Cynthia Watson's Blog

Carrie Fisher will always be remembered for her iconic role as Star Wars’ Princess Leia, but I will always remember her as a witty, honest and downright hilarious novelist.

If you haven’t read any of her books, I urge you to pick up at least one of these “unputdownable” novels:
Postcards from the Edge (1987)Fisher’s first novel is an autobiographical story of an actress in rehabilitation for drug addiction by sending postcards to her loved ones.  Its droll humor came to define Fisher’s writing style.  She later adapted the book into a screenplay, which became a film starring Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid.
Surrender the Pink (1990)About a soap opera screenwriter who falls in and out of love with a flawed man, and finds it difficult to separate Hollywood fantasy from truth.
Delusions of Grandma (1993)A second autobiographical novel (let’s face it, they were all autobiographical) about a screenwriter who develops an unreasonable fear of dying in childbirth. The novel is made up letters to her unborn child. The Best Awful (2004)As the sequel of Postcards from the Edge, the story continues into territory occupied by Sylvia Plath and Susanna Kaysen (Girl, Interrupted) in a darkly funny portrait of a woman who survives a psychotic breakdown, a stay in 'the bin', and survives to tell all.
 Wishful Drinking (2008)This book deals with Fisher’s “Hollywood Royalty” family: her mother, Debbie Reynolds; her father, Eddie Fisher, and their divorce after Eddie left Debbie to pursue a high profile affair and short-lived marriage with Elizabeth Taylor (think Jen/Brad/Angelina). It also details Fisher’s bi-polar illness, addiction, and the irrationalities of Hollywood.
Shockaholic (2011)Fisher describes with honest, humble humor how electroshock therapy helped her with depression, but also how it severely affected her memory.  It focuses on the Star Wars years and dishes about the Hollywood relationships she’d formed since being chosen to play Princess Leia.  Fisher admits, “It isn’t all sweetness and light sabers.”
The Princess Diarist (2016)Fisher’s final novel about the diaries she kept while working on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.  In the book, she now famously admitted she had an on-set affair with her co-star, Harrison Ford (she later told Ellen DeGeneres she regretted admitting so).  She was touring to promote this book when she died.
Last week, I texted my son, Matthew (a huge film buff), when I heard Carrie had been rushed to the hospital with a massive heart attack on a flight back from London.  I wrote to him, “If she dies, it will kill Debbie Reynolds.” 
RIP, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.

My wonderful, "chocolate sable" Cocker Spaniel, Symon Francis, was lovingly helped to the Rainbow Bridge on Friday, April 17, 2015. He was 15 years old (that's 105 in human years, folks!)

I first met Symon at a party at his previous family's home.  When circumstances changed, they asked if I would be interested in adopting him.  I told them I would take Symon for a weekend, to see how he got along with my five rescue cats:  Daphne, Sparkles, Buddy, Angel and Evie.  All creatures, great and small, got along amazing well; my kids and I fell in love with Symon, and he seemed to love us too! 

Symon figures prominently in  WIND .  He is the Flood family pet, and particularly loves Dante, the DDG (drop dead gorgeous) stranger who mysteriously enters eighteen-year-old Flynn Flood's life, and changes it forever. Symon will return along with Flynn, and Flynn's sixteen-year-old sister, Kevan, in the second installment, SAND.

Symie didn't suffer at all, and my wonderful son, Matthew, and I hugged him and told him we loved him until the end (he even raised his head and, incredibly, took a bite of a treat, right before he passed!!).

Godspeed, Symie, until you see me again, break from the pack, and side-by-side, we cross over together!

My e-friend and author, Talli Roland, has just released her new novel, The No-Kids Club (June 3, 2014; Lake Union Publishing).

 At almost forty, Clare Donoghue is living child-free and loving it.  Then her boyfriend says he wants kids, breaking off their promising relationship. And it’s not just boyfriends: one by one, her formerly carefree friends are swallowed up in a nonstop cycle of play dates and baby groups. So Clare decides it’s time for people who don’t have children to band together. And so the No-Kids Club is born.
As the group comes together—Anna, who’s seeking something to jumpstart a stale marriage, and Poppy, desperate for a family but unable to conceive—Clare’s hoping to make the most of the childless life with her new friends.  Will the No-Kids Club be Clare’s route to happiness, or will the single life lose its sparkle.


I loved this book! A great cast of characters, a hilarious and witty writing style and a modern plot, The No-Kids Club is reminiscent of the wildly popular Shopaholic series.

Told from viewpoints of three different women, the story is fresh, captivating, and funny as hell! Don't forget to pack this one in the diaper bag as you're headed for the beach!
To pick up your copy of The No-Kids Club, visit: Amazon UK or Amazon.com.
Drop by Talli's website to learn more about her and her books!

After very little thought, the following are my 2014 New Year resolutions:
Eat less red meat!Smoke less (I'm down to ten from twenty a day, but I'd like to make it five).Go to Mass more often.Get back to exercising!Drink less coffee and more water (yah, like that's gonna happen!)Grow my hair a little longer (I always give in and get it chopped off when it hits that "awkward stage").Write more! Will you make any New Year resolutions?  Can you share them with us?

I wish you a Happy and Blessed 2014!

Cynthia

I would like to wish all of my readers a joyful Christmas and a wonderful 2014!

Cynthia

  

I'd like to wish all my American friends and followers a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cynthia

Kobo is featuring WIND this weekend:

Promo code: unlimited50 Discount list http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/List/discountlist/YxNJsFinNUapyEzr5SwLMQ Discount: 50% off any book on the list. The code can be used multiple times. Sale Ends: Nov 25th Grab a copy as a holiday gift! Cynthia

I was stunned and saddened to learn that Dr. Carolyn Kaufman died on Saturday from a brain aneurysm. She was only 40 years of age.

Carolyn was an author, blogger and all around nice person.  I never actually met Carolyn, but corresponded with her when I was a contributor to the "Query Tracker Blog," an information blog assisting writers and authors.  Carolyn was one of the original contributors, but she was more than willing to help out a "newbie" by editing my work and giving me some great writing tips that have stood me in good stead ever since.

Carolyn obtained her PsyD. in Clinical Psychology at Wright State University in 2002. She was an Associate Professor of Psychology at Columbus State Community College.  Carolyn wrote "The Writer's Guide to Psychology."

Rest in Peace, Carolyn.

I wish all of my American friends a safe and happy Independence Day! (I'm proud to be your neighbour to the North.)   

I hope everyone is having a great Canada Day holiday!  Happy 146th birthday Canada!