Little Disasters

Most of those little disasters that happen at a wedding go unnoticed by everyone else except the bride. They aren’t even close to the level of a disaster, but may feel like it on that day.

Since I’ve been married for many years now, perhaps my perspective has changed. #MFRW #wedding
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But I don’t think I felt it was a disaster on that day. I was stressed, as most brides are, but I don’t think I let it ruin my day.

The Best Laid Plans

Things started to go awry right from the get-go on my wedding day. I got up earlier than the rest of the house to have some quiet time to prepare. Especially since my parents’ house only had one bathroom. I’d no sooner gotten into the shower when someone started pounding on the door. So, in summary…

• My young nephew was sick, and needed in the bathroom, so instead he vomited in the hall
• The hairdresser got backed up so the bride (me), bridesmaids, and my Mom were all running late and half were unhappy with their hairdo
• My Mom focused her stress on desperately wanting to make a detour to get a new lipstick—which we had no time to obtain
• The flowers arrived but some were missing, or incomplete
• The photographer was early and none of us were ready
• By the time we arrived at the reception after photographs, we were already running out of some of the booze which lead to…
• Some people had overindulged a bit too much
• My Dad invited more people than we were aware of and we were packed in like sardines
• The groomsmen didn’t realize their role in preparing for the bridal dance (see overindulging)
• I didn’t get any of my favorite cookies since someone ate the plate saved for me—from the bridal table

And I’m sure there was more. That’s just what I can recall all these years later…Sounds like a disaster, huh? Not to me.

Magical Wedding Memories

I’ve shared stories about our wedding for years, and we all laugh at how the best laid plans go awry.

Those are the memories I have in addition to walking down the aisle, and dancing with my husband, and all the other special moments from that day. In other words, this wasn’t a disaster, but only wonderful memories.

It’s a Blog Hop

I hope you hop around to the other authors to read about their wedding disasters and share in the memories.

I also hope you’re enjoying a wonderful holiday season and preparing for a spectacular new year.

Do You Have a Memory that Seemed Like a Disaster at the Time?

The post Memories Are Made from Wedding Disasters appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Have You Met Me?

If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you might have heard me talk about traveling before. I mean, what’s not to love when you’re introverted, aren’t a fan of traveling, and turn into more of a hermit as the years go by?

Not that I don’t like to see new places and enjoy new things. I’ve been to many beautiful places and there’s more I’d like to see.

It’s the whole traveling to get there that I don’t enjoy.
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The Ultimate Destination

Oh, that got your attention? I apologize, because there is none. I’m always ready to come home at the end of the trip, no matter how beautiful the place may be. Because it’s not the destination—or where I’m going— that makes the vacation fabulous to me, it’s what I’m doing. Here’s what I like to do…nothing.

Yep, you heard me right. I’ve talked about my quest for doing nothing before, and usually it remains elusive to me.

Although the hubs and I have found a place in Florida where there isn’t a whole lot to do but just “be” and that suits me just fine. The problem is, well, it’s Florida, and usually when we go it’s about a bajillion degrees. This pale, Irish gal doesn’t do well with the heat.

It’s a Blog Hop

I could go on about my fantasy of having nothing to do, nowhere to go unless I felt like it, and no clock to be a slave to, but I think you get the point.

Doing all that nothing is even better when it’s a beautiful place.

What’s Your Dream Vacation?

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate! I hope your holiday season is magical!

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The post My Dream Vacation Isn’t About the Destination #MFRWauthor appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But no worries, I have some recipes to share with you.

Favorite Food or Foods?

I can’t say that when the holidays come around that I’m looking forward to one particular food or meal. It depends on my mood, and the time of day, whether I’m seeking out the main course or dessert.

There are many things—too many—that I enjoy eating this time of year. I’m assuming that’s like many people who also overindulge this time of year only to start the new year off contemplating how to get rid of all that holiday weight. But, I digress.

Since I can’t narrow it down to just one food, I’m going to share some of my favorite recipes for the holidays (or all year long). I’ll warn you that most are deserts (yum!) because if I’m cooking, I prefer to bake.

Because otherwise my hubby is the star in the kitchen as I point out right here when I talked last year about how my favorite recipe usually isn’t made by me.I do some cooking, but only if I must.

But I do share one there that is my favorite to make (no-bake cookies) so check it out.

I like to eat and my hubby likes to cook, so that makes us a perfect pair. #MFRW #recipe
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Hop on Your Sleigh

I’ve shared some of my other favorite foods that usually make an appearance, and their recipe if you hop your sleigh and fly around the blog here a bit you can get recipes for:

• A few holiday cocktails- you don’t want to miss these special cocktails that the elves can whip up
• Peanut butter pie is one of my favorites. I try not to make it because I want to eat it all. My niece made it this year at Thanksgiving and I must admit that I ate the bulk over the leftovers. It was calling to me louder than my characters—and that’s saying something. Get the easy recipe right here my fellow peanut butter lovers.
• Appetizers anyone? I love vegetable appetizers. They also made an appearance on Thanksgiving courtesy of my sister. Getting your vegetables in the right way—on a crescent roll with some cream cheese. You might even get some picky kids to eat these. Check out the recipe right here.
• My girls and I make sugar cookies almost every Christmas. This recipe is pretty awesome and the icing makes it (yes, that’s my sweet tooth talking) but my favorite part about them is making the memories with my girls.

Hungry for More Recipes?

Check out my page with freebies and extras to download one of the free cookbooks courtesy of my publisher, and the authors of The Wild Rose Press.

Don’t forget to follow the hop to check out the other authors for some of their favorite holiday foods to get your appetite, and your menu, set for the holidays.

Psst! Speaking of baking…

Have you met Aunt Ruthie? If you read Destiny Calling, you’ll recall her ability to know how to make anything delicious (oh, how I wish I had this magic!) but something goes awry with Ruthie in book 2- Not a Chance– will Ruthie still know how to make things delicious? Grab your copy right here and find out.

Already read Not a Chance? I’d love your more than peanut butter pie if you leave a review! (Okay, almost more…)

The post My Favorite Holiday Food Depends on My Mood appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

I’ve written about this topic before right here and and focused a lot on how time is a priceless gift. But apparently my list for this year is not correct, because everyone else is writing about how their family survives their writing. Although I’ve written about that too, right here. So, since it’s hard to pick just one gift, I’m going with that today. I’m sharing a few other best gifts I’ve received—and a few that really surprised me.

What You Least Expected

Often the best gift is one that isn’t expected. It’s not a holiday, or you haven’t prepared a wish list that you’re hoping to get exactly what you want. This year on the hubs and my anniversary in March, he got my one of the best gifts I ever got. It had me speechless.

Sure, often I’m a quiet person and don’t always feel as if I can adequately display my appreciation with the right words. But that doesn’t stop the words in my head, this did.

I knew hubs was going to get a tattoo. As a musician and a lover of all things music, he was conflicted as to which tattoo he wanted to get and had shown me several ones from albums he was considering.

Imagine my surprise when he returned and I asked him which one he got and he showed me a tattoo of my first novel, Destiny Calling. The first book of The Enchantlings series.

Speechless doesn’t begin to describe my feelings. Hubs has always supported my writing but he doesn’t read my books, so I felt he couldn’t understand what my books meant to me, but apparently, he could.

Two for One

I know when most people list the best #gifts it’s often things that aren’t of material value. #MFRW
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Things like family, friends and health. I’ve often felt it goes without saying that my twins are one of the best gifts I ever got. Definitely something we weren’t expecting. Well, I was expecting, but it wasn’t until my sonogram at 5 months that we discovered we were getting double.

Then to later confirm we were having girls made my heart swell since I have three sisters (and one brother) and my relationship with my family, and especially my sisters was a wonderful gift, and still is. I’ve often felt it was a gift to have a healthy pregnancy, two healthy babies who were born with a best friend—and the gift of being a mother.

It’s A Blog Hop

If you check out the other author’s blogs you’ll find out how their family survives their writing.

Think the holidays are challenging with families? Try living with a writer all year long. (Here’s an older post of mine on that topic)

Started your holiday shopping yet? Me neither, but here’s your chance to get some gift ideas if you scroll down and check out the Holiday gift guide if you’d like to give the awesome gift that keeps giving all holiday season and then some—a book.

Then check out the new contest below to win a gift for yourself! Us paranormal and fantasy peeps want to help you put the magic back in your holiday season.

What’s The Best Gift You Ever Got?

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

& URBAN FANTASY GIVEAWAY

November 15 – December 5

Kindle Fire 7 • Ebook Prize Packs • Multiple Amazon Gift Cards

Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and urban fantasy fans, we’ve got a giveaway just for you. Enter and you could take home a Kindle Fire 7, Amazon gift card, or ebook prize pack where you get to choose the books you want to win on Amazon, including that latest PNR bestseller you’re lusting after.

And though Halloween may be over, those of us who love witches, vampires, fae, demons, and dragons can never get enough. Feed your fiction addiction (here) with our page full of tasty ebook bargains. All books 2.99 or less, some free!

The post The Best Gift Is One You Never Expected appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But I know just how frustrating it can be to have allergies, because you see, two of my family members have allergies. So, I realize how hard it can be to give up things you love.

The Hubs- Allergies Are Nothing to Sneeze At

The hubs makes up for my lack of allergies by having a plethora of his own. Most are seasonal, and result in him sneezing enough to result in me forgoing my manners because after blessing someone three times or more in a row, it seems as if it’s not going to stick.

Hubs is also allergic to most animals.

This lead to the time we had our first pet being limited. You see, hubs is an animal lover, so he brought home the kitten that he thought didn’t aggravate his allergies—he did—and no amount of vacuuming and cat-bathing helped alleviate it.

Therefore, either the kitten, or the hubs, would have to find a new home. It was a painful decision, but ’m still with hubs, so…seems he lucked out. Although it’s starting to look as if he’s passed on his seasonal allergies to one of our daughters. It seems that the seasons will have our house full of two sniffle-uf-o-guses.

This led to our future pets being what I liked to call, ‘hypo-allergenic’. First a lhasa apso (Bummy) and now our boy, Scruff, a shih tzu.

The Boy- Allergic to Everything, or Nothing

Scruff, or ‘the boy’ as we sometimes refer to him, may be allergic to all manner of things—or nothing at all. It seems the

Vet said it could also be due to anxiety, stress, or boredom.

With the process of elimination, we’ve changed his food, reducing or eliminated grains, chicken etc.

But then it might also be grass or other things in the environment that cause him to lick his feet until occasionally they puff up like tiny pink balloons. As a lover of all-things-food, with a fear that I’ll make good on the threat to get him a cone to wear…

Scruff will be the first to tell you that #allergies stink. #MFRW #author
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The Book – Real or Unrealistic

If you’ve picked up my new release, Not a Chance, you might’ve met up with Ritchie again. We get to know him a little better in this book and find out that Ritchie is allergic to peanuts—or not. Guess you’ll have to read it to judge for yourself.

It’s a Blog Hop

Hop around the blogs and check out if the other authors have the usual, or unusual allergies.

What About You? Allergies or Not?

Who’s Ready for the Holidays?

I’m not! But if you’re starting your holiday shopping, books make great gifts. Need a holiday shopping hand this year?

I’ve teamed up with over forty-five award-winning/bestselling authors to bring you the ultimate holiday gift guide for any booklover. The best part: it’s an online store. Scroll away and do all your holiday shopping in one place. Who knows? You might even find a few books you’d enjoy for yourself.

The post No Allergies for Me— but My Family’s Not So Lucky appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But I’m Not Done Yet

A line from the show Ozark finally put into words what I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around since my twins were born over 17 years ago. The main character, Marty, was talking about when his first child was born and how one of his first thoughts was that, “I can’t die.”

Because once we have children, in my opinion, it’s our responsibility as parents to ensure that we protect them and set them up for success in the world. As the years have passed, each milestone and accomplishment my girls have achieved brought me closer to ensuring that they are safe in this world to the best of our ability.

This has also motivated me to take better care of myself, and to more aware of safety for myself and our family.

Clock’s a Ticking

My fear of running out of time leaks into other aspects of my life. You’ve heard me babble about it before. The overwhelm I cause myself by overcommitting my schedule.

My driven personality pushing me to say yes to every writing opportunity and new story idea that comes my way. I’m constantly pushing against a freelance deadline, or weighed down by the burden of stories that need completed and sent out into the world like my baby girls. Part of it’s the fear of missing out on an opportunity, or a challenge. But saying yes to so much has me always fearing that there’s never enough time.

Fear of Leaving Life on Hold

The long list of responsibilities has most people like me following the practical responsible route in life. While this is a good thing, sometimes it means that some dreams are put on hold for later, or for when we reach this goal, or get to this age, or are this way financially.

It saddens me when I see so many people reach their golden years when they’re finally ready to take their dreams off hold and live the life they’ve dreamed of, but that’s stolen when they run out of time. Either through death, illness, or other physical ailments that make following that dream impossible. They’d left it on hold for so long that the line was disconnected.

Don’t Succumb to the Fear

I must apologize for such a deep, and slightly distressing (at least to me), post when you’re used to some lightness and humor. But the world is full of so many things to fear that it can take over our lives if we let them. That’s one reason I read, and I write, paranormal and fantasy.

The world is so serious so much of the time, escaping with a #book into another world helps melt that #fear. #MFRW
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(Psst- did you hear that my new book baby, Not a Chance, released this week? Check it out and don’t be afraid to grab your copy here!)

It’s a Blog Hop

Hop around and check out what the other authors are sharing about their biggest fears. Hopefully some writing time, and a good book, can help us all slay those fears so they can’t hold us back.

What’s Your Biggest Fear?

The post My Biggest Fear Is Running Out of Time appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

We Just Met

I tend to write, and enjoy reading, character driven stories. Sure, I love some action to get the story going but I can be drawn in just as easily with a well-crafted first line. I want to get to know the characters today before I hear about what happened before.

Because usually I don’t really care—because I don’t know why it’s important, and I don’t care for the character yet.

It’s as if you just meet a person and they start telling you about something that happened years ago, or everything that you weren’t sure you wanted to know about them, before you even know their name or have decided if you liked them that much to listen.

My Memory Stinks

Sure, I’ll read the prologue, but then I find myself repeatedly looking back because I’m trying to remember how many years ago that was, or what was the city, or what the heck happened again when it gets to the part in the story where this is important. I’ve talked about my poor memory of my own past many times before, so if I can’t remember that, I’m surely not going to have space in my mind to remember someone else’s.

It’s Cheating

It’s not really, but it does seem like cheating to me. Weaving in the backstory can be hard. Really hard! Trying to insert the information without telling someone everything upfront is a challenge.

So putting in a bunch of information in the front is kind of like cheating to me. #prologue #MFRW #amwriting
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Believe me, when I was writing my upcoming release, NOT A CHANCE—the 2^nd book in The Enchantlings story, I had to rewrite the beginning multiple times so it wasn’t an information dump for that might bore readers who already read book #1 (DESTINY CALLING) and confusing for readers who started with book #2.

P.S. scroll to the end for the link to the party page for NOT A CHANCE to enter for a chance to win kindles, gift cards, ebooks and other cool stuff for all the contests I’m participating in.

The Author Jury is—Out

Well, you got my two cents. Or probably a quarter’s worth. I hadn’t realized how much I didn’t care for prologues until I started to think about this week’s topic.

But the other author’s in the blog hop haven’t weighed in. I’m sure there are some that have valid reasons why they absolutely love a prologue, but I guess we’ll have to hop around to find out why.

What Are Your Thoughts on Prologues?

Scruff just wanted to make sure that you didn’t miss stopping over at the party page for NOT A CHANCE so you have your chance to sign up for all the giveaways before it’s too late! Click right here to visit.Follow the #MFRW Hop Below!

Then follow the #MFRW Hop below!

The post Do You Think a Prologue Should Stay, or No Way? appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Skip to the End

My girls used to tell me that they often read the last page of a book first to know the ending.

I was horrified. Skip to the end? Are you kidding?

That’s why I write as a panster, and I love a nice surprise (we all know there are bad surprises too).

But I must admit that my favorite epilogue was that for the television series Charmed.

It was one of my favorite shows and I hated to see it come to an end, but they provided a fabulous epilogue that made me feel a little better about leaving my favorite characters. (Yes, I know there’s a new version that started —I haven’t watched it yet. I’m just not sure it will be the same, but I’m sure I’ll check it out sometime.)

Writing Epilogues

I don’t usually write an epilogue and my opinion of epilogues varies depending on the story. So I don’t have a solid answer for this. Some stories it feels right, while other times I feel like it’s an attempt to wrap everything up too neatly and I feel a little cheated.

If my story isn’t over, I usually have so much more to say that I write the next #book. #epilogue #MFRW
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I’m long-winded like that. Hence why the next book in The Enchantlings series, NOT A CHANCE, is up for preorder now and will be released on October 31^st. (Happy Halloween!)

Plus—if you haven’t read the first book, DESTINY CALLING is on sale right now for .99cents.

One of my stories did sort of wrap up in an epilogue, FORGET ME NOT. Since it was a novella, it was nice to give a tiny glimpse of the future for this couple.

My Crystal Ball

My twins are seniors this year. You know, those little baby girls that I used to write the twin talk blog posts to document their stories since I’m terrible at filling out a baby book?

That means many changes for them soon, and for Mom and Dad. I admit, it’s caused

me stress and has had me reflecting on many things, but most of all, I just want to know how everything turns out.

With so many questions, I want answers. Sure, it might take the fun out of the journey a little, but as a Mom, I just want to take the worry away and have the happily ever after.

So, would I peek ahead at the epilogue of this story? You betcha.

It’s Not the End—It’s a Blog Hop

Be sure to check out the other author’s blogs about their thoughts on Epilogue or no?

But before you do, be sure to stop RIGHT HERE where I’m listing all the contests and giveaways this month to celebrate the paranormal season and for the upcoming release of NOT A CHANCE.

I’m telling you I have so many going on that the only way to keep them straight and not miss any was to corral them all together on one big blog post!

Plus, I have a rafflecopter for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card.

What Are Your Thoughts on Epilogue or Not?

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The post Do You Want to Know the End First? appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Although there is something I have that some might consider as a bit of a collection (or hoarder tendencies when it comes to this). But not me, I think it’s more like my method of organization.

What Did You Expect? I’m a Writer

I’ve already discussed my collection of quotes. Cut out quotes, quote books and the way I randomly insert them into everything (note the lovely quote you get with each blog post—I can’t resist.)

Plus, I’m sure that me, and almost every other writer, may confess to an unhealthy obsession to sticky notes and other office products, but there is one other item that seems to leak into my day job as well…binders.

Can’t Beat a Binder

As the world pushes for less and less paper, I can’t stop myself from killing the trees by succumbing to the need to print things out so I can reference them and read them better–or is it just how nice they look and feel in a binder?

It seems that the whole out of sight is out of mind when I store stuff on my computer, who knows what I have? I like to be able to look around and find my binder and leaf through the information.

This would be a great idea if I didn’t have so many binders. Thus, it kind of continues with the problem with finding anything because I must search through all the binders lining my office, closet and desks. It seems I never have enough. But I don’t call it a collection, I call it being organized. Well, at least in my mind.

No wonder I #write about trees taking on human-like characteristics in DESTINY CALLING. They’re probably seeking revenge for all the paper filling my binders. #MFRW
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Creepy Collections

Now in my books I sometimes give my characters odd, or creepy collections. In DESTINY CALLING Aunt Ruthie collects dolls. You know, the creepy ones that belong in that Creepy Ass Dolls Book I got my sister (who returned it to me since it was so darn creepy). My heroine, Hope, is also uneasy around Aunt Ruthie’s plastic children.

More Odd Collections

So, my collection isn’t all that odd. Probably just more annoying to the other office staff I work with who see me coming with that look in my eye and they know that I am going to need another binder.

But perhaps if you hop around to check out the other author’s blogs you might discover some other odd collections. It’s entirely possible. You know how weird writers can be.

But before you go, make sure you check out the awesome limited time .99 cent sale my publisher is having for EVIL SPEAKS SOFTLY. It’s your chance to get in the spirit of the season.

If you’ve already read EVIL SPEAKS SOFTLY—thank you!—consider leaving a review and I won’t haunt you one day will love you forever!

What Do You Collect?

The post Your Odd Collection Is My Organization appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

If I’m sharing my secret snack here, it won’t be a secret anymore, but what I’m sharing most people wouldn’t consider a snack and it’s not all that secret.

P.S. Be sure to scroll to the bottom if you want a great sale to snack on!

Defining a Snack

A snack could mean different things to different people. In fact, when my twins were small, they loved to snack. Pretty much

all day long (no idea where they got that from—stashes fruit.) They loved food and there was not much that they wouldn’t eat, which made it easy on us as parents.

When I’d come home from the grocery store they’d rush to gather all the groceries and make a snack tower on the floor. I have no idea where they got the idea that cans and bottles and bags could make a fantastic tower of snacks—but it pleased them immensely.

So putting the groceries away took a little longer than usual since I had to wait until the snack tower was complete and they got bored.

My Favorite Snack

There are many food I like to eat, but there are a few things that I go for when I need just a little bit of something, or maybe a taste of something sweet. One is peanut butter and the other is marshmallow crème. They can be eaten together or individually and neither require a plate, only silverware and —no double dipping!

I usually cut up a banana with the peanut butter so I kept a jar of peanut butter at work. That became a recipe for disaster (and a belly full of too much peanut butter) when I realized the banana was merely a vehicle to get to the peanut butter and I’d just end up having a spoon (too many spoons!) of peanut butter.

A few months ago, one of my girls pulled out the tub (getting the larger size is not a good idea to start with—learn from my mistakes!) of marshmallow crème and said, “What’s this?” The look on her face told me that she knew what it was but what she didn’t understand was why I kept buying it and none of the recipes for fudge on the container ever materialized, not even so much as a fluffer-nutter sandwich.

I don’t just have a sweet tooth, I have a whole mouth full of them. #snack #MFRW
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That’s because it’s too darn good on its own. I’m not even that big of a fan of marshmallows, but there is just something about melted marshmallow on a spoon for a quick bit of sweetness. (P.S. check a mirror after your snack, it’s not so secret when you’re walking around with marshmallow lining your lips. Don’t say that you weren’t warned.)

Still Hungry?

Hop around to the other author blogs to find some other great ideas for more snacks!

Need a book to read with that snack? If you haven’t picked up your copy of EVIL SPEAKS SOFTLY grab it now while it’s on sale for .99 cents for a limited time!

A perfect read to ease into what I love to call paranormal season where we get to have fun with the things we imagine go bump in the night.

What’s Your Favorite Snack?

The post My Not So Secret Not Really Snack appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.