Natalie Hart's Blog: Natalie's Blog - Posts Tagged "grant-s-bar"

It would be nice to start this blog on an upbeat note, enthusing about Grant's bar, the setting for my series of romance shorts. I loved writing the first in my series, Dive Bar Heat: A Grant's Bar Romance. Alice is an amazing woman and Graham, the bar owner is a kind and handsome man, but I've started on my second short and I have to talk about my heroine.

My follow up features Meghan. She is an amazing woman, full of strength, but it's not always enough. She suffers from ill mental health. And although it's mostly under control it makes life difficult for her. She has to stay on top of everything and she really needs to manage her stress. Meghan hasn't sought out a relationship in a long time, but when Aaron comes into Grant's his charm and fun wins Meghan over. Meghan takes a brave step, confronts her fears and soon begins a relationship with him. And she's having a great time.

But anyone who suffers from the likes of anxiety and depression knows that it can strike at any time. I've just written about Meghan's anxiety/paranoia/panic attack and I'm beat. I had to stop mid-paragraph it's taken so much out of me. I think Meghan is an immensely strong woman, but sometimes she doesn't believe it about herself. And sometimes you can't control your illness.

Writing about Meghan's troubles has left me feeling on edge, it's even upset me a little. I know what's in store for Meghan but it's hard to think about that when she's in pain.

When I was two thirds of the way through Dive Bar Heat I decided my follow up would be about mental health. I was certain of that. I knew it would be hard but I couldn't fully understand how hard it would be until I started writing. There are millions of people around the world who struggle with these issues. It makes for tough writing and if I've done my job well it will make for tough reading. But I really feel I owe it to the many people who go through this week-in, week-out to properly represent their experiences, warts and all.

If this has turned you off reading Meghan's story I wouldn't blame you. It's not for everyone; illness can be tough to read about, and it can make you feel vulnerable, so protecting yourself must come first. Most of us read for enjoyment and escape. However I feel Meghan's story deserves to be told.

I'll finish this story. I have to and I want to; I owe it to Meghan no matter how upset I am at the moment. I just hope I can do justice to the people like Meghan who go through life with the press of ill mental health. And I hope I don't let anyone down.

A quick follow up to my previous post about the second short in my Grant's Bar Nights series.

In that blog post I said I was finding it emotional to write Meghan's story. Well, I've finished it and it's called Torment's End. It's available on Amazon. The good news is the struggle was worth it and I think Meghan would agree with me.