Bonita Hanson

Actress, Performer, Singer and Author

HELLO!

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It has been a long while but I’ve been busy with the book, Santa’s Special Delivery and the marketing that it requires. BTW, if you have an interest in the book it is available at on the Archway Publishing, Inc. web site. Click on the cover of the book above or AT THIS LINK to purchase directly from Archway Publishing Book Store

Meanwhile, as I await my next theatrical opportunity I will offer some words of ‘theatrical wisdom’. TEE – HEE.

If you are not attending Spinning Tree Theatre productions, you are missing a lot. Variety, Kansas City actors (with one or two exceptions when needed), plays you may not have ever seen before, high quality and now in a beautiful space. Check them out.

If you are a movie-goer, I highly recommend “Harriet”. What a grand experience. A fabulous story with amazing actors told by a strong cast. Yes, this is the kind of movie I would like to see more of. Historical, yes. The kind of history more of which is needed in our schools. Almost makes me wish I was still teaching middle school. ALMOST

As I wait for the next Spinning Tree offering and a movie worth my time I will begin to plan my Christmas baking. Hope the baking has to wait.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! A good time to gobble, gobble. B 
 
 
 

Publishing Santa’s Special Delivery

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When I started looking for ways to self-publish I was astonished at all the ways to go about it. I connected with Archway Publishing – an arm of Simon & Schuster. Probably not the cheapest way but I’ve been pretty happy with their process.  
The process begins with choosing a publishing package. This presents an exercise in reflection, “Why do I want to do this?” 
To make money? Not going to happen.
To be “famous”? Not going to happen.
To impress others? Not going to happen.
I just liked the story and wanted to share it with children. I had told it a few times when storytelling and it felt like a fun one.
 
Step 1 was sending the manuscript to the company for review and approval. The next step in the process – deciding on illustrations. I chose to use  illustrators employed by the company. I received a form for relaying my ideas about the physical appearances of the characters, the action, the settings, etc. Since the number of illustrations was limited I had to decide which parts of the story lent themselves best to illustration. Initial sketches were sent to me and through the next several weeks of editing, approving these and then repeating  the process when color was added. Any mistakes in the sketches or their representation of the story are mine alone. During these processes I would continue to edit the manuscript.
 

Click on the cover of the book above or AT THIS LINK to purchase directly from
Archway Publishing Book Store

Also available at these fine retailers:

 

Santa’s Special Delivery

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Once upon a time, I was a storyteller. I often made up the stories I told. That was the origin of my book, Santa’s Special Delivery.  I told the story a few times and then wrote it down. As time passed, I would read the story again, edit it some, and even looked into having it published. Over the years and through many computer replacements I would edit the story a little bit.  A couple years ago, I decided to get serious about publishing and started that journey. I learned so much and created this special children’s book.

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The story starts on December 26. The workshop is back in full swing and the first completed toy is given a place of honor, the top shelf. We move to the following Christmas Eve and find Santa ready to begin deliveries.

In another part of the Arctic, the Nelson family prepares to move. Five-year-old Jimmy Nelson is afraid Santa won’t find him if they aren’t settled in their new home by Christmas. Unseen challenges occur before Endorf, the chief elf, saves the day.

Want to know more? Get the book to read it to some children.

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It Has Been A Year So Far!

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In July I had the opportunity to take part in a new show at the Kansas City Fringe Festival. The Taming of the Poo was a collection of monologues complied by Brie Henderson. The true stories were submitted,  vetted and then presented by a cast of actors under the direction of Brie and Tony Beasley. The show took third place in the Kansas City Fringe Festival.  While the theme may appear to be a bit off-putting, the audiences appeared to appreciate the often familiar situations and laughed along with us.

And now . . .

Trying to write an interesting blog while dealing with crazy weather, disappearing sun, and especially, disheartening news about the unrest in this country has given me writer’s block.  I want to state my opinion about a couple of things. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me but feel that those with a different viewpoint are certainly free to state it. As long as discussion can take place without violence and name-calling and hatred, I believe it can begin to help us heal and unite.

I was shocked and appalled by the comments made by POTUS immediately following the events in Charlottsville.  I was even more dismayed at his comments at the press conference following the “Infrastructure” announcement in New York City. I applaud the elected officials who were strong enough to condemn the comments and indicate that they were certainly not comments worthy of the office of the President of the United States. I believe that our infrastructure includes a fabric of moral ideals. The Constitution does not read ‘liberty and justice for some’. Threads of racism, bigotry, anti-semitism, and white supremacy are not a part of that fabric and should be condemned. In his Town Hall meeting this week Representative Ryan used the term ‘equivocal’ to explain away Trump’s comments. There was nothing equivocal about it. And, to me it appears that when POTUS went ‘off script’ we experienced a tear in the moral fabric which should envelope our ideals.

Proposed Common Goal for 2017

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I am going to write at least one letter per month to a senator and/or representative to let my feelings about certain issues be known. The last time I dedicated some time and effort to that, I got replies in the mail. Of course, they were form letters (those are easy to spot) and of course they had nothing to do with the issue I wrote about. But, I believe it is worth my time to try again and see what the outcome will be this time.

Meanwhile, the upcoming changes in D.C. lead me to believe I should be more involved in politics. I try to stay informed but find real confusion regarding some of the decisions and statements made by our representatives and senators.  I need some facts to back up my positions on several issues and would hope they do as well. I read about Senate Investigations often. {No wonder the members have little time for actual government business. Their time between recesses and “fact finding missions” is often spent on hearings.}

I thought those concerns could be combined – the hearings/investigations and my interest in issues. I’ve never really gotten the feeling that much is accomplished by these investigations. Many appear to be little more than self-serving ego strokes. But, if they are important enough to engage the members, then I would like to call for a hearing. 

Yes, since those people work for us (so they say), I would like to call a hearing. There are several topics I would like to explore. However, there would be a slight difference in format. I would ask the questions and they would be required to answer – under oath.

Just a few examples:

1)       What makes you believe that tax relief for the top earners will lead to job creation? Do you have examples to illustrate this? Do you know anything about how well this worked in Kansas?

2)      How does gay marriage threaten heterosexual marriage? Specific examples please.

3)      Why do you oppose Health Care for families and single citizens who are poor, unemployed or underemployed while feeling you are deserving of it?

4)      What is your justification for making the process of voting so difficult for large numbers of people? Can you prove widespread voter fraud?

5)      You often seem concerned with “The Gay Agenda”. What does this ‘agenda’ consist of? If you don’t know, why do you “oppose” it? If you do know, where does your knowledge come from?

6)      Why are you interested in people’s bedroom habits and personal choices?  If they are not imposing their beliefs on you what gives you the right to impose yours on them?

7)      When people’s earnings are automatically paid into a government retirement plan (Social Security) and health care (Medicare) and these earners have faithfully contributed for their entire working life, what is your justification for reducing payouts? Since these funds were supposed to be in a ‘trust’ which has been raided repeatedly, why are you not required to replenish the trust?

8)      Are your retirement payouts subject to deductions as are Social Security payouts? Are your retirement funds in a trust? Has it been raided to meet other spending bills you have passed?

9)      Why are you allowed to vote to increase your own salary while voting to deny others the right to earn a living wage?

10)   Do you have an understanding of your role in government or do you need reminders that you are serving at the will of the people? Do you recognize that you are entrusted to make decisions that recognize all your constituents, not only the big money factions that elected you?

So many more questions come to mind but, these might be a practical place to start. I will ask my senators for a hearing when I write – can you join me in this endeavor?