'Til We Meet Again

I had an "aha" moment today. I was explaining to my Dr how nice it was to have a sinus infection, because my brain focused on that rather than the concussion headaches.

Let's pick that apart a little. Ever had a sinus infection, where your cheekbones and brow bones hurt so much when touched or tapped that you want to hit back? HARD?

This is a relief from my headaches. I can't even.

I know I posted last week about going dark, but after talking it over with my family and my doctor I'm expanding the timeline.

So this is goodbye. Hopefully for just a few months. Hopefully just till summer.

I can't even tell you how hard this is. I've spent over 5 years developing an online presence, networking, getting to know other writers and readers. It's like admitting defeat. I feel like nobody is even going to remember me in 3 months if I'm not steadily chirping away from my nest.

In an effort to make peace with this decision, which has become a necessity to try and heal physically, I've had to step back and reevaluate where I am. In truth, I'm not in a bad spot.

I have SIX published novels, including my very first completed series. I have a handful of published short stories, at varying lengths. Those are still all going to be out there for general consumption.

I have my VERY FIRST AWARD NOMINATION! City of Light is up for a Swoony this year. If you're not familiar with the Swoony's, you can check out the page on Goodreads. In short: The Swoony Awards are a reader’s choice award recognizing excellence in clean romance fiction. We wanted a way to show our appreciation to these awesome authors who write the kind of books that we love. It’s also a great way to find new books and a good go-to when looking for something fun to read.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out. Seriously, this is one of those moments where you're just happy to be nominated. Recognized. Sure, I'd love votes--I'm not gonna lie--but just being on the list is enough. The coolest thing is, as a reader, you can vote for up to 100 books on the list, so if you're an avid book devourer (as most of us are) you can vote for ALL of your favorites. :)

Also, if you're in the market for some free books, I've got some Goodreads Giveaways scheduled for the next couple of months. Stay tuned, the links will be up once each giveaway goes live.

I've already stated that I have no plans to publish this year, so there's no pressure for me to write. I can just step back, concentrate on my family, and let myself heal. I'm not going to say that will be easy. Last night I was bitten by the urge to write so hard that I almost got out of bed to do it.

I may even have to resort to handwriting, although I don't think that would give my brain a rest any more than an hour or so on the computer. It would just be a different sort of exercise. That being said, I'm not going to push it.

So, farewell. Though I can't say when I'll be back I want to say it'll be soon. It all depends on my brain.

Now that's a terrifying thought.