Is this a same as, same as year?

Does 2021 feel a little like Deja vu for you? Some challenges we had from 2020 have carried through to this year. But I have to admit that being in lockdown brought a fresh perspective to me. I used to feel a little guilty that I was robbing myself of income producing hours and that my children would suffer for it. However, I came to realise that while I do not wish to have a repeat of last year, I could write without the guilt that I used to carry. That was so liberating for me.

Established authors who created courses for authors released some of their material for free, and I grabbed on with both hands, so I could create better stories for my readers. While I can not minimise the sorrow and suffering that so many people had, I am grateful for what I have gained in that time. I learned more about my craft and the publishing process. While I am convinced that my computer was an original issue in Noah’s arc, I still completed the first draft of book 3 on it in 2020. This year I started a Patreon account, where fans can support my writing process, and I released a few “sneak peaks” into my process in creating my medieval world.

This challenge to find purpose and progress in challenging times has always interested me. I found courage in the books I read when I was younger. It is why I write about characters who have to face serious challenges and overcome their perceptions of what is happening around them. In book 1, I wrote about Dorothea, Nadine’s mother, who tried to keep faith and hope alive in the tunnels. When you know there is no food, water or light and desperate people will attack you for whatever provisions you have, these are pretty desperate times.

For this year, I hope that you will find hope to push through whatever challenges you may be facing.