblog.com/. I will check in occasionally to answer any questions. At the end of November,
one lucky commenter will be chosen to receive a copy of my book.
I'd like to invite you to my group, "The Write Place." It's overwhelming at time to keep up with all the posts and things, but this is one place where we could share questions and answers. :)
Marta
At 12:20pm on November 20, 2007, Rowena Cherry said…
Hello, Maureen,
Thank you for the note. I remember the New England convention with great pleasure. It's good to see you here!
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?
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!
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.
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?
Once, Connor believed that his ability to see the future would grant him everything. Instead, it landed him in a prison of his own making. Connor gains wealth and prestige, but with every vision, his own sight dims. Moira curses herself for failing…
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Thanks for having me. Maureen is a popular name in my family!
Bess McBride
I'd like to invite you to my group, "The Write Place." It's overwhelming at time to keep up with all the posts and things, but this is one place where we could share questions and answers. :)
Marta
Thank you for the note. I remember the New England convention with great pleasure. It's good to see you here!
Best wishes
Rowena Cherry
Welcome to Book Place.
I hope you have a wonderful time here & be sure to tell all you friends about us!
Morgan Mandel