When a writer’s tool has a mind of its own…

First, let me apologize for not writing much on the blog lately; with everything in life colliding at once, there’s only so much time in a day. Between my demanding day job and being a writer by night, plus trying to carve out quiet, tender moments with my fiancé, it can feel downright overwhelming. As I’ve mentioned in past posts, I’ve recently been bitten by the “writing bug” and am juggling a few different projects at once. I just finished one of those projects and was gearing up for the next steps—beta readers, ARC readers, and hopefully planning a thoughtful launch. This would be my second book, and I’ve been so proud of the progress and dreams wrapped in it… until today.

Let me explain. After a long day at work I settled in to finish some final edits before beginning the search for beta readers, and when I went to open the file—it was gone. Completely vanished. I spent two hours searching every folder and backup and found nothing. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. Thankfully I am overly paranoid: I had hard-copied everything and kept a printed copy on hand. The headache, though, came when I realized that having a hard copy means I now have to retype the manuscript to send it off to beta readers. It’s an annoying, time-sucking detour, but I’ve come to see it as the universe nudging me to hit pause and step back.

Having too much on my plate makes it harder to focus on anything properly, so I’m taking the universe’s advice and slowing down. Unfortunately this will delay the launch goal I set for myself, but that’s okay. It gives me time to breathe, regroup, and tend to the small, necessary things I’ve been neglecting since Hearts in Shadows came out. I hope you’ll stick with me through this chaotic, beautifully messy author journey. I promise to keep you all updated on my progress, my setbacks, and any little triumphs along the way.