by Shonna | May 6, 2014 | Uncategorized
I found out about the A to Z Challenge mere days before it began. Should I do it? Why, Yes! Why wouldn’t I fall recklessly into a public challenge I’m quite unprepared for? My reason for taking the challenge: I’m trying to figure out what kind of...
by Shonna | Apr 30, 2014 | recipes
Where I live now, people give away lemons and grapefruits out of their bounty. Where I grew up, there was an abundance of zucchini. This is one of the best ways to eat zucchini: Recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread Ingredients 1/4 butter 1/2 c veg oil 1 1/2 c sugar...
by Shonna | Apr 29, 2014 | Random fun, status update
Normally, I’m listening to advice on how to say “no.” Like most people, my life tends to fill up pretty quickly, and I find that I am running from one event to the next, or cramming too much work into too small a time frame. Can you relate? But then...
by Shonna | Apr 28, 2014 | Book Art, Cinderella's Dress, Crafting
Taking a quick poll here. I’m working on bookmarks for my SWAG (Stuff We Always Get) to give out at book signings in June. I wanted to create something with a little more value than a regular bookmark, so talented and creative friend Heather over at Tatting...
by Shonna | Apr 26, 2014 | Cinderella's Dress, History, WWII
Here are some of my favorite WWII books for Young Adults. The majority are pretty heavy reads, but a couple are on the lighter side, showing alternate perspectives of the times. (And, of course, since it’s my blog, I included my own book in the fiction section!)...
by Shonna | Apr 25, 2014 | History
Ever since I was a kid I’ve enjoyed learning about the past. Not so much the political history we seem to have to learn in school, but the history of everyday people and how they lived. My parents used to drag us kids along to auctions and antique stores and at...
by Shonna | Apr 24, 2014 | Random fun
One day I found a gecko in my kitchen sink. I have no idea how he got there. Ideally, I would be able to scream and my husband would come running to my rescue. But as it was, he was at work and I was on my own. Keeping my cool, so as not to freak out my young kids, I...
by Shonna | Apr 23, 2014 | Cinderella's Dress, Crafting
Tatting is a form of lace-making. You use a shuttle and thread to tie a series of double knots and loops. When you get good at this craft, you can create really intricate patterns. My friend Heather over at Tatting Connection taught me how. She had me start with two...
by Shonna | Apr 22, 2014 | speaking
Turns out when you write a book, people will want to hear you talk about it. When you are used to (and comfortable) being alone in your head with your thoughts, giving a public speech can be daunting. I’m thankful for my Toastmasters group for helping me get...
by Shonna | Apr 21, 2014 | Around the World
While doing research for another novel, I stumbled across the name Nellie Bly. She was a reporter who gained fame in the late 1800s for racing around the world in an attempt to beat the “record” from Jules Verne’s novel, Around the World in 80 Days....
