Clowns - Evil or Funny?

The Magic Medallion (Book Two) of my 'Tween, time-travel series, Cynthia's Attic, has best friends, Cynthia and Gus, spending a lot of time at a 1914 circus. At first glance, they are thrilled to be there. What twelve-year-old wouldn't have fun at a circus?

Ah, but after the cotton candy, the circus acts and mid-way games, they run into an evil, bad-breathed (always has a cigar in his mouth) clown named Blackie who, apparently, missed the "Making People Laugh" session at clown-school. Seems it's his life's work to harrass, stalk and generally make everyone around him, miserable.

From my research, the polls are split about 50/50. You either love clowns or hate them. After The Magic Medallion was released, I ran into a reviewer who was deathly afraid of clowns and wrote a rather negative review about The Magic Medallion. I was given the choice to nix the review or use it, warts and all. I chose the former and have regretted it ever since.

Imagine the debate that could've started over my book! "Clowns-Love 'em or hate 'em."

Okay, so maybe it wouldn't stand up to current debates raging today, such as, does Lindsay Lohan deserve 90 days in jail, but I still regret that decision.

An early 1900's circus coming to town

So, where do you stand? Do you love clowns? Do you hate them or are you downright afraid of them? Before making your decision, read The Magic Medallion! I promise you won't be able to stay neutral. Not when it comes to Blackie.

I'm the author of the four-book (soon to be five!) 'Tween time-travel series, Cynthia's Attic.

Download the series on Kindle today!

Mary Cunningham Books
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Friendship Lasting Through The Decades

Cynthia and I have been friends since our days in a baby buggy (I'm on the right). As you can see, I was happier about our "friendship" than Cynthia.


We were friends all through school, then went our separate ways. I got married and began raising a family and Cynthia went on to nursing school. Not surprising since she'd said from the time she was about six that she wanted to be a nurse.

We lost touch for about 20 years or so, until hurricanes and a job relocation brought us from Fort Myers, FL, to the Atlanta area. Cynthia and I are now less an hour from each other. Ironic considering we were both born and raised in Southern Indiana.

The first time we got together after our move, we talked non-stop for the entire evening. Our husbands just looked at us, smiled, shrugged and talked among themselves.

As you might have guessed, Cynthia is the Cynthia of attic fame. The series, Cynthia's Attic is based on my childhood playing in her attic.

I believe it was fate that brought us back together, but a the solid base on which our friendship was built all those years ago (No, I'm not going to say how many!), is what keeps our friendship going strong.

I'm the author of the 'Tween time-travel series, Cynthia's Attic.

Mary Cunningham Books
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My Secret Wish - Time Travel

My secret wish is to travel back in time, have adventures and solve mysteries with my ancestors. Hmmm...sounds like a great book idea. Wait! I've already written it!

Cynthia's Attic series takes 12-year-old best friends, Cynthia and Gus (me!) through time from 1964 to 1914 and beyond. They even manage to make a trip into the future in The Magician's Castle.

A couple of reasons led to writing the books. A recurring dream I had for over 20 years about a mysterious attic was one. When realizing the dream took place in the attic of my childhood friend, Cynthia...well, you see where I'm going.

But, the main reason I've enjoyed writing the books is the ability to have adventures with my ancestors. I always regretted not paying more attention to my grandparents' stories about "the good ol' days." There are so many things I'd love to ask them, today. Unfortunately, they're all gone and many family stories died with them.

That didn't stop me from writing about the real disappearance of my g. g. grandfather who disappeared while taking a flat boat loaded with produce down the Mississippi River (Curse of the Bayou), or my g. grandfather's music store that came in handy when the circus needed an organ for the evening performance (The Magic Medallion).

I've written adventures about my dad, who was a teenage cave guide, my g. grandmother, who had to deal with running the family farm after her husband disappeared, and even my dog, Molly who died halfway through the writing of The Magician's Castle. I was so devastated over her death, that finishing the book was in question until a friend suggested I write her into the story. She quickly became my favorite character.

So, I guess my wish would be to really travel back in time and talk to my ancestors and listen to all the stories they'd have to tell. But, until someone invests a real time machine, or finds a magic trunk (besides the one in Cynthia's attic!), guess I'll be content to have adventures with them through my stories.

Mary Cunningham Books
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The 70's - The Decade of Fashion Disasters!

The 70's wasn't such a bad decade. Some of the music was pretty good. The Eagles, the Doobie Brothers, Kansas, Jim Croce (my personal fav), Bob Dylan (still going strong!) and, ahem...cough, The Bee Gees. Okay, so most people hate the Disco Era! I probably wouldn't have given the Brothers Gibb a second though either, except Barry was so darn good-looking!! And, I still like songs such as Nights On Broadway, How Deep Is Your Love, To Love Somebody, etc. So, give me a break.

Oh, but the clothes!! I gag just thinking of polyester! Does anyone out there remember leisure suits? If not, you're in for a treat. Yep. This is how we dressed in the early 70's. Enough to gag a maggot...right?

When the 70's fashion look began creeping its way back a year or two ago, I just shook my head. No way, no how. I would NOT be a party to such awful clothes. Been there-done that. Not again. NEVER! Okay, so shoot me. I did break down and buy a couple pairs of flared-leg pants and jeans, but only because they guaranteed to make me look taller! Just don't get me near polyester! That ship has sailed.


Mary Cunningham is the author of the award-winning, 'Tween Fantasy/time-travel series, "Cynthia's Attic," women's humor book, "WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty," and several short stories.

Mary Cunningham Books
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My First Favorite Book - Forever Amber???

So, maybe this wasn't my first favorite book! As most young readers, I devoured Nancy Drew and even read The Hardy Boys. I read every young reader sports biography I could get my sweaty little hands on — from Aaron to Zaharias.

But, I'll always remember Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor, the historical novel that was banned in Boston, among other places. I was almost 15, and getting bored with the reading material available in my small town library. In those days, the Young Adult category was non-existent.

Enter: The head librarian who also happened to be my dear aunt! She noticed my frustration with age-appropriate books and started stashing books under her desk that she thought I might like. Books that my mother would've fainted dead-away had she known, even though my aunt was careful to suggest books that had no erotic content or 4-letter words. Mostly just romance. As I remember, "heaving bosom" was about as bawdy as it got.

I read everything from Tolstoy to Belva Plain. But, the beautiful, historically relevant, Amber St. Clare still haunts me. Unfortunately, it isn't the romance that I remember most about the book, but, instead, the Great Plague! These were the first vivid accounts I'd read of this horrific event, but, don't worry, I'm keeping them to myself on this post. If you want to know more about the "rat plague," Google!

But, plagues aside, I have a decision to make. I'm torn between wanting to read Forever Amber again, after all these years, or simply keeping the memory of this special book and my special aunt in my heart.

What's your advice?


Mary Cunningham is the author of the award-winning 'Tween fantasy/mystery series, Cynthia’s Attic. 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 With Daisy, A Cynthia's Attic short story.


Mary Cunningham Books
Cynthia's Attic Blog
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Quake/Echelon Press

Resolutions - Schmezolutions!

This is not me. It's a picture of a slim, young lady using the same piece of equipment that sits in my bedroom, gathering dust. The same one I assured my husband I would use. "It's easy on the knees; low impact and will allow me to also exercise my upper body. It's perfect!

Yeah, right. Perfect. The first time I used it, I threw out my chronically bad hip. So, it sits. Gathering dust. Oh, I said that already, didn't I?

That was three years ago and hubby's mind has, mercifully, forgotten my previous declaration of vigorous, never-ending exercise and weight loss, and happily bought into my new sure-fire, motivational gimmick, er-uh...stroke of genius! Besides, he had no clue what to get me for Christmas, so...problem solved.

Wii Fit! How could I miss? Yoga, strength training, aerobics, balance exercises. It's perfect and I can do it in the comfort of my own home! We got it a few days before Christmas and loaded it into our existing Wii program. Before I can start playing, however, I have to set up my profile: Age, height, weight...WEIGHT???? This isn't good. Hubby is sitting on the sofa, watching my progress.

I make him hide his eyes while this stupid little animated Wii board shows me I'm overweight! Don't think for a minute you're going to find out the details if I won't even tell him! Let's just say if I weighed what they suggest, I'd be a walking, talking skeleton.

Anyhoo, hope everyone has a great 2010, and please, leave a comment with the resolutions you enjoy breaking the most! Gotta go. I'm making chocolate fudge and snickerdoodles!

Happy New Year!

Mary Cunningham is the author of the award-winning 'Tween fantasy/mystery series, Cynthia’s Attic. She is proud to announce book four, "The Magician's Castle," is due for release in December, 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.

Mary Cunningham Books
Cynthia's Attic Blog
Amazon
Kindle
Fictionwise
Quake/Echelon Press

Winter Sports - My Style!

If you're expecting a blog post about Participation Winter Sports, think again. I was born in Southern Indiana, people! Not exactly the home of Hans Brinker, Hans Klammer, or Wayne Gretzky!

Ponds rarely froze during the winter, so ice skates and hockey sticks weren't high on my Christmas list. "So," you're probably asking, "just how did you fill those cold, rainy, Indiana winters?

Note hint in previous paragraph. I'm from INDIANA. We play BASKETBALL! And, when we're not playing, we're watching! I'd love to have a dollar for every Friday and Saturday night I spent screaming my lungs out in a high school gymnasium, cheering on the Panthers. If you haven't experienced Hoosier Hysteria, then you've missed out.

"We've got spirit! Yes we do! We've got spirit. How about YOU?!"

Guess I have another reason for looking back so fondly on those days of hot gyms, buttered popcorn and bleachers full of screaming fans. My dad inspired my love of basketball and all sports. From the time I was about six years-old, he took me to games, home and away, and patiently explained the rules. He also explained how the men in the black and white striped shirts were mean, evil people who blew their whistles and consistently made bad calls on our team.

So, there you have it. My description of Winter Sports. Now, if you'll excuse me, my Hoosiers (Indiana U.) are ready to play on TV. I'm all set. Potato chips, dip, Diet Coke with Lime and plenty of throat lozenges for all the screaming I plan to do at the referees. Here's to you, Dad!

If you want to read a really good story about Indiana basketball, you can buy "Ghost Light!"

11-year-old Jake McMillen wants, more than anything in the world, to play varsity basketball for the Panthers, just like his late, Grandpa Max. One big problem. While Jake inherits his grandfather’s love for the game, the McMillen height passes him by.

Not only that, “old people” like his grandmother, keep taking up too much of his precious practice time. He knows she’s sick, but being dragged along to her steamy apartment by his mom, cuts into that afternoon’s pick-up game at the Island basketball court.

After getting totally humiliated during the game by star player, Quinn Parker, Jake gets a ghostly message that changes his outlook toward his grandmother’s illness and inspires him to pursue his dreams.

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." Her children's time-travel 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 With Daisy," A Cynthia's Attic short story (DEC 2009).

Mary Cunningham Books

Cynthia's Attic Blog

Amazon

Kindle

Fictionwise

Quake/Echelon Press