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.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Daydreaming...

My sister, my husband and I were brainstorming yesterday about who could play the part of Rona Shively if I were to be able to make this mystery series into a movie. This lead to discussion about who would play Norm and some of the other characters. It was fun to daydream, but we really had a hard time trying to figure out just the right people for the job. What we came up with was this:

For In the Wash:

Rona Shively-Neve Campbell


Norm-Greg Kinnear

Charlie-Jason Bateman









Delvecchio-Sylvester Stallone









For Under Lock and Key:

Trey-John Cena


Jane-Natalie Portman? Still thinking about this one...


Ted McCafferty-Lee Evans


Sally Jacoby-Bridget Fonda



For the newest book, Keeping the Faith (not yet published)

Garrett Shaw-Colin Farrell



Although we haven't really been working towards making a movie, it's fun to dream! Got any ideas on who would make a good Rona Shively Story character? E-mail them to me here and I'll post them on the blog.

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Monday, June 30, 2008

If I Could Turn Back Time...

I wouldn't have watched several of the movies I've watched over the past few months. It is so disappointing to wait through all of the build-up and finally sit down to watch a movie that simply doesn't measure up to the hype. I feel it is my civic duty to take some time to warn you about a few movies...and to complain, in general about the ones we have to choose from.

For starters, there's Juno. I couldn't even bring myself to watch this one because of its cutesy little trailers which I thought, glorified teen pregnancy. Why make a comedy about a pregnant, teenage girl? This movie seems to be making light of a very serious situation. This fact and the irreverant use of the word "shenanigans" were enough to make me boycott the film. Stupid...yes.

Next, there was Good Luck, Chuck. Well, what can I say about this movie except that if I had been in the market to spend a half an hour looking at nothing but Dane Cook's ass, I would have been thrilled. Sadly, the funniest parts of the movie were those which were included in the trailers. If they had tried to assemble a film from just those clips, it might have been fine, but they took it too far and as a result, it was a big disappointment.

The third disappointment I encountered was "Knocked Up." I'm not even sure why this was supposed to be funny, but let's just say that it missed the mark. Once again, irresponsible behavior made into a neat little film that lasts about a half an hour too long. This entire movie was only slightly more entertaining than a Cher video.

How about my fourth pick, Superbad? This one was not only not funny, it was disturbing. Young people, high school age, I guess, talking incessantly about having some sort of sexual encounter. And they weren't using a mild-mannered "Sixteen Candles" sort of dialogue, but in the most raunchy, disgusting language they could possibly use. I was embarrassed to even be watching this one and I'm not easily embarrassed.

I'm not sure what has happened to the film industry over the last five years or so, but whatever it is, I don't like it. Every once in a while, there's a good one, but more often than not it's a real crap shoot. Lest you think I have absolutely nothing good to say, I want to share with you my list of movies that I think everyone should watch at least once. You'll see, I really do have a sense of humor and I'm not just some old prude who likes to give young filmmakers a hard time.

My List...the top 15

Airplane!
Undercover Brother
Ace Ventura, Pet Detective
Caddyshack
Spaceballs
Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery
The Jerk
There's Something About Mary
The Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Top Secret!
The Three Amigos!
Dodgeball
Friday
Talledega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby

If you haven't seen these, I recommend you check them out when you have some time. They are worth your time. The others, not so much.

Until next time...



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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