So... the article was awesome! It was met with great reception and seems to have opened many doors for "The Book". Doors that werent even cracked a bit prior to the article appearing in Sundays paper.
Since research and writing on "The Book" has begun, a sort of "oddness" has started. Last week, there was a baby crying. Thinking it was my wee man, I went upstairs to find him napping peacefully. My 10 year old thought it was him as well, so I know at least ONE of the kids heard the same
As a mother of five children still at home, I can assure you that my sanity runs SHORT. WAY WAY short! Add to that the fact that we've made a MAJOR move from Florida to Virginia and are STILL house-hunting for suitable housing (after 2 long freakin' months!), and the fact that I am busily pounding out my first book, AND still running a household (cooking, cleaning, yadda yadda yadda) from my father-in-laws domain, I guess it isnt all that hard to make the leap into total and utter INSANITY! B
So yesterday, I'm tapping away at the keyboard and the phone rings. I answer. "Hello?" "Yes ma'am, I'm looking for a Lori Cox." "This is she" I reply. "This is Marie with The Daily News Leader and we understand you are writing a book on the local paranormal happenings and such, and so I'm calling to set up an interview with you and a photo spread." My chin hits the floor. Huh? Me?? In the paper?? I recover quickly and set the interview up and she arrives about 2 hours later. We talk for about
So... The majority of the research is behind me for certain parts of "The Book" and I've begun the writing - and rewriting, as I didnt like the first 3 drafts of what I had done - and I'm generally pleased and looking forward to another productive day. Today however I am changing the huge poster sign that hangs on my office/bedroom door that reads "Do NOT Disturb". I am going to add "UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH!!". Perhaps then they will all get my point! I have explained - a million times - that unl… Continue
So I'm laying in bed last night. Tossing around, waiting for my date with Mr. Sandman, and all of a sudden it's "YAP YAP YAP". Our bedroom window stays open at night to allow for that wonderful Virginia breeze. Thank you dear hubby. Never been a problem tho. Even when the train rumbles through at all hours. Until last night. "YAP YAP YAP". What the heck? Is that a dog? At 1 AM? NAH! "YAP YAP YAP". I get up and look out the window. I see NOTHING. "YAP YAP YAP". Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
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?
December 12, 2009 at 6pm to December 23, 2009 at 7pm
Christmas Celebration at Whispers Publishing's reader's loop. Come meet authors, participate in chats, contests, read steaming hot excerpts, win books! Our grand prize this year is a basket filled with Godiva's Cocolates.
Come join the fun
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I hope you have a great time & be sure to tell your friends!
Morgan Mandel