When It’s Time for an Update

 

We’re getting new carpet upstairs this week. Believe me, this was long overdue. But unlike this cute new mouse pad that I got for my writing desk, sometimes, changes aren’t that easy.

Most of us like to be comfortable and enjoy a predictable routine. The disruption and chaos to our home when we emptied out the rooms has been the biggest challenge. 

Now most of the items from the office have been stacked in our bedroom all week. This forced me to take a long look at what I’ve been holding on to for years. I kept some things for sentimental value, others because I might need that someday, right? Even if I haven’t looked at it for years and years? Or is it also saved digitally?

Nope. I don’t need all that.

This was a surprise because I hate clutter, and I’m always going through things. But apparently, paper products and binders haven’t been high on that list—until now. I’m hoping that once the carpet is complete and I’ve gone through everything (okay, most of the things, let’s not get too crazy. I don’t have all year, lol), I’ll be rewarded with a less cluttered office to write in. Since clutter reduces my productivity, this should be a good thing for all the writing plans I have for this year. 

Author Updates

This year has also been a time for other updates for my writing career. So far, most of these tasks have felt like I’ve been pushing an enormous boulder up a hill, but I hope to soon release it. Let’s just hope that the boulder goes over and down the hill and doesn’t roll back on me!

A few of these updates include:

• A new logo for my cozy mystery pen name

• A new pen name for my upcoming urban fantasy 

• A new logo for the new urban fantasy pen name

• Updates to my Maureen Bonatch website 

• A website for my new urban fantasy pen name 

Why all of these updates? 

Because I have 3 new paranormal cozy mystery books coming out in the next few months. Then I’m planning for the release of the new pen name and urban fantasy books over the fall of 2022 into 2023. 

Stay in the Loop

If you want to stay in the loop for all these updates, sign up for my newsletter right here and/or join my Facebook group right here. That way you'll be the first to see the new logos and covers, as well as find out about release dates, sales, and other fun stuff!

Fun Stuff and Freebies

Fill up your TBR with some of these goodies!

Cozy Mystery Freebies: Click Right Here

Mystery Cozy and Clean: Click Right Here

What do you want to update this year? 

Just a small-town girl, Maureen Bonatch leads a double life. She lives in a magical world as a novelist, and as a nurse leader in reality. Maureen’s first novella was a paranormal romance published when blogs were a new-fangled thing. She’s since changed her focus to writing paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch and urban fantasy as Maureen Bonatch. 

While she’s not busy writing or doing nurse-things, she’s a mom to her twin daughters, bicycling in the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby, doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, and dancing as much as possible. She believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and that caffeine and wine are essential for survival.

Follow me on Amazon Right Here.

Happy New Year! by Diane Burton

 

Did you stay up last night to usher in 2022? I hate to admit that staying up until midnight is getting harder each year. 😀 Last year at this time, I was looking forward to the new year, knowing it had to be better than 2020. Hah! Still, I'm confident 2022 has to get better.

Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, is often used to depict the new year. The old man is looking to the past, while the young man looks to the future. It's no surprise that the month of January, the beginning of the new year, is named for him. 

Gates or portals are also symbols of Janus. When we open a gate, we're going forward as well as leaving something behind. A transition, if you will. On January 1st, we transition to a new calendar year. Who knew when we entered 2020, what changes lay ahead? A pandemic of proportions unheard of since 1918 hit the world with disastrous results. So, when we learned a vaccine was available early in 2021, we figured that was the end of it. The optimistic me shouted "hurray" while the cynical me said "yeah, right." Here we are, almost 2 years into the pandemic, with another variant of the virus filling hospitals to capacity. 

Janus also symbolizes change. Boy, oh boy, have we had to make changes in our lives. I don't need to tell you that! Despite quarantine, or maybe because of it, we've developed or expanded on new ways of meeting--Zoom, FaceTime. A new phrase entered our vocabulary: binge-watching. Were we just wasting time or filling our creative wells? 

Change is never easy. It takes us out of our comfort zone and tosses us into new situations. We either "go with the flow" or flounder. Being flexible makes change a lot easier.

Traditionally, the new year marks a new beginning, a time to make changes in our lives--also known as resolutions. I prefer to think of them as goals. As professional writers, a good business practice is to make a one-year plan plus 5- and 10-year plans. Sometimes, it's hard enough making a weekly plan. 😄 

Nevertheless, I'm determined to make some changes in my writing life. One of my goals is to be more visible online. Other than my once a month post here and a monthly post with the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop, I've neglected my blog. That's changing today with rejoining the Weekend Writing Warriors weekly hop.

Why make myself more visible online? I plan to release at least 2 books this year. That's going to "force" me to make several changes, including (but not limited to) reduce my binge-watching.

Small changes. Baby steps. A renewal of my writing life.

What changes are you planning for 2022?

Change by Diane Burton

 

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.  Charles Darwin

That quote is particularly relevant over the past year. How we deal with change says a lot about our character. I've been known to grouse, complain, and cry over changes. Stiffening my spine and controlling my lip's quiver make me stronger. "Fake 'til you make it." Now that's something I can identify with.

Have you seen the commercial for a drug (an antidepressant, I think) where a woman holds a smiling mask in front of her face, telling everyone she's okay? I've done that, too. I don't want to admit my life is a mess. After a time of faking that I'm okay, I convince myself I am.

When our governor shut down schools last March, I watched in admiration as teachers changed from in-person teaching to virtual. Parents stepped up and worked with their kids using this new medium. Was it easy? No way.

Restaurant managers filled an empty spot in our lives and offered take-out. It sort of  replaced our weekly night out dining and kept their staff working. Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub exploded in popularity. As did Shipt and Instacart.

We learned to adapt.

I hate to shop, especially for groceries, because I have chronic low back pain. I'd heard of grocery delivery but never tried it. Until covid. Hubs and I hunkered down and stayed away from people. For a while I did curbside pickup. Then came the time when I couldn't leave Hubs alone for fear of him falling. Delivery service was like a miracle.

We talk about the time when we can get back to normal. I don't think we ever will. At least, not the "normal" we knew. We will have a new normal. Mask wearing and social distancing will be around for a while. It's not easy. Change never is. We like our status quo. 

Change is always around the corner. How we adapt to change is the key. What changes have you had to make?

  

 

Don't Let the Fear of Change Hold You Back

By Maureen Bonatch 

The holiday season is usually stressful for most, but it can be especially stressful for Scruff. I can't blame him. Scruff is like most people. He likes routines. He likes his things to be in the same place and he really doesn't care for change—until he does. But it's that time in between. The uncertainty of what to expect, the fear of the unknown, that causes him much distress. 

Thus, when we began moving things around the house and putting up holiday decorations in November, Scruff was very worried despite him going through this same routine seven times over his lifetime. 

Where were we putting his toys? What is going on? 

He'd gotten very comfortable with how things were all year and didn't think that it could be different, or any better. But once the decorations were out and his toys were still there, even if they were in a different location, he decided he was okay with it. His world didn't end, it was just...different. 

But then he had to deal with Christmas morning and finally those presents that were under the tree were going to be opened. Once again he worried that this was yet another change. He'd just gotten used to ignoring the gifts and accepting that nothing needed to change.

       Here is a picture of Scruff looking a bit apprehensive about these Christmas shenanigans.

                                        

Once Scruff realized there were presents for him and that this could be kind of fun, he decided he was definitely good with opening presents. This change was good. He'd much rather open presents than just gather them and look at them and wonder how his world might change if he opened them. 

Then, just this week, he had to endure another difficult day wondering what was going on with his world when we put all the holiday decorations away. But then once we were done, his toys were back where they originally belonged and things were good again. But initiating the change, enduring it and then accepting it is hard, even if it's for the better in the long run. 

Embracing Change for the New Year 

Many of us are thinking about New Year's resolutions and positive changes for 2021. Many of us will forget all about those resolutions and goals within a few weeks because changing a habit or mindset is hard and most of us really want to go for the big pie in the sky changes—and we'd prefer if they happened overnight. 

So if you're like me, you're scouring all the success stories of people who have achieved your goal, whether it's to lose weight, incorporate exercising, paying off debt or being a wild success in their career. Then you try to absorb all of that and lay out an overwhelming amount of plans to make it happen—and usually while looking for the fastest, easiest way —until you realize that the way one person achieves a goal might not work because we only know what's going to work well for ourselves. 

I couldn't tell Scruff (well at least I wasn't sure that he'd understand) that there was nothing to worry about with this change. That maybe he'd like it better once it was done or that he just had to endure a little work and perhaps discomfort or uncertainty for the end result. 

But we can give ourselves that very advice. We can tell ourselves that we've made goals before and often achieved them. It just might take time, persistence and changing some of our habits today to make the tomorrow we envision. The challenge will be whether or not we will listen. 

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

Starting A New Chapter

 I’ve finished a few really good books this summer. 

Ones that I couldn’t stop turning the pages, pushing through the story as fast as I could to see what happened next, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end. 

But if I didn’t keep reading, I wouldn’t get to enjoy the next chapter, and see the characters evolve and grow.

It’s kind of like life. Although we often try to start a story in the middle of the action, or that moment when something significant changes, but in real life we might be more reluctant to turn the page.

Enjoy the moment, they said

The start of the story

Time goes quickly, they said. Sometimes it didn’t seem like that, but in reflection it always seems to be true. I’ve always found the passing of time to be bittersweet, and desired to bottle up certain moments and memories to freeze or relive again and again.

This year has felt as if the chapters were too short, and going by too quickly, and at times I wanted to go back and reread the story, even though it wasn’t done. One turn of events seeming to spur the next and gathering momentum as it went. 

My twin daughters sped through their senior year, getting their driver’s license and then starting a new chapter in their life this fall by moving into college, thus forcing my husband and I to start a new chapter of our own—whether we wanted to or not.

The Characters in Our Story

As each of us write our own, our stories impact the other characters in our life. Most times we can only go along with the story and then turn the page—and see what happens next.

Start a new story, and find out how Hope meshes with her new quirky family members in Destiny Calling.

Are you Ready for a New Chapter? Or Do You Prefer to ReRead the Story? 

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

Embrace Change for a Magical New Year

By Maureen L. Bonatch

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

One of the most overused quotes, yet most of us continue to ignore the message. Perhaps that’s because most people like to be comfortable and don’t like change…even if it might be good for them.

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

– George Bernard Shaw

Yet when you read almost any book, there is always either an internal or external change involved with the character. No one wants to read a book about someone who never experienced any change or growth. We’d be turning the pages waiting for the “black moment” or the “Inciting incident” and all we’d find would be more of the same.

So why not write your own story of growth and progress for 2017?”

Calling all Writers

·      AutoCrit & Grammarly

o   I’ve been complaining (to myself, and anyone who would listen) about my endless editing process forever. This is one of the reasons why I have manuscripts piled up waiting for edits—until I decided no more excuses.

o   I stopped editing the way I always have and invested in new programs to change my process—so far it seems quicker, and better already.

What about you? Does Your Editing Process Need Tweaking?

·      Scrivener

o   I must admit, I haven’t explored this yet, but I’ve wanted to try it for years. I’m not sure why I waited so long (procrastination! Ack- change!) just to look at it. This year I’ll discover if I’m a Scrivener lover or hater.

Any Scrivener Lovers or Haters Here?

·      Text to Speech

o   As a Mac user I’ve had it all along—who knew?! It’s so much more effective than trying to read through my manuscript.

Your Home & Health

I think I’ve chased every diet and fad for most of my adult life. Only one program has ever worked for me, so I went back to it last year, and if I stick with it, it works.

1.    Physical Health

·      The Bad news= there is no magic pill to lose weight.

·       The Good News= Weight Watchers works- if you are ready to commit (don’t ask me about December- but I’m recommitted today!)

·      As for exercise, I blathered on about my treadmill desk last month, so I won’t bore you with that. Check that info out here. 

Brace Yourselves. January= a million diet & exercise commercials.

2.    Keeping Your House Healthy

     

Not much makes me happier than organizing stuff. That’s why I’ve been stocking up all kinds of tips on my Pinterest Board. I’ve tried the cleaning supplies over the door organization & love it and can’t wait to try the wrapping paper over the door organization.

·      Are You an Organization geek, like me? Check out some of the cool stuff I’ve come across on Pinterest here

·      Overwhelmed with emails? Especially after the holidays when everyone wants your email address? You know you don’t want any more emails, but can’t resist the lure of those treasured coupons! Check out this site to unsubscribe from a bunch at once.  

·      Because I spend far too much time in cyberspace, if you follow my blog, I try to share tips like these that I’ve come across at least once a month or more. 

3.    Keeping Your Mind Healthy- Never Stop Learning

They say keeping your mind active and engaged helps keep you young. With the plethora of online courses, there is no excuse not to keep exploring new things.

I admit, I love online classes and have taken a lot, but last year, I ventured into Freelance Writing.

·      You say there’s no time to cram one more thing into your busy day? Here’s some tips I shared on how to find some extra time in your day. 

·      Interested in Freelance Writing yourself? (P.S. This is an affiliate link, but only cause I loved the course!) Here is the course I took- 30 Days or Less to Freelance Success 

·      If you love Pinterest Gina also has a new course on becoming a Virtual Assistant for Pinterest. I’ve not tried this course- but I’ve found all of Gina’s courses/info to be very helpful & Pinterest seems to be hot right now so thought I’d share it. (Also- an affiliate link)

I hope you’ve found something to inspire you to make that change you’ve been considering for the new year. Write your own story and be the heroine you know yourself to be!

What Are Your Plans for the New Year? Do You Make Goals and/or Resolutions?

One of my writing goals for the Month of January is to use my new tools and tricks to finish edits on Book #2 of The Enchantlings Series entitled Not A Chance.

Here’s a little about my first book in The Enchantlings Series- Destiny Calling

Guess What? I changed updated the blurb a little :) 

When the woman who raised Hope is murdered by something not human, Hope loses the only family she knows and discovers one she might wish she never met. With a touch that can make the desperate hopeful, Hope is the answer. 

The only question is if she can deal with sibling rivalry, accept that entities feeding off despair exist, and determine if Griffith is the man of her dreams, or not at all what he seems.  

About Maureen

Maureen Bonatch dreamt of becoming a Solid Gold Dancer. When the show ended, she followed other paths. Surviving motherhood to twins (so far) gave her the confidence to take belly dancing, declare herself a tequila connoisseur and act as biker babe with her alpha hubby. 

Maureen grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—biking, sweat pants, hockey and hibernation—kept 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 Me:

Writing on my Website

Tweeting on Twitter

Pinning on Pinterest

Flapping on Facebook