About Bonnie McCune

Bonnie is a Denver-based author whose interest in writing led to her career in nonprofits doing public and community relations and marketing. She’s worked for libraries, directed a small arts organization and managed Denver's beautification program. Simultaneously, she’s been a free lance writer with publications in local, regional, and specialty publications for news and features. Her main interest now is fiction writing, and her pieces have won several awards.

NEWS

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Bonnie McCune

Newly published story to appear online soon: “The Desk,” a story about choices in an everyday life, is to appear in the next week or two in Short Story America, a free online site publishing weekly offerings. (It will be up only a few weeks.) You do need to complete the free registration to access stories. The mission of Short Story America is to bring short stories back into the mainstream, by enabling people to enjoy both new and classic short stories, all of them of top literary quality.
Novella about Ireland available electronically: “Irish Episode,” set in the early 1970s, immerses an American woman in the life and times of a struggling Irish musician. Carol, a disillusioned refugee from a high-pressure advertising agency in the US, thinks she’d like to swap the materialism around her at home for the unpretentious and relaxed approach presented by folk singer James Kevin Flarity. A voyage back in time, through personal challenges and changes. Available through Amazon Kindle only. I’ll send a free copy to anyone who agrees to do an online reader review for me (please, five stars if possible).
Downloads approach 11,000! The two-day free download of “A Saint” reached thousands! Thanks to all who participated, especially those who put the offer on their Facebook or social media or forwarded to others. The idea is that my name becomes more familiar to the reading public.
Appearance: I’ll appear on a Friday, 8/3/12 blog, courtesy of author Richard Bylina, with some marketing advice.

Regular news from me is issued every month or two. If you want to receive email notice of updates, let me know by sending an email to Bonnie@BonnieMcCune.com.

Something to Think About

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Bonnie McCune

The young adult novel is a literary grey area. Designed to appeal to readers from about age 12 to 18 (many facile readers are ready at ten), they often have protagonists in that age group. But perennial favorites of adults also are included, such as To Kill a Mockingbird. NPR has winnowed down suggestions to about 250 and now is soliciting votes from the public to pick the top 100. Go here to cast your votes.

What I’m Reading, July 2012

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Bonnie McCune

The Red Hat Club by Haywood Smith
A group of Altanta ladies, friends since high school, meet monthly and help several members through divorce, rehab, and other challenges, with lots of humor and good will.
Murder by Mishap (An Edna Davies mystery) by Suzanne Young
Edna Davies is spots a valuable heirloom brooch in a friend’s yard. Her discovery helps to solve a 50-year-old mystery but it also precipitates a murder. As she tries to make sense of the killing, Edna realizes more than one person is hiding behind a false identity.
Night Like This by Julia Quinn
A new Regency romance from a skilled writer, this features a governess to three highborn young ladies who accidently meets dashing Earl of Winstead. Despite their mutual attraction, one is in danger. But which one?
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Absolutely superb! Billed as a YA but for everyone, this story of a young Native American boy on the rez, struggling with disabilities, poverty, racism and too much thinking, winds up being humorous while it gives you perspective and hope, with the heartbreaking, hilarious, and beautifully written account of the teen as he attempts to break free from the life he was destined to live. One of the best novels I’ve ever read.
On the Head of a Pin by Walter Mosley
Better known for his mysteries, Mosley tries his hand at speculative fiction in this short novel. Protagonist Joshua Winterland helps develop advanced animatronics editing techniques, but the resulting images may lead humanity and Earth beyond the reality he now knows.

NEWS

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Bonnie McCune

A Saint Comes Stumbling In is now available in paperback for those who prefer to hold a book with pages.
Panel appearance: “Paths to Publication—panel with mystery, humor and romance,” Monday, June 18, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Denver Woman’s Press Club, 1325 Logan St, Denver. I’m appearing with mystery writer Judy Campbell, who uses uses a traditional small press; humorist Lori Gee opts to self-publish. For her third mystery, Suzanne Young left a traditional publisher to self-publish; while I have chosen an e-publisher for my women’s novel. Free and open to the public.
Electronic appearances—these are blogs and/or interviews. Visit the websites to see what’s happening and make comments.
I have a mention in an online publication to support writers. “Supporting Authors One Read at a Time” is out of Great Britain, but covers writers from a variety of countries. Click here for the article, page 55

Regular news from me is issued every month or two. If you want to receive email notice of updates, let me know by sending an email to Bonnie@BonnieMcCune.com.

JUST PUBLISHED

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Bonnie McCune

Three short stories on Alfie Dog*:

“Curtis, Alone and Aging”
“The Desk”
“The Incident at Mister Burger”

*Revolutionizing the publication of short stories for the internet age, online publisher Alfie Dog Limited has brought together quality stories from current writers across the globe. In the same way that mp3 files have transformed the music industry, e-publishing can do the same for short stories. Stories sell individually, and you can search categories, with a range of stories for a variety of tastes. Three formats of every story by Alfie Dog enable readers to use different e-readers, or print the story out to be read in the traditional fashion.