Whoops

I thought that I previewed and editted the blog that follows. Despite all that as soon as I posted it, I found a mistake. I apologize and will try to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Happy summer.

It's here!

When a book is finally published, it always feeks as if I've achieved some major accomplishment and this one is no exception. Finally have the book in hand and I've ordered copies for a book signing and to sell.
This book was a struggle because it's completely fiction which is different from the first two books which had a very definite storyline to follow since they were based on the lives of real people. There were editors who refused to work with the concept and others who were dubious. I knew that if I just worked hard enough, the story would tell itself. I hope that you find the story engaging.
Wokring with a new published has offered me other options to make my book available so this time, it's also available in e-book and Kindle. I'm sure this will offer me another adventure. Now another phase of work begins as I try to let people know that the book has been 'born.'
Maybe next time I can tell you about my new writing project.
Until then,
Enjoy the summer.

Latest Book

Things are getting exciting since I've reviewed and approved the galley proof and the cover for my next book, UNPREDICTABLE CROSSING. Working with Outskirts Press has been very pleasant. I recommend them to anyone who is looking for a way to publish her/his book.While you can't read the text from what will become the back cover, you can see what the front of the book will look like. There will also be a Kindle version available through Amazon.

This is the last book to involve Mozambique. I originally wrote these manuscripts very close together and had them ready for publication a few years ago. It took a couple false starts to determine how to get them published.

UNPREDICTABLE CROSSING is a shift from the rather straight forward description of missionary life in Mozambique. The first two books were based on true lives of real people. In contrast, this book is fiction. It does use some characters from the previous book, Unspoken Farewell. (Amanda Bechtel is now married to Jeffrey Allmond.)

Unpredictable Crossing is based on the premise that there was a single survivor from the massacres of entire villages that occurred during the Mozambican war for independence. (These true events are documented in the book by Adrian Hastings, Wiriyamu, My Lai in Mozambique.) As an adult that person encounters the man who ordered the destruction of her village and family. Their paths cross on a transatlantic voyage from Miami to Lisbon. As the ship makes it transit, the man's past as a perpetrator of crimes against humanity is revealed.

The book should be available in the next 3-4 weeks. Please contact me through my website if you would like to know when you can order it.

Enjoy a wonderful spring.

PS Book Reviews

The event in Santa Fe taught me a lot about marketing books. One thing I noticed was that authors print out their reviews from Amazon.com and use them as handouts at book fairs. If you have read Malarial Fevers and or Unspoken Farewell please take a moment and write a short review on Amazon.com
Thank you veery much.

Happy Spring!
Although it's snowing today, we've got daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths in bloom. Hopefully this storm will not do too much damage to our fragile plants. The fish are quite active in our pond and I even fed them when the water temperature was warm enough.
Back to writing. I'm pleased to let you know that the third book, Unpredictable Crossing is being considered by a publisher. If they decide to proceed with publication, the book should be available this year. I've also been working on some short stories for submission to a contest. They have the potential to become a book, if I write a few more. Last Saturday, I participated in a book fair in combination with a literacy event in Santa Fe.
May spring time bring you delights as the flowers bloom and trees dress themselves in their finery.
Please send me a note whenever you can.
Jonna-Lynn

Unpredictable Crossing

My husband and I just returned from a Panama Canal cruise. The photo to the left is our ship Regatta of Oceania Cruises at dock in Punta Arenas, Costa Rica, a favorite port of ours. The time on board was a welcome opportunity to think through several issues involving my next book which involves a cruise ship.
My intention was to have it published this year, but with the economic changes, I've decided to wait another year and possibly move to another publisher. While I was on the cruise, I discovered new insights and segments of dialogue from the characters that I would like to incorporate in the finished manuscript.
Let me tell you a little bit about how this book idea came to be. Years ago, we were on a cruise ship off the coast of South America. Many of the crew were Portuguese and had fought in the army to prevent the African colonies from gaining independence. I was seated in a lounge one afternoon when two Portuguese dining room waiters entered in the middle of a heated argument. They paused at the door near my chair and continued their quarrel with the assumption that their Portuguese conversation would be safe as few know the language. Whenever I hear Portuguese being spoken or sung, however, it penetrates my consciousness and interrupts whatever I'm doing. While I had no interest in the content of their discussion, it did plant the seed for this third manuscript, UNPREDICTABLE CROSSING.
The basis for this novel is that horrible massacres occurred in Mozambique during its war for independence from Portugal. Since the U.S. was preoccupied with the Vietnam War and the massacre at My Lai, few knew what had occurred in Mozambique. My imagination began asking questions. What if there had been a lone survivor of the massacres? What if years later that person encountered the captain who ordered the massacre on a cruise ship? These two questions form the foundation for the manuscript. I chose an Atlantic crossing so that the two people would have a chance to encounter and recognize each other.
Research for this manuscript involved interniewing staff captains, security personnel, and directors of childrens programs on cruise ships. I also reviewed the new Portuguese constitution in Portuguese and then in English. The process of dealing with crimes against humanity was another topic meritting careful review.
The research was easy as I could draw on my professional skills prior to retirement, but bringing these characters to life is the challenge. I'll keep you up to date on my progress to have this story published.
In the meantime, enjoy the season, find pleasure in simple things and revel in life itself.

Happy New Year!
Now that thte holidays are over, it's time to get back to you. A few people have asked how I came to write UNSPOKEN FAREWELL so it's time to give you an answer. When I first came home from Africa in 1974, several friends asked me to write about my experiences, but I was too busy getting adjusted to life in the US and finding a job. The requests continued, but I never had the time until 2000 when we moved to Taos. Then, I took several writing courses and began to pull bits and pieces together. My mother had saved all of my letters in shoeboxes and had them numbered in sequence as they were received. This was a great help for me and served as a sort of outline. I wrote A GOOD-BYE NEVER SAID, but had a lot of difficulty with the editting process, especially Portuguese words. I finally decided to cancel that contract and start over with a new book.
UNSPOKEN FAREWELL is 95% true and tells nearly everything that happened to me, I'm Amanda.
Have a wonderful 2009!