'Thwarts' and All August 24, 2023

in the last four years I have written 3 murder mysteries. During that period , there have certainly been setbacks at times. However if you have the determination, nothing is insurmountable though at times you may want to throw in the towel due to sheer frustration. This was the worst 'thwart' : I had lost a manuscript in the dying days of 2021 when a library computer decided my memory stick ( on which the MS resided,) needed updating , and dropped all the main and important files related and none of the unimportant ones. ' The Gods were Jealous? (How petty if so :) It took 2 hard dedicated months to retrieve even 60 % of the original but as I fortunately had earlier proofs, was able to piece it back together again and eventually resubmit for publishing in both paperback and e-format.

That was harrowing, and if anything would make one want to quit, that was it because on the day, I was finalizing the final copy to print on Kindle and achieving my goal of a final copy publishing in December like my previous volume (number one in the series). This 'thwart' meant , even with dedicated work hours, I did not get to publish until the end of that new year and put me back time-wise in the publishing of the 3rd volume which took place only recently. One just has to push on .

Another , more minor thwart. Recently I had probs joining a local Writers ' Society, more for the social aspects than for tutelage , but their membership pay on-line got screwed up so that I paid 12 times which had to be reversed and ended up causing me to have to verify a charge card at a local banking branch . Their site's log-in also seemed stacked against me, as would not accept passwords etc. Back to the webmaster to correct. Too bad, I will be viewed as The New Member with Egg on Her Face, despite being computer friendly.

Well, luv 'em all, Thwarts long and the short and the tall -- what doesn't 'thwart' makes an author stronger !