The Month Everything Ground To a Halt

My September wrap-up post, including health issues, pitch contests, and future plans.

Phew! What a month September was! I got a stomach virus at the end of August, and then after recovering from that, it was time for Youngest to start college and for me and Hubby to get used to 8 am starts again!

The first few weeks of drop-offs and collections went fine, with Hubby doing the mornings and me doing the afternoons.

Then one Monday afternoon, while walking home, I felt dizzy, faint, and like I had vertigo. I put it down to low blood sugar and had something to eat. But the sensation didn’t ease, and then I started experiencing some numbness in my right hand.

Still thinking nothing of it, I had an early night and assumed it would pass by morning. Only it didn’t. I still felt dizzy, faint, and like I had vertigo, plus the numbness had spread from my right hand and arm to my right leg too.

Google seemed to think these symptoms were enough for me to call an ambulance, in case it was a stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack, so I did. Paramedics came, took my blood pressure, hooked me up to a heart monitor, etc., and everything was fine. But when they called A&E, they still wanted me to go in.

What resulted was about eight hours in A&E. I was seen by two doctors, had my blood taken, and was given a CT scan. Everything was fine, and the discharge note said likely labyrinthitis, as I had mentioned having ear discomfort in the previous week.

Even though everything was normal, they still booked me in for an outpatient MRI just in case. I actually had that MRI today and expect the results in about three weeks.

Since then, I have been fine, so I assume it was labyrinthitis and the numbness was just a weird coincidence.

Just as I was getting over the hospital fatigue, etc., I got a call from my stepdad saying my mom was in hospital. She had a reaction to her chemotherapy medication, which resulted in an elevated heart rate and concerns about her heart. I visited her the day after she was admitted to take her some supplies, etc.

Even though she is still undergoing treatment for the heart issue and is awaiting a follow-up procedure, she discharged herself from hospital after a few days for a variety of reasons. Since then, she’s been resting, and when I spoke to her last, a few days ago, she sounded much better and was going away for a few days for her birthday.

Obviously, there’s still the issue with her heart, and she’s likely going to have to have ablation to remove the damaged/dead tissue. Given the heart complications and how unwell treatment was making her feel, she’s decided not to continue with the chemotherapy. It was more of a preventative measure, as the tumour was already surgically removed, but it’s still slightly worrying.

She’s seventy in a few days, and just… getting used to having adult parents with health issues is something I’m still coming to terms with.

Then, about a week after my mom was discharged, I caught a cold from Youngest which was severe enough that I couldn’t concentrate, had brain fog, and needed more sleep than usual.

Needless to say, all those factors combined mean I have done very little in the way of writing-related work in September.

But I did manage to get a small amount done. I added another ~2k words to To Burn Beside You, revised and changed the setting of ten chapters of Kiss Me After The Kill, and, most excitingly, entered my first pitch contest with Tea Leaves, Pages and Starlight.

I got two requests, and while the story was ultimately passed on, they gave me the push to write a query letter, synopsis, etc., so I am now in a much better place with Tea Leaves, Pages and Starlight than I was a month ago.

My plan now is to give it another round of revisions in the new year, and then start to send out queries and enter more pitch contests.

But before that, I have other plans. I intend to devote 90% of October to finishing the KMATK revisions so I can send it back to my editor. The only exception will be Fridays, when I intend to edit Magic, Dreams and a Place to Belong chapters so I don’t fall behind with the serialization.

Then, in November, I plan to take part in Novel-November and work on my Jean Grey-inspired phoenix witch/dragon prince romance, To Burn Beside You.

To Burn Beside You feels like the spiritual successor to projects like Triquetra and Divine Unmaking, and contains many of the same themes, such as oppressive governments and the ways women with power are treated.

To coincide with me taking part in Novel-November, I will be reopening my Novel-November/Write On Facebook group for those who are also taking part in a November writing challenge and want a place for accountability, occasional sprints, and bookish chatter. Let me know if you’d like to join, and I’ll send you an invite.

In November, I also plan on writing an essay about the creative DNA of To Burn Beside You, so stay tuned for that. I also have a planned October essay about why paranormal beings like witches, and the Halloween period, have always resonated with me, despite being raised Christian.

Here and there, when I’ve had time, I’ve been working on marketing, especially pertaining to my Ream Stories account, including a Ream Raid Book Blast at the beginning of September (even though it feels like it was 5 years ago), which increased my follower count.

I’m running a Love After Dark: Spooky & Speculative Romance group promo from October 15 to November 1, during which time The Starlight Prince will be discounted. I am also taking part in a Romantasy & Monster Smut group promo in November, during which time Starlight and Stolen Secrets will be discounted.

Along with these promos, I also plan to start offering chapters of Magic, Dreams and a Place to Belong for free, with one free chapter a month while the newer chapters remain locked behind the membership.

Finally, on the Ream front, I have a swap organized with author Bonnie Hart, who is promoting her book Bred By My Two Husbands — an erotic, reverse-harem story.

That’s all I have for you this month, so I’m going to leave this entry here and head off to work on my newsletter (subscribers, expect that soon!).

Take care and stay creative!

T.T.F.N