Sonja Danielson – Page 9

What I Love The Most…

The comment I receive the most about my writing is how my descriptions transport the reader into the world I have created.

That makes me smile. I love to “see” where my characters live and play. It’s what I love to read. I’m so glad that what’s in my imagination translates well onto the page. My favorite book is the Descriptionary: A Thematic Dictionary, by Marc McCutcheon. There are some sections that I don’t use, like “French Cooking Terms” and “Surgical Procedures.” But if I want to know what a “hand-and-a-half sword” is, then there’s a definition for it. (It’s an intermediate or small sword, smaller than a two-handed sword, by the way). There’s also a section on clothing, separated by major historical eras or shifts.

Hey, have you heard of a “ha-ha”? No, it’s not laughter. It’s a sunken fence or moat around a garden to keep animals out of the area.

Fascinating, huh?

I love creating scenes that you can fall into and live alongside the character. It makes the story more real.

Enjoy your own setting. Sonja

My Work Space

I always have a cup of tea beside my laptop. Even as it’s tortuously hot outside, I have some cooled tea in my cup.

I also have dogs at my feet! Guinness the Therapy Dog is usually under the table where I work and rests on top of my feet. Lucy the Wonder Dog likes to stretch out beside my chair-within quick access to her crate where she hides.

I would love to see where you work! Sonja

It’s Your Turn!

Send me questions or comments on things you want to know!

You can use this site or my email (sonjadanielson@gmail.com).

I want to hear from you! Sonja

Countdown Deal!

TODAY ONLY!!!

The first book in the Guinness the Therapy Dog series is available at special pricing!

Here’s the breakdown:

midnight to 4:59 a.m. $0.99

5:00 a.m. to 9:59 a.m. $1.99

10:00 a.m. to 2:59 p.m. $2.99

3:00 p.m. to 10:59 p.m. $3.99

11:00 p.m. to midnight $6.99 (regular price)

I hope you are able to take advantage of this specially-arranged sale! Sonja

#fathersday

Moms had their day in May; now it’s time for the Dads!

First celebrated in 1910 on the third Sunday of June, this day is set aside for dads and anyone with paternal bonds. It became an official holiday in the United States in 1966, thanks to a bill signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Catholic Europe celebrated fatherhood as far back as the 1500s-in March. Before that, the Catholic Church observed it on St. Joseph’s Day. This goes back to the late 1300s or early 1400s.

How did it get to the Americas? It was The tradition was brought to the Americas by the Spanish and Portugese. Thank you to those explorers and settlers!

Different countries hold the celebrations throughout the year, from February to December, with the bulk of the countries observing Father’s Day in June. The earliest is Russia and Belarus. They also celebrate the men and women who served in the Russian Armed Forces. December is the month that Thailand celebrates fathers and also the birthday of the king. In every village, they will wear yellow, light candles, and listen to the king’s annual speech.

The say was originally spelled “Fathers’ Day,” but by 1913 the apostrophe had moved to make it “Father’s Day” in a bill during the first attempt to make it a holiday. This spelling is still in use today.

Happy Father’s Day to all those with paternal bonds! Sonja

#summersolstice

Today marks the time when we have the longest day of the summer-the most daylight. In the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, there will be continuous daylight!

I was in Alaska in the summer. There were midnight baseball leagues and room-darkening shades. It was fun for the short time I was there, but I think it would be tiring for longer.

This time of year has been observed for centuries throughout the world by festivals and rituals.

In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the First Nations people participate in the Ottawa Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival. Iceland has the Secret Solstice Festival and Sweden celebrates throughout the country with the Midsommer Festivals. (This actually took place yesterday). In Austria massive bonfires are lit on the mountaintops. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages.

However you decide to celebrate today, be safe and check to see if things have changed due to the pandemic. Sonja

Still Recovering…

While I continued to wear a spiffy blue cast on my lower arm, I imagine it actually looks like this. I’m charmed by this photo.

Plus, I am writing about Lady Zepherine in the fourth installment of The Fairies of Carlow. Her namesake rose isn’t such a light pink but is equally beautiful. It’s a more cerise pink, maybe a medium dusty pink, so she makes a statement when she enters a room! There’s no blending in for someone wearing a cerise pink gown.

While I’m unable to write without sending pain throughout my hand and wrist, I am busy plotting in my head. My notebook is filled with ideas (my right hand, my handwriting hand, is fully capable!) and I’m starting to form another novel under a different author’s name.

The next Guinness the Therapy Dog book is also close to being sent to the illustrator.

Exciting stuff, huh?!?!?

I hope your week is filled with success, too. Sonja

#TBT

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=the+fairies+of+carlow — (c) 2019 Available on Amazon.com

Throwing back to the first book in The Fairies of Carlow. The Gilding tells the story of Fern, a common fairy in the Kingdom of Carlow. She wants to be invisible, but secretly desires to be known.

It is available in paperback and ebook. The next two books in the series, The Outsider and The Commoner are also available in both formats.

I hope you enjoy them. Sonja

How to–

I’ve had a lot of questions about how to come up with a title. For me, it generally appears in my imagination before I start writing. My current work-in-progress (WIP), doesn’t have a title, which is weird for me. So, I’m using a placeholder. It’s uninspired, but I don’t want to spend time trying to think of one. I expect it will come through as I’m writing. If not, then I’ll spend the time thinking about it.

I like to spend my time writing, not thinking slowly closing circles about something that will likely appear–as if by magic!

The title is so important, as is the cover art and the text on the back. They’re more important than the first five pages! They encourage a reader to pick up the book and read those words–hopefully, leading to them buying the book to read.

I hope to give my readers adventure and a taste of the magical kingdom where the fairies live. And I want to give readers a glimpse into the life of Guinness the Therapy Dog.

I hope you enjoy! Sonja