Stories shaped by loss, resilience, and the wild places that heal us.
Debut Novel: NOMAD
Pre-order now. Release Date October 13, 2026.
Set in the desert wilderness of Arizona, Nomad is a lyrical debut novel about grief, resilience, and the landscapes that shape us.
After her brother’s sudden death, Corey retreats to a remote ranch outside Sedona seeking silence and escape. Instead, an unexpected stray dog—and a handful of unlikely connections—begin to draw her back toward the world.
Immersive and emotionally precise, Nomad explores how loss transforms us—and how wild places can lead us back to ourselves.
Publisher: She Writes Press • Distributed by: Simon & Schuster
about the author
Cynthia Johnstone is a former pediatric therapist and longtime writer whose work explores the intersection of human resilience and the natural world.
With a background in psychology and communication, she writes fiction rooted in emotionally complex characters and landscapes that test, shape, and heal the human spirit. Her debut novel, Nomad, reflects her enduring fascination with grief, memory, survival, and the restorative power of place.
She holds degrees from Loyola University Chicago and Boston College and previously worked at Massachusetts General Hospital. Cynthia lives with her family in Flagstaff, Arizona, where the dramatic terrain of the Southwest continues to inspire her work.
coming in 2026
Following her debut novel Nomad, Cynthia Johnstone returns with In the Shadows of Yellowstone, a new work of fiction set against one of America’s most powerful and storied landscapes.
Atmospheric and emotionally layered, the novel continues her exploration of identity, survival, memory, and the ways the natural world holds both beauty and danger.
More details will be announced soon.
contact & inquiries
For media, speaking engagements, book clubs, or event inquiries, please get in touch.
General inquiries:
contact@cynthiajohnstone.com
For publishing, rights, and professional inquiries, please contact the publisher.
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster / She Writes Press
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