Look and Listen

Biography

Children's author, Mary Cunningham, makes her home in the beautiful mountains of West Georgia with her husband, Ken, and adopted doggie, Molly. They are parents of three creative children, and a delightfully witty fifteen-year-old granddaughter. The idea for the series, Cynthia's Attic, came about through a recurring dream. After realizing that the dream took place in the attic of her childhood friend, Cynthia, the dreams stopped and the writing began. Cunningham is a member of SCBWI (Southern Breeze Chapter), The Georgia Reading Association, and the Carrollton Creative Writers Club. In between editing and getting her twelve-year-old characters, Cynthia and Gus in and out of trouble, the author enjoys golf, swimming and exploring the mountains.

Inspiration

I've always admired Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). It's beyond my comprehension how anyone writes just one book of such magnitude. And wins a Pulitzer at that! I was a tomboy, so I love the voice of Scout. In fact, my POV, Augusta Lee (Gus), an unapologetic tomboy, is patterned after me. I also love the writing of YA author, Kerry Madden. Her voice in Gentle's Holler is remarkable. However, my dad was the biggest influence. He was an award-winning journalist for almost 40 years, and had a wonderful style and voice. His characters had such definition that, I'd swear, they almost jumped off the page!