What Can You Celebrate on October 15th?

By Maureen Bonatch 

I love working remotely and have done so since well before the pandemic began. Although sometimes it seems like every day is the same as the weeks fly by. Therefore, when I realized that today, October 15th, was my turn to post at Here Be Magic I struggled to think of what to write about. What makes this day different? 

 So I did what most everyone does when faced with a conundrum and looking for an answer— I googled it. It turns out that October 15th is a special day for many things. 

Most are a little unusual, but why not take the time to embrace the date and celebrate these more unusual special ‘holidays’. 

 Holidays On October 15th 

 Global Handwashing Day 

As a nurse, the importance of handwashing has always been apparent to me. Although this year the whole world is embracing handwashing this—and every—day. 

National Cheese Curd Day 

Well okay. I do enjoy some friend cheese now and again.

National Grouch Day 

I loved Sesame Street growing up and am a little glad that poor Oscar got recognized. I’d be grouchy too if I had to live in a garbage can. Heck, I’m grouchy some days now and I don’t!

National I Love Lucy Day 

Who wouldn’t love Lucy? As a chocolate lover, I loved the episode when they got behind on the chocolate conveyor belt and were trying to eat all the candy to hide their mistake. That’s the kind of mistakes I’d like to clean up. 

National Mushroom Day 

I don’t need a reason to eat mushrooms, but I guess today I’ll need to have some with my fried cheese curds…but first I’ll wash my hands. 

 

Maths Day 

Well. Sorry. No. Math? This is one holiday that doesn’t have me excited even if it is encouraging math-themed games instead of standard math. Pandemic home schooling parents? I feel your pain. 

So today you can be a little grouchy if you’re asked to participate in math games (or maybe you’re a math lover, then you’re good) while watching I Love Lucy and eating fried cheese curds and mushrooms—but just wash your hands first, please! 

Another special date is coming up next month —Friday the 13th. 

 I’ve joined 12 other authors to write a short mystery and suspense story of approximately 13,000 words to be released on Friday, November 13th.  Join the Facebook group here to see more about all the stories and get your spook on! 

 If you are a subscriber to my newsletter you’ll be the first to see my cover for Till Death today. If you aren’t a subscriber yet, sign up here to get my free paranormal short story, Witch You Were Here, and find out about my writing sales and news first as well as where to enter to win treats (aka contests). 

What's Your Favorite Little-Known Holiday?

P.S. It's that time of year so here are a few contests you can enter to win more 'treats'.

Discover new authors and enter right here.

Get all the details and enter right here.

Maureen Bonatch is a novelist, healthcare content writer, and nurse leader. Maureen’s first novella was a paranormal romance published when blogs were a newfangled thing. Her most recent release is the second in The Enchantings series which features magic, motorcycles, and dark undertones in a contemporary world.

While she’s not busy writing or doing nurse-things, she’s being 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. 

 Yinz can find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter and be the first to know about her book sales and new releases by following her on BookBub, Amazon and/or signing up for her newsletter

Taking It To The Mat

I know I’ve posted before about my yoga practice, and yes, the Move From Hell, did interfere with that. A lot.  But I’m pleased to say that, after almost a year’s hiatus, I’ve gone back to the mat and I’ve managed to lose another 40 pounds this year. Even with the move! So woo-hoo, and Merry Christmas to me.

I love yoga for a lot of reasons, but today I want to discuss the way it relates to writing.

1.     Repetition. There’s a definite form and structure to every session—just like with books. Yet every one is put together differently. And the ways in which you experience a given session will change depending on how your body feels. Doing a particular exercise over and over again is a lot like editing—you’re constantly tweaking and repeating, refining your movements/words as you go.

2.      Variation. Every posture has almost innumerable variations (just like every trope does) and even with all of that, individual modifications are encouraged. As one of my teachers is fond of saying, “I’m in my body and you’re in yours. You know what’s best for your body.” As a writer, you know what’s best for your book as well. And what’s best for this book, might not be best for the next one. You’ll only know by getting to it and seeing how you feel.

3.     Getting to it—that’s really the key to everything, isn’t it? You won’t accomplish much of anything unless you put the time in. Regularly. There are no shortcuts. Well, there are Electronic Muscle Stimulation exercises that could, theoretically, get you in shape faster, but I’m thinking they wouldn’t really help with flexibility, so I stand by my original statement!

4.     Courage and Vulnerability. A month ago it dawned on me that I’ve become one of those people who set up their mats in the front row—which, trust me, was not always the case! With writing, as with yoga, you need to be okay with being vulnerable. With being “seen”. With being willing to look like an idiot—while wearing brightly colored, body hugging clothing. And maybe also while being considerably older, heavier and less flexible than most of your classmates. You do you,” is a valuable mantra. Also valuable is realizing that while you’re doing it (writing or yoga) you’re pretty much safe from judgment. Everyone disappears on their mat. No one’s watching you when you’re exercising, because they’re too busy focusing on themselves. No one’s watching you while you’re writing, because all the critics are in your own head, at that point. Afterwards…yeah, sure. People will likely judge you then. And that’s definitely one place where the peace of mind you get from yoga would come in handy. Another reason I think all writers should be yogis.  

5.     Namaste. I think this is a true story; although I admit it sounds almost too good to be true. It was told to me by a dear friend, shortly after she started yoga, and I have no reason to believe it didn’t happen exactly like she said. She was clueless when she started—as most of us are. She knew nothing about yoga tradition and nomenclature. But she was enchanted by one part of the practice in particular. She thought it was so lovely and encouraging how, at the end of the class, everyone would bow their heads and solemnly agree that they’d made “no mistakes.” I think about that often, especially when I, too, get to that part of class where we all intone, “Namaste.” Because, while that might not be what the word means, it’s not that far off either. There are no mistakes. Everything is perfect: the book you’re writing, your progress on the mat, Life.

Because next week is Christmas, I have two free reads available! I’d hoped to have a couple more short, holiday stories done by now, but…there are no mistakes. Also, I guess that gives me something to look forward to next year. Please enjoy, and Happy Holidays! 

Free For The Holidays

This Winter Night

Winter Hearts 0.25

Newlyweds Dario and Ophelia Leonides are passionately in love. There are only two things marring their happiness this holiday season—Lia's homesickness and her continued inability to conceive a child.

Dario would do anything to make his wife smile again. He's hoping to use the miraculous technology his father-in-law has pioneered, combined with the magic inherent in his native land. But calling upon the forces of Kokopeli may have unintended consequences. 

This prequel to This Winter Heart is available as a FREE READ.

Click HERE  to download.

Counting On Christmas

An Ugly Christmas Sweater Story

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This Ugly Christmas Sweater short story features the characters Mike and Claire from Let Me Count the Ways (LA Love Lessons, book 3). Mike's been a very good boy this year and Santa Claire has the perfect present picked out for him--one that's both naughty and nice!

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***This story was originally released as part of the Nine Naughty Novelists' Ugly Christmas Sweater story collection ~ Volume I***

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Click HERE to download.

What to buy this holiday for the book lover on your list?

Several years ago, our family started creating holiday wish lists so we know what everyone wants. But my friends are a challenge. I like to get them something unique, book lover worthy. Here is a wide price range of items that I may be picking from this year.

1. Library book necklace  $6.80
2. Bookshelf infinity scarf $18.61
3. Book Tequila Mockingbird: cocktails with a Literary Twist $12.99
4. Drink tea read book spoon $12.99
5. Reading Book Lover Infinity love bracelet  $6.00
6. Mug – Yes I do need all these books $16.99
7. Book Lover’s Journal $12.88
8. Jane Austen Books Coasters $19.99
9. Reading light for books $23.99
10. T-shirts for Book Lovers
11. Bathtub caddy tray $40 – to hold your book, naturally
12. Book mark and reading timer $9.95
13. Book Darts Line Markers $7.49 - For the writer or for those times you want to note something
14. Reader’s Paradise 1,000 piece puzzle $17.99
15. Scented (leathery and woodsy fragrance) Books Candle $29.95
16. Bookmark made from a flattened spoon $13.00 – Fell Asleep Here
17. Custom Library Stamp $26 
18. Literary Scarf $48 – evocative excerpts from Jane Eyre, Price and Prejudice or Alice in Wonderland
19. Novel teas for reading and sipping $12.50
20. 3D Book Keychain $6.83
21. Book Lover Pencils $9.33
22. Wooden page spreader (to read with one hand) $9.75
23. Personalized wire bookmarks $7.50
24. Book Spines Lunch Bag $24.99
25. Book Wreath to adorn your door $27.00
26. Book Lover Wine Glass Charms $16.95
27. Literary Fortune Cookies $14.95
28. Book Lover’s Scrabble $50.00
29. Spellbook Billfold $29.95
30. Banned Book heat reactive mug $12.00
31. Library Card Yellow Socks $12.00
32. Lightmark Reading Lamp Bookmark $12.99
33. Mug – Talk Darcy to Me $15.95
34. Bookish Earrings $18.00
35. Lady MacBeth’s Guest Soap $3.95
36. 100 Book Scratch Off Bucket List Poster $15.99
37. At Home with Books Reading Journal $14.99
38. Banned Book Socks $10.00
39. Bodleian Hobbies Bookshelf Tie $30.00
40. Book Light – Mini $33.50
41. Wicked Witch of the East book mark $17.00
42. Quotation Mark Earrings $9.00
43. Literary Leggings $39.00

I have a few of these items. Some I received as gifts and others were gifts I gave myself. I hope this makes your holiday gift-giving a little easier.

Have a great holiday, everyone.