Ghost Light – Mary Cunningham
Every teacher from third grade on said, “Don’t stop writing.” Those words came back to me when I signed my first publishing contract with Echelon Press. “Why,” I ask myself, “did it only take 40+ years to appreciate the fact that, maybe, just maybe, I did have a knack for writing. Better late than never.
My life as a published author began with a young reader series, “Cynthia’s Attic.” Four books later, it’s still going strong. The Magician’s Castle (Book Four) will be out DEC 2009. I’m also co-author of a women’s humor book, “WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty.”
My first love, however, is writing short stories – family memoirs, fantasy/fiction – a love I probably picked up from my dad. He was a journalist for a large newspaper and wrote stories about practically every interesting, odd or notorious character in Kentuckiana (translation: Northern Kentucky/Southern Indiana). I kinda feel like I’m honoring his memory when I write.
My first published short story, with Echelon is “Ghost Light.” Having grown up in Indiana, my love of basketball inspired me to write a story that is loosely based on one of my husband’s most vivid childhood memories.
11-year-old Jake McMillen wants, more than anything in the world, to play varsity basketball for the Panthers, just like his late, Grandpa Max. One big problem. While Jake inherits his grandfather’s love for the game, the McMillen height passes him by.
Not only that, “old people” like his grandmother, keep taking up too much of his precious practice time. He knows she’s sick, but being dragged along to her steamy apartment by his mom, cuts into that afternoon’s pick-up game at the Island basketball court.
After getting totally humiliated during the game by star player, Quinn Parker, Jake gets a ghostly message that changes his outlook toward his grandmother’s illness and inspires him to pursue his dreams.
Buy Ghost Light today!
