New Year = Change
Happy New Year, everyone! Sorry this is coming so late, but things have been insane! I’m in the midst of a move.
Yes, another one.
November and December were really rough months for me. The pain in my hands has become excruciating so I finally stopped trying to find home remedies and went to the doctor and they’re recommending carpal tunnel surgery. Both of my hands are in pretty bad shape. No surprise since I never learned to type correctly until two years ago when I started using ergonomic/split keyboards.
To complicate matters further, in December my personal life kind of imploded and I realized the move I’ve been putting off was no longer optional. I was born and raised in Hawaii so I knew what to expect when I moved back in October 2019, but the pandemic changed everything. People from all over the country fled to the islands, overwhelming small towns and businesses. What should have been a temporary living situation for me turned into a permanent one because there was no housing available and it’s gotten increasingly toxic. I’ve tried to rent office space or apply for rentals, but none of it’s panned out. There just isn’t sufficient space for the influx of people and I think it’s going to be like that for years to come. Every day tasks have become incredibly time consuming and inflation has put everyone on edge. While incredibly beautiful, Hawaii has its limitations and (because of COVID), major restrictions. My last move was a bit traumatic, so even though I knew it wasn’t really working out here, I’ve turned a blind eye to a lot of things. But in December some events led me to a breaking point so… I’m moving.
I did a quick run to Vegas to get myself set up and am currently back in Hawaii wrapping things up and making arrangements to ship my dogs back with me. My 13-year-old Shih Tzu has no idea what’s coming. This will be his… third (?) time being transported back to the mainland? Poor guy.
I know everyone’s patience is running thin with all the delays, which I totally understand. But real life comes first and right now, mine is in shambles. Hawaii has always been difficult to move from, but the pandemic is adding another layer of complication and delays that makes my temples pound, but this is what life is like right now. It’s messy and frustrating and “normal” kinda doesn’t exist anymore. I’m going to move, have the surgery, and then finish these books. That’s the plan.
To my patrons who are supposed to get paperbacks—I have all your names down and will send them out when I publish. If you have any concerns, you can message me through my site.
If anyone is interested in signed paperbacks, I have a little stock and don’t want to ship the books back to the mainland. Message me through my website and I’ll let you know if I have that book and can give you a shipping quote. If you don’t hear back from me, I’ve most likely sold out since I have very limited inventory.
Once again, I apologize for another delay. I know that won’t pacify most, but that’s all I’ve got. I hope you guys are able to recommend amazing stories to each other in the meantime while I get my life together. I still fit in writing sessions when I can, but I can’t write more than an hour without my arms spasming. It usually takes around an hour for me to fall into the story. I used to warn people that I was, “going under” which means I’m gonna be deaf and dumb to the real world and let myself be taken away. It’s almost like hypnosis and these injuries interfere with that magic. It’s super frustrating, but I guess that’s the price we pay in this profession… or anyone who works at a desk.
I’m sorry for the haphazard and scattered blog, but I just wanted to let you guys know what’s going on with me. Although this move is proving to be super challenging and I don’t know what the future holds, a part of me can’t help being excited for a big change. The monotony of the past two years—of being cooped up, not being able to make plans, and fear—I’m pushing past all that and taking control again and damn, does it feel good. Instead of another predictable year in Hawaii, I have a completely blank slate. I’d rather take the wild card any day of the week than play it safe so while this move is proving to be challenging, I know it’ll be worth it in the end.
I hope you guys follow your heart in 2022 and that this year has amazing things in store for you. That’s what I’m believing for myself. Thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me. Yes, I’m alive and just as crazy as ever and yes, the stories are still coming out. I was actually planning on staying in Hawaii until I published, but it didn’t work out so they’ll be completed in the mainland. The characters are just as frustrated as I am and desperately want to be set free. They’re always there, just waiting for me to sit so they can finish acting out the scene I left them in. Having a fertile mind but an unwilling body is a different version of hell I hope you never experience. I hope all goes well with the surgery and very soon, I’ll be writing without pain.
I’ll be in touch.