With degrees in nutrition, public health and communication Cindy has spoken and written about healthy eating for many years. Now she writes a more varied diet – of health, healing, food and faith. She has written two novels: The Pounamu Prophecy and The Silk Merchant of Sychar.

​

​

"Welcome to my author website. I am delighted you've dropped by to find out a little more about me and my journey into the world of fiction writing."

 

Where did I grow up? In a small, seaside town in New Zealand where I would often wake to the soothing rock of a small earthquake and where we practiced earthquake and tsunami drill at school.

​

Best memories of school? In primary school: playing Maori stick games, hearing the Maori legends  and winning the spelling competition. In high school: my final year History and English teachers who inspired a love of their subjects, breaking the record for the 800m running race, and winning the girls cross country championship.

​

First fiction writing? I wrote a play with parts for all my siblings. Of course I was the main character as well as director! Definitely the bossy older sister! It took me weeks to write. I asked my cousin to type it out for me - and she lost it. I was devastated. 

​

First degree? Diploma of Home Science which drew derogatory comments such as, 'Come to marry a doctor' or 'Bachelor of Vacuum Cleaning'. I soon switched my answer to Mineral Technology - it sounded so much more intriguing.

​

I became a registered Dietitian. Then I did a Master of Public Health and a Graduate Diploma in Communication - Public Relations (Distinction). And a Diploma of Theology (Distinction).

​

Why nutrition? It was a toss up - sport or food: physiotherapist or dietitian. I got accepted into physio but an afternoon of bashing the back of a smoker while she retched thick flem (postural drainage) into a basin, and another afternoon of rubbing a rugby player's hairy calf muscles was too much touching for a 17 year old. I chose the non hands-on option.

​

I was a dietitian for over twenty years and I loved it! I worked in hospitals, corporate health, food industry and with national level sports teams. I worked in research: coaxing post-MI patients to eat olive oil, avocado and peanuts. I spoke on radio, TV and to hundreds of medical and community groups. I wrote for magazines including the Healthy Food Guide (NZ and Australia).

​

My nutrition career taught me how to research facts - handy for writing historical fiction, and to write succinctly. I'd write copy for the supermarket mailbox brochures and the Advertising Manager would send it back saying: 'It won't fit the space - cut out half the words' or 'Too technical - make it interesting.' It was great training.

​

​