Hey, all. :deep breath: Okay. This is going to be a heavier post, so if my gentle readers want to catch me on a day with more kitty pics and book recs, that’s fine. The rest of you, here we go:
Those who have been here for a while know that this has been A Year for me already, with Rheuben passing right before Christmas. Thankfully, I had our awesome Housemate, Linda Hart, to walk this road with me. Those who have read Storm’s latest post, already knew Linda had fallen (literally and figuratively) with a sudden illness that was, unfortunately, terminal. She passed last week, peacefully. It was my privilege to care for her when she was unable to care for herself, as she has cared for me in my grief. To say I am in shock is an understatement. Her family is here from out of state, and we are figuring out the way forward together. I don’t know exactly what the future holds. We are taking that step by step. My preference would be to stay in this apartment with a roommate, though relocating is also on the table. One day at a time over here.
A dear friend of mine, for whom I have done freelance editing work, has set up a GoFundMe. For those able to donate, that would be lovely, and please do consider sharing. You can find that here:
Fundraiser by Debbie Jantzen : Support Anna After Two Heartbreaking Losses
Debbie is a sweetheart, as well as a wonderful and imaginative writer, and I look forward to working with her again. Once I get practicalities sorted out and my head on straight, I will be looking for remote work, including but not limited to more freelance editing, which I really and truly love, as well as content creation and of course writing fiction. Melva Michaelian and I put the finishing touches on the third installment in the Love By the Book series, Queen of Hearts, which will be out oh so soon. We need to make sure the cover art captures the spirit of Rob and Heather’s romance. This one is a friends to lovers story, with a Christmas finale that we absolutely love.
If you want to read the series in order, the first two are:
All Love by the Book stories are involved in the world of romance writing, reading and publishing, and Melva and I are gearing up to start what will be Love by the Book number four. I am also so, so, so excited to present my first indie historical romance novel, A Heart Most Errant, the first in the Ravenwood Saga, aka my first dive into a planned historical series. This one is medieval, set right after the plague wiped out half of Europe over a twenty-year period. I am sitting on the cover reveal until closer to release, but as soon as I put out the domestic fires, I have started discovery drafting the second book, which will be A Heart Most Ardent. Interestingly enough, both leads in that book are widowed, from marriages that were not awful. There is also a long, long, long overdue standalone Georgian historical in the works. Writing truly is my happy place, and when the world is chaos, I need all the happy I can get. That does include posting.
Storm is the best nurse/therapist ever, and my friends, near and far, are wonderful. Our church is amazing, as is my therapist. Over the next few weeks, I will be helping Linda’s family sort out what needs sorting, including dispatching two storage units, and figuring out what happens with the apartment. Getting an ESA letter for Storm. My content will be reflecting that, as well as the usual topics. Sometimes, I am ok. Other times, it’s rough. Lots of lists. Lots of journaling. Two big losses in under eight months is A Lot. Adding in the stuff I was already talking to my therapist about, and dial that stuff upward.
Let’s wind this up for now. I am up and only sometimes crying. Sometimes cussing. Sometimes praying, frequently writing. Going through difficult stuff, yes, but still here.
How about you?





























