Updates, Both Personal and Professional

[jimhines]

Warning for discussion of death.

The Personal:

I don’t know about the rest of you, but 2022 has been a hell of a year so far.

In February, we lost my Uncle John. He’d been fighting off cancer for years, so this wasn’t completely unexpected, but it still hurt.

Then in March, my mother-in-law was admitted to the Emergency Room. She was hospitalized for two weeks, and passed on the 14th.

A week later, while we were still recovering from that, my brother’s wife died suddenly and unexpectedly.

It’s been a lot to deal with. My brother has been coping the best he can with support from friends and family. For the kids and I, it all tore open some wounds from when Amy died in 2019.

To paraphrase Bruce Willis, I can’t f***ing believe this. How can the same thing happen to the same family twice?

We’re getting through it. I would very much like to not have to get through anything like this again for a long time, please.

So that’s what’s been eating up a lot of my emotional energy these past months. I’ve still been writing, though!

The Professional:

I rewrote Project K and sent it to my agent earlier this year. He wanted me to revise some things before we sent it out on submission, so I did that and got it back to him just over a week ago.

I also got edits back from my editor for Terminal Peace. My turnaround is really tight on these, since the book comes out in August, but I’m on track and should have those finished in a few more days.

In between all that, I wrote a short story for an anthology, and that editor has a few revisions they’d like me to do. That’s on the To Do List right after Terminal Peace.

Then, finally, I’ve got an essay I need to write for a different market by May 1.

And now you know where my mental energy has been going lately.

The Takeaway:

I feel like I’m pretty much keeping up with it all, but please don’t toss me any more chainsaws to juggle until at least May.

And stay healthy, y’all! ♥

Comments

[celli]

<333333

[pameladean]

I'm so sorry, Jim, that is really a lot. I'm impressed at how much work you've gotten done. I hope the sailing is smoother ahead.

P.

[jimhines]

Thank you. You and me both!

[jmward14]

So sorry you and your family have had to go through this. Deepest condolences and sincerest hopes that you never, ever have to face this kind of grief again. <3

[ckd]

♥

[martianmooncrab]

I had a massive DVT and had to wait 9 days to get a hospital bed...

2022 has sucked.

[jimhines]

Oh, crap. Was the delay COVID-related, or something else?

Either way, I hope you're doing better!

[martianmooncrab]

the lack of beds was covid, the blood clot was all me...

[themis1]

That's a lot to deal with.

Well done for keeping the writing balls in the air along with the chainsaws.

I hope things improve for you and your family.

[thewayne]

Wow. Dayum! Sorry to hear about all that those passings. Even expected ones hurt. My mom died suddenly last September, she was 90. Got up from a nap, fell over, was gone. At least it was sudden, no lingering hospitalizations or illness. Can't really ask for much better than that.

I'm hoping there's been some happiness in things with your lady-friend. You deserve it.

[lokifan]

Belated sympathy, and a lot of impressed faces that you're getting work done regardless!