Born and raised in Southern California, Cynthia comes from a family who valued words and honored writing. Soon after graduating from UCLA that she was actively writing, selling and later producing scripts. Once established in
her career, she returned to UCLA Film School to teach, and continues to teach in workshops, private classes, and aboard ship.

She is generous in her support of other writers primarily through her role as president of Willamette Writers.

She has made over $5 million as a screenwriter and has loved her career. But recently the stage began to lure her back to her real love, playwriting.

Cynthia was kind enough to host us at her lovely home and office on a gentle summer day. She is a professional who has dedicated her life to the art, business and science of writing, and it isn’t long into a chat with her before you realize she has studied and thought about the topic of writing for most of her life.

Awards

Nominated for the Writers Guild, Humanitas, Cable Ace, Edgar Allen Poe and Emmy Awards. Winner of the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award, Silver Nymph, Writers Guild of America Paul Selvin Honorary Award, and the Christopher Award.

Books: Selling Your Screenplay (1988), Writer's Guide to Selling Your Screenplay (2002), The Writer's Guide to Writing Your Screenplay: How to Write Great Screenplays for Movies and Television (2002)

Screenplays: Sold over 50 screenplays and had nearly 30 produced (check Cynthia's website for full list). A few examples include: I Know My First Name is Steven, Emma's Wish, Leave ‘em Laughing, Buffalo Girls, Best Friends for Life; Selma, Lord Selma; and I Dream of Murder.

Plays: Looking Glass, Look Away, and Holidazed with Marc Acito.