Celebrating Friendship and Creativity in the Bounty Group
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Chapter 1: The Power of Community
I am truly grateful to be a member of this Bounty Group, where we uplift one another, exchange writing advice, and cherish our time together. A heartfelt thank you to K.T. McGivens for uniting us in her book and fostering lasting friendships beyond the pages!
Discover more about the authors and this incredible writing community in this article!
Traditionally, the life of an author has been viewed as a solitary endeavor. Yet, a remarkable group of writers has discovered strength and support through their unique connections. To say they have gained a treasure would be an understatement. While this treasure isn't measured in currency, it is filled to the brim with camaraderie.
Despite the critics of social media, those within the #writingcommunity have encountered like-minded souls from around the world. K.T. McGivens, renowned for her Katie Porter Mystery Series, captured some of these relationships in her thirteenth cozy mystery installment, The Body in Bounty Bay.
Through her online interactions with fellow authors Wendy Bayne, Joanne Paulson, Fiona Ingram, Elana McDougall, Harriet Helfand, and Erik Meyers, McGivens crafted characters inspired by her perceptions of them. Even without meeting face-to-face, she managed to encapsulate their essence through their writings and online presence. The results were astonishingly accurate.
"It was an experiment to portray real individuals as characters. I scoured social media for those I believed would connect well," McGivens shared. "More importantly, my protagonist needed to appreciate them. It should have been obvious, yet I never considered that these real authors would want to interact after reading the novel or would bond so effortlessly."
To maintain their connection, the authors, now affectionately called the "Bounty" group, began convening regularly via Zoom to discuss writing and marketing strategies. This online communication was essential, given that they resided far apart—from Canada, the United States, Austria, and Cyprus. However, distance and time zones have not hindered their collaboration.
Recently, McGivens has compiled snippets of the authors' discussions into recordings, complete with mood music and visuals, and shared them on social media. These sessions highlight the authors' journeys, insights, and writing ambitions. By sharing these goals and fostering the online writing community, the Bounty group's bond continues to strengthen. Like their characters in Bounty Bay, these authors work together to promote their talents and love for literature.
Author K.T. McGivens
Contact: [email protected]
Amazon: amazon.com/author/ktmcgivens
X: @KMcgivens
Chapter 2: The Authors of Bounty — Our Stories
Wendy Bayne ("Winifred Barnes")
When I first entered the realm of social media, I never anticipated forming friendships where I could share ideas, anxieties, and aspirations. Thanks to K.T. McGivens, I found six wonderful and diverse individuals from various genres, united by her inclusion of us in The Body in Bounty Bay. Our connection blossomed across ten time zones, forming a supportive network of authors and friends. Once a month, we gather on Zoom to exchange ideas and insights.
I am endlessly grateful to K.T. McGivens for portraying me in her book and for perfectly capturing our personalities. One group member shared an article that resonated with me: "Writing Hasn't Won Me Fame or Fortune, But It's Brought Me Friendship." Thank you, Bounty Bay Group and K.T. McGivens!
Elana McDougall ("Evelyn McDonald")
Who hasn't yearned to embody a beloved literary character? Wouldn't it be even more thrilling to become a character in a story? Thanks to K.T. McGivens, I had the honor of stepping into the world of Bounty, as depicted in The Body in Bounty Bay.
Before this experience, I only knew my fellow authors through social media. K.T. cleverly crafted our characters based on our online personas, and I hope I match the flamboyance of my alter-ego! Our inclusion wasn’t just a quirky addition; it emphasized the importance of community. K.T. recognized our shared desire to uplift others, translating that into her narrative.
Through K.T. and our Zoom interactions, we have forged genuine friendships. I cherish the opportunity to revisit Bounty and participate in its story every time I read The Body in Bounty Bay. Join us!
Joanne (J.C.) Paulson ("Josephine Pepper")
To this day, I am unsure why K.T. McGivens chose to include me as part of the author group in The Body in Bounty Bay. Initially, I was delighted and, upon reading the final product, deeply honored. My character is a journalist, much like myself, and I aspire to embody her heart in real life.
Reflecting on this experience, I am profoundly moved by what our group has achieved socially. The connection we now share, despite the miles between us, fills my heart with warmth and gratitude. What a truly incredible journey!
Fiona Ingram ("Freya Graham")
I was intrigued and a bit anxious about being featured in someone else's book, especially since the author had never met me. K.T. McGivens captured my character perfectly—it felt like reading about myself! I was curious about the other characters and whether we would share common ground despite writing in different genres.
I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to discover that, as authors, we all grapple with similar fears and challenges. What began as a fun twist in a book has blossomed into a fantastic support network where we promote one another and share camaraderie, a quality often lacking in today's world.
Harriet (H.C.) Helfand ("Helen Hellman")
Although the town of Bounty exists solely in fiction, the bonds formed with the other authors in this story, thanks to K.T. McGivens, are very real. Characters are the essence of our stories, and to be immortalized as one is a true honor. The friendships we have cultivated through our shared experiences are the ultimate reward. K.T. has done what many authors only dream of—she has breathed life into her characters and connected them to real individuals.
This collaborative article, penned by all of us, is shared with the permission of the writers involved. We hope you enjoy learning about our journey. It’s a remarkable group!
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