Health Update & Thank You!

Hello and greetings, dear friends and readers.  It has been many, many months since I’ve ventured into the online world to touch base, but I am happy to say that the time felt right at last – both from a writer’s point of view and because I can impart positive health news.  First, let me share the good health news, because quite a few people have asked how I’m feeling and how are things on that front.

As many of you know, I took a break almost a year ago from writing and editing because I was facing a much more extensive surgical procedure to correct a heart condition I battled, after the first two surgeries I’d had proved unsuccessful.  Will and I traveled to Charleston last October and placed our faith in the hands of a uniquely skilled surgeon, who did indeed find areas within my heart which he then addressed during the procedure.  After six hours, the surgery seemed to be a promising success, but it was over two months later before I finally began to see a significant improvement in my day-to-day heart function and health.  During the last year, Will and I have also drastically changed our eating habits and exercise routine, and we’re much healthier today than we were at the start of this journey, thankfully.  I still face some minor heart issues, but I have faith that they can be managed now and that they are less of a threat than what I dealt with weekly, and sometimes daily, before the last surgery.

During my time away from computer, I also learned how to ‘just be’ again.  As silly as that sounds, the previous four and a half years were filled with me using any and all waking hours away from work writing on my laptop.  I had honestly forgotten how to relax and simply enjoy an outing to the store with Will, or how to sit and read someone else’s novel without feeling guilty.  You see, when I’m writing, reading another’s story is definitely off-limits because I don’t want to be influenced by another writer’s voice.  Thus, during my hiatus, I actually allowed myself to recline on the sofa and read, an activity which has always brought me great pleasure.

Now, though, I am much stronger physically, and I feel well-rested, both emotionally and spiritually.  I feel less drained, and I know the time to be creative has returned.  Alex and all her loved ones have been running through my imagination rampantly of late, and I am ready to complete her final two novels.

My goal is to finish writing Book 9 by Christmas of this this year.  That will leave me with the month of January and the beginning of February to complete the necessary editing each novel requires, and then place the book in your hands by late February/ early March.  I’ll then be writing Book 10, and I hope to have that out by Christmas of next year, thus ending the story I had originally envisioned for Alexandria.  Yes, I do plan to eventually write a novel focusing on Ahadi and one for Than, as I’ve mentioned before, but we’ll see what the future brings for their release dates.  Gotta write their stories first! 😊

As always, thank you to those who prayed for me and who reached out, even when I was far away from my computer and not checking any emails or social media.  Now that I’m wading back into those waters, your messages mean so much.  I knew, though, that your prayers were offered because I have felt buoyed and carried throughout this entire heart journey, which has stretched over several years now until things finally came to a head.  Know also that I will be checking in through email, the website, and through Facebook once more, so I’ll be able to respond now to questions or comments.

Thank you, again, friends, both near and far.  I look forward to placing the last bits of Alexandria’s tale into your hands and, hopefully, in your hearts, as well.

Be well, and God Bless!

Natalie

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