Paranormal Romantics: Pennsylvania

Showing posts with label Pennsylvania. Show all posts

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Blog Blast From the Past

By Maureen Bonatch

When I realized that the 4th of the month was coming up and that it was my turn to post, my mind came up blank for new ideas. As an introvert more skilled at listening than talking, despite a world pushing FOMO, I usually prefer silence, and it often feels like I have nothing new to say.

At first, I thought I was just procrastinating writing a blog, but as I continued to scour my brain for an interesting topic, each time one surfaced, I realized I talked about that topic on the blog before.

No surprise there, since I’ve been blogging at Paranormal Romantics for almost 10 years now, as well as other blogs, including my personal blog. It’s no wonder that sometimes I feel all talked out. But sometimes, just like a favorite book or movie, it’s fun to rewatch or revisit those times.

So I thought we’d pop through blog cyberspace to visit some of those previous Paranormal Romantics blogs and the blogs of ideas past.

A pic from the past with my prior pup, Bummy, helping me write the old-fashioned way when I could still kind of read my handwriting.

As a proud Pennsylvanian, I considered talking about something related to that.

I’m sure there are plenty more topics about living in PA, but here are a few that I’ve already talked about.

Signs You Might be From Pennsylvania: Whatcha’ Talkin About Willis:
Cookie Tables: Let Them Eat Cookies
Covered Bridges: Uncovering the Magic of Covered Bridges

Then I thought About Things to Do on the Weekend.

How About a Movie: 10 Movies on the Must Watch, and then Watch Again, and Again, List
Maybe Some Self-Care: Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Or a DIY Favorite of Mine: My DIY Treadmill Desk

Valentine’s Day is Coming Up. I Can Write About That! Oh..Wait…

Valentine's Day Gifts: 10 Reasons Books Make Great Valentine Gifts
Romance Writing & Valentine’s Day: A Magical Time for Romance and Reflection

I hope you enjoyed this journey down my blog memory lane. This is just a small taste of the many blogs I’ve written for Paranormal Romantics.

Do You Have a Book, Movie, or Topic That You Can’t Resist Visiting Over and Over Again?

Now I’d better start thinking about March, so I have some new ideas. Not that there isn’t a way to take any topic and write it with a fresh perspective, just like a story.

Until then, here are some things to keep you cozy during those cold winter days with some cozy mystery sales and freebies.

Happy Valentine’s Day Cozy Mystery Sales

https://books.bookfunnel.com/happyvalentinesdaycozymysteries/8r4rwxmjxo

February Free Cozy Mysteries!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/cozymysterylover/d92xo4oa9e

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 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 that caffeine and wine are essential for survival.

Visit my Website: https://www.maureenbonatch.com/

Keep the conversation going by joining my Facebook Group right HERE! https://www.facebook.com/groups/630494098126926

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Whatcha Talkin’ Bout, Willis?

By Maureen Bonatch

“Once I finish redding up the house ‘N at do yinz’ want to run down to the state store?”

You might be from Pennsylvania if you read—and understood—that sentence without hesitation. Many of us use local slang without considering that it may only be understood by those in the area. Or while you’re traveling your slang, or the accent that you didn’t realize you had, may help others place your home town.

But what happens when slang, or unusual terms, are used in a story?

Keep it Simple Silly

As a writer, using key terms for an area might help it make the story feel more authentic, but if you overdo it, then it can pull the reader out of a story.

As a reader, learning new words and expressions while reading can be enjoyable—until you have to stop to google a term.

Being pulled out of the story can take away from the scene and leave the reader feeling confused, or with the need to re-read the paragraph.

Consider Other Options

If you really want to add in some slang, consider having another character rephrase so the definition is in the story and the reader doesn’t have to go searching.

“It will take you forever to finish cleaning up the house. Besides, we have plenty of liquor here. What else did you want from the state store?”

Other authors might add a glossary of terms for reference.

You Might Be From PA if…

I might use a few terms or pronunciations specific to Pennsylvanians, but not all of these. How many are you familiar with?

Buggy
Warsh
Crick
Shush
Gum Bands
Hoagie
Jagoff
Sweeper
Philly
Djeetyet?
Yinz
Youns
Dippy eggs
Wooder
Gutchies
Dahntahn
Gesundheit
Slippy
Babushka
Pop
Scrapple

Do you have any slang terms from your neck of the woods that you’d like to share?

In the mood for some cozy reading?

Step into Spring with a Cozy by clicking right here.

Cozy Mysteries for Mom -Before school gets out- Click Right Here to check them out!

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.

Follow M.L. Bonatch all through cyberspace!

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Keep the conversation going by joining my Facebook Group right HERE!

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Uncovering the Magic of Covered Bridges

By Maureen Bonatch

Many of us might find ourselves looking for a little magic in our lives when we begin to tire from the same old same old and long for something…different. We might jump in the car, or take a cross-country trip to sightsee or explore something old, or new. Although sometimes, it can be as simple as looking a little closer to discover what we’re missing in our own ‘backyard’.

Covered Bridges

I’ve lived in the same area all my life, so it would seem that I’ve seen all there is to see, while actually I tend to take for granted, or overlook, what’s right under my nose. Granted, these places are not actually in my backyard, but often things not too far away if you’re looking.

Psst—check out this post when I discussed a visit to Buttermilk Falls.

Recently, I went on a long, backwoods drive with my hubby as he reminisced about the places he hadn’t visited for many years since his youth. While driving we came across a few of the covered bridges in our area. I’ve visited most of them at some point, but never thought much about it. They’ve always been there—obviously since they’re well over a hundred years old.

This prompted our discussion of how our county has 4 covered bridges, and Pennsylvania has 219 of the 1,600 remaining covered bridges—the most of any state. So what I might take for granted, many have never seen in person. Most covered bridges are fairly isolated which leaves them subject to vandalism, and many deteriorated from neglect and the high cost of restoration.

The picture is of the Trusal bridge. The oldest in our county, built in 1870. Of the four in our county, the only one that can still be driven across the Thomas bridge—which we drove across that day, although I neglected to take a photo.

What’s Magical about a Covered Bridge?

Well, besides, hello? The Bridges of Madison County , if you’re looking for romance (which features the Roseman Covered Bridge in Iowa).

When I’m deep in the woods walking or biking, it usually starts my muse to wandering and contributes to many of my stories.

Although I don’t write historical, when I look at these historic structures it inspires my imagination to make me feel as if I'm time-traveling back to a simpler time. Just like magic.

P.S. We also drove by a home that had once raised buffalo when my husband was young, and they still do. Although the buffalo were at the top of the hill so I couldn't get a picture, it was fun to see them from afar.

P.P.S. Although I’ve been to nearby Punxsutawney many times, and I've seen Phil’s home, I’ve never participated in the Groundhog Day festivities. Maybe one year I’ll add that to my list of exploring the magic available in my own backyard. Especially since Phil seems to be true to his word this year with an early spring.

What’s in Your Backyard?

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

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

A Lot Can Happen in 17 Years

By Maureen Bonatch

The 17-year cicadas have emerged in my area of Pennsylvania with a vengeance. I’d never really thought much about these winged insects that are sometimes referred to as a locust, and look a bit like a red-eyed grasshopper until they came out whining their shrill mating call that we hear from our home all day long.

The cicada’s lifespan is relatively short once they emerge from the ground, about 4-6 weeks, and the next big batch of them won’t return for another 17 years.

17 years.

That’s a long time when you think about taking that long to develop just to release into the world. A little over seventeen years ago my twins were born. They graduate high school this week—ready to shed the shell of their teenage years and emerge into the world as young adults.

Trying out their caps and gowns

That, and the occasional hum of chatter between the twins that’s difficult for anyone to differentiate outside of teenage ears, are the only obvious characteristics between them and the cicadas.

My twins are ready to start the next chapter of their story, while the mass quantities and volume of cicadas has many wondering about theirs.

As a native Pennsylvanian…

…I assumed most were familiar with cicadas, but when I asked others if they’d heard them and seen them, many—some not far from my house, but not in as wooded of an area—had not. Most found it interesting since it’s kind of a once-in-17-years kind of thing.

So as some of my family gathered for a picnic last week, surrounded by the whine of cicadas that had my author’s brain whirring with stories of alien invasions, or other potential sci-fi stories featuring red-eyed creatures, we pondered just what the winged insect’s story.

Here’s some information if you want to learn more about cicadas. Plus check out the video below of the sound of the cicadas from our deck (and the chatter of some of my family in the background).

As a romance writer …

…it seemed bittersweet that the cicada would emerge from the ground after 17-years to sing their mating song, lay their eggs, only to die a few weeks later. Hopefully they find that special someone who made it worth emerging from their underground home.

What’s Going on in Your Neck of the Woods?