Recovering, Reading & Revising
A few weeks ago, I was hospitalized for appendicitis and sepsis. The infection was so severe that they put me on a long course of antibiotics, and I’m hopefully having surgery soon to remove my appendix. But even now, I still don’t feel great. My side hurts, and some nights, it’s impossible to get comfortable.
Slowing Down, but Not Stopping
When you’re weak, tired, and not feeling like yourself, you have to listen to your body and do what you can with the energy you have. For me, that means reading. And thankfully, that’s something I can still do. I’ve been rereading my published books—not just because I love them, but because we’ve updated the covers and are tweaking the copy. If you’re with a small press like I am, you often have more flexibility to make small fixes post-publication. If you’re with a big traditional publisher, that’s a lot harder—but if you ever get the chance to refine your work, take it.
Books That Stick With You
Reading has also been my escape. The last book I finished was Kill Creek by Scott Thomas, and I have to say—it completely blew me away. I have both the physical and audiobook versions, and I was hooked from start to finish. The writing is stunning, so atmospheric, and beautifully crafted.
What really surprised me, though, was learning that Kill Creek wasn’t published by one of the Big Five. It was actually published by Inkshares. The author, Scott Thomas, shared that he tried to get it published everywhere and faced countless rejections. That was shocking to me because this book is so well written—it’s easily one of my favorite horror novels now. It just goes to show that even incredible books, the kind that stick with you long after you’ve finished, can struggle to find a home in publishing.
The Writing Hustle Never Stops
Meanwhile, the work doesn’t slow down. I’ve been fixing errors in The Serpent’s Bridge, revising The Serpent Woman, and we’re deep in editing Book Three. Writing a series is a constant cycle—you’re always drafting, revising, and promoting. But when you’re not at 100%, you have to pace yourself. The work will always be there, but taking care of yourself comes first.
If you’re going through something similar, be kind to yourself. Do what you can, when you can. And if that means getting lost in a good book, I highly recommend it.
Slowing Down, but Not Stopping
When you’re weak, tired, and not feeling like yourself, you have to listen to your body and do what you can with the energy you have. For me, that means reading. And thankfully, that’s something I can still do. I’ve been rereading my published books—not just because I love them, but because we’ve updated the covers and are tweaking the copy. If you’re with a small press like I am, you often have more flexibility to make small fixes post-publication. If you’re with a big traditional publisher, that’s a lot harder—but if you ever get the chance to refine your work, take it.
Books That Stick With You
Reading has also been my escape. The last book I finished was Kill Creek by Scott Thomas, and I have to say—it completely blew me away. I have both the physical and audiobook versions, and I was hooked from start to finish. The writing is stunning, so atmospheric, and beautifully crafted.
What really surprised me, though, was learning that Kill Creek wasn’t published by one of the Big Five. It was actually published by Inkshares. The author, Scott Thomas, shared that he tried to get it published everywhere and faced countless rejections. That was shocking to me because this book is so well written—it’s easily one of my favorite horror novels now. It just goes to show that even incredible books, the kind that stick with you long after you’ve finished, can struggle to find a home in publishing.
The Writing Hustle Never Stops
Meanwhile, the work doesn’t slow down. I’ve been fixing errors in The Serpent’s Bridge, revising The Serpent Woman, and we’re deep in editing Book Three. Writing a series is a constant cycle—you’re always drafting, revising, and promoting. But when you’re not at 100%, you have to pace yourself. The work will always be there, but taking care of yourself comes first.
If you’re going through something similar, be kind to yourself. Do what you can, when you can. And if that means getting lost in a good book, I highly recommend it.
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