Category: Indie Authors

Help Me Decide!

~ cynthiahm ~ 5 Comments

I’m super excited that my next book is nearing publication! I want your input. What do you think would make the best back cover for my early chapter book, The Lullaby Monsters?

This night time adventure features Kelsey and Thomas who meet a bunch of monsters. When monsters steal Thomas’ most prized possession, Kelsey and Thomas must face their fears in an effort to get it back. Through the story, they learn about fear and friendship in this fun adventure under the stars with an unexpected, funny twist at the end that will make children want to pick up the book and start again.

Here are the back cover options…

1. Kelsey and Thomas
2. The Monsters
3. Kelsey and Thomas Biking

So… which one do you think is best? Let me know!

I appreciate your input and can’t wait to reveal the front cover when it is ready. I look forward to your comments.

Wednesday Writing Update

~ cynthiahm

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  I’m giving weekly writing updates to keep myself motivated.  Writing consistently can be a challenge when there are so many distractions.  This is my way of keeping myself on track so please humour me here.

So this week I’m feeling incredibly grateful for my online critique group, who have given me some amazing feedback to help move my story forwards.  I’d left this one aside for several months while working on other projects but I’m still very passionate about the story.  It is a fiction picture book that features an autistic main character whose sensory challenges make it very difficult for him to enjoy something as simple as going to the beach with his family.  It is a super challenging story to write because if you know much about autism, you know it presents itself quite differently in each individual.

img_7810

Yes, it is getting dark and I’m still working.

Anyway, thanks to Tara Perkowski, Tasha Hilderman, Sue Macartney, Akilah Pikou and Emma Wood, I have a new direction and inspiration for this story.  I’ve written a couple of new scenes to develop the story and main character further.  Revising this story hasn’t been easy but I know it is getting closer to where I want it to be.

How do you keep yourself motivated to get things done?

 “When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” -Creighton Abrams

Katie Shaeffer Pancake Maker is written by Cynthia Mackey

Happy Monday!

~ cynthiahm

Hello and welcome to Monday!  Mondays, my blog plan for the summer is to share some bits of information about myself to let you get to know the writer behind the blog. If you’ve read any of my past posts, you know that I’m an introvert and so this isn’t easy for me but I’m trying…

One thing I’ve been challenged with my entire life is allergies.  I am allergic to a bunch of things including pollen, furry pets, grass, hay and even water.  If you don’t have any allergies, I am super jealous of you!  And if you do, I can empathize.

img_7771

As a child, it showed itself on my skin.  I was always scratching.  Not realizing I was making it worse for myself, I didn’t hold back and my skin at times became extremely red and blotchy.

Now, I actually take two 24 hour anti-histamines per day (they only last 12 hours for me).  On the really bad days, I need eye drops and an additional anti-inflammatory,  like Naproxen.  If I don’t take care of this, I suffer.  For some reason, it seems to me that my allergy season is getting longer.  In a bad year, I suffer from February to July.  But, I am learning to avoid the things that cause me a problem.

How about you…do you have allergies?  How do you cope during allergy season?

Don’t let Mondays and allergies get you down!  Have a wonderful day 🙂

Discover children’s books by Cynthia Mackey

Welcome!

~ cynthiahm

Hello and Welcome!

I’m happy you’re here.  I hope you’ll take some time to pour a cup of tea or a nice cool glass of lemonade or whatever you fancy.  Then I hope you’ll spend a few moments reading.

IMG_4801

I’m an early childhood educator, a picture book writer and a music teacher.  I do my best to juggle all three.  I love writing about child development, parenting, learning through play, my own growth as a writer, picture books, music and music education, active play, nature programs for children, and did I mention picture books?

Here’s my plan for this blog over the next couple of months. (In the fall you’ll get more early childhood related posts.)

  1. Three posts per week
  2. Mondays: sharing a little about me (this is a challenge since I’m an introvert but I am going to try)
  3. Wednesdays: writing updates (this is where I outline projects I’m currently working on and tell you about my process)
  4. Fridays: picture book reviews from 12×12 authors, Canadian writers, and other great books I’ve discovered.

I hope you’ll stop by and check it out!  And leave me some comments too.  Are you a parent? a writer? a teacher?  Then I think you’ll be interested in what you find here.

Have an awesome day!

Discover picture books by Cynthia Mackey

Wednesday Writing Update

~ cynthiahm ~ 2 Comments

 

My summer plan for Wednesdays is to post weekly writing updates to keep myself accountable for writing every week.  If you’re a writer, you know how important it is to keep BIC (butt in chair).

Placeholder Image

So what have I accomplished this week?

-revised a couple of drafts, including page breakdowns (next week I hope to make some book dummies)

-consulted with a psychologist on a sensitive issue in one of my works in progress

-met a fellow picture book writer in person after connecting first through 12×12

-completed a couple of online educational videos from storyteller’s academy

-watched a webinar on writing picture book biographies

-critiqued a fellow writer’s picture book manuscript

 I guess it has been a pretty good week 🙂

 

 

Sale: Katie Shaeffer

~ cynthiahm

IMG_3898

Hello Readers!

Just want to let you know, Katie Shaeffer Pancake Maker is now $5.00 off on amazon.ca That’s 35 percent off the retail price!  Being Canadian is a really good thing.

And by the way, Canada just celebrated its birthday…151 years young!

Happy Monday!

~ cynthiahm ~ 2 Comments

Welcome to Monday!  I know that Monday probably not your favourite day.  But, as I’ve learned, it is all in your attitude.

Every Monday I’m sharing a little story about myself.  You need to know that this is not an easy task for me as an introvert.  Today, I’d like to share a little story about tea.img_7756

I’m a tea drinker.  Black tea, green tea, rooibos tea, early grey, chai, chamomile, I like it all!  I still remember my first introduction to tea.  It was a little tea party held at a neighbour’s house.  I was somewhere around 8 years old.  There was a little table covered with a fancy cloth just for us kids. There was a cute little tea pot wrapped up in a tea cozy.  I took a sip of tea. It was strong.  So very strong.  I couldn’t help grimace at the first sip.  I added some sugar.  Took a sip.  More sugar.  Another sip.  More sugar.  Another sip.  Delicious! img_2516

Now I drink my tea with nothing added and find it equally delicious.  If I’m in the mood for something stronger, chai is my tea of choice.  When I want something good for me, green tea is my preference. A warm comforting  cup to start my day or any time of day is an essential part of my daily routine.  And when I’m writing?  A cup of tea is usually close at hand.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you’ll stop by again.  Why not enjoy a cup of tea while you’re reading. What’s in your mug this Monday?