Thanks for stopping by! This is the official blog for the Rona Shively Stories Mystery Series. Check in for details on upcoming Rona Shively Stories and other events! Watch Rona's transformation as she tackles life head on, now armed with newly found faith and the knowledge that she is not actually in control of anything. Finally, it is all starting to make sense.

Upcoming Events

***All Rona Shively books are now available on Kindle! See below for details!***Buy your copy of any Rona Shively Story and help someone today. All proceeds go to Higher Ground Ministries to empower women! Get your copy today at Amazon.com!***Help women reach Higher Ground! http://www.highergroundministries.wordpress.com.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Motivation!

I am a big fan of reality television. In fact, the only reality shows I don't watch are things like Fear Factor, America's Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars. This is the time of year where I get a little bored. The Amazing Race is over for now, Survivor is finished, and American Idol is over after this week. This leaves me with VH-1's Celebrity Fit Club and Mo'Nique's Charm School.
In an effort to concentrate on my own reality, I set my husband and myself up on a new diet program. We are both overweight and have been wanting to lose the excess for a while now. We have a three-year old daughter and we also want this diet or lifestyle change, as we are calling it, to have a positive impact on her eating habits. So far, we are doing pretty well. We have only snapped at each other a few times a day. As a former Coca-Cola addict, (former meaning three days ago), my ability to cope with the diet is also impacted by the severe caffeine withdrawals I am experiencing. In other words, God help my husband and daughter if they try my patience within the next few weeks. I can be quite mean without my caffeine.
Seriously, though, the experience so far has been worthwhile. My daughter, who was hooked on candy, candy, candy is now coming to me and asking if she can have a bowl of strawberries or a banana. That is perhaps the biggest reward in all of this. It's day 4 and the caffeine headaches are starting to taper off, I've lost five pounds and my husband's sugar levels (he's diabetic) have finally come down to normal range and are staying there.
Thus the benefit of watching and enjoying the challenges presented on shows like The Biggest Loser, Survivor, and the Amazing Race. It becomes very motivational to see people dig deep to meet their goals. So, while we are waiting for the next round, we are taking our cue from television and working hard to reach a family goal of better health.
What are you doing to meet your goals? Do you have a story about how you have turned your health around? A weight loss success story that you would like to share with the world? I'd love to hear from others who constantly seek motivation and apply the principles of goal setting to their everyday lives. After all, without goal setting, I never would have been able to start writing the Rona Shively series. By the way, I'm currently writing number three!
If you have a story to share, please e-mail me at lonestoryteller@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear more motivational stories from the readers out there.

Until next time...

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Under Lock and Key

The second installment in the Rona Shively series will be available on July 16th! You can order your copy today from www.publishamerica.com. For a preview of Under Lock and Key, go to http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2027521212.

Enjoy!

In Pursuit of...a good movie

I just finished watching a very good movie. That doesn't happen very often these days. The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith is one of the better movies I've seen in a while. It may not have struck a cord in everyone who watched it, but for me, it was very touching. There was a time in my life when my family was going through some hard times not unlike what Smith's character went through in the film. I think you really have to have been through a period of desparation to understand why this movie was so good. I'm surprised that I didn't hear more about this movie in the media. Aside from the fact that I could watch Will Smith in any movie and never be disappointed, his son did a fabulous job without making the film seem too cheesy. I keep a list of movies that will remind me of why I do things the way I do. This one has moved to the top of that list.

Great film, great story, great acting. If I were in charge of giving ratings, this one would score five stars and three thumbs up.

A Little Bit of Mystery: Short Mysteries to Confuse and Amuse

Where I've Been...

Listen to my interview on the Jeffery S. Miller show.

Listen to my interview on Calling All Authors.

Listen to my interview on the Let's Just Talk w/Kathryn Raaker.

Listen to my interview on Radio Free Baxter.

Where I'll Be...

After a short break in the summer, I'll be at the following locations:

8/11/09 Allen Park Public Library, Allen Park, MI 6:30 p.m.

Looking for something entertaining for your library or bookstore patrons? Looking for a fun way to spend a couple of hours? Do you love mysteries? Then you need to schedule a Tea & Mystery event for your library or bookstore! The fee is minimal and the presentation is fun and informative! Attendees will be given the chance to win great prizes and share their thoughts about the mystery genre and their favorite mystery writers!

E-mail me today at lonestoryteller@yahoo.com for details on how to set up your Tea & Mystery event!

Books by Rebecca Benston

Reviews for Rebecca Benston

“You'll find yourself looking forward to more stories from the files of Rona Shively.”

Michelle Shealy, Reviewer for MyShelf.com

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“Rebecca Benston has written a detective with plenty of suspense…I hope there will be a sequel…”

Annick, Reviewer for Euro-Reviews

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“The story is good, the plotting great. Rebecca Benston draws you into the story from the first page. Read the book.”

Lucille P. Robinson, An Alternative Read

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“Rebecca Benston’s twists, turns, and descriptions are utterly engaging.”

Tracy, Fallen Angel Reviews

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“In The Wash is like a 1930’s film noir detective story that had a modern, edgy twist and a female lead.”

Janet Davies, Once Upon a Romance Reviews

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“Under Lock and Key is an enjoyable, fun book! Rona Shively is a delightful character. I loved her off-beat, quirky personality and her outstanding sense of humor.”

Connie Harris, MyShelf.com

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“Talented author Rebecca Benston shows the reader just how complicated life can get suddenly and how people you thought you knew, aren't who you thought they were.”

Anne K. Edwards, Mysteryfiction.net