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

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?

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

Flashing Through The Snow

The snow that's falling today is plentiful, but my thoughts of what to share with you today are not. 

It could be the multitude of changes in my life over the past few months, or it could be the recent losses I've endured that lead me to this piece of flash fiction I wrote about 8 years ago. 

 A few years ago I spent a lot of time writing flash fiction. These are tiny bites of stories, or ones that are complete with a limited number of words. You might find these types of stories in a magazine, or on a blog. They're often a challenge to write, but really work those writing muscles and make you realize how important each word is when you have to be concise to a very limited number of words.

So for those who have tired of the snow and cold of winter, I offer this piece of flash fiction.

Winter Solstice 

    "But the doctor said—"

            “I don’t care!” Marge pushed past John into their son’s room.

            “Hey sweetheart.” She smiled while kneeling to stroke David’s cheek. “Want to meet Mr. Winter in person?”

            David struggled to focus on her. “Really?” 

            “Yes.” Marge wrapped the comforter around him and scooped him up.  Walking over to the window, she nudged the wheelchair out of the way. “Look, he’s been waiting to meet you.”  

            David squinted at the glistening snowman.  

            John held the back door open as Marge exited with the bundle barely resembling their rambunctious six year old.

            She cradled her son while easing into the chair placed by the snowman. While pulling the comforter from David’s face, a breeze ruffled his sparse, blonde hair. “How does he look?” 

             David studied his frosty friend. “He’s missing something.”  

            “I know,” Marge pulled a plastic pipe from her pocket.  “You always put it in.”

            David smiled and she helped him grip the pipe.  Leaning forward, they pushed it into the snowy smile.  

            David’s smiled faded. “He won’t be here much longer.”

            Marge hugged her son. “You’re wrong. He’s part of everything.” She kissed David’s forehead. “The rain that makes the flowers grow, or creates a rainbow,” she traced her finger down his cheek. “Or cooling the Fall winds until the snow returns.”  

            “So…he’s not really gone.”     

            “No,” Marge looked into eyes that matched her own and pressed David’s hand to her heart as her tears fell and absorbed into the snow. “He’s always here.”

Do You Ever Write, or Read, Flash Fiction?

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