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.
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.
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.
Welcome to Double M, Mary.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great time on your visit here.
Morgan Mandel
Thanks for having me, Morgan! I hope we get some interesting questions/comments from genealogy buffs.
ReplyDeleteMary
http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
Hi, Mary!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book, THE MAGICIAN'S CASTLE. It sounds amazing...and I pray that I'm the one that wins a free copy of it.
I am very anxious to read it so that I can review it on my blog as soon as I'm done. I've always felt that as writers, we need to support each other, and that's my small contribution. (I'm a writer, too, but I don't have anything published...yet.)
I'll see you on the rest of the "Blog Stops". :o)
Sincerely,
~Cynde L. Hammond, writer
Cynde's Got The Write Stuff
P.S. Oh dear...I have a confession to make. I made this same comment on another link because I thought that was where I was supposed to comment. I hope you'll forgive the repitition, Mary. It demonstrates that I'm truly excited about your book, doesn't it?
(By the way...nice story, Morgan!)
~Cynde
I just found your books and they sound fantastic. What a great way to honor your family. My sister and I are the genealogy buffs in our family so I understand how you wish you have been more proactive in knowing about your family's past. We wrote a book about some of our childhood stories (Kaleidoscope Memories:Childhood Stories That Celebrate Family Life at www.tidedancer.com) but never thought of using those as you've done. Congratulations on a great series of books. I'll be ordering them. Much success is wished for you. Cindy Oldham
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear from others who celebrate family stories and ancestors! Your books about your childhood sound wonderful. I'll be sure to check out your website.
ReplyDeleteI've often wished for a real time machine to take me back to the mid-1800s to talk to my g.g.grandfather. Maybe I could've stopped him from taking that ill-fated trip, but then who knows what would've happened in its place! But, I still would like to talk to him.
Thanks for your comment!
Mary
Hi Mary! (and Morgan!)
ReplyDeleteSo excited about your new book. I have to confess I haven't bought it yet, but will pick it up for the holidays. Still love that gorgeous blue cover!
Pam
http://beaconstreetbooks.com
Thanks, Pam! I hope everyone likes the book as much as the cover. I've gotten so many compliments on it. As you know, Nathalie Moore does such a great job!
ReplyDeleteMary
Hey Mary and Morgan,
ReplyDeleteExcited to be part of this book tour. Mary, I have the same tiny regrets when it comes to my ancestors. My father was a change of life baby, so his closest sibling is 10 years older than him. As such, my sisters and I are significantly younger than our cousins; and now that we have our own children and our grandparents, many aunts and uncles, and our mother are gone, we don't have the connection to family like we used to.
How do you get started exploring your family history? A cousin on my father's side of the family had drawn up a family tree that ended with my sisters and me and our children, but my mother's last name is so common, how would I even begin exploring her side? In addition to that challenge, I am the youngest of all three sisters and my mother passed away when I was only 14, so my knowledge of her side of the family is very limited.
Thanks for answering my question. Good luck with your tour.
Cheryl
I am happy to say I have never outgrown my taste for children's books, all the way up to YA, so I can't wait to read these. I reread my childhood favorites all the time and find just as many new authors in the children's room at the library as the mystery section!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a fascinating family history - a teenage cave guide alone is awfully nifty!
Mary, that was a wonderful way to keep those stories alive, at least as much as you could remember. You're right, by the time we are old enough to appreciate our past, there's no one around to tell us about it.
ReplyDeleteWow. That's a tough one, Cheryl. I was lucky to have a cousin who did much of the research, firsthand. She went to Switzerland and France and went through tons of church and village records. I'm sure a lot of what is now on the Internet is because of her records.
ReplyDeleteIf you know where your parents and grandparents were born, that would be a start. Contact the local library or court house to see how you'd access records.
Of course, the Internet is a wonderful tool. I'd start there. Having as much information as possible will greatly increase your chances.
Good luck!
Mary
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks, so much, Dana and L.Diane! I do have some interesting family stories. Can't imagine how much material I'd have if I'd just paid more attention to all the stories told at family reunions!
ReplyDeleteWhen I do school visits, the one thing I stress is to talk to your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Ask about their childhood, or if they know any interesting family characters. Then write about them!
Appreciate your comments
Hi Mary, What cool inspiration for your stories. I definitely need to check them out. They sound fabulous. Congrats on your latest release.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra. I had so much fun writing them!! Made me feel so much closer to my grandparents and g.grandparents.
ReplyDeleteMary
Congrats on your new book, Mary!
ReplyDeleteThanks, so much, Ogo!
ReplyDeleteMary
I really like the trailer. The music, the color bursts, the bookcovers... It's very appealing and makes you want to get the books. I don't have a tween; even so, the books looked interesting.
ReplyDeleteHelen
Straight From Hel
Thanks for the video feedback, Helen. So glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteNo tweens? Any nieces or nephews? LOL!
Have a great holiday!!
Mary
MARY--I enjoyed learning aobut your books. Using your family's ancestry is a stroke of genius to make up a mystery story. Congratulations! Celia
ReplyDeleteHi Mary and Morgan,
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that you came right out and admitted to being immune to family history - at first! Thank goodness you decided to write about it. Your books sound wonderful.
Another mystery writer!
Hi Mary. congratulations on the new book. Nice cover. What a great idea to dig into your past for a book story.
ReplyDeleteStroke of genius? Thanks Celia! LOL! I've had so much fun writing the books. Appreciate the comment.
ReplyDeleteMaggie, it took many, many years to appreciate all the "interesting" characters in my family tree, but better late than never! Thanks
I try to impress that point during school visits, Mona - to research your family tree, interview your parents, grandparents, great aunts, etc., then write about them. Thanks for stopping by!
We have winners! Thanks, to everyone, for your support and wonderful comments during my blog tour!
ReplyDeleteWinners of a free download of "Christmas With Daisy," a Cynthia's Attic short story are
Cynde Hammond
Cheryl
Beverly
Pat Carleson
See my blog for details!
Merry Christmas!
http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
I'm so EXCITED! I can't wait to read "Christmas With Daisy", the Cynthia's Attic short story that I just won. Thank you SO much, Mary!
ReplyDeleteAnd Merry Christmas to you as well.
(You, too, Morgan!)
Sincerely,
~Cynde
Cynde's Got The Write Stuff
nice-wallpaper
ReplyDeletengti b ) da 39
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ReplyDelete