My Made-Up Holiday

 By Maureen Bonatch

Scruff said that no matter what holiday- he wants presents!

Today is a holiday in my neck of the woods, (and I’m not talking about Sidewalk Egg Frying Day), but as with most holidays, it’s not one that everyone celebrates, depending upon where you live and how much you love this holiday. We all have our favorites and make a bigger deal out of some than others. 

Happy…Merry…Holiday! 

Now I’ve been posting on the 4th of the month at Paranormal Romantics for, well, many years. So this year, rather than discuss the 4th of July/Independence Day, I thought I’d venture into another topic about holidays — how they keep multiplying. 

Depending on where you look, you can probably find a holiday for about every day of the year. I guess if you really want to celebrate something, you’ll find something. 

A few places to find odd holidays include: 

• Weird and Obscure Holidays

• Weird National Holidays

• Strangest Holidays

If there are so many different holidays, I don’t see why we can’t suggest some new ones. (Although if we look around, they might already exist) So here’s mine.

Sweatpants Day

To be honest, I daydreamed about having a holiday called sweatpants day much more often when I didn’t work remotely. Since I started working remotely almost five years ago, I’ve made it my personal holiday almost every day (or yoga pants day) since video conference calls are only the waist up. But, I didn’t use to get to work in comfort.

Prior to that, I worked in several offices that had specific dress codes, which included the dreaded nylons. Not the cute ones that you see nowadays, but the ones with the lovely reinforced toes, enough compression to cut off circulation, and the tendency to get a runner about five minutes after putting them on. In a nutshell—although they often came in an egg—they were really uncomfortable, especially when you paired them with some heels that looked gorgeous if you were sitting but inflicted pain or discomfort with each step. 

This is why most of us would gladly contribute five to ten dollars every once in a while to have a jeans day. I don’t even like jeans unless they are stretchy, but uncomfortable times call for compromise. 

So I’d dream of the day that Sweatpants Day would become a holiday. Since it never happened, I had to work remotely to make it my own. 

What Would Your Made-Up Holiday Be and Why?

But Wait- there's more! Here are some sales and freebies to enjoy while celebrating your made-up holiday!

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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. 

Maureen writes cozy paranormal mysteries and paranormal romance 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 caffeine and wine are essential for survival.

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Why Do We Like It Hot?

 By Maureen L Bonatch 

Happy Sidewalk Egg Frying Day! Yep, you thought I was going to say Happy Independence Day or 4^th of July for those of you who celebrate this holiday like I do- well, I’ll say that, too. But since I have the date of the 4^thof July every year here at Paranormal Romantics, I’ve talked about the fireworks in a story before. 

So, like you, I initially wondered exactly how Sidewalk Egg Frying Day came to be a ‘day’. Although it does seem there’s a day for just about everything anymore. 

Plus, most places are reaching that temperature this time of year that you probably could fry your eggs on the sidewalk if you chose to. 

Some Like It Hot 

Although as hot as it gets, and as much as people complain about the brutal weather, it seems most people prefer the hot temperatures over the cold. We’re looking for beach reads, or reading books where the characters are vacationing at the beach themselves. 

Even I’m currently planning for a beach vacation, despite knowing that I don’t tolerate the heat well. My pasty, Irish skin doesn’t care for the sun’s rays and my body seems to be constantly trying to cool itself—and failing. Yet like most of us, I’m still drawn to the sun like a bug to the light.

Winter Wonderland

Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the colder months and the comfort that comes with them of reading next to a nice fire, or swaddling myself in soft blankets or comfortable clothes.

But it seems that if it’s cold, the books I read with that setting feature a story about Christmas, or other holidays. Why aren’t there more books that we could call a ‘cabin cozy’ or ones we can ‘hibernate’ with over the long cold winter months when it seems that we’d be more likely to want to escape with a story? 

Fall for You

Personally, fall is my favorite season. Not too hot, not too cold—just right. Although some years it seems that mother nature forgets about this season and lets summer drag on, or she rushes right into winter. 

To help me think about a cool fall breeze caressing my skin that wants to challenge the sidewalk today to fry an egg, I write, or read, about that season in most of my stories. 

Do You Prefer a Beach Read or a Cabin Cozy?

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

What Kind of Fireworks Are You Looking For In a Story?

by Maureen L. Bonatch 

Happy 4^th of July (Independence Day) for all those who are celebrating today! On this day, and many other days of the year, people are often looking for a reason to set off fireworks. Whether it’s the loud sound that gives your heart a little jump-start, the threat of an underlying danger, the risk of dealing with such a volatile substance, or the magnificent colors that light up the sky, so many people love fireworks.

But what kind of fireworks are you looking for in a story? You know, not necessarily the genre—because you can mix and match elements of the story with different genres—but more that little something that makes your heart beat a little faster. That essential part that makes you pick up the book in the first place. There’s often something that gives a story the edge that keeps you from putting the book down.

Did You Know…

Fireworks were invented in the 7^th century in China and were believed to scare away evil spirits and bring luck and happiness.

Light the Match

There are so many wonderful books available to read. So many that unfortunately we are often consciously, or unconsciously, navigate toward certain elements in a story. When you discover those little things in the blurb, an excerpt, or first pages, you know that you’re probably going to like the book. (And if you’re here, I can only assume you enjoy the paranormal and fantasy in a story as much as we do!)

Burn The Fuse

So you’ve chosen your next book from your TBR (to-be-read) pile. You might love the author’s voice, the characters, the setting, but

often there is one part that you’re waiting for. That something that keeps you hurrying through the pages. You know—the good parts. Nope—I'm not just talking about the sex scenes. The best parts of a story are based upon personal preference.

The Fireworks!

Here come all the Ooohs! And Ahhhs! in the story. I’ll name a few story fireworks, but I’m sure you have more to add to our glorious display.

        Love Scenes

Okay, for many people this is the part they’re waiting for. Their sweet spot is when the hero and heroine finally hook up.

Magic

I must admit, in most stories, this is what I’m waiting for. Where’s the magic? The moment when Harry found out he was a wizard? Wow—in my opinion, that’s when the story just got started.

Mystery

Do you love fishing for those red herrings in the story? Maybe you love lining up the clues and guessing who the bad guy really is.

Kicking-Ass

I have to say, this might come in second for me. I love a kick-ass heroine. It’s nice for the hero to sweep her off her feet now and again, but nothing is more exciting than seeing a heroine landing on her own two feet on her own. Especially since I have two teenage daughters who are avid readers. Those are the kind of women I want to inspire them.

So, Where Do You Find the Fireworks in A Story?

Hurry before the fuse burns out— the .99 cents sale ends is a few days—snag some story fireworks in DESTINY CALLING where you’ll definitely find my two favorite fireworks of magic and kick-ass heroines.

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

       Happy 4th of July!

        Have a Safe Holiday

Maureen L. Bonatch

Penning stories boasting laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world.

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