by Patricia Bradley, @PTBradley1
I don’t know about you, but I’m happy to see 2020 in my rearview mirror! I’ve always loved January, not necessarily the weather, but the idea of a new beginning.
We get the name January from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. He presided over doorways and is usually shown with faces looking forward and backward. And even though we don’t want to look back on 2020, we should.
In years to come, 2020 will be talked about in the same way as the Great Depression, and just like those who lived through that era were made stronger, 2020 will also make us stronger.
Writing was hard for me during this time. After I finished Obsession, the book that will release February 2, 2021, Covid hit and my creativity disappeared. There were days that I couldn’t think one creative thought. I couldn’t start the book that was due in November. I could barely write blog posts.
April, May, and June passed, and I had not written one word toward the book. In July, I knew I had to do something, and maybe what I did will help you when there are times when you simply cannot write.
- Walk away from the computer and rest your mind. Then get back in the game. At times I challenged myself to write for five minutes. Anyone can write for that length of time. Most of the time when the five minutes was up, I kept writing.
- Pray for God’s guidance and endurance, then discipline yourself to sit at the computer and write something, even if it’s nothing more than a grocery list.
- Work on edits or marketing. Those two tasks take a different mindset than creating and are tasks I can do when I’m not able to create. Working on writing related tasks usually sparks my imagination and gets my creative juices flowing.
- Take care of yourself. Eat healthy foods and exercise. My in-person Pilates class became Zoom Pilates—it’s important to stay connected to people and technology like Zoom and Facetime help.
- Realize you’re not the only person who is not able to create in these difficult times.
- Stay connected with your writing friends. Iron sharpens iron, and other writers will encourage and challenge you.
- Don’t give up. This too will pass.
- Remember to be thankful in all situations.
That last is very hard to do, but if we are thankful, God will bless us. Wishing you a very happy and productive New Year!
Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she’s forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.
Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn’t intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.
Award-winning author Patricia Bradley will have the hairs standing up on the back of your neck with this nail-biting tale of obsession, misunderstanding, and forgiveness.
Winner of an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in Suspense and a 2018 Carol finalist, Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi with her rescue kitty, Suzy. Her romantic suspense books include the Logan Point series and the Memphis Cold Case Novels. She also has written sweet romances for Harlequin Heartwarming available as e-books.