FAREWELL won the Independent Press Award for Women’s Fiction!
Cynthia
Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, settling in the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
In June, 2015, Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA.
Her first novel, "Thwarted Queen," a frustrating tale (hence the title) of a woman 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 and 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, won a Pinnacle Award for Historical Fiction (2019) and was a Distinguished Favorite for the 2019 New York City Big Book Awards.
Kate Quinn’s MISTRESS OF ROME (EMPRESS OF ROME #1) narrated by Elizabeth Wiley
Before I talk about this stunning debut novel, I would like to give a shout-out to the narrator, Elizabeth Wiley. Our pleasure in the audiobook experience is so dependent on the narrator. […]
THE LION & THE ROSE by Kate Quinn, narrated by Leila Birch (Carmelina), Maria Elena Infantino (Giulia) & Ronan Vibert (Leonello)
THE LION & THE ROSE really made this duology. I already loved THE SERPENT & THE PEARL, where Carmelina is making her crostata, marzipan & tortes, Giulia is running downstairs gossiping & […]
THE SERPENT & THE PEARL by Kate Quinn, narrated by Leila Birch (Carmelina), Maria Elena Infantino (Giulia) & Ronan Vibert (Leonello)
Kate Quinn is such a talented writer. THE SERPENT & THE PEARL (the first in a duology about the Borgia Pope Alexander VI in 1490s Rome) begins with a sniff. Carmelina is […]
Reading Sundays: THE END OF CHILDHOOD (Part 3), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Your father is busy,” she replied after a clipped silence. “You may blame his absence on the Emperor Napoleon.” There was a short pause. “You know who he is, don’t you child?” […]
A BRIGHTNESS LONG AGO by Guy Gavriel Kay narrated by Simon Vance
This volume is very similar to CHILDREN OF EARTH AND SKY, but whereas CHILDREN takes place in around 1478, i.e. around 25 years AFTER the fall of Constantinople (Sarantium), BRIGHTNESS takes place […]
Guy Gavriel Kay’s CHILDREN OF EARTH & SKY narrated by Simon Vance
It is 1478. The great city of Sarantium (Byzantium/Constantinople) was sacked 25 years ago by the Ashurites (Muslims) and is now called Ashuria (Istanbul). The Council of Twelve of the Republic of […]
THE LAST LIGHT OF THE SUN by Guy Gavriel Kay, narrated by Holter Graham
Hmmm. The trouble with trying to write a review about Guy Gavriel Kay is that he is a talented author who has written some wonderful novels – TIGANA, YSABEL, UNDER HEAVEN & […]
Reading Sundays: THE END OF CHILDHOOD (Part 2), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
Mr. Clayton nodded briefly, but his blue eyes hardened as he stared at his wife.Suddenly, he caught sight of me. There was something about his smile I did not care for. Nevertheless, […]
Kate Quinn’s THE HUNTRESS narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
How I loved THE HUNTRESS, Kate Quinn’s study in evil! We are in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the spring of 1946. The Second World War has just ended, when Jordan McBride is […]
Kate Quinn’s THE ALICE NETWORK narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Kate Quinn’s THE ALICE NETWORK is superb. Like many historical novels today, this one has a braided narrative, alternating between 1915 and 1947. Nineteen-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” Sinclair is looking for her much-loved […]
Regina Doman’s RAPUNZEL LET DOWN
In this re-telling of RAPUNZEL, we are in modern-day USA. It is summer and we are in a vacation spot in New England. Raphaela and her mother have an unusual tower of […]
Reading Sundays: THE END OF CHILDHOOD (Part 1), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Ten thousand pounds, Clayton. That’s my price.” “I haven’t got the money.” “Come now! I hear you’re to marry an heiress with thirty thousand.” “Why should I pay? Your daughter is a […]
MOONFLOWER MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Lesley Manville & Allan Corduner
This is the second volume, that follows on from author Anthony Horowitz’s wildly successful MAGPIE MURDERS. Like that novel, we have a novel within a novel, as the protagonist is an editor. […]
MAGPIE MURDERS, a novel by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Samantha Bond & Allan Corduner
I love it when I experience a really clever piece of writing. That is why I am such a fan of Georgette Heyer’s THE MASQUERADERS, John Grisham’s THE RUNAWAY JURY and Agatha […]
The audio version of “Thwarted Queen” recently dropped…
…and here is what one listener had to say about it on Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbaralunz/status/1374426252719710210?s=20
RODHAM by Curtis Sittenfeld, narrated by Carrington MacDuffie
Like AMERICAN WIFE, RODHAM filled me with alarm, not because of the story but because of the risks this author was taking. Whereas AMERICAN WIFE was a poke at George W. Bush, […]
Reading Sundays: THE WAYWARD DAUGHTER (Part 10), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
The front door banged open, and suddenly I’d had enough. Spencer wouldn’t be around for the next few days, so now was time to act. In two strides I was in the […]
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