The Life and Times of Rona Shively
<-----Fiesty, Fearless and Fabulous----->
Vol. 1, Iss. 1 September 8, 2007
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In this issue...
What's new!
Upcoming Events
Fun Facts
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What's new!

Under Lock and Key: The Rona Shively Stories was released in July and so far, it's getting great reviews! MyShelf.com says of Rona, "Rona Shively is a delightful character. I loved her off-beat, quirky personality and her outstanding sense of humor." Mysteryfiction.net gives praise, "Recommended as a fun read that will satisfy any mystery fan." I'm excited to hear so many good things about the book so soon! I hope you will share your comments with me as well!
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I'm currently working on the third book in the Rona Shively series. Rona will be facing many challenges in the next story. Her father is very sick, her ever-lacking faith is in question and to top it all off, her biological clock has finally started to tick. In the midst of all of this, a new romance may be on the horizon as Rona begins to take herself and her job more seriously. Faced with a case that seems hopeless, she musters up the courage to do the unthinkable in order to clear her client's name. You won't want to miss this! I'm in the midst of a great debate with myself over three different titles and without giving too much away, I'd like to check in with the readers on this. Based on my description of the story, would you go with faith, judgment, or grit for the title? Weigh in by e-mailing me at lonestoryteller@yahoo.com! I can't wait to hear your suggestions.
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Don't forget to visit my blog at www.wordsiview.blogspot.com. From time to time, I post contest announcements, news and other items on there. Stop by when you can!
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50 States by 2008-I'm hoping to get the Rona Shively Stories into libraries and bookstores in every state by this time next year. Please tell your friends to request my books from their local libraries! Let's get Rona on the shelves!
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Fall Reader Appreciation Contest-Got Rona Shively? All you need to do to enter is send a picture of yourself holding a copy of either In the Wash or Under Lock and Key to my e-mail address at lonestoryteller@yahoo.com. The winner will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card and a great Rona Shively T-Shirt! That's a pretty nice prize package for simply showing some love! Enter today! Deadline is October 30th!

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Upcoming Events

Right now I'm taking a break from what has been a very uplifting book tour! I have met so many wonderful people and look forward to meeting many more! My next scheduled book signing will be on December 8th at the Waldenbooks in Columbus, OH's Polaris Mall. More details will be available on my website as the date approaches.

Thank you to all who have come out and shown your support for the books!
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Fun Facts

In every issue of this newsletter, I'm going to include some bit of trivia about Rona Shively and/or some of the characters in her book. Pay attention to these tidbits because they will be on the test later! Actually, a few months down the line, I'll be giving away a big prize to the person who can plug the correct answers into a Pop Quiz!

This month's tidbit-Rona Shively was born in Mt. Calvary Baptist Hospital in Clarkston, Ohio. This hospital is the same hospital where she will be visiting her ailing father in the third book in the Rona Shively series.

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As always, I appreciate your support and hope you will continue to enjoy the Rona Shively Stories!

Until next time...

Rebecca Benston

The Life and Times of Rona Shively

In an effort to keep you informed, I have created a newsletter for fans of the Rona Shively Stories. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, you can either sign up at my website, http://www.theronashivelystories.com or you can go to my MySpace page and subscribe to the blog there. I'm also going to post the first issue of the newsletter here for those of you who visit regularly. Enjoy!

Time for new things

It feels like it's time for a change. Not a change of location or a change of jobs or anything like that, but a change of perspective. I've spent a great deal of time worrying over the past year. This time last year, we were moving back to Springfield and I was worried about money and how all of the changes of the previous months would impact my family. Today, it feels like we've tied up alot of the loose ends that were strangling me. I finally feel comfortable with our choices and am motivated to go forward.

The first thing on my list of things to do is to finish the third installment in the Rona Shively series. I've been working on it here and there, but I keep getting sidetracked by one thing or another. I'm about sixty pages into it and I'm not sure I like the direction it has taken. I'll most likely end up going back through and deleting the things I don't like before I can write another page.

The second thing on the list is to start compiling the data I've collected for the Women's Self-Esteem book. This project is very important to me and I'm hoping to make more of it than just another title on my list. Not that my other books aren't important to me, but I have a real interest in doing something that will be helpful to other women. So far, the responses I've gotten to my surveys have been wonderful and I can't wait to start writing.

The last big project I have planned for this year (mind you, my year is running from September to August for some reason) is a semi-autobiographical book that I have wanted to write for many years. I have some great ideas for it including some interesting information from my father's childhood home in Beattyville, KY. This one's a huge project, so it will take a while to get it going.

I'm excited about the prospect of getting these stories on paper. It will make the struggles seem worthwhile. All of this and for the first time in a long time, I feel content. The only thing I'm worried about now is losing my bad attitude. Whatever will I do without my negativity?

Until next time...