Life Is Rough Sometimes

Did you miss me? I can't believe it's been so long since I posted something. However, I've had a lot of things happen in my life to take me away from writing. I'm not making up excuses, I'm only trying to explain why I've taken such a long break.

In the last two years, the father that I adored, passed away. That has hit me hard and I still cry most every day thinking about the wonderful person our family lost. In fact, I've been crying for over forty years worrying that someday we would lose him and how horrible it would be. After my father passed away, my husband retired and we made the decision to move out of state to Texas to be near my oldest sister and her family. This was a wonderfully happy decision of ours but as most of you know, moving is a complicated and stressful period. But we are all moved in and loving it. However, next came the passing of my sweet adorable Yorky, Beemer who was my best buddy for twelve years. She followed me everywhere and always wanted to be with me. Two months later, my mother-in-law passed away and both of those deaths are still fresh on our minds. I couldn't have asked for a better MIL whom I've known since I was a young child. She was one of my best supporters and was always so excited when I had a new book come out. Her death still doesn't feel real to us.

So, all those reasons are why my writing has been suffering. I couldn't find inspiration or the strength to go to my computer and write a happy children's story or even to market myself. Trust me, I've been beating myself up over all of this. Does taking such a long break mean I'm no longer a dedicated, serious writer? Heck no. I'm human! I needed this break to refocus. Everything you read about being a writer, however, tells us that we need to write everyday but sometimes it's just not possible. It doesn't mean I don't love what I do just as much as I always did. It just means... I was sad and had too much on my plate to dedicate myself to much of anything. All I can do now is try to get back into the swing of things. I owe it to my publishers and all the little kiddos out there that enjoy my stories.

We writers really are hard on ourselves even with no tragedies in our lives. It's a stressful occupation because we face so many rejections everyday in some form or another. But it's also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life that I have no intention of giving up. It's just going to be difficult getting back up to speed. I hope you all will be patient with me and still want to read my posts. I do have a few more books coming out soon so with God's help along with my dad and MIL's help from heaven, I know I can get my Mojo back. More from me soon!