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.
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Back on the Court Book Trailer
Thank you Michael Harris and M.J McDermott, at Baby Wild Films, for the beautiful book trailer.
“Back on the Court” by Sonya G. Elliott
Struck by a train just days before her wedding, Sonya Elliott, an athlete and fashion model, miraculously survives. “Back on the Court” is Sonya’s incredible story of recovery. As she fights her way through grief, debilitating injuries and heartbreak, she reignites her passion for basketball, and ultimately for life itself. This heart-felt memoir brings insight to the grief process, is a captivating love story, and has an inspiring impact that will last a lifetime.
Letting go of fear
There is something frightening about putting myself out there as a writer. I’ve published a book and a magazine article, attended many classes and conferences, spent hours writing, but I don’t always think of myself as a writer, promote myself as a writer. Why is that?
Maybe it’s because the event that jump-started my writing, and my first book, Back on the Court, took the life of someone I love. I wrote my memoir to share my journey of grief and recovery and during that process I fell in love with the written word. But finding success in the wake of such tragedy is bitter sweet.
As a college athlete I pushed my body and mind to the limits in practice so that by the time I hit the court I had no fear. I was nervous and excited, but not afraid. […]
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