Meet Toni Bellon | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toni Bellon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toni, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up out West, the daughter of two teachers. The expectation to help children was constantly reinforced at our house. So, I became an educator. I tell people that I spread the idea of Middle School. Every time we moved the district was beginning to work on a Middle School Model. I’d help get it started and then move again.

My father was a football coach and he didn’t have a son until I was fourteen. Needless to say, I got in trouble for fighting and couldn’t understand why I was being punished. I mean, Dad taught me to fight and how to escape all sorts of dangers. Today I’d say I’m more argumentative than aggressive. Others might not agree with me.

When I was halfway through High School, my parents moved from the Bay Area in California to Knoxville Tennessee. I wasn’t happy about the move and misbehaved quite a bit. I’m still not a good ‘Southern’ woman. There is no pearl-clutching and no one would say I’m genteel.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Because of my upbringing, I became an educator. When I was twenty-two, I got married to a military man who eventually worked for the government. So, of course, we moved a lot. In every new state I either had to find a job or go back to school for an additional degree in order to get a new job. It wasn’t easy or cheap but I ended up with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. John’s University in New York. When my husband moved to Atlanta, I told him I was done and his check would continue to come to GA (yes, we’re still married).

When my father died, I was expected to care for my mother who had Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. Of course, she still drank. I finally decided I had to retire from the University of North Georgia to care for her. I would never suggest that caring for a parent with issues would be easy.

Once my mother passed, I needed to find ways to keep busy. I’ve always been a storyteller and others have said I needed to write my ‘semi-truths’ down. I said people needed to die first, and they did. Writing has been the easiest thing I’ve done. Getting published – not so much.

Lessons I’ve learned . . . 1) You are not alone and you shouldn’t be. Find a group (or two) and accept feedback as help. 2) It’s not about the money. As long as you have enough to live on, it’s about telling your truths and helping others. 3) Be open to change. Personally, I’m a recovering academic and attempting to unlearn APA style. 4) Writing is a lot cheaper than therapy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would come back to my house and talk for ages, maybe swim in the pool and barbecue chicken and veggies. If we had to go out, I’d take them to From the Earth Brewing Company (1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Roswell, GA) for both food and a good beer. I would want my friend to see my children and grandchildren so we might go to Smyrna and meet up at Zama Mexican Cuisine (4600 West Village Pl. SE). I believe my family and I are the most exciting people. Besides watching our grandchildren, other places I might take them would be the Atlanta Botanical Gardens or rent a pontoon boat and float around Lake Lanier. Of course, we’d need to stop at independent bookstores and look for my book.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be a published author if it weren’t for the guilt I felt about my brother’s life situation. As I got older my mother drank more and more. By time my brother was born, she was out of control. I wrote L.E.A.P. (Linn’s Emerging Adult Plan) as a way to acknowledge my biggest regret—allowing others to stop me from seeking help for my younger brother and myself in dealing with our mother’s alcoholism.

As I wrote and got feedback from two different critique groups and the Atlanta Writer’s Club, I was told that the situation was not my fault. They were right, and my success is based on all of their advice, feedback, and unwavering support.

Of course, Geoff Habiger from Artemesia Publishing deserves a huge amount of credit. He continues to answer all my questions (no matter how dumb) and calms me down.

Finally, my husband (John Jupin) has read everything and listened to all my complaints without screaming at me.

Website: https://Tonibellon.com

Instagram: @tlbellon

Twitter: @grandrusset

Facebook: Toni Bellon

Image Credits
Justin Vilonna, Reid Jupin, The Atlanta Writer’s Club