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Cynthia (Cindy) Matthews
BIO
Biography

I’m the award winning author of the debut contemporary literary short story collection Took You So Long, published by the Porcupine's Quill, Erin, Ontario August 2022. In May 2023, Took You So Long received an IPPY 🥇GOLD (Independent Publishers Book Award) Canada East—Regional Fiction category. In August, the book was awarded a SILVER eLit Award for short fiction.

Released February 2024 The Roach Family and Other Stories, publisher DarkWinter Press.

I am a multigenre creator. I write short stories, nonfiction, creative nonfiction and some poetry. I also create visual art using a variety of mediums: acrylic paint, alcohol and/or acrylic ink, collage techniques, mark-making tools, charcoal, watercolour.

ADDRESS
City: CHESLEY, Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAIL
GENRE
contemporary literary short fiction
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Took You So Long
Publisher
Porcupine's Quill
Year
2022
Title
The Roach Family and Other Stories
Publisher
DarkWinter Press
Year
2024
AWARDS
Awards
Name
'Lost Innocence'
Publication
NOWW Writing Contest, Creative nonfiction entry
Year
2021
Name
‘Law of Averages’
Publication
NOWW Writing Contest, Creative nonfiction entry
Year
2022
Name
IPPY-GOLD
Publication
Took You So Long
Year
2023
Name
eLit Awards-SILVER
Publication
Took You So Long
Year
2023
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
15-60
Presentation Genre
writing short fiction
Presentation Length
1 - 2 hours
Presentation Description
Presentation description

 

If I can do it, so can you!

 

Two-pronged approach to this presentation

Part I: Author reading from Took You So Long / The Roach Family and Other Stories

Emphasize that the first book came from an author in her 65th year!

Examination of tools used in some of the stories to draw readers in with the first sentence/first paragraph

Q & A about the stories in this debut collection

Part II: Workshop component--Writing effective opening paragraphs for a short story

Presenter would facilitate a session in which the audience learns how and then writes an effective opening paragraph using a provided prompt (e.g., using think-pair-share, an obituary, an image, and / or word prompt)

Some volunteers will share their opening paragraphs. Presenter offers insight into what worked and why.

 

 

 

Presentation Fee(s)
$250 plus expenses
School presentation details
Audience Size
Up to 100
Intended Audience
High School / Community College / Service Clubs
Presentation Length
1-2 hours
Presentation Description
Presentation description

Readings from one / both of my short story collections

Q and A format about writing process, where ideas come from, how titles are derived, the benefit of writing groups

Presentation Fee(s)
$250-
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
No