After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, Cynthia Murphy decided it was time to follow her dream.
Almost three books and four awards later, she has been crowned the winner of the Lancashire Book of the Year 2022.
Former St Monica's High School pupil Cynthia, from Prestwich, has picked up the prize with her first book "Last One to Die".
The author, who grew up and taught in Bury, is on her fourth award for her first book, has received viral TikTok fame for her second title and she is set to release her third in January.
Despite making a name for herself in the young adult genre, Cynthia was not always an author.
Talking about her life before writing, Cynthia, 38, said: “I was a primary school teacher at Old Hall in Bury, Clevelands in Bolton and most recently, Bury Grammar.
“I was also an avid reader and tried to write a book while I was teaching but it was like having two full-time jobs.”
In 2016, Cynthia was diagnosed with breast cancer, which pushed her to achieve her ambition to write.
She said: “I loved teaching but when I found out I had breast cancer, I decided I needed to follow my dream.
“I saved up my money and then put 100 per cent into writing my first book.”
Following her diagnosis six years ago, Cynthia is in remission and is enjoying life as an award-winning author.
And she likes returning to classrooms to inspire youngsters.
She said: “I do miss working with pupils, but I've been lucky enough to do plenty of school visits and workshops at secondary schools.
“It has been amazing though and the first time I've ever been nominated for this award. Over 200 children read my book and voted me as the winner.
“I was on holiday at the time, and I got an e-mail that said ‘embargoed’. It was the first time I’d ever had an embargoed e-mail and when I opened it, I found out that I had won, I couldn't believe it.”
Following her success, Cynthia also gave some advice to any budding authors.
She added: “Do lots of reading and research definitely do your homework and don't beat yourself up even if it takes you longer than you think.”
The Lancashire Book of the Year award remains one of the few where young people are totally responsible for drawing up the shortlist and choosing an overall winner.
The blurb of the winning book reads: 16-year-old, Irish-born Niamh has just arrived for the summer, and quickly discovers that the girls being attacked look frighteningly similar to her.
Determined to make it through her Drama Course, Niamh is placed at the Victorian Museum to put her drama skills to the test, and there she meets Tommy: he’s kind, fun, attentive, and really hot! . . . Nonetheless, there's something eerie about the museum.
As the two strands of present-day serial attacker and sinister Victorian history start to collide, Niamh realises that things are not as they seem. Will she be next?
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