By Morgufile user pippalou
Change (a tanka)
Change – a puff of wind
or a hurricane blowing
me away from shore
to a distant land unmapped,
filled with adventure – or loss?
(c) 2013 Traci Bonney
A puff of wind
Change (a tanka)
Change (a tanka)
Indie Book of the Day!
Chantal’s Call is the Indie Book of the Day! What a highlight for my midweek, and what a wonderful honor for my debut novel.
Hello, New Year
I’ve been AWOL from the blog for a few weeks, and for that I apologize. Most of it has been spent being ill. I’m still not totally well; a respiratory infection hit December 19 and hasn’t left my system completely yet.
I am on the mend though, and will be starting a new job tomorrow. Said job is in an industry where I’ve never worked before – insurance – so I’ll be busy learning the ropes for a while.
At the same time, I’m working on the third Atherton book and a few other writing projects. I’m hoping to make the blog one of those projects, but I’m not going to tell you I’ll be posting on any sort of schedule. I don’t want to lie to you or disappoint you by committing to something and then forgetting to do it.
I will, however, share a short list of things I hope to accomplish this year. My writing goals for 2013:
- Finish Helene’s Hope and get it to market.
- Finish the ghostwriting project I’m on now and submit it for payment.
- Draft Sue’s Salvation and try to get it edited and to market by the end of the year.
- Start editing the fantasy trilogy I have drafted, and perhaps publish the first installment by the end of the year.
- Write a new novel during NaNoWriMo in November. Title and plot still to be determined.
I intend to work on these goals while learning what I need to get my insurance license. I’ll also be making jewelry, haunting yard sales, crocheting and (hopefully) getting back into my hoops (which will depend on how long it takes my left foot to heal).
Gonna be a busy 2013. Happy New Year! I hope yours is blessed, safe and productive.
Book Launch: Searching for Sara by Nona King
Looking for a new read for Christmas and beyond? Check out Nona King’s latest launch, described here by Nona herself:
Searching for Sara, Heart of the Blessed Book One
My new inspirational [historical] novel, Searching for Sara, officially launched December 9th in hardback, paperback, and digital formats.
Searching for Sara is not your run of the mill “romance”, as this is simply a small facet of the story. Searching for Sara is the story of two people who face their daily tortures of fear and grief to find happiness and renewed faith.
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If you buy one today, contact me with your order number and the site where you purchased it from, and get a free copy (print or ebook) for a friend or family member this Christmas!
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Submit a review on Amazon (or Kindle), Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or Shelfari and you can get a second free copy, or a free copy of one of my other books!
About the Book
Sara Little has ached to live in America. But being born of a single mother in London’s working class, she could only dream. Then, scrawled in hasty intensity, Sara receives an invitation to America. Drawn to the possibility of a new beginning, she follows God’s whisper and steps forward into the unknown. But more awaits than the realization of her dreams.
Sara’s benefactor is handsome widower Christopher Lake, a philanthropist dedicated to helping the less fortunate redefine their future. Though devastated by the loss of his wife, he dedicates himself to her last request: To provide Sara the means for a brighter future.
Sara’s gift of art inspires Christopher’s sponsorship, and he is determined to protect her gentle heart while propelling her into artistic society. Even if he must press her forward beyond her shy nature. But when a local paper weaves tales of a romantic entanglement, Sara is stricken by the stark reality of a growing devotion. Caught in the whirlwind of debuts and dinner parties with prospective patrons, she has fallen in love with the one man she believes she does not deserve.
Could a servant girl hope to bless such a noble man to happiness?
Where Can I Buy Searching for Sara?
eBook
Print
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Let me know if you would like a library cloth hardcover edition complete with dust jacket
About Nona King
Nona King is an independent writing professional for Angel Breath Books. She has dedicated herself to writing true-to-life characters, be they villain or hero, so her readers can experience life and its many passions. All her stories focus on faith, honor, and the importance of communication and trust in our relationships with others.
You can find more books by Nona King at these locations:
Fiction URL: http://www.NonaKing.com
Blog URL: http://www.WordObsession.net
Amazon Author: amazon.com/author/nonaking
Shelfari Author: shelfari.com/nonaking
Barnes & Noble Author: barnesandnoble.com/c/nona-king
Goodreads Author: goodreads.com/nonaking
Smashwords Author: smashwords.com/profile/view/nonaking
Guest Post: Author Traci Bonney -- Of Hula Hoops, Jewelry Making and The Women of Atherton
Today we welcome author Traci Bonney. We’re talking about her writing process and her two published novels, Chantal’s Call and Brigitte’s Battle, Books 1 and 2 in The Women of Atherton series.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Mississippi girl with the heart of a nomad and the soul of a child who refuses to grow up.
My thanks to Mary and Michael for the opportunity to talk about my writing in their blog.
Brigitte’s Battle
It’s here!
Brigitte’s Battle, my second book in The Women of Atherton series, is going live on all sites within the next few hours. For more information and links, check my Facebook author’s page: Traci L. Bonney, Writer.
The print edition will be available through CreateSpace as soon as the reviewers are finished checking my files and I can approve the book for sale. If you want a signed copy directly from me, please email me and I’ll give you the payment and purchase instructions.
NaNo update #2
I’m in shock.
It’s only November 11, and I’ve passed the 50,000 word goal of NaNoWriMo. I’m elated and a bit tired.
The story isn’t finished yet, either. I have at least two more scenes to write before I can call it done.
But – 50,268 words in 11 days? Astonishing. It’s my new personal best for the three NaNos I’ve won.
All the credit goes to God for the inspiration, and a big shoutout to my Facebook writing group for the friendly word wars we’ve been waging. Thanks y’all, for pushing me forward much faster than I would have gone otherwise. 
I may just be releasing four books between now and the end of the year instead of only one. Who’d have imagined it?
NaNo update
Time to check in with the world outside of NaNoWriMo.
If you look at the widget in my sidebar, you’ll see that as of this moment (7:47 a.m. Central time on Thursday, November 8, 2012), I have accumulated 18,906 words toward my 50,000 word goal. Not too shabby, considering my entire plot at the beginning was “FMC (female main character) gets sent back to Mississippi by accident and must find a way home.” Since this is the third novel in a world-hopping trilogy that started in the Magnolia State, said plot was more of a premise, and a very thin one at that.
Somehow, an actual plot is growing from that seed, so I’m doing my darnedest to nurture and protect it while waging friendly word wars with fellow Wrimos via Facebook. There’s no pruning involved at this point; I just keep pouring Miracle Gro on that seedling and watering it with output from my keyboard and saying “Grow, baby, grow!”
My intention is to have a 50,000 word bookling by November 20 so I won’t have to either agonize over or ignore it during the Thanksgiving holiday that week. I’m beginning to think I might actually have a shot at making that deadline.
Of course, once the Nanosanity is over for the year, I’ll have a trio of fantasy books to edit, along with at least two more Atherton books to write and one to release to market if I don’t get it done before then…
Ah well, such is the life of a Wrimo. Keep keying, my friends. And may the Sporks be with you.
NaNo 2012
My Halloween TOT makeup
It’s that time of year again – the annual adventure in noveling known as NaNoWriMo. That’s short for National Novel Writing Month, by the way. It’s a 30-day exercise in finger cramps and overcaffeination, created to help novelists of all ages and experiences get a book drafted.
50,000 words in 30 days.
Crazy? Of course.
Impossible? Of course not. I’ve done it for the past two years.
Naturally, the output of those two months of fictional insanity are not yet fit for publication. There are typos to correct, scenes to flesh out, all that editorial stuff to be done. Not to mention figuring out how to put a hoop dancer on the book covers.
Still, I have two fantasy novels waiting for their baby sister to arrive so they can be loosed upon the world. Two novels I wouldn’t have if not for NaNoWriMo. Soon to be three novels.
This means I’ll be concentrating on the work in progress for the next few weeks. No book reviews, no blog chain post. Just the random musings of a frazzled Wrimo needing to vent. You’ve been forewarned.
See you November 30…
P.S. – The photo is a webcam shot of me after a TOT session last night with the nieces and nephew. Of course, by the time November’s over, I may want to go Goth full time…
Rediscoveries
This month at the CW blog chain, we’re talking about Discovery. There have been some terrific posts on the topic; I encourage you to check them out via my CW Blog Chain page when you’re done here.
In recent weeks, I’ve been rediscovering a few things. As some of you know, we have a family event today. My niece and her groom are having a Hallowedding, a wedding with a big Halloween party for the reception. Costuming is strongly encouraged, and I’ve enjoyed working on my own and several other outfits. Stay tuned; I might post a pic or two in the next couple of days.
What have I rediscovered in the process of gearing up for this wedding?
- I like painting my nails and putting on makeup if it’s for a “dress-up/make-believe” occasion, but not for everyday life. Apparently I prefer creating and portraying characters over enhancing my natural attractions. What, a writer who likes to create characters? Who’d a-thunk it?
- I enjoy making a costume more than buying one. I’ve often suspected I’m a custom gal in a ready-to-wear world, and this just confirms it.
- I can get highly impatient when life doesn’t move at the pace I’d like it to, but I somehow have no trouble spending hours in a creative endeavor. Slow traffic? I’m on the edge of road rage. Missed crochet stitches? No biggie – I’ll just rip out to the point of the mistake and redo it.
Beyond the wedding, I’ve had opportunities to rediscover some broader truths. The temporary staffing assignment I was working ended without a permanent offer, so I’ve been job hunting for the last month. As bills demand to be paid, I have to constantly turn my eyes to God for reassurance.
So I do. I keep praying and reminding myself that God has a plan for me, to prosper and not to harm me, a plan to give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 in the Bible). I also recall the scripture that says God shall supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
And just when I start breathing normally again and stop gnashing my teeth in my sleep, what happens? I start the Cavalier, shift into Reverse to back out of the driveway, get into the street and shift into Drive – and keep rolling backwards. The shift cable linkage on my 7-year-old car has broken. I’m in the middle of oncoming traffic with my right foot on the brake and my left arm out the window waving people around me until my family can come out and stop traffic while I drive in Reverse into the neighbor’s driveway.
What truths did this allow me to rediscover?
- When I say I’m going to trust God to take care of things, often something new will happen. I see it as a life pop quiz; my commitment to what I say I will do is being tested. It’s as if God is whispering, “Will you trust Me to deal with things no matter how bad they get? Will you keep your eyes on Me instead of the wind and waves of your storm? Will you come for a walk with Me, even if by all natural logic the surface we’re walking on shouldn’t support you? Will you?”
- Adversities are also a test of my spiritual eyesight. Like with an eye chart in a vision center (yes, I get my glasses at Walmart), the content and clarity of my view depend on my focus. I can be unhappy because the breakdown happened while I’m unemployed, or I can be thankful it happened in front of our house and not the Walmart parking lot. I can grumble about having to spend money I don’t have to get my car out of the neighbor’s front yard, or I can be grateful the young man joining our family today also has a Cavalier and knows how to fix my problem without my having to get the car towed to the nearest mechanic.
- As much as we get on each others’ nerves sometimes, my family is a true blessing. They offer help when needed, know when not to give unwanted advice, and try to lift my spirits when life gets hard and I feel overwhelmed. God gave me a good bunch of folks to travel with through this world.
So yeah, life gets crazy occasionally, usually when it’s least convenient for me. But that’s when I experience the joy of rediscoveries.
How about you? Have you rediscovered anything useful lately?
