Cynthia Haggard

Cynthia Haggard

About

Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, inhabiting the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist. 

 

Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA, in June 2015.

Her first novel, Thwarted Queen, a frustrating tale (hence the title) of Lady Cecylee (Cecily) Neville (1415-1495) who was nearly crowned Queen of England, was shortlisted for many awards, including the 2012 Eric Hoffer New Horizon Award for debut authors. To date, sales have surpassed 38,000 copies.

Her second novel, Farewell My Life, a Cinderella-ish tale with not-so-charming princes who inhabit the edgy setting of 1920s Berlin, won a Pinnacle Award (2019) and a Distinguished Favorite (New York City Big Book Awards, 2019).

 

When she’s not annoying everyone by insisting her fictional characters are more real than they are, Cynthia likes to go for long walks, knit something glamorous, cook in her wonderful kitchen, and play the piano. You can visit her at www.spunstories.com.

David's ADHD

David's ADHD

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Description

<p>Does your child have ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?</p><p>Meet David, one of award-winning author Sherrill S. Cannon's &quot;Classroom of Kids,&quot; who manages his ADHD with the help of classmates.</p><p>David discovers ways to cope with his hyperactive brain, while learning how to calm and soothe his ADHD. Solutions include setting daily schedules and following simple rules that regulate behavior. His teachers and therapists encourage using the computer for academic advancement, and to establish a pattern for study as well as for occasional recreation. David not only learns self-control and communication skills, but is able to fit into the classroom and make friends.</p><p>Once again social values are emphasized in the author's latest illustrated children's story, and classroom friends from previous books are featured. In fact, David has been part of the class for a long time!</p><p><strong><em>&quot;David's ADHD</em></strong><em> is a timely topic for parents and children. A story in rhyme that demystifies ADHD. It explains a youngster's behavior in terms of his inattentiveness and impulsivity and how it impacts those around him. A sensitive way of creating understanding for children with ADHD and their families.&quot;</em> - <strong>Dr. Valerie Allen, licensed school psychologist</strong></p><p><strong>Author Bio: </strong></p><p>Former teacher Sherrill S. Cannon has won 76 awards for her previous 11 rhyming books. She is also the author of seven published and internationally performed plays for elementary school children. The author has been called &quot;an absolute master of rhyming&quot; and &quot;a modern-day Dr. Seuss.&quot;</p>

Story Behind The Book

In 2007, I wanted to write a Great American Novel that celebrated my 25 years of living in this country. Ten years later, I finally finished the book. It took another couple of years to do the audiobook version, and finally I was ready to publish in 2019. The kernel for the book was of a young woman violinist who had to leave home suddenly. It is loosely based on the story of my own violin teacher, who went to Berlin to study violin in the late 1920s.

Reviews

<p></p> <p class="p1">“A unique, deftly scripted, and extraordinary novel by an author</p> <p class="p1">with a distinctive narrative storytelling style that will hold the</p> <p class="p1">readers dedicated attention from beginning to end, &quot;Farewell My</p> <p class="p1">Life: Buona Notte Vita Mia&quot; is an impressive and unreservedly</p> <p class="p1">recommended addition to both community and academic library</p> <p class="p1">Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. One of those rare</p> <p class="p1">novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the</p> <p class="p1">book itself has been finished.”—Mid-West Book Review</p> <p class="p1">“The author knows her characters very, very well; this shows in</p> <p class="p1">the consistent and very individual way they act. This is not a</p> <p class="p1">plot-driven story; it’s character-driven. In this book, the</p> <p class="p1">characters are the jam which holds everything together. The best</p> <p class="p1">example of this is Grace, the talented violinist, who, simply,</p> <p class="p1">jumps off the page. I loved her.”—Wishing Shelf</p> <p class="p1">“This is not your typical mystery; it’s for fans of thrilling action</p> <p class="p1">and historically-inspired events…Contra to the status quo of the</p> <p class="p1">genre, the men are the romantics – though in a deranged manner</p> <p class="p1">– and the women showcased are the core strength of the</p> <p class="p1">novel.”—BookLife Prize.</p> <p class="p1">“The author…adeptly summons the era in all its manners and</p> <p class="p1">details with her descriptive prose…Her omniscient, third-person</p> <p class="p1">narrator effectively flits through the heads of various characters,</p> <p class="p1">offering momentary glimpses of their inner lives.”—Kirkus</p> <p class="p1">Reviews</p>