BLOGWORDS – Thursday 8 May 2025 – CHAT THURSDAY – MONIQUE BUCHEGER with GIVEAWAY
BLOGWORDS – Thursday 8 May 2025 – CHAT THURSDAY – MONIQUE BUCHEGER with GIVEAWAY
CHAT THURSDAY – MONIQUE BUCHEGER with GIVEAWAY
Please give a warm feathered welcome to author and friend, MONIQUE BUCHEGER.
rem: Tell us three random things about yourself.
MONIQUE: I was born on Walt Disney’s birthday and want to visit each of the Disney parks all over the world… and go on a Disney cruise or ten. I love being a mom… I have 12 kids and 16 granddarlings and bonus kids-in-laws. I’ve always wanted to be a mom and an author. I started writing as a kid.
rem: I, too, always wanted to be a mom. What is your favorite quotation and why?
MONIQUE: Kindness is a super power–we all have it, but not everybody uses it well. The world would be a better place if kindness was a first choice instead of an afterthought.
rem: Oh, I love that. When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you?
MONIQUE: Whether or not I care enough about a character to go on their journey with them. I love to laugh with a character--and I don't mind crying with them either. I just like to feel for them as I root for them. ;)
rem: Me, too, I’ve very character driven. What are you reading right now?
MONIQUE: I’m actually editing a fractured fairy tale that isn’t published yet. It’s good, but needs some work.
rem: Something to look forward to, then. Tell us a little about your writing journey.
MONIQUE: I’ve wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. Just before my 18th birthday, my husband proposed. I told my creative writing teacher that I was engaged and she wasn’t happy about it. When I asked her why, she said, “You are too smart to get married so young.” So I asked her what that meant and she said, “You’ll get married, have a bunch of kids, and not write your books…and you really need to write your books.”
So I tried to reassure her by saying, “I am almost 18 and I can do it all. :) I can be a wife, a mother and an author.” She rolled her eyes and wished me well. Twelve years later I had 5 kids, I had fostered over 100 and I had written no books. She died two years after that. Eight years later I was pregnant with my 12th child and I heard her say, “So Monique, when were you going to write those books?”
I tried to ignore her, but I heard her ask two more times, “So Monique, when were you going to write those books?” I realized I had a promise to keep, so I started writing my Ginnie West series–not the best version of it, but the start of it.
Over the years I found beta readers, and other authors who gave me feedback on what worked and what didn’t. I found my narrative voice and now have a picture book and 7 published novels–the last three I collaborated with my co-author, G.L. Rasmussen.
rem: What genre(s) do you write and why?
MONIQUE: Our published series is Upper Middle Grade. I have a picture book based on Ginnie West and her twin brother when they were three. I also have an unpublished family drama series and G.L. and I are working on an eighth Ginnie West book, which will be followed by at least 2-3 more. We are plotting out a Family Saga featuring the West family set in the 1980’s. For those familiar with our series, Uncle Ben, the patriarch of the West clan, will be eleven years old and is being raised with his 5 brothers. rem: I can’t wait to read that!
I also have a standalone book not set in the Wests’ world that I am working on and G.L. has a couple novels and at least 3 picture books. In addition to being an author, G.L. is an award winning artist. He draws and paints amazing pictures–he actually drew the first covers for the first two Ginnie West books. He and I collaborated on the newest Ginnie West covers so that the first 4 books (which I wrote) and the last 3 books (which we collaborated on) are similar.
G.L. and I both enjoy writing contemporary fiction with humor. Life is more fun if you can find something to smile about. We write middle grade books because those years are both fabulous and frustrating and we want our books to inspire and empower kids… and kids at heart.
We are looking into writing a family saga because we both love the West family and we each have at least one non-West series that we would like to overlap at least lightly with the Wests and their world. We have side stories and adventures with characters we would like to explore that need a space to grow. The West Family Saga seems like the right place to share them.
rem: Tell us a little about your latest book? What is your current project?
MONIQUE: Our latest book in the Ginnie West Adventures series is Book 7: Change Rushes West. Several arcs are explored, but I’ll discuss one here. Ginnie’s mom was a nationally ranked trick rider who died when Ginnie was 3 ½.
Her horse is named Eternal Love, called ‘Love’ for short. Ginnie’s dad sold Love soon after her mom’s funeral. Ginnie and her twin brother, Toran, start looking for her. **spoiler alert** They found her, but haven’t been able to reunite with her yet.
In our current WIP, Book 8, titled: Bringing Love West we explore what happens when Ginnie and Toran connect with Love’s newest owner… and a few other cool arcs.
rem: What is YOUR favorite part about the book or why do you love this book? Why should we read it?
MONIQUE: I have several favorite parts of Book 7: Change Rushes West–it has three of our best twists and a couple other fun arcs that have some great finales. I can’t tell you my favorite part–because it is better to just read it, but I will say this: you won’t be disappointed. (and you might cry–tears of happiness and sadness, because it hits you in the feels on several levels.)
Why should you read it? Several reviewers said in their first line of their reviews that Book 7 was their favorite book so far and are looking forward to reading Book 8–so no pressure, right? Some of the same reviewers said that about Book 3 as well, as they promised to read on–and they did, loving Book 7 as well as the books in between.
I will say this, the people who read the whole series tend to be hooked in the West's world. Right, Robin? 😂 rem: definitely
rem: What is one take-away from your book(s) that you hope readers identify with?
MONIQUE: That family can be who you choose them to be. Not everybody is born into a family that is good for them. And it’s okay to form bonds with good people.
Family should be about lifting one another and having a safe place to be where you feel valued… and in turn, helping others to feel that way.
rem: Monique, I totally agree with that. Anything you’d like to add?
MONIQUE: If anyone would like to read a FREE story that is a prequel to Book 1, follow this link: https://BookHip.com/DNFVDVW
If you are looking for the least expensive way to buy our books, here is a link to buy my books in 3 formats: paperback, e-book, and audiobook. It showcases e-books, but if you scroll down to the buy button, you can choose Paperbacks (which I will personalize to whomever you wish, as well as sign) or audiobooks:
https://welcome.authormoniquebucheger.com/fandf/
This is the best price on my books anywhere as you will get them directly from me. No middle man pricing. A great value on great books–at least I think so. ;)
rem: Thank you so much for chatting with us on my blog today!
MONIQUE: Thanks for having me. I always love visiting with you. 😀
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Her passion stems from a belief in the transformative power of words, a conviction that drives her to craft works that heal, inspire, and empower. Having a heart for families in crisis, Monique creates stories that capture the essence of real-life challenges and triumphs, with a touch of humor.
Monique’s upper middle-grade series, 'The Ginnie West Adventures,' delves into sensitive and weighty themes such as parental loss, abandonment, and overcoming abuse. She delivers stories not only for tween readers, but for those young at heart.
Drawing from her experiences nurturing a dozen of her own children and fostering over a hundred more, Monique's experiences shape her books, creating novels in a number of genres, including a historical family saga, contemporary family dramas, a fun picture book, and a middle grade series weaving whimsy and heart into her tales.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5807733.Monique_Bucheger
https://www.amazon.com/author/moniquebucheger
Monique Bucheger (author of The Ginnie West Adventure series)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monique-Bucheger/193789017310198
GIVEAWAY
Ms. Bucheger is giving away an e-copy or audio book of The Secret Sisters Club,
to one lucky commenter. Winner will be announced next Thursday, 15 May.
#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Interview, Monique Bucheger, Ginnie West Series, #GIVEAWAY, The Secret Sisters Club
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