The book cover of the children’s poems written by Cynthia Ross, titled "Ride A Stick Horse" shows a picture of the author when she was a little girl, astride a 2x4 with strings attached for reins.  The idea for the title was formulated while looking through old family pictures when this particular picture caught her eye and reminded her of a poem she had written years ago.  Although the original poem was written with a view point of a young boy, she quickly changed it to girl’s perspective.

          Cynthia Ross has lived in Kansas most of her life.  She currently lives in a log home near Towanda with her husband Larry.  She loves the grassy Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, which she describes in her writing.  It has always been her dream to ride across the hills in a covered wagon like her Grandmother, Ruth Vining, did in 1899.         

          Cynthia has taken creative writing courses in fiction and poetry through Butler Community College in El Dorado.  She also attends several regional writing conferences each year and is a member of Kansas Authors Club and the Prairie Prose and Poetry.

          In addition to writing children’s poetry she’s also enjoys writing novels, short stories, haiku and songs.  Cynthia has been published in Kanhistique, Capper's (Weekly), Women of the Plains, (an anthology), The Great Plains Magazine, Potpourri Publication, and The Oak, a poetry publication, plus she has posted many articles on OurEchoes, a writer’s website.  Cynthia also has earned many local and state writing awards for her contest entries.

          Her hobbies are camping, hiking, fishing, gardening and nature study.  She attributes her love of nature to her favorite author Gene Stratton-Porter, an early 1900’s writer of novels and nature books.  Cynthia has written a historical monologue on the life of Gene Stratton-Porter and does local performances in period costume.

          One of her fondest memories as a child is walking the cattle paths through the pastures near their family home.  "There was peacefulness along those paths with all kinds of insects, lacy wildflowers, birds, snakes and the wide open sky overhead.  I couldn’t have asked for a better playground.  You would be surprised at the things you can see in nature when you are quiet."

          "Ride a Stick Horse" is sixty pages of poems and pictures.  Come take a journey through poetry and enjoy the ride.