The Eternal Message of Hope

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope 2020 is treating you well.

Recently, I was one of several SFR authors who contributed to a blog about our takes on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Below is my contribution:

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT!

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, turn away from the dark side!

As one of my besties & I took our seats in the theater to see The Rise of Skywalker, a sense of finality came over me. This was it, the last movie of a surprise franchise that began over forty years ago. I was a skinny, bespectacled seventh grader when A New Hope released. I was also living in Japan, and at that time new cinema releases were out for a year in the U.S. before they were sent overseas. (They did send Mark Hamill to visit his old high school, which was on the same Army base as the middle school I attended, but that’s another story.)

All we could do was wait. As fate would have it, my dad was transferred stateside and we left the week before Star Wars arrived at the base theater. The first thing my mom did after we arrived in California was to take my sister and I to see the movie—a whole week before my friends got to see it! It was awesome, and it seemed like the story (like the lines) would never end.

But, it has.

Did The Rise of Skywalker live up to my expectations? Overall, yes. Do I have questions? Most definitely. Would I change anything? Yes! The most glaring issue to me—which started in The Force Awakens—is the relationship between Poe and Finn. OMG, people! These two should’ve gotten together!

Now, I’m not a Rose-hater…I actually love her character. And since the powers that be did not see fit to romantically link Poe and Finn, then why not let Finn and Rose hook up? All in all, it would’ve been great if they hadn’t even tried to force that relationship to begin with, but to turn around and cover it up in the latest movie like it’d never happened? Messy loose end.

My biggest heartache was that Rey and Ben will never get together. He dies, she lives, minus the greatest love of her life. This is, of course, my internal romance writer soul crying out at the injustice of them not getting their happily ever after. How-e-ver, there is always a price that must be paid, and Ben’s death—his separation from the woman he loves—is his price. And most of me is good with that.

If I could, what one thing would I change in this movie? Simple. When Luke and Leia appeared to Rey (beautiful and touching, imo), Ben should’ve been with them. He found the good within himself at the eleventh hour, much like Anakin did. And, he quite literally gave his life for her. (Tell me you didn’t cry about that! I did. Like hormonal teenager.)

Bottom line: Despite the still unanswered questions, J. J. Abrams did a phenomenal job wrapping up the Skywalker saga. I wish it could go on forever, but after forty plus years, I’m happy.

I wonder if Abrams would consider going back and remaking parts 1-3…?

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Laurie A. Green did a brilliant follow-up piece on this blog yesterday, and really nailed it. (Read here) 

And gang, you REALLY need to see this see this Rey + Ben video!

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This is happening right now in my world!

My next book in the Prophecy series will release March 10^th! Skylar’s Gift is a novella set shortly after Collision, Book Three in the series.

Reserve your copy now for a special preorder price! (Price goes up after release.)

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USA Today Bestselling Author, Lea Kirk, loves to transport her readers to other worlds with her sci-fi romances. 

When she’s not busy writing about the blue and green aliens of her Prophecy series, she’s hanging out with her hubby, five kids (the nerd herd), and a spoiled Dobie mix pup. 

She's currently working of the fourth book in her Prophecy series, and three new books for a new series to be released this fall. 

For more on Lea's writing journey, check out her:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Amazon | GoodReads|  Newsletter

My Favorite Thing About the New Year is Last Year

By Maureen Bonatch

I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions. Sure, I’ve made them, but all too often they’re the same resolutions and feel more like a ‘to do’ list, or even a ‘things I feel guilty about not doing last year list’. So much that I could label it as things I should’ve done last year—eat healthier, exercise more, spend more time writing etc. etc. Or I should say, ditto from last year.

I’ve tried making detailed lists of steps to reach these goals at the start of the New Year, but instead of motivating me to do more, it simply gave me more to feel guilty about a few months into the year when I realize how far I’d fallen behind. Besides, I’ve come to accept that the motivation and desire to make a change is more important—and effective— than the month of the year.

Paper Calendar of Dreams

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a new year isn’t always resolutions—it’s getting out my new calendar. Sure, I have an online google calendar, and it’s awesome—but it isn’t enough. There’s something about a paper calendar.

When I get my new monthly desk calendar out, the crisp blank pages are waiting for me to make them my own, just like the new year. Each new month just waiting to be filled with all the hopes, dreams and goals for the new year.

Life Happens Between the Wrinkled Pages

Life is busy. So much that sometimes the days, months and years seem to blur together. I’ll wonder if something happened this year— or maybe it was the year before. When I pull out the calendar for the year that’s ending, I go through it month by month to write down those special days that reoccur every year such as birthdays and anniversaries. Adding stickers or highlighting so I don’t forget, and to remind me what I have to look forward to when I flip to that new month.

Usually this mundane task inadvertently results in my reflecting on the past year. Recalling the challenges, the joys, and the memories that were made. It allows me to appreciate just how much happened, in addition, or instead of, those recurring resolutions.

Because often the best things in life are all those little things that happen while we’re focusing on what we think are the big things.

How Do You Reflect on the Passing Year?

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter

Be the first to know about Maureen’s book sales and new releases by following her on BookBub, Amazon and/or signing up for her newsletter

Happy 2020 by Diane Burton

A new year. A new beginning. Time to figure out where we're going and how we're going to get there. 

I love the idea of the Roman god Janus representing the new year. He's pictured looking back and looking forward. An old man and a boy. A year can be hard on a person. Just look at our presidents after they've spent a year (or 4) in office. That job really ages them. So too, a year ages all of us. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes not. 

Our family has had a year of health problems. Yet we've had some highs in spite of the lows. Hubs needs his aortic valve replaced (finally he'll get it tomorrow); our niece's baby was born at 25 weeks, one pound & change (now weighs 12 lbs and is thriving); my sister's breast cancer returned (she's undergoing radiation after a lumpectomy on one side and a mastectomy on the other, but the prognosis is good). 

Since Lea Kirk wrote such a great post on looking back at 2019, I'll strive to look forward now. What does 2020 have in store for us here on Paranormal Romantics? More sharing of information, tips and tricks, more ideas to help us be better writers. Sharing our ups and downs so we can celebrate and commiserate with each other. Knowing we're not alone in this struggle to write engaging books.

My new year wishes for all of us:

    good health
    strong writing habits
    writing enjoyment
    happiness
    books that fly off the shelves (virtual or brick-&-mortar stores)
    NYT bestseller

I deliberately put happiness before the last 2. Will having a best-seller or books that fly off the shelves make us happy? It would make my bank account happy. LOL Having good health, enjoying writing, and having better writing habits will make me much happier. I hope it will be the same for you.

May you have a great 2020!

PS Today is the last day for Smashwords End of the Year Sale. 

5 of my books are on sale for 1/2 off:

The Pilot
Rescuing Mara's Father
Mission to New Earth
Romance Rekindled
The Case of the Bygone Brother