When Every Day is Monday

By Maureen Bonatch

Many people have been off work or school since the coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine. It’s resulted in some people feeling out of sorts because they’ve suddenly lost their routine. It’s as if every day has become the weekend, but even then they can’t maintain their routine prior to COVID-19.

I’ve worked full-time remotely for over a year now. There are a lot of benefits to working remotely, but there are also challenges. Besides focusing when everybody is at home, often the hours blend from day to night, and sometimes through the weekend.

Working in healthcare in a role related to education has resulted in me being busier than ever with work,. With no place to go, for me, and working more on the weekends, it’s almost as if every day has become Monday.

To remind those who feel like every day is the weekend, and for those who feel like every day has become Monday, here are a few of my favorite quotes to motivate you for the new week. 

Happy Monday

How Do You Keep Your Routine During Quarantine?

 

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

What Will They Say About You?

Last month I went on vacation with my family to Key West, Florida. This wasn’t our first visit there, but it was the first time we toured the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. As a writer, I knew

about Ernest Hemingway, but most of it was regarding his writing, screenplays and many of his quotes (I do love quotes and more quotes!).

Yet the people in town who encouraged us to visit mostly discussed the multitude of six-toed cats that resided in the home. The tour guide discussed Ernest Hemingway's marriages and personal life with enthusiasm and at length.

I understand how many people desire to get to know an author’s personal story, but it made me wonder. Most authors can ramble on behind a keyboard, but tend to be more private about our personal life. 

So, just what impression will we leave behind?

The Man Behind the Typewriter

It was interesting to learn more about the man behind the typewriter. His love of cats and belief that the six-toed cat brought good luck, his turbulent marriages and personal journey through life. But I wondered how much information was precise and what was assumed from the stories people told,

assumed, or gathered from the remnants he’d left behind in his life. 

Kind of like how authors might encourage people to hold judgement on the browser history while researching a novel. Otherwise, all kinds of incorrect assumptions could be made about the author when the information was only specific to a fiction story.

Because most people aren’t preparing to be included in history, or to have their home become a museum for others to tour and create a vision of their life. 

The Heart of a Writer 

Once we finished the tour of the house, we were told that Ernest Hemingway’s writing room was a small, separate structure and that we could go view it if we choose to—heck yeah this was where the magic happens!

Now this is what I truly came for. Unlike the other rooms in the house, that the public could walk throughout, the writing room was restricted. 

I climbed the external stairway to stand in a small area that could only fit a few people at a time. This writing space could be viewed through a small area as we envisioned him crafting his stories in this little hideaway. 

It looked like an ordinary room to most, but I knew that it held the heart of the writer where Ernest Hemingway sprinkled secrets of his life between the pages that were only known to him alone.

(I apologize that the pictures are a little dark, but the lighting wasn't the best. Note the cat that has taken residence in the chair.)

What We Leave Behind

I like to think we’re leaving an impression behind us every day, and not just after we’re gone. That what we do, and how we treat others, will be how we’re remembered. Authors might have a little of an advantage in that we can leave a little bit of ourselves in our stories, or share some of our personal journey through life on our blogs, although this depends on just how much we want to share with our readers.

This tour reminded me to be mindful of how routine interactions each day could leave a lifelong impression. Of how our stories, both in reality and fiction, can live on in other’s lives. 

I don’t anticipate people wanting to tromp through my home one day and discuss the mundane details of my life, or peer into my writing room and try to make sense of my mind from the material articles I’ve left behind. But I can only hope that by being true to my heart and passions, and good to those around me, that the impression I leave is a good one and that perhaps one day I’ll inspire others to follow their dreams too.

What Do You Hope People Will Say About You?

P.S. There’s still time to try to make your dream of winning a Kindle Fire or an Echo Dot come true if you enter the contest right here.

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

Easy & Fun Book Promotion From a Self-Declared Technology-inept Author

By Maureen L. Bonatch 

On more than one occasion I've openly declared my limited ability, and desire, to learn all this new fangled technology.

 Despite my words sounding like a stubborn ancient oldster about to recollect the amount of snow traveled to school back in the days of their youth (hint: it's always uphill both ways) —or an ostrich with it's head in the sand—I've come to realize I'll have to learn some of the ever changing world of technology.                    

                                      Wanna come along?

Why Learn Something New?  

Because no one is going to come looking if you don't put yourself out there. 

Believe me, I've waited and waited, but no one has come knocking on my door to ask to see the books I have published...or the four draft manuscripts on my computer. 

Why do people wait, delay, stall or ignore?

Because Change is Hard

Taking that next step, finishing that draft, or learning a new skill is imperative to growth 

I've already...

• Shared a post about using Book Promotion using Pinterest 

• Provided a few reasons why you should attend/have a Facebook Party

Today I want to share my latest venture and a display few ways even a technology-phobe-novice like me used PicMonkey and Canva to interact with readers, share my books, and have a little fun. (Some items are free and others have a minimal fee for use- be sure to check.)

Yes, I said fun! Who would've thought? 

I'm not going to provide step by step methods to create these because...they're that simple. Go to the site and it tells you exactly what to do. 

Instead I'll show you a few different ways you can use these great resources for marketing your book, interacting with readers, or just having fun!

1. Use a line/quote from your book 

 2.  Use a quote of yours, or one you like, to  share your thoughts 

3.  Use a tagline to tell the reader a little about your story 

4. Use comments  (Be sure to quote and/or give credit)

5.  Use one of your own photos

These are just a few examples, and I'm by no means an expert. 

I mean, none, nada, not even close, miles away from anything close to an expert! 

Now go on and have some fun making your own 

Can't get enough Paranormal and Urban Fantasy? 

 You're invited to the Bump in the Night...a Paranormal Experience Facebook Party on March 12th from 12  p.m until 6 p.m. EST! 

You’ll find me (at 12:30 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. EST- check the time zone peeps!) and 11 other paranormal/urban fantasy authors. Stop by for prizes and loads of magical fun!

About the Author:

Maureen writes stories in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania that boast laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world. She writes Paranormal Romance and Fantasy.

Find Me:
Writing on my Website
Tweeting on Twitter
Pinning on Pinterest
Flapping on Facebook