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Cynthia Bond

Goodreads Author

Born

in Texas, The United States

Website

http://www.cynthiabond.com

Twitter

cynthiabondruby

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction, African American

Member Since

April 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/CynthiaBond

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CYNTHIA BOND is a New York Times Best-Selling Author. Her novel RUBY was chosen to be an Oprah Book Club 2.0 selection. RUBY was also a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, and an Indie Next Pick. A PEN Rosenthal Fellow, Bond attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, then moved to New York and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She founded the Blackbird Writing Collective in 2011. Cynthia has taught writing to at-risk and homeless youth for over fifteen years, and is on staff at Paradigm Malibu Adolescent Treatment Center. She is currently completing the second book in the RUBY Trilogy. A native of East Texas, she lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Cynthia Bond It's funny that you would ask that now! I'm in the middle of writing the screenplay of Ruby for Harpo films and I have had to really buckle down and w…moreIt's funny that you would ask that now! I'm in the middle of writing the screenplay of Ruby for Harpo films and I have had to really buckle down and work. I don't call it writer's block...I call it "Writer's Anxiety." When I sit down to write, I often feel fear and anxiety. Sometimes it is so strong that I want to jump out of the chair, run out of my office and hop on a plane to Maui! Sadly, as a single mom, not an option!!! (A last minute flight would also be pretty pricey!:) What do I do? I set the alarm on my phone for 15 minutes and tell myself that that is all I have to write. I am gentle and loving to myself, because screaming that I'd better DO IT just adds to the stress and fear. Instead, I just make a commitment to not get out of my chair and to write SOMETHING during that time. I let go of the compulsion to be BRILLIANT! Any good writing comes from copious rewrites. The most important thing?--Getting the words on the page. Perfectionism can arrest a writing project and put it in jail with no bond. We have to let go of that...That's not to say that it doesn't matter what you put on the page...But if you are sweating over a word or a phrase, do the very best you can and move on. I promise, the answer will come to you later. If it doesn't, go back and put energy towards it in the rewrite. Good Luck! (less)

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I loved Ruby. How did you ensure the authenticity of the dialogue?

Cynthia Bond Thanks so much! I lived in Texas when I was young and once we moved, we visited all of our lives. We are really Texans, and that language is in our bo…moreThanks so much! I lived in Texas when I was young and once we moved, we visited all of our lives. We are really Texans, and that language is in our bones. My grandmother, uncles, aunts...The stories my mother told...All of that is really a part of my breath and heart.(less)

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Combine Editions
Cynthia Bond’s books

Average rating: 3.65 · 15,008 ratings · 2,568 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	Ruby 3.65 avg rating — 14,962 ratings — published 2014 — 30 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My First Novel by Alan Watt (Goodreads Author) (Editor / Contributor), Aimee Bender (Goodreads Author), Allison Burnett (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 60 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Social Work Certification Review (Social Work Review Series Book 1) by Kerry McCabe, Joe Kuhn, Cynthia Bond (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bound (first issue, September 1986) by Phyllis Jonowitz (Contributor), C.S. Giscombe (Contributor), Dave Watson (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Cynthia is Currently Reading

Cynthia Bond is currently reading

Making Nice: A Novel in Stories

by Matt Sumell (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 15, 2015 10:06AM

Cynthia Bond is currently reading

Fourth of July Creek

by Smith Henderson

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Apr 15, 2015 10:05AM

Quotes by Cynthia Bond (?)

“If you brave enough to live it, the least I can do is listen.”
― Cynthia Bond, Ruby

51 likes

“Hope was a dangerous thing, something best squashed before it became contagious.”
― Cynthia bond, Ruby

tags: hope

27 likes

“Your daddy and me named you Otha. It means 'wealth'. You were your daddy's treasure from the time you were born until he died. He used to say there were rubies buried deep inside of you. Remember, baby, don't never let a man mine you for your riches. Don't let him take a pickax to that treasure in your soul. Remember, they can't get it until you give it to them.”
― Cynthia Bond, Ruby

tags: a-woman-s-treasure, motherly-advice, relationship-advice

23 likes

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Polls

What will be our open pick book for October, 2016?

Please take into account the availability, cost, and length of books when voting for them. Remember, if you vote for a book and it wins, you are implicitly promising to read the book and participate in the discussion. The poll will be open through August 31st. Discussion will begin October 1st.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

8 votes, 27.6%

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

6 votes, 20.7%

The Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers

5 votes, 17.2%

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

4 votes, 13.8%

Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt

4 votes, 13.8%

All the Living by C.E. Morgan

1 vote, 3.4%

Ruby by Cynthia Bond

1 vote, 3.4%

Confessions by Rabee Jaber

0 votes, 0.0%

29 total votes

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