Introducing Cynthia's Attic: The Legend of Lupin Woods!
Please visit the following blogs for fun stories, interesting facts about the Cynthia's Attic Series and read an excerpt from the new book!
May 13, 2012 -
Mayra Calvani, Children's Book Week Blog -
May 14, 2012-
Laura Schaefer, The Teashop Girls Blog –
Real Friendship in Cynthia's Attic May 15, 2012 – Interview:
Princess Reviews –
Summers in Cynthia's Attic/InterviewMay 16, 2012-
Strands of Thought Blog -
InterviewMay 17, 2012 -
Manic Readers –
Excerpt: The Legend of Lupin Woods!May 18, 2012– Legend of Lupin Woods -
Jennifer Wylie BlogMay 19, 2012-
Stories For Children –Families Matter Blog;
Reading Vs. Writing -
May 21, 2012–
TheWriteChris Blog - –
InterviewMay 22, 2012 - Literary Asylum & Blog – Werewolves in Cynthia's Attic May 23, 2012–
The Writing Mama Blog -
Writing Tips by Mary CunninghamMay 24, 2012– Cheryl Malandrinos
Children's and Teens Book Connection;
Review May 25, 2012 - –Veronika Asks – Cynthia’s Attic: Legend of Lupinwold (Book Five)
It's been one hair-raising, fun-filled adventure after another for twelve-year-old best friends, Cynthia and Gus. I've penned (okay...typed) five...count 'em...FIVE books taking the girls through a magic trunk in Cynthia's attic back more than 50 years to the Louisiana Bayou, Switerland, France, a steamship crossing the Atlantic, and even Southern Indiana, the original setting. They even traveled forward 50 years, meeting another pair of best friends.
Leading up to the release of the final book in the series, Cynthia's Attic: The Legend of LupinWoods, I'm highlighting some of these colorful characters (my relatives!).
Great Grandpa Charles:
As one of the early music teachers in Southern Indiana, he was a pioneer in his field. His enthusiasm for all things music inspired others to make it their chosen field.
He was also one of the first to turn his passion into a business, Conrad Music; still going today! He's shown in this picture driving the buggy he'd use to transport musical instruments he sold throughout Southern Indiana.
His love for music, and the fact that I've heard through many stories what a loving and generous man he was to his family and the community, is the main reason I decided to showcase Grandpa Charles in Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle.
In this story, Grandpa Charles is taking an organ to the circus for the evening performance. What he didn't know until after he delivered the organ, is that his daughter,
Bess (earlier post), her friend, Clara, along with Cynthia and Gus, hitched a ride.
I pulled Cynthia behind a deep fold in the heavy canvas seconds before the procession marched by, and as we watched, it was pretty obvious from the pained look on Bess's face that her father hadn't been at all pleased with the unexpected company he'd found hidin
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By:
Mary Cunningham,
on 8/31/2011
Blog:
Cynthia's Attic Blog
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One of my all-time favorite events, The Decatur Book Festival, is this weekend. I'll sign my 'Tween book series, Cynthia's Attic, along with humor/lifestyle favorite, WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty.
Stop by booth # 110 (near the children's stage) and say "Hi"!
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By:
Mary Cunningham,
on 7/5/2011
Blog:
Cynthia's Attic Blog
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1964:
A dog yapped in the distance. Molly? Is that you?
"Yow! Sam? What the heck are you doing, boy? Get off my chest!" I awoke to find my corgi-beagle-whatever dog sitting on my chest, and trust me, he was a load. "I can't breathe, Sammy. Move. A gentle shove coaxed him to the other side of the bed where he wagged furiously, panting for attention.
"Go get Mom. She'll let you out." Surely someone was up and moving around. I shaded my eyes from the sun shining full-fledged through the venetian blinds. It must be at least 9 AM. "Mom?" I yelled, "Will you let Sam out?"
No answer. Oh, yeah. She's working today. I sighed, but could never be mad at my short-legged, floppy-eared buddy waiting impatiently for me to get out of bed. I knew from experience that one slight twitch and I'd be toast. He would fly over my head, off the bed and down the stairs, expecting me to be right behind him. Oh, yeah. I knew the drill.
I shut my eyes in a vain attempt to go back to sleep when the pitiful whining began and I admitted defeat. "Okay, you miserable mongrel." I gave the top of his head a pat and hit the floor, running, but he easily beat me down the steps. I'd barely cracked open the door when he sprinted into the fenced back yard; a fence my dad was forced to build because of Sam's escapades around town. Wish I had a doughnut for all the phone calls we'd gotten from business owners.
"This is Drummad's Auto Parts. Your dog is guarding our front entrance and we haven't had a customer in more than an hour. Come over and get him or I'm calling the pound!"
Or, Flora’s Bakery. "Sam's at the back door begging for cookies. We've already given him three, but he won't leave."
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In trying to break a spell put on Cynthia's family by a magician, Cynthia and Gus find themselves in a magical garden filled with frightening stone statues.
I jumped at the sight of more than a dozen hideous statues, faces frozen in fear. A contrast of white flowers, from Aron's description–edelweiss–surrounded them. We moved close to Molly for protection.
"Wh…what are they?" Cynthia gasped. "And, why do they look so afraid?"
I'd never been quite this unnerved in all our travels, even when staring down Jack LaBuse and his band of pirates. "C'mon, Molly," I urged. "Let's go." She didn't budge. I tugged her collar, but couldn't move her massive size. She did a little circle dance, stamping the ground to make a bed, and then laid down for the night. There had to be better places to sleep.
I shrugged and gave a resigned smile. "At least she still acts like a dog. Looks like we're here for the night."
"But, Gus! Look at this place. I won't shut my eyes with those things staring at us!"
"I agree, but let's face it, it's getting dark and cold, and Molly is warm and furry. I'm sleeping right here." I curled up next to her, my head resting in the scruff of her neck.
Cynthia stamped her foot. "Have you seen how much she sheds? My clothes will be a mess. And, who knows what she's rolled in recently." She sniffed. "Eww. She smells…doggy."
"She's a dog!" I was in no mood to argue. "Suit yourself. I'm comfy and warm. What about you?"
Cynthia settled in, her head resting on Molly's shoulder. She sighed and moments later, started to snore.
Rat-a-tat-tat. Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom. Drumbeats? Band practice? I played the snare drum and Jimmy Mathews pounded steadily on the bass to the ‘Panther Fight Song.’ Hey! What the… My head came under attack by a felt-covered drum beater.
Molly's heartbeat pounded in my ear…faster and faster. She raised her head and stared to the left. No, I did not want to know what she sees! Nope, not gonna look! But, like anticipating a train wreck, I couldn't help myself.
Cynthia, too, must've felt Molly stir, because she peered over the dog's shoulder. "What is it?"
I shook my head. Molly focused on a huge rock formation down on one knee, with its chin resting on disfigured knuckles. My eyes locked on the frightening eyes staring back. A thin stream of moonlight landed directly on this fearsome creature.
Molly stood, quivering and faced the giant statue, and the rhyme we found in the metal box popped into my head. Search among the edelweiss. There was certainly enough of that around. Turning once, then turning twice. Molly turned, first in one direction then twice in the other.
In the moonlight you will see…that's it. Moonlight! The beam shining on the giant's face moved ever so slightly toward its knee. "Cynthia," I whispered, "the giant's knee. The one in the riddle."
Right on cue, Molly wriggled forward and we went with her. No way did we want to lose her protection. The statue didn't budge, and the dog did what dogs do: she (should She be capitalized?) dug a hole, right beside the giant's bended knee.
Search among the edelweiss,
Turning once, then turning twice.
In the moonlight you will see,
Yonder looms the giant's knee.
Molly dug furiously taking no time to rest. A dog on a mission. Then she sat, turned her head to one side–just as before–and looked into the hole.
I patted her dirt-splattered muzzle and reached inside the hole.
This touching "memoir will warm the hearts of dog lovers everywhere; Slugger is the heart and soul of the book, and his dedication,
devotion, and love make him an unforgettable character. . . . will appeal equally to readers interested in coping or helping others cope with disabilities. . . This stirring, inspirational story will appeal to teen dog lovers, too.”
~ Booklist from
John Carlin on
Vimeo.
From the Publisher of A Dog Named Slugger: “This is the true story of author Leigh Brill and her trained service dog, Slugger. With Slugger's help, Brill, though struggling with cerebral palsy, was able to complete college and earn a masters degree. Now a counselor and motivational speaker, Brill tells how Slugger's help and friendship changed her life.”Leigh Brill Bio:I was born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Growing up amid the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I developed a love of nature along with a passion for writing. I left the valley in 1988 to study at Roanoke College. In spite of the challenges posed by my congenital cerebral palsy, I graduated with honors.
With my first service dog, Slugger, by my side, I went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Counseling from James Madison University. I worked for several years as a therapist in community agencies and then for Ronald McDonald House Charities before deciding to embrace my writing career in earnest.
Now in the company of both my second service dog Kenda, and her working successor, Pato I am writing my next book; Miranda and Charlie and the Great Cupcake Caper is the first in a series of fictional juvenile stories featuring an energetic kid-detective and her service dog.
My thoughts:I have to admit to knowing very little about the training and duties of service dogs, but after reading
A Dog Named Slugger, I've received a valued education on the trials of those who rely on the performance of these wonderful animals.
From the author's, sometimes, heartbreaking childhood, to the discovery that she could find true companionship and independence with
Slugger by her side, this book captures every emotion.
I was heartened to read that, although these dogs maintain a "working relationship" with their partners, they are also allowed to have fun and just be dogs. The sock game that
Brill and
Slugger played is a perfect example.
I look forward to reading Leigh Brill's new juvenile series, beginning with
Miranda and Charlie and the Great Cupcake Caper.Mary Cunningham Books WebsiteBuy Cynthia's Attic Series on Amazon
By:
Mary Cunningham,
on 4/7/2011
Blog:
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In 2004, fresh off the excitement of my first 2-book publishing contract for Cynthia’s Attic, I began establishing an online presence at my publisher’s request, uh…insistence.
One of my first tasks was to explore author websites and chat groups. Believe it or not, I didn’t find one blog! Blogging had not reached the manic stage of today, with most bloggers simply writing online journals; but networking sites were hot.
I joined a children’s chat group in order to schmooze with other young reader (‘Tween) authors and immediately related to one particular author. Both of us had first-time multi-book contracts, the idea for our series’ sprang from recurring dreams, and our stories were fantasy/fiction. A perfect networking match.
We chatted, online, for several months, and then lost touch. I can’t quite remember why, but I’d guess it was because I was in the middle of editing my first book, The Missing Locket, deadlines approached, and time management was crucial. I’m sure it had nothing to do with Stephanie Meyer’s schedule. Wonder what ever happened to her? I do hope she had some success with her series about…vampires, I think.
Speaking of vampires, I was recently asked why I chose to write books for ‘Tweens that are lighter; vampire-less, werewolf-less, zombie-less…you get the drift. I can’t really say. It just happened. Cynthia’s Attic does delve into magic and spells and such, but the scariest monster, so far, is Stony, a rock monster who attacks twelve-year-old Gus, in an enchanted garden in The Magician’s Castle. Other than that, a nasty, bad-breathed clown, a sinister stranger on horseback and a friendly alligator are as menacing as Cynthia’s Attic gets.
Until Book # 5.
Yes, I’m crumbling. In the next book (title TBD), a werewolf pops into the lives of best friends, Cynthia and Gus. Not your typical werewolf, mind you…a more congenial, helpful type, but a werewolf to be sure. Stay tuned!
Cynthia's Attic Series
The Missing Locket
The Magic Medallion
Curse of the Bayou
The Magician's Castle
Blurb: The Magician’s Castle
In trying to escape the boring summer of 1964, the adventurous twelve-year-old girls discover a trunk in Cynthia’s attic that her family has possessed for three generations.
Cynthia’s Attic: The Magician’s Castle (Book Four): Sebastien the Great, a magician whose fiancée, Kathryn, disappears through the magic trunk, vows revenge. If Cynthia and Gus don't find a missing page from the “Book of Spells,” Cynthia’s family could face financial and personal ruin.
The twelve-year-old best friends walk through miles of tree tunnels, stumble on an enchanted garden ruled by a cranky rock monster, and receive clues from an eccentric fairy named Eloise Elloway. They get the surprise of their lives when they're sent fifty years into the future, have a shocking encounter with another set of best friends, and gather a fresh set of clues that could lead to breaking the magician’s spell.
Mary Cunningham Books
YouTube code for video: Cynthia’s Attic Series
