Cynthia Reyes's Blog, page 14

The Story Behind the Story

I remember the day when CBC Radio host Shelagh Rogers and her colleagues Jacqueline and Erin came to interview me at our old farmhouse on the northern edge of Toronto. It was summer, 2014 and a day like the one pictured on the cover of Twigs in My Hair.  My first book, A Good Home,… Continue reading The Story Behind the Story

Great News

Two lovely things just happened: Twigs in My Hair, my new gardening memoir — with beautiful pictures by Hamlin Grange — hit the  Number 1 spot for New Releases in its category when it was released on amazon.com yesterday. My great thanks to everyone who is buying the book!  You made this happen! And author-musician… Continue reading Great News

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – New Book on the Shelves – Myrtle Makes a New Friend: Myrtle the Purple Turtle Series by Cynthia Reyes and Lauren Reyes-Grange, Illustrated by Jo Robinson

Originally posted on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine:
Delighted to share the news of the latest book in the Myrtle the Turtle series by mother and daughter creative team, Cynthia Reyes and Lauren Reyes-Grange.. again illustrated by the talented artist Jo Robinson.. About the book. Can Myrtle overcome her fear, do a good deed for someone else…

Her Royal Purpleness

You just never know what Myrtle’s biggest fan in New Zealand will do when a new Myrtle book comes out. She has been known to paint her nails purple, don purple clothes, and now she seems to be choosing purple jewellry or something. As I said, I never know. But I read her blog this… Continue reading Her Royal Purpleness

Follow the Garden Path…

…and you may encounter a Purple Turtle…. just published….. …or a gardening memoir, to be published later this year. Details coming soon. Thanks to Lauren and Jo, and to Hamlin and Clif, for their key creative roles in these undertakings. It may be possible to create a book alone, but I would not want to… Continue reading Follow the Garden Path…

Living Where I’m a Rarity

One day, walking along the main street of a small town, I noticed a Toronto TV producer I knew.  “What on earth are you doing here?” he asked, staring in disbelief. “Black people don’t live in places like this!”  “What are you doing here?” I shot back. He, too, was black. Turns out he was there for a funeral, and… Continue reading Living Where I’m a Rarity

The Letters

I have written many letters to which no-one ever replied. Not email letters. Real letters. It’s frustrating, I tell you, and enough to make a person pledge to never send another letter. Why bother, when these people either don’t care or lack the manners to acknowledge my effort? I don’t expect replies to greeting cards and… Continue reading The Letters

Charm Alert! Small Town Bowmanville

The small town of Bowmanville has been good to my books, but I visit as often as I can because I love this town. I don’t live there, but some of my favourite places and people do. This includes: *The people at what I have called “The friendliest centre I know in Canada: BOAA”. (An… Continue reading Charm Alert! Small Town Bowmanville

Afternoon Tee-hee

My friend and I planned to have afternoon tea at an historic estate during colder weather. It’s known for its grand mansion, beautiful gardens and tearoom. The day before, she sent me an email.  “The tearoom is open but the online reviews were kind of nasty, which is sad.” But we had fond memories of… Continue reading Afternoon Tee-hee

When Anger Leads to Art

Imagine: you’re an attorney in New York, dealing with brutal cases and people — some of whom are your colleagues. One day, out of the blue, you discover a love for painting. At first, it’s only stress-relief.  Then onlookers start reacting. It seems you may have some talent. ~~ A wife and mother of two… Continue reading When Anger Leads to Art