Author: Cynthia Sally Haggard

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

A Governess was a willing ally for Jane Austen’s mischievous ploys

I definitely didn’t expect to meet a governess who was a willing ally for Jane Austen’s mischievous ploys in this piece of fan fiction. What a lovely surprise! And it was so well-expressed by the voice of narrator Bessie Carter. Anne Sharpe’s Early Life The first half of the novel is well-written, if not exactly […]

Does this alluring cover delight your eyes?

Enjoy this sneak peek of the alluring cover jacket designed to delight your eyes for the DELUXE edition of Thwarted Queen! I’m planning to release it sometime in 2023! Talented artist Melissa Stevens designed the jacket, case, and interior. The alluring designs delight the eyes and make a very special gift for loved ones on […]

Does a daily drink of news make your head throb?

UKRAINE HAMMERED BY BARRAGE OF MISSILES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CRUSHED TO DEATH IN SEOUL IRANIAN DRONES HARD TO SHOOT DOWN Does a daily drink of news make your head throb? Do these headlines add up to a jackhammer in your temples? A drooping of your shoulders and spine? A tangle in your stomach? Be taken […]

Meet the people on my team…Today’s person is Catherine Adams, Developmental Editor Extraordinaire

I first encountered Catherine back in 2009. In those days she was transitioning from the Iowa Book Doctors. Subsequently she opened her own business (Inkslinger Editing.) Writing my first novel “Thwarted Queen” is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I benefitted from Catherine’s wonderful suggestions.

A SPARK OF LIGHT by Jodi Picoult, narrated by Bahni Turpin

As I experienced this novel as an audiobook, I would like to address those issues first before moving on to the content of this thought-provoking novel. It is amazing to me that a “professional” outfit like Random House Audio can actually make a book MORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND than the author intended. In this novel, […]

SMALL GREAT THINGS by Jodi Picoult, narrated by Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell and Ari Fliakos

This book took a long time a-coming, which is not surprising when you realize that in this novel, Jodi Picoult takes on the fraught issue of race. The protagonist is Ruth Jefferson, an African-American nurse who is superb at her job (delivering babies) and devoted to her patients. The antagonist is Turk Bower, a White […]

The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah narrated by Suzanne Toren

What an amazing novel this is! Like many readers, I ADORED Alice (aka Brittany) She shines through every page. What makes her so alive is the painstaking accrual of detail that author Ms. Hannah supplies, from her amazing eyes, to the scars on her body, to her halting speech, and the way she is able […]

THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller, narrated by Stacy Keach, Richard Dreyfuss, Ed Begley Jr., Hector Elizondo, and others, produced by LA Theater Works and Audible.

This is one of those famous works I had never experienced until now when I came across the audio version of this play. Of course, I knew what it was about. Of course, I knew it was about the infamous Salem Witch trials which took place in the Puritan Theocracy of Massachusetts in 1692. Of […]

LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult, narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Abigail Revasch, Kathe Mazur & Mark Deakins

LEAVING TIME is one of those punning titles that I love about Jodi Picoult novels. To me, a woman who grew up in Britain, it sounds as if Ms. Picoult is talking about a public house (or pub), those last orders for drinks. But this whole novel is all about leaving, loss and grief, and […]

Welcome to Cynthia Sally Haggard!

Just to let you all know that my NEW website Cynthia Sally Haggard is now LIVE, and this is where you will find my blogs, books, freebies and ways to contact me if you are so inclined! Please feel free to drop a comment, or just say “hello.” I look forward to meeting you all. […]