THE JOURNEY OF ELEVEN MOONS - A Taste of the Adventure

Alaskan Territory
1868


Anna's hands stopped their rhythmic work of basket weaving and lay still in her lap as she gazed out at the frigid Bering Sea. Kinauquak had gone with the men, and this time he would be allowed to make a kill. Unable to concentrate, she looked around the circle of women.

     Alulak met her gaze.
     Under the old woman's scrutiny, Anna lowered her eyes.
     Alulak laughed and her eyes became half-moons, nearly disappearing into the folds of wrinkled, brown skin toughened from years of cold and wind. With a toothless grin, she boasted. "My grandson Kinauquak will return with a great walrus. Of this I am certain." Eyes bright with anticipation, she said, "Tonight we will feast."
     The other Aleut women grinned and nodded, hands never ceasing to weave the unyielding Aleutian grasses. Each occasionally looked up from her work to scan the empty sea. As always, they waited, anxious for the  men's return, not knowing if her loved one had perished or would come back a successful hunter.
     Yet this hunt was special. Custom dictated that when Kinauquak made his first kill, he would be counted among the men and ready to take a wife. Anna and Kinauquak hade been promised to each other while still children. Once they had played together, but that time was past. Now, as was customary and acceptable, they loved each other as adults.
     Still, Anna could not dwell in Kinauquak's hunt. Not until he came for her. Anna looked at her mother, Luba. "The men will come soon?"


The Journey of Eleven Moons is now available at http://www.amazon.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com, http://smashwords.com, http://www.ashberrylane.com, and other online book distributors. 

If your local book store does not have a copy on hand, ask them to order one.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Journey - A New Adventure

What's on my mind these days?

• We're building a new house and closing in on a move in date of mid-January.

• We just discovered we have a new grandchild on the way.
• 

• My new book, The Journey of Eleven Moons just released

And . . . well there's lots more happening. The holidays are galloping toward us. My son and his wife are coming to visit this weekend, along with baby Cy. I've got book-signings and celebrations fast approaching.

Life is full of goodness. But, since the house isn't completed yet and the baby won't be here until June and my heart and mind is full of my new book I've just got to talk about The Journey of Eleven Moons. I hope you're not bored of listening. This book journey has been very different from those in the past.

This time around, the book is one I'm familiar with. It feels like an old friend, only it's new. And the characters have become like family. I'm desperate to share the story and characters with you. I hate to use the word desperate. It's so often misunderstood. But I use the word in the best way possible. I feel an urgency to introduce readers to the amazing and touching story of Anna, Iya and Erik.

Here's what it says on the back cover.

A successful walrus hunt means Anna and her beloved Kinauquak will soon be joined in marriage. But before they can seal their promise to one another, a tsunami wipes their tribe from the rugged shore - everyone except Anna and her little sister, Iya, who are left alone to face the Alaskan wilderness.

A stranger, a Civil War veteran with golden hair and blue eyes, wanders the untamed Aleutian Islands. He offers help, but can Anna trust him or his God? 

And if she doesn't, 

how will she and Iya survive?

The Journey of Eleven Moons is one of my favorite stories. I wrote the book as a newbie writer when I still had a lot to learn about the craft of writing. When I reread the book a couple of years ago, I felt compelled to revise and update the story - to make it better. This year turned out to be the perfect time to do that and what a journey it has been.

I discovered that revising a book is more difficult than creating one. At least it was for me. I also discovered that I still had a lot to learn as a writer. That's something I love actually. Writers never stop learning, story telling continues to be an adventure. With the help of Christina Tarabochia and the Lord we whipped The Journey of Eleven Moons into shape. It's still not perfect, but who wants perfection anyway?   :-)

Working with a small press has been fabulous - so much more hands on. I feel a part of the complete process. And working with Christina Tarabochia and Sherrie Ashcraft of Ashberry Lane Publishing has been a dream. I know they love and care about the story and its characters. And it's been absolutely grand to watch the Lord step in and work alongside us all. He's been present throughout every step.

There are some challenges to working with a small press. The biggest is getting the word out about a new book. It isn't in all the bookstores and there's not a large budget for marketing. That means we have to roll up our sleeves and work harder to introduce a book to readers. And the readers can help too. Word of mouth is a big deal, even in this techno world we live in. If you haven't read the book, but it sounds like one you'd like, give it a try. And if you like it tell others. 

I want to hear from you. What did you think of the book and have you had any fun experiences sharing the story with someone else? For instance, a couple of days ago I had the sweetest experience with  my grandson, Ezra. He loves books. He asked me if he could take one of my books to school and explained that his friends didn't believe I was a "real live" author, which is better than a "real dead" author. So, he took a book and some book marks to school the following day. When he came home he glad to tell me that his friends believed that I was a "real live" author and that he needed more book marks. Evidently, his school mates were properly impressed and wanted to read my books. Super! 

I love my grandchildren. They are so much fun and make life extra special.

I have booksignings coming up so check out my events page at http://bonnieleon.com/html/speakingandevents.html. I also have a contest running, The Journey of Eleven Moons Giveaway, for nine more days. There are some fabulous gifts. You can find out more about it by dropping in at my website at http://bonnieleon.com/ and clicking on the contest image at the top of the page. And of course you can ask your local bookstore to order the book or they are available on line. 

I hope you'll drop in at some of the online interviews I've had and leave a comment. 

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

The Journey - Special Day!

What a wild and fun day this is! 

I've been working hard for many months to prepare for today. I didn't work alone, however. My publishers and my editor have been amazing. They have made this a book I can be proud of.  I also had a team of creative geniuses who labored with us to create the beautiful cover and my marketing tool box. And there is a team of people who are right now working to tell others about this book. They have been a fabulous support and encouragement to me. 

Oh yes - The NEW BOOK!! 

Today it launches. The Journey of Eleven Moons is now available. It has been twenty years since I wrote this story. What an adventure that was. And today it has been given new life - better and stronger.

I hope you will grab a copy and join the adventure as Anna, Iya and Erik fight to survive in the Alaskan wilderness of 1886. They have so much to learn about one another, about life, love and God.

I'm proud of this book. It's a story I think you'll love.

I've also got a fabulous new contest running.   

To find out more about it go to my website at www.bonnieleon.com or my facebook page at www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor. And while you're there I hope you'll have a look at my new Table Talk newsletter, which has all the latest news. 

You can order books at Amazon - Here's the link -  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GM3QLVG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=11YY0CAQP65J8AA6HG64&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1630083502&pf_rd_i=507846. Or you can simply go to www.amazon.com and type in The Journey of Eleven Moons.

At Barnes and Noble - The link is http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-journey-of-eleven-moons-bonnie-leon/1014682635?ean=2940148935728.

The Journey of Eleven Moons is also available at all the usual book distributors.

Happy Reading!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Books & Writing - Launch Team!

Would you like to be part of my launch team 

for 

The Journey of Eleven Moons? 

I’m hoping to partner with several of you to help introduce the new revised and updated Journey of Eleven Moons. 

I’m so excited about this upcoming release. The Journey of Eleven Moons was my first novel ever. I’ve always loved the story of Anna and Iya and the adventure they share with Erik Engstrom, an outsider. However, I was a newbie writer when the book first debuted and had a lot to learn.

I reread the book a couple of years ago and wished I could rewrite it. I decided that 2013 was the year to return to the story and strengthen my work. The historical novel takes place in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in 1886. When a tsunami destroys their village, Anna and her little sister, Iya, must find a way to survive. A stranger offers to help, but can Anna trust him?

This is the twenty year anniversary of The Journey of Eleven Moons, a perfect time to re-launch the book. I have only thirty-five openings on my team. If you’d like to join me in this exciting event please let me know.

Those on my team will receive—

·  A free electronic copy of the book, and you’ll be the first to receive a copy.

·  Members of the team will be included in an exclusive private Facebook page where you will have access to me and to each other.

·  And how about a free teleseminar or a chat with your book club?

·  I’ll also make sure you receive a public “thank you” on my website at www.bonnieleon.com.

I ask three things of you:

• Write a short review on Amazon or another book site—good or bad.
• Help spread the word about the book on your personal platforms or among your friends and associates.
• Share ideas and brainstorm additonal ways we can further present the message to a greater audience.

     This is going to be fun. I can't wait to get started. Just contact me at my website at www.bonnieleon.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor and we'll begin.

   

    Grace and peace to you from God,

    Bonnie Leon

Quiet Moments With God - God Passed By

God's Word is a precious gift offered to mankind centuries ago. In all those years it has not changed. His Word is powerful and glorious. It can change my day, my 
life . . . if I think on it - if I tuck it into my heart and my spirit where it can live and breathe.

This morning I went to Exodus 33:14. God is speaking to Moses. "The Lord replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest - everything will be fine for you."

Moses went on and asked for reassurance from the Lord. That's not so different from us. God says it and we ask Him to say it again. We need reassurance and God understands. 

Moses would meet with the Lord, face to face and then share God's Word and instructions with the Israelites. He was chosen by God not because he was better than everyone else but simply because God picked him to lead His people. 

The verses that follow in Exodus reveal the intimate relationship between God and Moses. And yet, in verse 18 Moses says, "Then show me your glorious presence." He wanted more assurance of God's presence even with the history that had already passed between him and God. Even Moses needed this.

The Lord reveals His tender mercy and love when He replies, "'I will make all my goodness pass before you and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live." The Lord continued, "Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with  my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.'"

As I read this passage I get this great big lump in my throat and my heart aches with joy at this demonstration of God's tender mercy. Oh how He loved Moses. 

But there is more here to learn. 

Moses could not look until God passed by. Why? If God loved Moses wouldn't He want to show him all His glory? I think this is a beautiful picture of how we can know God. We know Him by where He has been, what He has done and who He has been. We can know Him completely and intimately. He is a powerful God. A terrifying God. A tender God. A God of mercy and purpose. A righteous God . . . and so much more. 

If we listen we can hear Him speak to us - if we listen.

See where God has passed by and know Him.

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie