CYNDI MACMILLAN's Blog

        The Basics: I’m a 45 year-old, stay-at-home mom of an adorable two year old girl. I’m happily married to a wonderful man who is my living contradiction, the quiet to my loud, the calm to my frantic. Life continually amuses, bemuses and confuses me.

        My first poem, which I wrote at five, was entitled, “Lov is Magik” and my father kept the fading, folded paper I scribbled it upon in his wallet for decades. I have tinkered in poetry ever since, but my main passion is fiction. My short stories have been published in the local papers. Occasionally, I dabble with creative non-fiction. I have a several chapters of a book completed which I’m hoping to submit to Avalon Books.

   Despite years of living in Ontario, I will always consider myself foremost a Montrealer. Now living in Waterloo County, home of Research in Motion, maker of the Blackberry, I am content in our downsized apartment which is close to uptown, but overlooks Laurel Creek.  Though considered Canada’s Silicon Valley, the city is surrounded by a picturesque countryside filled with Mennonites. It is not uncommon to see a Mercedes Benz carefully pass a horse drawn wagon. Even our local hardware stores provide parking for buggies. We have many wonderful festivals, two universities, and culture galore.

         I spent years as an E.C.E. teacher and adore children. Now, that I have one of my own –after 16 heartbreaking years of infertility – my days are filled with finger paints and drinking imaginary tea from tiny pink tea cups. Sleep is a distant memory and writing is my night time balm. My hubby works evening shifts. After my girl is asleep, my imagination runs wild and I write.

I am a Jill of all trades. I've worked as a personal care attendant in a home for young people with physical and developmental challenges. Had a short go as a dishwasher in my younger days, oh joy.  I've also been an engraver, a store manager, a cashier at the Sally Anne, but my last job was as at an office where I worked on databases (I WISH I was a geek.)

As a newer member of Poetry Soup, I am often dazzled by its diversity,the quiet, shy voices, the bellows in the foreground, the cackles in the corners. There is so much talent here! I love the contests run by its members as I enjoy a challenge.

    Nice to meet you!  Looking forward to growing together, as writers and friends.

Hugs, Cyndi