Last week’s long-awaited specialist visit turned into “how about a trip to the day surgery department on Friday?”, thus having me lose an entire week–but better that than push some procedures off, which would’ve given me weeks to build up anxiety instead.
Good news is that I should be on the mend.
Bad news is that the next month is going to be pretty rough.
I’m on a couple of immunosuppressants at the moment, one of which is temporary but that I have pretty severe side effects from. At least I can predict what will happen this time because I’ve been through this before, so I’m building my schedule the next few weeks around all this bullshit (human bodies are so stupid).
My working hours will be cut down every week for about a month. As such, I can’t take on many freelance projects so I’m asking clients to book early with a down payment here.
If anyone needs a cover in a hurry, premades are on sale for 25% off until February 28 with the coupon code NEWYEARSAMEBS.
I’ll still need about a week to turn around customization. My freelance days starting the week of Jan 24 will be Thursdays and Fridays.
The other good news is that no releases will be delayed.
Dweller on the Threshold (now out in print and shipping!) will still release in April as planned. Charon’s Gold will still release in the fall as I’ve factored in the revisions I’m currently doing into my schedule and it should still go to the content editor at the end of the month.
eBooks bought through me will also be on sale to help with bills during this time.
All books bought through Payhip are 25% off, same coupon code of NEWYEARSAMEBS. If you’ve had enough of my murder shenanigans and want some size-positive contemp romance, the same code works for Aunt Judy’s eBooks as well.
As disappointed as I am that I didn’t fully knock myself into remission last year with my DIY apocalypse medicine, I would’ve been in much worse shape if I hadn’t done anything, and at least I know now that the pain I get hit with several times a day is not my new normal but perhaps something that will go away when fully treated.
I’m dreading the next couple of weeks but I’m absolutely looking forward to resuming some semblance of normal the coming months. I have stories to tell and books to release.
If I can give an important reminder to anyone “tired” of the pandemic or struggling right now: please, please, remember that being bored or frustrated in not being able to do the things you used to pre-2020 is so much better than the risk of becoming disabled–possibly permanently–by something like long covid. If I could go back in time nearly eight years ago and stop the innocuous thing I did that we suspect triggered the extreme immune response and led to my current disease, I would do so in a heartbeat. And now all I see are people thinking nothing of a similar risk, putting themselves and their loved ones–as well as total strangers–in danger because they’re “tired”.
I get it. Everyone’s tired.
But right now, with covid running rampant, you have the opportunity to avoid becoming disabled by something. You can go from active and healthy to chronically ill so fucking easily. Nothing is worth disabling yourself. Nothing. Not a haircut, not a movie, not a night out to eat. Nothing is worth disabling your loved ones. Nothing is worth disabling a stranger you might encounter on the street.
Your health is so precarious and no one is immune. I don’t want you, a year or two from now, to be looking at this pandemic time thinking “I wish I’d just stayed inside a little longer” as you struggle to get answers from a medical community that doesn’t fully understand what’s wrong with you, unable to work, unable to live the life you used to.
My thanks as always to patrons, who are why I was able to just drop a chunk of change on medications without worry. Join 60+ other folks right here.
And my thanks to all readers who buy the books and offer their support. Last year was horrible, this year is not off to a great start, but I’m so excited to have new stories to share with y’all.
Writer of urban fantasy, thrillers/mysteries, and horror.
Your health is way more important Skyla. My hubby and I have followed ALL recommendations, always masking, Han sanitizer, zoom meetings for holidays and fully vaccinated. Even had our booster shot in December!
I never heard from you re: buying $300.00 worth of books from you.
I don’t do any online payments and do not have a credit card.
We could drive to your place and swap out the cash and pick up the books.
Alternately, If you tell me where to send it, I could send you the money by mail and have you mail the books. I like complete series if you have them and I read pretty much everything.
I already have all of Jude’s books.
My email is anna.blake.13@gmail.com.
My phone number is 705-738-9700.
My address is 137 Pirates Glenn Drive, Trent Lakes, Ontario, K0M 1A0.
Hope to hear from you soon. Take care!
Anna, I sent you an email re: books on October 15!
Hope you get back on the mend very soon. Its not easy being on immune suppressing meds.