Success Story Interview:
Cynthia Waine Brandt
From CPA to Memoirist: Writing Through Grief and Building an Audience

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After decades of running a successful CPA practice, Cynthia Waine Brandt’s life changed dramatically following the death of her husband. What began as writing to process grief ultimately led to a new creative path — and the publication of Song of the Cardinal, an Amazon #1 New Release memoir exploring eternal connection, loss, and personal transformation.

In this Inside AWAI interview with Executive Director Katie Yeakle, Cynthia shares how she transitioned from a structured, analytical career into creative nonfiction — and how she wrote her book while intentionally building an audience at the same time. She explains why this “one-two punch” helped her gain momentum before publication, and how it shaped both her confidence and her reach as a writer.

Cynthia also discusses the role mentors played in her development, her evolving writing process, and the mindset shifts required to share — and sell — deeply personal work. Her story offers a practical and inspiring look at how lived experience can become meaningful writing, and how it’s possible to begin a new creative chapter at any stage of life.

What You’ll Learn

• How Cynthia moved from running a CPA practice to writing a memoir
• Why she built an audience while writing her book (and how it helped)
• The value of mentors in shaping both craft and confidence
• How she approached sharing and selling personal work
• Why grief can become a catalyst for creative and personal growth