Mystery Deb

Happy 2026, and My Adventure in the ER

Happy New Year, everyone, and a big welcome to new subscribers. I hope you’ll find something worthwhile in this blog. So, how is everyone’s year going so far? My thirteenth chemo treatment (this one with new drugs) took place on December 23, and I had enough energy to enjoy Christmas with the family. The granddaughters had a wonderful time. It was the first year that little Abby understood what was happening, although probably not why, which will come later. As you can see, they love their new scooters.

I was reading someone’s blog before Christmas and this person described in one word what they hoped for 2026. I don’t usually spend a lot of time thinking about a specific word to describe a year, but this time, it was obvious: Recovery. Maybe it applies to others as well?

In a broader context, the word will mean different things to people this year. After all, many were blindsided by unwelcome events in 2025, but I hope you’re finding a way to recover from whatever you’ve been through, and are being kind to yourself, or even treating yourself in some small or large way.

Cancer Update (crisis averted):

After Christmas, my energy plummeted. Exercising time became shorter and I did fewer tasks. The goal, as always, is to keep moving because it’s good for cancer patients. But finding the right balance can be challenging. Happily, I haven’t had many nausea issues, however, I have developed some numbness in my feet. It’s not painful, and I do a lot of flexing and pointing and walking, and am treated to massages by my spouse. My tastebuds, which were doing better, have gone wonky again. Some foods are really off for me, but others are okay.

The truly unwelcome aspect of this second phase of chemo treatment is that these new drugs diminish white blood cells, which places me at a much higher risk for infection. My doctor warned me that if my temperature goes beyond 38 degrees C (100 degrees F) then I’m to go to Emergency right away. On Sunday the 4^th, that’s what happened.

My local hospital is only six blocks from my house. We got there after seven, and the waiting room was surprisingly quiet. Because I’m a cancer patient, I was seen right away and tests carried out. Once that was done, I was moved to an isolated room. The doctor warned me that I might have to stay for several days, which made me nearly drop through the floor, since I’d been feeling fine.

I wound up spending two nights in isolation. The first night was dreadful as the sounds of crying kids and vomiting adults at 2:30 in the morning was an eye-opener to the suffering others were enduring. The flu is no joke, and that little hospital was maxed out. To fill the time, I read, listened to podcasts, and slept. On day two, I was moved to a different room, which was off the main corridor and, happily, things were much quieter in this part of ER.

In the end, the test results were all negative, and I discharged yesterday. I’ve been given drugs to boost my white blood cell count, and will meet with my oncology doctor tomorrow. I’m told that the second week after treatment is when the blood cells are at their lowest. I’ve just entered week three, so I’m hoping that some serious rebuilding is underway, because I start this all again on January 13^th.

My Writing Life (and in this case, everyone’s)

Much has been written about the Nigerian scammers who’ve created thousands of AI-generated emails per minute and sent them to authors, both self-published and traditionally published. The emails gush over our books, quoting key characters’ names, plots, etc. They claim to be book reviewers, or book club organizers, or librarians, etc. Those messages and emails are designed to make us think they’re actually interested in our work. All they’re interested in is taking our money. Here’s an example of my recent encounter:

I was contacted by a woman named Lois Nettleton on Instagram, whose profile indicated that she loves to read. She had several friends, so I friended her back without giving it much thought. A day or two later, she messaged me, asking me about my books. Although I had my suspicions, I decided to play along to see where this would go. From there, her spiel went on to assure me that no money is involved. She’d just like to showcase one of my books. I told her about my health situation, explaining that I wasn’t interested right now. She said she understood, told me to take my time, and wished me well. Two days later, I got a message from her…‘Can I send you the material now’? I didn’t respond, and then an hour or so later ‘Now?’ and then shortly after that, ‘Why aren’t you answering my messages?’ I dug deeper into her profile, which wasn’t hard, and discovered that fake-Lois’s location is Nigeria.

I blocked her right away and deleted our conversation. A few hours later, someone on Amazon ordered 4 of my books, and then immediately returned them. A coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. IG is the worst offender, however, I’m not on TikTok or LinkedIn, so I’m not sure. To help you steer clear of these increasingly slick and human-sounding messages, here’s what you do on Instagram and Threads.

Go to the individual’s profile

Tap on the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner, then go to ‘About this account’. It will tell you where the account user is based most of the time, but not all the time. I have friends with legitimate accounts who don’t state their location, so keep this in mind. However, if the profile is new and has almost no posts, and few friends, be cautious!

After my encounter with fake Lois, I received a friend request from Nathan.becktt0 who says he’s a ‘Conservative man and a proud Irish’. His account based in Nigeria. Instant block.

On a happier note, I’ve been steadily working on my urban fantasy, a little each morning, and I’ve reached 70,000 words. The downside is that I’ve been kept awake some nights, usually from 2-4 a.m., plotting the next chapter. I haven’t written much since Saturday, but that’s just fine. I’ll get back to it a little later.

Promotional stuff

For new subscribers and those who aren’t familiar with my mysteries, I’m offering the first book in the series for $.99 right now. This is where it all began for Casey Holland, and it’s been quite a ride. Here’s a quick blurb:

When the cops tell Casey her father was murdered the previous night, Casey doesn’t believe them. After all, she buried her dad three years earlier…or did she? The quest for answers takes her to England, Paris, and Amsterdam, where an increasingly dangerous game endangers the people she loves.—”A fast-moving action-packed thriller with many twists, secrets & lies.”—Nightreader.

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

I think that’s it for now. I’ll post with updates later this month. Take care everyone!

Christmas Prep and a New Phase of Chemo Treatment

Since my last post, time has gotten away from me a bit. The doctors have encouraged me to maintain my normal activities, so I have been, albeit with longer rest periods. Christmas preps are underway and I’ve had plenty of help. My family came over on Nov. 30 to help put up and decorate the tree. My granddaughters had a great time choosing ornaments to hang. Here’s the final result. I didn’t use the ropes of silver stars and white snowflakes that are usually wrapped around the tree. Sometimes less is more.

Cancer Update (Phase 1 ends: Phase 2 begins):

I’ve just ended 12 weeks of weekly chemotherapy treatments, which means I’ll no longer be taking the two cancer drugs, one of which caused an intense allergic reaction. Nor do I have to take the steroids that have messed with my sleeping habits after treatment. Two new drugs will be administered with the start of this new phase on Dec. 23. There will be only four sessions, and they’ll be three weeks apart as my white blood count will need time to rebuild. I’m told to expect nausea and extreme fatigue for the first week. My family and I planned for this weeks ago, so they’ll be doing all the cooking on the 25^th. My job will be to get out of bed and get dressed, which might be all I can do for those first couple of days after treatment, according to the doctor. This is the time when I’ll be most at risk for infection, so I’m definitely staying away from malls and social gatherings.

Fun fact: One of the doctors told me that a one-centimetre tumour can contain one billion tiny microscopic cancer cells. My tumour was three times that size. After an examination earlier today, the doctor reports that it’s now only two centimetres and very soft, which makes her happy. The drugs are doing their job. In my mind, there’s no question that daily exercise, healing meditations, and healthy eating habits are contributing factors.

My Writing Life (or maybe everyone’s, in this case)

Every so often, I listen to podcasts or attend webinars that discuss the state of publishing and bookselling. I’m always interested to hear what others think, and what they foresee for the future. To that end, I attended a webinar sponsored by the Authors Guild on the topic, ‘Making Sense of 21^st Century Publishing’. The guest speaker, Michael Castleman, has been writing for a long time and admitted that after 19 traditionally published, nonfiction books, his income has been cut in half in recent years, which he attributes to the changing publishing environment.

He stated that approximately 2.5 million books are now published every year. This is a significant jump from a decade ago. He also said that about 80% of the books published don’t sell a hundred copies. He didn’t specify whether this was over the book’s first year or over the span of several years. He also said that only 6% of authors sell over 1,000 copies, but honestly, this is nothing new. Similar stats have been around for quite a while.

The problem, Castleman says, is that the number of readers hasn’t grown at anywhere near the same rate for at least twenty years. Therefore, everyone, including large publishing houses, are increasingly challenged with finding readers. Castleman notes that the publishers have struggled forever to make publishing a profitable business. Given the uncertain economic climate and the growing number of AI-generated books, publishers are more risk-averse than ever about taking on new books and new authors. According to Castleman, this is placing literary agents in a crisis mode as they struggle to find representation for their clients. He said that many are leaving the business, although I’m not sure what he means by many.

Those of us who’ve been writing and publishing for a while won’t be surprised by any of this. Nor do we have illusions about our sales numbers. The simple fact is that this is a labour of love. We love to tell stories and share them with whoever might be interested. If we make a little money along the way, great!

I’ve met many new authors over the years who don’t realize how challenging it can be to market, distribute, and sell a book. Some of them would rather not do any marketing at all, and I understand that. While it’s not a bad idea to note changes in the publishing industry, it’s equally important to keep things in perspective with respect to our own goals. In other words, don’t worry about stats and how others are doing. Think about what works best for you. Maybe start with just one marketing idea, and then begin to create your own numbers. Half the battle is just showing up and trying, right? And on that note…

Promotional stuff

My last promotion of 2025 is a $.99 sale for Casey Holland mystery #3, Beneath the Bleak New Moon. While I was researching street racing for this book, about fifteen years ago now, I was astonished to learn that legal and illegal street racing was a billion-dollar industry back then. How knows what it is now? The story was inspired by a true event in Vancouver that happened a couple of decades ago, when a woman was struck and killed during a street race. Sadly, it’s happened several times since, and all over North America. Here’s a short blurb:

What happens when a street race on a busy Vancouver thoroughfare kills a pedestrian? And what happens when it occurs again, deliberately? Public outrage, a missing investigative reporter, and upheaval in Casey Holland’s personal life creates a wild ride to the heart-stopping end.

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play.

Also, for those of you who use Smashwords, most of my books are on sale for the rest of this month through this platform. Which you can find HERE.

That’s it for now. I wish all of you a joyous and peaceful holiday!

Surprises, Good and Bad

All things considered, life is good. Since my last post, I’ve had another immunotherapy treatment plus two more chemo treatments which puts the total to eight. I have four more to go before we proceed to the next steps. I’m so grateful for all the kind comments I’ve received since announcing my diagnosis. While I’m a little bit weaker, definitely more tired, my hair is almost gone, and I’ve lost a few pounds, I’m staying as strong and active as I can. My realtor, whom I’ve known for 25 years, sent me the beautiful bouquet below, along with some other goodies.

My son has been making me his own delicious chicken soup.

One day, when I’m cancer free, I’ll pay it forward in my own way.

Cancer Update (scary side effects):

These days, I’ve gone off certain foods, especially meat, although I still eat it in small quantities. Everything tastes quite salty lately. My cold is gone, thanks to a humidifier, which made a huge difference, and the coughing is finally subsiding.

On Nov. 11, I experienced an intense allergic reaction to the drug carboplatin. It was the last drug of the day and the pouch was almost finished when my hands suddenly became hot pink and itchy, and my face became flushed. I began coughing uncontrollably. I then began to feel dizzy and nauseous. Shortly after that, I developed shortness of breath. I thought I was going to be sick, but managed not to throw up.

My nurse called a code and more nurses came rushing over. She then contacted the doctor on call, who told her to administer Benadryl right away. Within a couple of minutes, the shortness of breath and nausea started to ease. After about fifteen minutes, I felt better, but they had me stay another half hour to ensure the side effects didn’t return, which they didn’t. The nurse recommended that I take another Benadryl that night. By the time I got home that day, I was exhausted.

My oncologist called the next day and recommended corticosteroids to prevent another adverse reaction. I have to take them 12 and 6 hours before treatment each Tuesday now. Last Monday, it meant setting my alarm for 4:15 a.m. for the second dose as treatment time was 10:15 a.m. Needless to say, my nurse was watching me carefully for signs of an adverse reaction. All went well, except for some extra coughing, which appears to be a side effect that’s hard to shake. Today, though, the coughing is almost gone, thankfully!

My Writing Life

Oh my, where would I be without my many notes? It’s a habit I started while writing my very first book Taxed to Death, back in the 80s. I was working full-time, then got married and had a baby. I knew that writing wouldn’t be a daily event and it’d probably take a long time to finish a first draft, so I created a Word document and made notes so I wouldn’t forget key ideas. At that time, I didn’t realize how many drafts would be needed to get the book into a publishable state! With each draft, I typed up new notes in a new document, specifying both large and small changes. It served me well and still does.

I plug along a little each day on this third installment in the urban fantasy trilogy. Late at night, when I’m having trouble sleeping, I think about character arcs and how best to move the story forward. If it’s a lot, I get up and make notes. If it’s not, a couple of words will jog my memory in the morning.

In the spring of 2026, I plan to read all three books through, back to back. I’ve already started notes for each one. Some are small, like name changes that apply to all three books. Other things pop out at me that require more explanation or description. I’m sure that many of you writers make copious amounts of notes!

Promotional stuff

The $.99 sale for my second Casey Holland mystery, Deadly Accusations, ends on Dec. 2. This story has Casey dealing with the aftermath of life-changing events that occurred in book one. Here’s a short blurb:

A coworker’s murder triggers accusations and suspicion among security officer Casey Holland’s workmates. Her job turns into a nightmare when the company’s president pressures her to find answers. Shunned and threatened at work, Casey must also deal with traumatic, life-changing events at home and the horrific realization that one of her friends could be a killer. “A well-crafted book with lots of teasers”.- Nightreader

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

What I’ve Been Reading

You Can Conquer Cancer: A New Way of Living by Ian Gawler

This book is written by a veterinarian who had the same type of cancer as our Canadian hero, Terry Fox. He too had his leg amputated in his twenties, suffered setbacks, but fifty years later is still going strong. He’s a big advocate of meditation, nutrition and integrative medicine, which involves many forms of treatment. If you know of someone who’s going through cancer, they might find this book helpful.

And on the fantasy front is The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffen.

This is a unique, original take on what it means to be a witch and practice magic. The main character Clara has a rare gift that’s accidentally killed the people she’s closest to. There’s a strong, environmental component that revolves around the four seasons and our rapidly deteriorating planet, which also gives this interesting book a relevant spin.

What I’ve Been Watching

We found Ballard on Prime TV. It’s a gritty police procedural about a detective who’s been demoted and relegated to working on cold cases in the basement of the building. She has her detractors and supporters, and a lot of baggage. This series is a spinoff from Michael Connelly’s Bosch series, so fans of that series will enjoy this one. I’m a fan of the star, Maggie Q, who starred in one of the versions of Nikita, another excellent series. It’s a compelling show.

I think that’s it for now. Until next time, stay healthy, everyone. And to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!

Changes, Challenges, and Chemo

It’s been a challenging few days. I picked up a cold (my spouse and I thought he had allergies, but not so) last weekend, which has drained my energy somewhat. I’ve been checked over and my lungs are clear, thankfully. I’ve been taking my temperature daily, as I’ll have to go to emergency if it rises above 100°F. I have a medical alert card that stays with my ID and a red sheet of 8 x 11 paper that tells the ER doctors that I must be seen right away. If I have an infection, antibiotics need to be administered within the hour. You can see why I’m not participating in craft fairs and social functions this year.

My granddaughters were delighted to go trick-or-treating this Halloween, despite the rain. Luckily, it turned to a mere drizzle at the halfway point. Of course, game six of the World series was on that night, so between that and weather, there were fewer kids this year. This was Abigail’s first Halloween and she managed it like a pro.

Cancer Update (the weirdo side effects):

I’m now halfway through twelve weeks of treatments. Aside from the hair loss, I was losing weight, but it’s levelled out over the past two weeks, and my appetite’s still pretty good. The challenge is that my taste buds have dulled and things taste salty or sometimes metalic. I took the recommendations and swish my mouth with a bit of baking soda and salt several times a day to avoid mouth sores. I also now use a particular moisturizing mouthwash called Biotene that was recommended.

The weirdest side effect is that my face turned a shade of yellow for a couple of days after treatment. Nurses and the doctor took note, but since there was no yellowing in the eyes, they aren’t worried about jaundice. Monday’s bloodwork will also include readings with respect to my liver, among other things. My spouse said I was also quite pale for a day, so we all think the change of colour was a discolouration issue, and not related to the liver.

Disrupted sleeps are a larger issue for me. On treatment day, I’ve experienced restless leg syndrome at night thanks to the Benadryl they give me prior to the chemo. I’ve also started to experience it while the Benadryl is being administered in the IV, but it goes away fairly quickly. To deal with it at home, I do an indoor workout in the evening, and then massage my legs, which helps. All in all, I’m glad nothing more serious is occurring.

My Writing Life

I’m making lemonade out of lemons, folks. My first craft fair would have been on November 1. Although I was sad to miss it, I wound up writing 1,000 words on my current WIP that day. The words flowed out in a quick ninety minutes. I want to be clear, though. My sole focus is on healing. I have no intention of pushing writing goals. These days, writing is simply part of the healing process. It makes me happy and distracts me if real-life fears threaten to overwhelm.

On some level, letting go of writing goals is a bigger challenge. Like many baby boomers in Western society, I’ve been conditioned to live an active, productive, goal-oriented life. A health crisis certainly forces one to re-evaluate things, like how much energy to put into goal achieving or whether to let some of those goals go. As long-time followers know, I made some changes earlier this year by resigning from my casual employment as a creative writing workshop facilitator. I’ve also stepped down from my role as secretary of the Delta Literary Society, and stopped attending writing functions over the summer. Maybe my subconscious knew something that my conscious mind hadn’t quite grasped, but the changes felt necessary.

At the end of my first day of treatment on September 30, the nurse encouraged me to keep living my life and to stay active. It was good advice, but the challenge now is to balance rest with other activities. Some days, it just feels trickier than others. This cancer journey will be at least six months long, and I’m just entering the third month. Goal-setting doesn’t interest me these days, and I’m more than okay with putting other goals on hiatus.

Promotional stuff

For anyone who hasn’t picked up the second book in my Casey Holland mystery series, I’m offering Deadly Accusations for $.99. This story has Casey dealing with the aftermath of life-changing events that occurred in book one. Here’s a short blurb:

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

What I’ve Been Watching

Have you been watching ‘Maigret on Masterpiece’? The stories are inspired by the Paris-based mysteries by Georges Simenon. I read a couple of his novels years ago and really enjoyed them. Simenon was a prolific novelist, and his stories have been made into movies and TV productions for years. This modern version has Maigret using cellphones and current-day gadgets while still doing his share of legwork, thinking, and observing. The stories are compelling, although I found it strange that all the actors have British accents in a Parisian police department. I’m used to it now and love the series. Unfortunately, the sixth episode is also the season finale, but I could have watched many more. Hopefully, it’ll be replayed so you can give it a look.

What I’ve Been Reading

I’m a fan of the Harry Dresden series, and just finished book four, Summer Knight. Harry is a professional wizard who’s hired by people to solve crimes related to the supernatural. These books are an entertaining blend of urban fantasy, mystery, humour, and action/adventure. If you love these genres and are looking for escapism, give them a try. You could start with book one, but they can be read in any order.

I think that’s it for now. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

Living Normally in Abnormal Circumstances

We live in a world that has made amazing advancements in technology, medicine and many other things, yet life is still difficult, if not precarious, for many. Human beings tend to find ways to pivot and adapt to their situations, although sadly some cannot. We celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada a few days ago. I’m lucky to have been born in a country that has plenty of resources and isn’t being destroyed by war. I don’t have to worry about keeping a job or a roof over my head anymore either. Gratitude is a key component of healing, and for these things and much more, I’m so grateful for where I am in my life right now.

Cancer Update (the setting):

Chemo treatment number four was two days ago. My hair is falling out at a faster rate, although it’s still mostly there. Tuesday’s treatment was the start of a new cycle, so I got the full meal deal with chemo and immunotherapy. Six months ago, I would have dreaded the idea of going to the cancer agency every week. Now, I welcome it. I see it as a place for healing, where teams of people work calmly and efficiently to ensure that patients get the care they need.

My oncologist says I’m doing great, and I’ve just received news that, after two core biopsies, there is no cancer in the breast. Needless to say, I have every reason to be positive. If there ever comes a time when I begin to think differently, when I feel less than great, I’ll tell you. These updates aren’t meant to sugarcoat harsh realities. It’s an honest sharing of my experience, and there’s still a long road ahead that will extend well into 2026.

In case you are curious, here’s what the treatment area looks like. The chemo unit contains what is known as four separate ‘pods’ with four to five lounging chairs in each pod. They’re open areas where nursing staff can see most of the pods easily from their portable stations. I’m assigned a different pod and different nurses each week. Pod number 1, where I was on Tuesday, is a larger area that contains seven chairs and three nurses within that pod when all chairs are in use. Every pod has at least two nurses. I get a pillow and blanket and am offered something to drink. As mentioned in my last blog, I bring my own green tea, snacks, a book to read, and earphones to listen to podcasts.

I’m working with two teams of people. The oncology team at the cancer agency and the breast health specialists at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre a few blocks away from the hospital. The breast health specialists are the ones who organize all the tests, discuss the results, and then share information with the oncologist and my family doctor. If surgery is needed to remove the breast down the road and reconstructive surgery is desired, then the breast health doctor will perform the surgery. The centre is extremely well organized and services all kinds of care needs for patients with tremendous efficiency. Now that I’ve had my final test result, I won’t be going back until after chemotherapy is completed.

My Writing Life

I’m at the halfway point of the first draft in the third installment of my trilogy. The threat to my protagonists, the Rowland family, is ramping up big time, and I’ve done a fair bit of thinking on how to make that happen in an interesting, plausible way. I’ve cracked open Donald Maass’s book, The Breakout Novelist, which I read a few years ago, and am reviewing key points I underlined. It’s helped a lot, as I was stumped with what to do, or where to set this pivotal halfway point. I came across a passage where Maass says that one of the things he’s noticed about published novels is that not enough happens. Just reading over some of his main points triggered some ideas for me, and I’ve been making notes on how best to start this chapter.

For you writers out there, if you’ve found a really helpful, inspiring how-to guide in the past, pull it out again and choose a few key points to jumpstart your current work in progress. It’s an especially useful exercise for those saggy middles that often trip us up.

Promotion stuff

I’m offering a $.99 sale for the next couple of weeks on my latest Casey Holland mystery, A Gold Satin Murder. This time, the book focuses on a more humorous side to Casey’s crime-solving adventures as she finds herself mixed up with a male stripper. There’s no sexual content in the story, just hints…Here’s the blurb:

Security cop Casey Holland does not want to help prove the innocence of a murder suspect and male stripper named Eduardo…until she learns that his relationship with her good friend, Lily, could destroy Lily’s life. So, while Eduardo’s busy peeling off his clothes, Casey’s peeling back secrets that reveal way more than she bargained for.

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play.

So, onward and upward. Normal life goes on. I cook, do the laundry, keep a clean house, exercise, read, write, meet with my online critique group, and make room for the weekly schedule of bloodwork on Mondays and chemo on Tuesdays. Staying active works for me. Keep pivoting and adapting, folks, and may you get to wherever you’re going.

Tests, Treatment, and Tea

I have a true story to tell you. The year was 1979 and I was working as a secretary for a firm of solicitors in London, England. This was the branch office of a larger firm in central London, and I was one of two secretaries working for three solicitors. We occupied the second floor in a rowhouse of office buildings.

One morning, the postman arrived with the mail and mentioned that smoke was starting to filter downstairs. It was coming from the security firm on the third floor. By the time the postman had walked down the long flight of stairs to the ground floor, we could smell the smoke. The lawyers were out at the time, so my coworker called the fire department. I got my things and shut all doors and windows. By the time we were ready to leave, smoke was filling the stairwells.

A woman and her fully grown German Shepherd (I didn’t know the dog was up there) were slowly making their way down from the third floor until the dog froze and wouldn’t move. The woman decided to head back upstairs and wait it out, which I thought was a bad idea. So, I took the dog by his collar and coaxed him down the stairs with a bit of pulling on my part and pushing on hers. By the time we got him outside, I reeked of smoke, but we were all safe. My flat was only a ten-minute walk away, so I went home and called head office to let them know what had happened. Only then, did I begin to shake.

I tell you this because people have been admiring my calm, matter-of-fact attitude toward my cancer diagnosis. The thing is, panicking and pessimism aren’t in my nature. Truth be told, little things drive me crazier than the big stuff, but if there are things that need to be done to survive the big stuff, then I’ll get down to it. To that end…

Cancer Update:

I’ve had two treatments and things are going well. Fun Fact. This phase involves three 4-week cycles. At the first of every cycle, I’ll receive immunotherapy and then chemotherapy during the same session. For those who don’t know, immunotherapy means that my immune system is being used to help attack cancer cells. So far, I haven’t had horrible side effects, but this is low-dosage stuff, and other than a couple of achy joints and a disturbance in my sleeping pattern for a bit, it was fine.

I keep up with my daily exercise routine, and I’m drinking loose-leaf green tea, which is one of many nutritional things recommended by a doctor who wrote the book mentioned in my recommended reading section below. In fact, I’m also eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, and have eliminated sugar as much as I can, which also means cutting down on unhealthy carbs. My CT scan, MRI, bone density test, and breast biopsy were all negative, so things are good so far. However, they wanted to do a second biopsy just to be sure, so I underwent a more thorough one yesterday. Sure enough, they found a tiny, suspicious anomaly which could be the source. I’ll know more in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I’m staying active.

My Writing Life

I’m working daily on the third installment in my urban fantasy trilogy and have gotten as far as chapter 18, which is about 25,500 words into the story. Most days, I work on it for 90 minutes, but on certain days, it’s only a half hour, and I’ve even managed 2-1/2 hours at least one day last week. I’m continuing my Monday night virtual critique group meetings, which are always helpful and proving to be a welcome distraction from health issues. Although I’m working on chapter eighteen, my critique partners reviewed chapter four this week. This means that I’m both writing and editing at the same time, which I find helps with continuity.

Promotion stuff

This week, I’m offering book 5 in my Casey Holland mystery series at $2.99 (half price). The idea for Knock Knock came from a real event in Vancouver several years ago. Seniors who lived alone were being targeted with home invasions. This is one of those crimes that really troubles me, even though I don’t live alone. News stories still pop up about them.

When a home invasion kills senior Elsie Englehart, security officer Casey Holland is devastated. She’s supposed to be watching over elderly bus riders in an area frequently targeted by thugs. Determined to keep others safe, Casey escorts a senior to his home, only to come under attack by an armed intruder. Hospitalized and angry, Casey struggles to regain control of her life, despite interference from family and colleagues, and attempts to prepare for her upcoming wedding. Another home invasion compels Casey to take action, but at what cost to her health and her relationships?

Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Google Play

I also have a page on Amazon that features all of the books in one go, which you can find HERE.

Recommended Reading

As mentioned above, I’ve just finished a terrific book called Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, a doctor who endured brain cancer twice, the first time at age 31. He had a relapse a few years after that, but then survived several more years before passing away at age 50. The book’s been immensely informative, particularly since he addresses the critical importance of nutrition, exercise, and mindset. Whether you’ve faced cancer or know someone who has, this is a candid, straightforward perspective that I found helpful and uplifting.

And on another uplifting note, flowers are still blooming in my garden! Some have fallen since this photo was taken a week ago, but hey, it’s fall and I have flowers 😊

The Post I Didn’t Want to Write

Every writer, with rare exceptions, spends the bulk of their lives juggling many things: childraising, day jobs, volunteering, household chores, errands, caring for elderly parents, and organizing special occasions, etc. They also combat illness. It’s simply part of our lives. We deal with the interruptions, distractions, and unforeseen events as best we can, which is exactly what I plan to do.

Earlier this month, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the prognosis is good, treatment will be lengthy. Since my last blog post, I’ve had a CT scan, MRI, a bone density test, two ultrasounds, a biopsy, and of course, bloodwork. Chemo and immunotherapy begins on September 30. This low-dose treatment will occur once a week for twelve weeks, and there could be more after that. Then there will be surgery, and possibly radiation treatment.

What’s so strange about all of this is that I feel perfectly healthy and neither of the two mammograms I had this summer showed anything suspicious. The suspicion arose from a single lymph node. Most of the testing has been to find the source, which the experts say was definitely in the breast. I’m told that my body may have already gotten rid of the initial cancer, but couldn’t do so with the lymph node growth.

Because this blog has always been about my life, professionally and personally, I’m telling you this for two reasons: one is that my posts will likely become sporadic. Maybe some months will have frequent posts, maybe others not at all. Secondly, I believe that sharing information is empowering for all. I view this as an opportunity for learning and growth and gaining a different perspective about life. Immunotherapy is a new treatment and I’m curious about its impact. My sister has survived two breast cancers (30 years apart), and it’s quite different to be on the receiving end rather than helplessly looking on. The goal is to help any of you who might have to deal with this down the road. I won’t be providing lengthy detailed descriptions. There are times when I might not mention it at all. At this point, I have no idea.

Cancer is not going to consume my life. Far from it. Is it scary? Of course. I’ve had my shaky moments, but I believe in facing my fears. I still intend to discuss writing, reading, family stuff, and other things. If you don’t want to read about my cancer journey, I understand. It might trigger painful memories for some. I’ll put subheadings on different topics, in case you need to skip over that part.

Because I’m cancelling all the Christmas craft fairs I booked this season to protect what will be a fragile immune system, I’ll probably promote my books a little more on this blog. Ebooks are my only way of selling for the next few months, and it’s my way of keeping my hand on the business side of my writing life. I’ll be living a secluded Covid existence again. Again, I’ll add a subheading so you can skip that part, if you wish.

Now, on a more cheerful note. Before my diagnosis, my spouse and I had booked a short 3-night stay in Penticton, BC for three nights to visit good friends. The 5-hour drive to the interior was well worth the effort. We had a wonderful time catching up and enjoying walks along the amazing Skaha beach. On one of our walks back to our hotel, we came across this deer, munching on vegetation. There was a family of them in this area. They seemed absolutely unconcerned with the pedestrians walking by or the cars on what is a fairly busy road.

Tomorrow, I’m getting my hair cut short before my first treatment on Tuesday. I’m told that it will start falling out in clumps after the second treatment. There will be a lot of information to unpack on Tuesday, but I’m ready. I know this is a shock to those of you who’ve followed me here for a long time, but life is filled with curveballs, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, I’ll be doing lots of reading, so if you have any great book recommendations let me know. The genre doesn’t matter. I’ll talk to you soon.

Summer’s End and New Beginnings

I don’t know about you, but summer certainly feels over. Sunset is happening all too early and even the morning sunlight is different. Vancouver’s annual Pacific National Exhibition has ended, along with my last summer craft fair at Township7 Winery. I’ve attended this craft fair for nine years as it’s always great fun, except for the weather. By the end of August, the heat is usually oppressive, and I’m less tolerant of weather conditions than I used to be. But the organizers always give vendors a free glass of wine, which is a bonus, and it’s an important fundraiser for the Osteoporosis Society.

Aside from craft fairs, our other end-of-summer activity is harvesting our vegetable garden. The photo below is a small sampling. This year, the zucchinis and cucumbers are huge and plentiful. The squashes are pretty good, but we had critters, possibly squirrels or raccoons, taking bites out of some, so we lost a few. There were also plenty of snow peas earlier this summer, so I’m quite pleased.

Even though my kids have been out of the school system for years, September still feels like a new beginning. This year I’m really looking forward to it. My eldest granddaughter, Ellie, has started kindergarten, and she’s so excited. I doubt that she’ll always be this enthusiastic, but it’s lovely to see now. Ellie’s an extrovert who talks to everyone, and she loves the idea of making more friends.

On the writing front, the critiquing process for book two in my urban fantasy trilogy is now finished. I’ve also written about 16,000 words in the third installment and this book will be my only writing project this fall. I’m hoping to have it done by the end of the year. The challenging bit will be reading all three, one after the other, to prepare for the next round of edits.

So, here we go, onto the last four months of the year. It’s going to be interesting.

Another Surgery and Some August Fun

Last week, I had my second eye surgery and for the first time in nearly forty years I’m living without glasses. Ridding myself of glasses wasn’t the goal, but eliminating my glaucoma risk was. So, that worry is now gone. Right now, I can see up close, but if I’m in a grocery store, everything looks slightly out of focus. The doctor said it’ll take time for my eyes and brain to adjust. I’m advised to see my optometrist in about four weeks to determine how things are going, but I’m pleased so far.

We celebrated three birthdays on August 9^th. My spouse’s 71^st, Ellie’s 5^th, and Abby’s third. Their mom decided to make them a watermelon cake, an idea she picked up from another kid’s party. The girls loved it and so did I!

On the writing front, I’m just finishing up the 2^nd draft of my second urban fantasy with my critique group. I started writing the third book after vacation and am about 13,000 words in. This autumn will be a little quieter than usual, as I’m reducing commitments. Christmas craft fairs are still planned, but most are closer to home now.

My last craft fair of the summer will be at Township7 Winery in Langley. It’s an outdoor event which I’ve been doing for about a decade. I always enjoy drinking a glass of wine while chatting with customers and other vendors.

I’ve been reading some great books over the summer. First up is A Child Lost by Michelle Cox, this historical mystery is set near Chicago in the mid-1930s. It’s number five in the series, but it wasn’t hard to pick up the continuing threads. Henrietta’s melancholy after her miscarriage has her husband Clive worried. His solution is to involve her in a simple fraud case he’s asked to investigate, since she enjoys solving mysteries. Unbeknownst to Clive, her sister Elsie has become enamoured with a German immigrant who’s trying to find the mother of the child he’s looking after. When Elsie seeks Henrietta’s help in finding the woman, Henrietta’s empathy for the child prompts her to do exactly that. Both cases, however, are proving more difficult and dangerous than anyone anticipated.

The second mystery is The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas. This is a police procedural set in Mumbai, which intrigued me from the get-go. When Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput discovers a connection between the murder of three women and some powerful people, he’s warned off the case. Arnav, however, won’t let this go for personal reasons. The further he investigates, the more perilous his life becomes. What I loved best about this book is the author’s superb and vivid descriptions of Mumbai. The setting portrays the darker side of life for some citizens, while the plot shows the different reasons people cross moral and legal lines. Sure, greed is often a factor, but so is survival. Arnav is a well-drawn character, as are the people he works with.

I also read a terrific historical fiction novel called Under Heaven. Set in the 8^th century in China, former soldier Shen Tai, second son of the deceased General Shen Gao, has been living in seclusion for two years. To honour his father’s memory, he’s been burying the dead at the remote Kuala Nor, the site of a battle where many men died. The voices of the ghosts cry at night, either in anger or sorrow, until their bones are laid to rest. His mourning period’s almost over, though, and he’s shocked when he’s given a gift of 250 Sardian horses for his work. When an assassin tries to kill Tai, he heads to the city of Xinan to find out who wants him dead and why. This quest leads to intricate secret agendas and power plays that place his life in even greater peril

I’ve just finished reading a unique fantasy called The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. Essun’s husband has killed their two-year-old son, and now he and her daughter are missing. Essun sets out to find them. Entwined with this is the story of Damaya, a girl with powerful abilities who is trained to develop them under strict rules and guidance. Third is the story of Syen, a young woman whose training has earned her four rings, but she’s rebellious and inclined to do things she shouldn’t. The world-building is amazing in this story and the plot twist took me by surprise.

How about you? How is your summer going? Do you have any great book recommendations? Any genre and nonfiction are welcome. As you can see, I have eclectic tastes.

And here’s the latest from our garden!

Summer Fun and Then Surgery

We’re back from our vacation in Parksville, BC, and I’m happy to say that everyone had a great time. The weather wasn’t overly hot, and the walks on the beach were spectacular. Soothing for the soul. Although I’m not one for lying in the sun, walking along the beach in the mornings or evenings has always been one of my favourite holiday activities.

Ellie and Abby had some trouble adjusting to a new sleep environment, but managed to adapt after the third night. As you can see from the photos, they loved their beach time, too. By the way, their 3rd and 5th birthdays are in a few days. 🙂

We discovered the community park, in the area where the sandcastle competition was held and the entries were still on display. We also revisited the wildlife reserve, which was a favourite place of everyone’s last year.

I’m now settled back into my routine, except for my first cataract surgery last Saturday. People say that it’s a piece of cake. Hmmm. I’ll admit it was quick. The procedure was only about fifteen minutes. The bright light in my eye and heavy plastic covering the upper half of my face wasn’t particularly comfortable. Nor was the blurriness and achiness that followed. The eye patch I wear at bedtime to keep from rubbing my eyes is fun, sort of, and then there are the endless rounds of drops.

I’m seeing details on my face now that startle me. Holy cow, where did those bags under my eyes come from? Because only one eye has a news lens, I still need my glasses, and my vision feels lopsided. With or without glasses, nothing’s quite in focus right now.

For this reason, I’m not spending as much time reading all the lovely blogs and newsletters (especially the longer ones) because of this blurriness, but I will catch up by the end of August. The second surgery is on August 12^th, but my vision should be much better about a week after that.

Before surgery, I outlined the third book in my trilogy. Since outlines are merely guidelines for me, other twists and developments are likely to pop up. It always happens, but that’s the fun part of creating. You start writing and are surprised by a character’s action, or comment that can lead to a minor plot twist or an intriguing angle I hadn’t anticipated while outlining.

Working on one family’s story over a six month period has been an interesting experience. The cool thing about working on the third book is that I know the main characters and settings, and what needs to happen. Now I just need to finish writing the darn thing. I’ll get down to it once my eyesight is fully functional again. Until then, I’ll plod along a little each day. When I was working day jobs and raising kids, that’s how most of my writing life unfolded. But I learned that you can accomplish a lot in short bursts of time. All it takes it discipline and a little bit of planning.

I’m not sure when my next blog will be, but until then, I wish you a lovely rest of summer and your own sweet place for strolling and reflection.