Here be Magic: From the Archives

This post originally appeared in June 2019. I'm posting it again now because Going To The Chapel is one of over 500 books that you can get ABSOLUTELY FREE for one day only (this Thursday, June 23) as part of a multi author, multi genre romance promo at https://www.romancebookworms.com

Yesterday I released my novella Going To The Chapel for the second time. But it's not a re-release, exactly. The venue for the wedding has been changed, so to speak. When I originally published this story--only two years ago! It was set in the Sapphire Falls Kindle World. I love Sapphire Falls. I would have been happy to leave my story there forever--and had actually planned to write a couple more stories set there--but Amazon decided it was no longer supporting the Kindle World program, which meant the secondary characters from Chapel (I'm looking at you Wyatt and Arielle) would never get their HEA.

That broke my heart. I started falling in love with my bad-boy biker from the moment he drove his loud-ass machine up Main Street. I started planning his story right then and there. By the time Amazon lowered the boom I had a title, an outline, and a cover. But without access to Sapphire Falls I really had nothing. My only option was to take the action out of town. But where?

Luckily, I had a couple of quirky, small towns of my own to choose from. Atlas Beach, New Jersey and Oberon California. I'd just written a trilogy set in Atlas Beach, New Jersey, so that was the immediate front-runner. Plus, The characters from Going To The Chapel were originally part of my LA Love Lessons trilogy. I'd already been promoting the two trilogies together under the Love From Coast to Coast slogan. So it made perfect sense to set my story there.

In addition, summer thunder storms feature heavily in Going To The Chapel, and of those two locations--Coastal California and the Jersey Shore--only one has summer storms, like, AT ALL. However, a lot of the action in the book takes place on the heroine's family's farm. And, while it's not the first thing you think of when you think of the Garden State (okay, it's probably NOWHERE on the list of things you'd think of when Jersey is mentioned) there is still some farmland to be found there--not to mention the best tomatoes EVER. But, despite all of that, Atlas Beach was just not rural enough for the story.

Oberon, on the other hand, is plenty rural. That's part of its charm. It's also quirkier than Atlas Beach, and already has a well established festival calendar--which was something else I needed for the story to work. What it doesn't have, in the ordinary way of things, is big summer thunder storms, but on the other hand, Oberon's magical, mystical vibe doesn't actually preclude the possibility of atypical weather either. SOLD!

There were a lot of adjustments to be made moving a story from the middle of the country to either of the coasts. In some ways, California and New Jersey have more in common with each other than either of them do with Nebraska. Or maybe that's just how it seems to me, having lived in NJ and CA (and NY and FL) and only ever having visited NE. Among other things, the bonfire, skinny dipping and mud-run afterparty had to be moved from their original riverside location. Because while, yes, Oberon does have multiple small rivers, ponds and creeks, socializing on any of them just isn't part of the culture. All the beach-going and water sports (surfing, for example) take place on the Bay. Which is as it should be. lol

Overall, I think the transplant was a success. I hope you'll enjoy this NEW edition of Going To the Chapel; and I look forward to releasing Wyatt and Arielle's story, Going Up The Country, this fall.

Going To The Chapel is currently available only at Amazon, and can be read for FREE as part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

This post first appeared on January 1, 2019

"I don’t read.”

I’m always amazed when someone tells me this with a little pride in their voice, as if reading is an unsavory vice.

Or when someone says, “I don’t have time to read.” As if reading is a waste of time when there are more pressing things to attend to in life.

Reading= Happiness

If you’re here, most likely you’d agree that there are many positive things that come from reading, most importantly, happiness. For isn’t that the root of most New Year’s resolutions? Finding happiness?

Whether it’s through losing weight, getting more money, more time, of other goals that aren’t always easily achieved, if at all. While reading can bring peace, happiness, and more with no cost other than a little bit of your time.

For the Reading Nay-sayers

The next time someone says that they don’t read, or they have no time for it, perhaps the best response would be to say, that’s a shame. Then proceed to mention the benefits that come along with the happiness at escaping from the worries of the world. Thing like:

Mental Stimulation and memory improvement- To hold off cognitive decline by engaging our minds
Stress Reduction and Tranquility– We all look forward to escaping for a vacation, or a getaway, but sometimes it’s a long wait. Reading allows us to escape for a magical reprieve, anytime, anywhere.
Gaining Knowledge – Through exposure to new words, different cultures, and perspectives that may help you think more analytically
Expanding Vocabulary– Which can help you become more articulate and maybe even increase your self-confidence
Free Entertainment – We all like to be entertained. Reading is one way to enjoy this luxury for no more than the cost of a book, or free if you belong to a library

…Just to name a few.

Must Love Books

Some might even say that all these benefits may mean that reading makes you a happier person. It’s certainly one of the easiest resolutions to keep, and one of the most enjoyable.

Perhaps instead of making resolutions that you feel obligated to make, that you might dread just a little, or the same one you make year after year. Perhaps to resolve to make more time for reading, and have a happier new year.

Happy New Year!

Does Reading Make You Happier?

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

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