Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
Blog
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: TEAM
“There is no “I” in team.” You’ve probably heard this before. Or perhaps, my assistant coach’s favorite, “TEAM. Together, Everyone, Achieves, More.”
There are a lot of quotes about the importance of TEAM. And there is a good reason for it; TEAM is the difference between a good team and championship team, between a miserable 5-15 team and a strong-hearted joyful 3-17 team. A group of athletes, or businessmen or women, who keep their focus on team, will reap the benefits. Not always in the win/loss column, but in life and how they learn to live it.
As a high school coach, I witnessed the power of TEAM first-hand this season. We had a lot of young talent and with that could easily have come team dissention. But players worked as a team to get to know and trust one another, find their roles and push themselves, and each other, to become […]
Book Review: The Improv by M.J. McDermott
I met M.J. working on the book trailer for my memoir “Back on the Court”. She too is a writer and what a story she has to tell. Her novel, “The Improv” is based on her personal experience as an actress in college . After I finished her book, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to talk to my teenage daughter about it.
As an athlete and fashion model I grew up witnessing predators in action. A coach that dated his, much younger, players, photographers that suggested bras or panties be removed, agents that asked young men to remove ALL their clothing while they were measured. But what is revealed in “The Improv” brings the predators manipulation to a whole new level.
“The Improv” is a thought-provoking, oh-so-relevant, must-read. The novel (based on a true story) flawlessly weaves college life, […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Change
Writing is not easy work. As Jane Yolen says, the key to writing, is just putting your damn butt in the chair and getting your pen moving. (I’m paraphrasing here) But sometimes CHANGE is inspiring. A new location, maybe a cafe, the beach, the back porch. Maybe it’s a beautiful new pen or journal. What about new music, a scented candle, a fresh bouquet of sunny daffodils?
What change helps keep your pen moving?
Today’s writing prompt: Devon knew it was time for a change. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and…
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