It is with the deepest sorrow and the heaviest of hearts that I find myself this day sharing this awful message with all the writing and reading community that I've grown to know and love for the past 6 years. 
I'm not overly open about personal matters normally, but if you follow and read this newsletter or are a close friend of mine, you may know that I spent part of this summer at my father's urging in Germany, helping to care for his younger brother as he underwent several surgeries. 
I only left that country a couple of days ago, happy in the knowledge that everything had gone well and that my godfather was on the mend.
On my way back, on a whim, I surprised my parents stateside with an unplanned visit before continuing homeward toward Vancouver. 
A lucky spur-of-the-moment change of plans for which I will be now forever thankful. 
Only a few days into my visit, sadly and incomprehensibly to me, I suddenly lost my dad, who was living with a serious yet seemingly under-control health condition.  

This happens so close to my coming book release that goes out tomorrow that I could do nothing to stop the launch at this point, as the pre-order is locked and ready to go.
I thought I'd share this with you all, in case you wondered about my absence from social media starting tomorrow. 
If you were waiting for an excerpt of that novel to be shared, or to see me posting about the release, know that those things won't be happening as I am in no frame of mind to celebrate a new book while having just lost the most loving, dotting, wonderful father a daughter could ask for. 

The very first hero in my life is now lost to me forever. I lack the means to put my pain into words.

I know that this was supposed to be my great comeback to the world of publishing, and that, only weeks ago, I was happily announcing to my readers that I didn't foresee any further extended breaks from my writing career in the future.
I am sorry to have to break this promise and disappoint you all so soon.
Life happens, and this time it happened in the most irreparable of ways.

I'm going to step away from my newsletter and social media platforms for a while as I take some much-needed time to process this, to grieve, and to heal in private with my family.
I ask for your understanding during this time.

There will be no further new books by me, at least until Autumn.
Please forgive me if you contact me, and you see that I don't get back to you. 
I'll get to my messages and emails as soon I am able as I make sense of this horrible tragedy.
I sincerely hope you'll be still willing to read my stories when I come back. 
And I will be coming back. 
My dad was one of my biggest supporters, and although thinking creatively right now seems quite impossible to me, I know that he wouldn't want me to give up on my passion for writing and my dreams, so I won't. 

Please, if you can spare a kind thought and/or send prayers and healing vibes toward my family and my beloved father’s soul, do so. 

With love,
Ember