Ronda J. Del Boccio's Blog: Writing is pure Bliss, page 13
February 21, 2017
Handmade Planner Stickers Using Diecuts, Stamps, and Cardstock
I love crafting. Last summer, I was introduced to the wonderful world of alcohol markers, adult coloring, and card making. Then in fall, I turned into a planner junkie as well.
I love making my own cards and planner goodies. You can use this idea for cards, gift tags, or any other purpose that inspires you, as well as planners.
So here's what I did:
Handmade Planner Stickers
First, I picked out some cool cardstock from my stash. I have some nice patterned paper that isn't too thick.
I cut out some full boxes using my paper trimmer. For the Happy Planner, that's 1.5 x 2.5 inches.
I have some small rubber stamps that I used for some of my stickers. Sentiments included, "yay," "on the LIST," and "Good Times."
You could fussy cut these with scissors, but I have some dies of the right size for those sentiments. I even have a talk bubble that I used for a few.
The "BEST DAY!" sticker is a die. If you don't have a die, you could use a stamp or hand print it onto cardstock and cut with a trimmer or scissors.
Finally, to turn them into stickers, I used quarter inch double-sided tape, a staple in any crafter's stash. You could use any adhesive, but that isn't messy, and it holds well.
Watch the video about this craft project to make homemade planner stickers.
What do you think of this project? any questions?
Please share this all over the social web!
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best 
selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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My Golden Retriever Enjoys Breakfast in Her Kong Wobbler
I love watching my dog have fun. She loves getting her brrrrrrrrreakfast (repetition on purpose) in her Kong Wobbler. Watch the video and smile!
Please share this all over the social web!
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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Leader Dog Jemma Enjoys Her Himalayan Dog Chew
My beautiful golden retriever guide dog Leader Dog Jemma turned 3 yesterday. I can hardly believe it! I got her some Himalayan Dog Chews for her birthday (well, she would get them anyway, but that's a good excuse!).
Watch the video of her enjoying ne while we listen to one of our favorite songs, "Good to Be Alive, hallelujah" by Andy Grammer.
My dog is a big part of my writing life. She makes me laugh and smile every day, and I adore her.
Please share this all over the social web!
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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February 20, 2017
Book Review: Time Travel Romance Little Bit out of Time by Alice White
Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. I share well-written books. I highlight what makes each good from the reader’s perspective, and reveal what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This time, it's a time travel romance set in Scotland titled Little Bit out of Time by Alice White.
This is a time travel tale with a splash of rmance. Here's the description from Amazon.
Little Bit out of Time is definitely a worthy read for anyone who enjoys magic, humor, and time travel with a dash of romance.
-- Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author
Little Bit out of Time by Alice White
In a small, Scottish town, a peculiar event at the local loch makes Ellie McTavish question reality—and her sanity—on a cool spring evening excursion.
Jolted out of time, she encounters strange folks, strange places, and even stranger events.
But how did she get there?
I gave the book a 5-star Amazon review. You can read my 5-star review here.
What made tis quirky novella a worthy read?
A Fun and Interesting Point of View Character
Our protagonist Ellie is quite a character. She's a snarky Scottish woman who spouts off all sorts of fun phrases inside her head, such as "flibberty-jibbet" and "fan-ruddy-tastic." Her mouth tends to get away with her, and her snark simply won't go st in the corner and behave. All this makes for an interesting person, and we're inside her head through the whole story.
As the tale begins, Ellie awakens soaked to the skin and missing her 2 dogs. She wonders if she's also lost her sanity when an oddly dressed Scotsman comes to her aid.
Along the way, she encounters two dragons, a cousin (figuratively speaking) to Nessy (the Loch Ness "monster"), and some men who most definitely mean her harm.
As it turns out, she's left her modern-day life and traveled back in time.
Video Book Trailer
Alice White has made a video book trailer for Little Bit out of Time. Watch the trailer now.
This is a good idea for authors to do, as it gives readers a sense of the book's flavor and story (or content for nonfiction). I love the scene that shows as the video thumbnail.
Deep Point of View
I love having good examples of deep point of view to share. POV is one of those aspects of writing that most of us struggle with at some point. I used to have a lot of trouble going deep enough. Now, not at all. But then, deep point of view wasn't as big a thing back then as it is now. I prefer going deep to other styles.
Deep point of view means you're right there in the character's thoughts with no perceivable distance.
Here is an example from the opening of the book:
What have you been up to, Ellie McTavish? Get yourself together.
Drenched, frozen, and confused, I stand at the edge of the water.
This makes for a compelling read as you live through everything with the character.
Present Tense
Writing in present tense has become the fad of late, it seems. Not sure why. Present tense brings an immediacy to a story that past tense cannot.
Whether or not you like present tense is simply a choice. Some find it jarring. Others enjoy it. I sometimes write in present tense and sometimes in past, depending what feels right given the particular tale I'm telling.
Backstory - A Character's History & Memories
Backstory is all about what has happened to a character. It usually emerges in a story in the form of memories. The character recalls when she heard that phrase used or when he met her, and that provides insight so that the reader can follow the tale.
We as authors are "supposed" to write memory in the past tense. That's how "they" say it's to be done. They being other writers. Since memory is experienced in the now and feels like now even though it's in te past, I find it strange to put recollections in past tense. I understand "they" tell us to do it to make it clear this is a memory, but it still seems odd to me. I mean in any book, not especially in this one.
Alice white does an excellent job weaving memories into the plot without making me as a reader feel I'm getting an Ellie McTavish history lesson.
Characters Are Not Always What They Seem to Be
No spoilers.
I love reading a book in which the POV character has an opinion or beief about another character that turns out to be wrong, or when the author provides evidence to make one person seem to be one way when the opposite is true. It's fun.
You'll find someone in this book who acts in ways that make this person appear to be an emery, perhaps calling yet more trouble to Ellie. Not everyone is who they seem to be in Little Bit out of Time. Brava.
Pacing
The pacing of a book, movie, or TV/streaming program is something a reader feels but may not consciously realize. An action scene should feel fast, maybe even breathless, because something exciting or scary is happening. A chase should never feel like a Sunday stroll.
When the danger is over and the hero is catching her breath, you would expect the pace to slow. Any story has a variety of paces. All fast or all slow wouldn't feel right, because life speeds up and slows down at various times.
Likewise, when revealing a key to the plot, the author needs to slow it down and not let the character blindly or hastily accept something just because another character says it.
I have some issues with the author's pacing in a few places. I notice this in all her books, though. I'd love for her to lean into the struggle more and draw out those dramatic conflict scenes.
It's tricky, and I am not saying for a moment that I always "get it right" either. I used to rush past the conflict. Though we as humans want less conflict, we want to read about insurmountable odds and really dig deep into the struggle...in a book. I guess that makes our own lies seem better by comparison.
When there's a conflict, as the author, you really want to lean into the it and make the reader feel how scary or intense it is. You don't want to rush past it.
One place where Alice does this well, without spoiling the plot for you, has to do with several men surrounding Ellie. She lets Ellie really live that scene. Another is later in the book where Ellie spills the beans to a man she barely knows.
One place I have trouble with the pacing has to do with a comment about a handshake that comes later. Ellie accepts the explanation Kindra gives without much pushback, question, or doubt. She also seems to accept a revelation about her own nature too quickly for me as a reader.
More about this in a moment as it relates to...
World Building
You may think world building is only for science fiction and fantasy authors, but it's actually not. Authors create a world in their stories, whether they're about present-day New York, 1612 Scotland, a mythical land, or an alien planet. Within each world are rules.
Overall, Alice White does a great job creating the world, and the reader can follow and accept this world as real within its context.
You'll notice in the world of Little Bit that the nature of the dragons she meets is revealed in how they smell. One smells of cedar, the other of rot. I'm sure you can guess which is the ally and which the enemy. That works just fine. Given their behavior, the reader can easily accept this aspect of the novella's world.
There's something called "willing suspension of disbelief." That's what allows a reader to accept that in one book dragons or magic work this way and in another book, they work differently. It's part of the world of that particular book, show, or movie.
When an aspect of the world is unfamiliar to the character we're following (whether in the entire book or in a chapter), it's probably also unfamiliar to the reader. That means it might need elucidation.
There's a key point in the book regarding physical contact between witches. It's definitely new to Ellie AND to the reader, and this bears something more than easy acceptance on her part. This is an area where world building and pacing comingle. The reader is going "what the...?" and needs Ellie to question it or have trouble believing, or we need Kindra to provide a little more insight.
Likewise, when a character comes to a life-altering self-realization, I wouldn't be swallowed whole and accepted lightly. If someone told you that you are an alien from Alpha Centauri, I doubt you'd just say, "Really? Cool." (No, Ellie doesn't say that. It's just an example to make a point.)
These are not huge issues, or I wouldn't have given Little Bit out of Time 5 stars. Most books you'll read will have a thing or two that doesn't set perfectly with you. Writing is an art and a huge challenge.
Humor
I absolutely love the humor in this book And being funny is not easy. The humor is one of the strongest elements of this story. Being inside Ellie McTavish's head is fun. Her self-deprecating infernal comments often made me laugh. the Britishisms are a riot. You can baffle your bestie by calling her a flibberty-jibbet.
Alice White does a masterful job convey in humor without being heavy-handed or over-the-top about it. Deftly done!
Little Bit out of Time is definitely a worthy read for anyone who enjoys magic, humor, and time travel with a dash of romance.
Connect with Alice White
Blog
YouTube
Amazon author page
Buy the Book
You can order Little Bit our of Time in paperback or Kindle format.
Buy Little Bit out of Time on Amazon.
I hope you've enjoyed this book review.
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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February 15, 2017
Book Excerpt: “Just Growl and Mean It” from I’ll Push You Steer
True story. Back when I lived in Minneapolis, I was standing ata bus stop (in broad daylight, as they say), and this guy started circling me. Here's what I did. This is an excerpt from the humorous and inspirational I'll Push You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders on by me and Bonnie Tesh. It's on Kindle now.
Please watch
"Just Growl and Mean It" Nonfiction Book Excerpt by Ronda Del Boccio from I'll Push You Steer
Download I'll Push You Steer NOW!
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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February 14, 2017
I’ll Push You Steer Authors Ronda Del Boccio and Bonnie Tesh on TV
We had to leave the house in the middle of the night to drive up to Springfield, MO, on a COLD winter day to go on TV and talk about our book I'll Push You Steer...and that was just fine with us!
It's hard to believe our book has been our for over 10 years! And thanks to digital publishing, we can bring you our book on Kindle even though our publisher closed his doors. yay!
Bonnie Tesh is a cancer survivor 3 times over who can't drive. I'm mostly blind since birth. Yet we find ways to live life on OUR terms. No pity pot here!
I'll Push You Steer includes humor, inspiration, and some tear jerker moments as we recount parts of our life.
Download I'll Push You Steer now.
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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February 13, 2017
Receive: Self Mastery Focus Word, Feb 11-17, 2017
What you focus on expands. That's the power of intention.
I love giving. Gifts, smiles, encouragement...big fun for me. Yet being able to receive is just as vital as being able to give. This week, my self mastery focus word is "Receive." I put my focus word in my planner, just beliw the monthly calendar.
To give without graciously receiving is like haling without inhaling. You need to do both in order to breathe.
This week, I am paying attention to and feeling gratitude for all that I receive. Here are some examples of how I am living with this word:
As I eat a meal, I feel grateful for the nutrients my body receives from the food.
As I sink into bed, I notice how my mattress receives my body, and I focus on my body receiving support as I rest.
When someone gves me a complement, I say, "Thank you" without deflecting one back.
When the sun shines, I receive its warmth with gratitude and drink it in with a super big straw.
As I live each day, I notice all I receive from people, the earth, animals and more.
Do you focus on a character trait or affirmation each week?
&Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1best selling author
Award winning author, photographer, and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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Watch for the hashtag #BlissfulLife all over the web!
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FREE Story: An Angel Came” from I’ll Push You Steer, by Ronda Del Boccio
Important NOTE: This post originally came out December 20 of 20165. It is updated to reflect a publishing change. AWOC Books closed its doors, and my co-author and I just released the book on I'll Push You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders On on Kindle.
People around the world are celebrating miracles at this time of year, which is December, in case you read this some months in the future. Jews celebrate the miracle of the oil, Hindus the miracle of light, and Christians the miracle of the savior's birth, just to mention a few.
I was thinking about one of the stories in my first book, I'll Push You Steer, with my fabulous co-author and dear friend Bonnie Tesh. We each shared tales from our journey in what many would call "disability."
One of my contributions, "An Angel Came," is the story of how myt belief trumped the church's teachings when I went to visit a comatose woman in the hospital. Martha was not expected to awaken.
Do you expect miracles? I do. P
lease enjoy "An Angel Came. I've posted just the beginning here. Those who have joined Ronda's Readers get the full tale free as a downloadable PDF.
Ronda's Readers get free stories, sneak peeks, special gifts and more at WriteOnPurpose.com/read.
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An Angel Came
by Ronda Del Boccio
from I'll PUsh You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling Through Life with Blinders On by Ronda Del Boccio and Bonnie Tesh
I'm not always great at following the rules. Oh, the ones that make sense, sure, but sometimes there are stupid rules. Those just beg to be broken, in my opinion.
A bunch of years ago I was "shadowing" a hospital chaplain to see if it was something I might like to do. A college classmate of mine worked at a nursing home and arranged for me to go around with the chaplain there.
The chaplain I went with was a wonderful, caring person, very good with the patients and family members, but we had a difference of spiritual opinion one time during my visit.
Whichever holidays you celebrate, may you feel blessed and nurtured.
If you'd like to get your own copy of I'll Push You Steer, it's available in print from your favorite bookseller and Amazon, as well as Amazon Kindle. Grab your copy now at WriteOnPurpose.com/amazon.
Please share this all over the social web!
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
Award winning author, photographer and artist
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has been mostly blind since birth, but she never lets that stop her doing what she wants to do. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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February 10, 2017
Inspiration with an Attitude: I’ll Push You Steer 2nd Edition Now on Kindle
I can dly believe that it's been almost 11 years since my co-author Bonnie Tesh and I started working on our first book. People kept - and still keep - telling us how inspiring we both are. She has survived cancer 3 times now. I am mostly blind. Neither of us lets these supposed disabilities stop us.
We were sitting beside each other at a regional writing conference listening to a group of 4 women share their journey co-authoring their book.
We started to think we could do that. We could turn our spunky attitude into a book that could provide comfort, inspiration, and a kick in the pity pot.
We met in May to plan our book, and we finished it in 10 weeks. The next month, a publisher picked it up, and we had it in our hands 6 months after the journey began. Below is the cover (which neither of usever liked) of our original print version of I'll Push, You Steer: The Definitive Guide to Stumbling through Life with Blinders on.
Our publisher AWOC Books just closed his doors, and we ciate Dan Case for helping us get our start.
A New Version of I'll Push You Steer
Now, thanks to the magic of digital publishing, we now bring you an updated version of the book. You can start reading it within a minute once you get it onto your Kindle reading app on your favorite mobile device or computer.
Download I'll Push You Steer now!
I'll bring you an excerpt from each of us soon.
ere is a peek at part of the table of contents.
We wish you an inspired life!
Cheers to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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February 9, 2017
Live the Plan With Me Week of Feb 5
You may have seen plan with me videos in which someone shows herself laying out her planner stickers. This isn't that.
This video is about me sharing ow my week is going and helping you live the plan...with me.
One tip I share in this video is a m ind hack to help you get more done and make it fun at the same time
Watch the video now. Please leet me know if it helps, and also let me know what else you need to help you live your own plan.
to your #BlissfulLife!
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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Writing is pure Bliss
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