AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Parris Afton Bonds

 Good morning, everyone!

I feel so honored to shine the spotlight on Parris Afton Bonds today. Though we've not met in person, (thanks to Covid when we were supposed to speak at the Ozarks Creative Writer's Conference), we have spoken through email and messages and I consider her a dear friend in this crazy world of publishing.  I'll also be reviewing her new book - Reluctant Rebel. 

Let me tell you a bit about this sweet lady.

BIO:

PARRIS AFTON BONDS is the mother of five sons and the author of more than fifty published novels.  She is co-founder and first vice president of Romance Writers of America, as well as, cofounder of Southwest Writers Workshop.

Declared by ABC’s NIGHTLINE as one of three best-selling authors of romantic fiction, the New York Times best seller Parris Afton Bonds has been featured in major newspapers and magazines, as well as, published in more than a dozen languages.

The Parris Award was established in her name by the Southwest Writers Workshop to honor a published writer who has given outstandingly of time and talent to other writers.  Prestigious recipients of the Parris Award include Tony Hillerman and the Pulitzer nominee Norman Zollinger.

She donates spare time teaching creative writing to both grade school children and female inmates, whom she considers her captive audiences.

AMAZON

BLURB:

In January of 1917, young Piedad Arellano is riding the streetcar across the Santa Fe Bridge that connects Juarez, Mexico to El Paso where she works as a housemaid. When she learns El Paso is using kerosene and toxic chemicals to “treat” workers for suspected lice, she takes a stand and says, No! Thousands join her in the protest, shutting down bridge traffic and making international news.

Walter Stevenson is an agent with the newly formed Bureau of Investigation, on a mission to identify the “master spy” being handled by the precursor of the Nazi party there in El Paso.

Their two worlds collide when Piedad is arrested for inciting the Bath Riots and Walt reluctantly comes to her aid. No two lovers were ever more mismatched.

Spies are pursued, dark family secrets are revealed, and romance may be possible in this historical novel based on the true events of the Bath Riots.

SIDE NOTE: Be sure to read her Freebies and Frostings post about how Reluctant Rebel came to be

To hear her passion for writing first-hand, check out THIS YouTube link she did at the City of Allen

REVIEW:

Parris has a way of bringing true history alive like no other author I've read. Through details collected through her research (and true knowledge of Texas history), Parris puts you in the story as if you were in a gaming world, playing everything out on your screen. In RELUCTANT REBEL, will you be Piedad Arellano fighting for women's rights and injustice? Will you be Walter Stevenson, a loner by design, drawn to the fiery redhead, willing to risk your mission to protect Piedad?

I'll admit, I usually prefer sweet, quick romance reads but Parris Afton Bonds books are my exception. She takes me to time and place settings I can only imagine having been a part of. Parris Afton Bonds is the Magic Treehouse author for adults! 

I'm sure you sigh whenever you see me post 5 quills on a review... like I don't know how to post less. But here's the thing. When you have an author like Parris Afton Bonds, an author who has a track record like no other in this industry, one who started her quest when we were reading Kathleen Woodiwiss and other 'bodice rippers', the talent is brighter than any spotlight I could shine. You just can't give this book less than....

You will find Parris Afton Bonds and her other books by clicking on any of the following links. 

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER   NEWSLETTER   GOODREADS

B & N   KOBO   APPLE   AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best

~ Angela

THE WRITER'S NEST - Parris Afton Bonds

 I have been wanting to have Parris Afton Bonds as a guest for a very long time. The only thing that kept holding me back was the fear of rejection... you know... that little demon that targets all of us at one time or another.

Normally, that demon does't pester me but I just couldn't fathom someone of her caliber having time for little ol' me. LOL 

I'm here to tell you that Parris Afton Bonds is one of the sweetest people I now count as a friend. She's smart, funny, encouraging and as down to earth as can be. She is letting us into her Writer's Nest. Let's take a peek.

Describe your writing nest?

My writer’s space really is a “nest.”  Four-feet-wide, it creates the same feeling I create for sleeping, my bed mounded on three sides of me with pillows.

What is it about this space that inspires you? 

Absolutely nothing.  I remember reading a comment by the famed author, Louis L’Amour.  His office had this panoramic expanse of Colorado’s heavenly landscape.  But he purposefully faced his desk to a wall, so as not to be distracted.  A major portion of my NY Times best seller Deep Purple was written sitting on a bed before a desk (there was no room for a chair) in a two-bedroom trailer, with five sons in the other bedroom.

Has finding your space been an evolving journey? How so? 

Not to a great degree.  J.K. Rowling wrote much of the Harry Potter series in a variety of cafes.  I believe our writer’s space is in our minds.

Anything you would change? 

Not a blessed thing.  I have been so fortunate.

What advice would you give to someone looking to build their own nest? 

You already have all that you need ~ your imagination, curiosity, love of reading and writing.  Go for it!

AMAZON

I recently read The Brigands - Volume 1 of The Texicans. Fabulous book! I'm looking forward to reading book 2. I really want the full series in hard copy for my keeper shelf. 

You'll find Parris Afton Bonds via the following links:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER   AMAZON

Make sure to subscribe to her email list to stay up to date on new releases and give aways!

 

GUARDING PRIVACY

Good morning!

This is a quick post written (Monday) as today is all about phone calls to Social Security. I'm not sure what has happened, nor am I going to speculate. I just know something isn't right. The only thing I can do is figure out the issue then move forward.

  

With that in mind, I'm not sure there will be any other posts this week. I'd planned to be back to work full force, though that  may not happen this week.

What I do want to point out is that I've done everything in my power to guardd my personal information. I don't do business on my phone, I don't bank on-line and I have one credit card to my name for business and hotel confirmations.

Sadly, the same precautions do not appear to have been take with the U. S. Government.

I have blog posts ready to roll... with a few changes in format for the remainder of the year. With the first half of the year winding down, this seemed like a good time to make those changes.

Hang with me - we'll get this straightened out! In the mean time, curl up with a good book. I recommend the newest one by Parris Afton Bonds:

AMAZON

Happy Reading!

~Angela