Birthday cake image courtesy: publicdomainpictures.net
Happy 3rd Birthday, Ink Flare
August 1, 2016
Sparked by Words
Sharon Lynne Bonin-Pratt began her writing career the way so many others have done: by first doing everything else. Winning entries in grade school art, story, and essay contests convinced her to become a writer, but the real world intruded in adulthood and demanded she pay bills, raise kids, be a contributing member of the community. Along that rutted path she worked in the commercial art field designing patterns for surfer shorts, bikinis, and Hawaiian style shirts, taught after-school art through a city recreation program, and structured an art curriculum for three private schools. Ten years ago the writing muse, struggling to breathe in letters to friends and art articles, found its way to the surface. In a two-week period Shari wrote 60 pages of her first historical novel, and didn’t stop for three years. By then a second book demanded paper – OK, computer space – and now the third is in final revision stage. Of course, final revision is two words with a long shadow and a little footprint. Some folk claim they will write when the floors get vacuumed, the family accounting completed, the new garden planted. Shari is proof that all those things can be successfully ignored but not the urge to write. Her fiction explores human relationships, revenge, rage, forgiveness, redemption, and all the labyrinthine quandaries that mess up otherwise perfect lives. She resides in Southern California with her husband who’s learned to vacuum but not to cook. And the garden needs help.
Sharon Bonin-Pratt's Ink Flare 
Comments on: "Happy 3rd Birthday, Ink Flare" (22)
Time goes fast when you’re having fun! Happy birthday Ink Flare!
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Thank you, Linda. Are you waiting for a slice?
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Congrats, Shari. And I think is your first time to post twice in one day!
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Tis. Twas twice. Twon’t happen again.
(You’re very observant. :0 )
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Where’s the party? – I’m up for a cupcake at the very least. Haaaaaaaaapy Burrrrrrthdaaaaa!
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Oh yeah, cupcakes with lotsa buttercream frosting. 😀
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Me too 🙂
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Of course, I’ll bake enough for everyone. 😀
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Three years. Wow. Happy birthday. Keep it going.
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Well, three years – sort of. I had an unbelievable 2015 where breathing was hard. I didn’t blog that year and didn’t always read or write much on other blogs.
But I am back and trying to keep this one alive. Thank you for the good wishes, Andrew.
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Happy Birthday to my favorite words of flare. You’ve been writing a lot, which I’m thrilled to see. Must feel good to have another year of creativiry here.
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Audrey, do you know how happy I was to see your comment pop up? I’ve missed you and hope your life is happy, that things are working out. Will you be teaching this coming September? Do you plan to get back to your blog? Other writing?
Thank you for the compliment. There have been plenty of slumps, but 2016 has proven more productive than the year before.
I wish you well, you know, and much peace.
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My life is calm and the daily routine is settling back in, which I love. I’m actually not teaching in the same way I was before. I have been give a job at the Methodist church I was raised in. I’m their Small Group Coordinator and within that title I’ve been given the opportunity to direct a children’s Wednesday program after school and lead a new Women’s Group called Sis. Sisters in Scripture. I hope I serve the church well. I’m back to my blog and set on reaching my goals again. I’m hopeful I can give them all the space they deserve.
I’m thankful you are writing so strongly this year. I’ve very much enjoyed your posts. So very much.
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That’s great news. It’s wonderful to be able to do meaningful work that contributes to your spirit as well as your income. It makes you feel worthy. I’m really pleased for you.
Thank you for the comment about my writing – I am humbled.
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Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear ink flare we love what you share.
Well done Sharon. Love that you returned to write again and the juices are flowing and there is so much creativity pouring from you and hidden in your works in progress which we are looking forward to. Lifting my glass – here’s birthday wishes and wishes for a great year ahead.
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Thank you, Irene. I always knew I’d return to writing, and never gave it up completely, but other things had to take a priority. Family has been essential to me. Thanks for the wishes and the fun song. It’s always nice to be serenaded.
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Family should take precedence. I understand that totally and it is the space I am in at the moment.
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Good for you, Irene. You have your priorities straight. It helps give value to your life and theirs.
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Hurray for Ink Flare–and you! You’ve put together a fine blog, full of helpful tips and lyrical poems. I feel lucky to have stumbled over it. Looking forward to year number four.
And don’t sweat the priorities. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, as we’ve all heard before. You’re the one who has to make your life work. I’m still figuring out how to work writing into this. 🙂
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Thank you for the birthday wishes, Cathleen. You are so right about trying to fit writing into all of this. Time spent on my blog, as much as I love it and love the discourse with readers, takes time away from my writing. Though I’m a pretty decent multi-tasker, I haven’t yet learned to write two different articles on two computers at the same time.
Yep, long distance walker, that’s who I gotta be. 😀
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Happy birthday Ink Flare!
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thank you, linda – i think we should have one of those topsy-turvy, lopsided cakes. 🙂
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