Resilience and Me - The 8 Firsts in my life

 Having endocarditis in 2020-21 gave me a whole lot of firsts in my life. I have mentioned some in my memoir but here are ones that I can recall.

1. My first CT scan. These are fine just as long as they don't involve a cannula, which the first couple I had to have did. If you hate needles as much as me, do ask if they could put it in your arm when you are lying down.

2. My first MRI scan. I think my mum told me at the time about the loud noises you experience. They are loud even wearing ear plugs and headphones which are given to you. If you have music going on the machine, try to tune into that. It does help. Another tip is that you can't usually wear metal during the scan so if your shape allows go without a bra and wear a crop top and wear joggers/trackies or a skirt (weather permitting).

3. My first blood transfusion. I never want one of those again. It takes 4-5 hours to complete, even longer if you are like me and need the toilet often.

4. My first major surgery. One I hope to never repeat in my life. My mechanical heart valve is meant to be for life. This is why I chose this instead of a tissue valve.

5. My first pacemaker. I never expected to have one of those at all in my life. If you have read my memoir, then you know why I was fitted one. I might have to have it replaced later in life as they don't last as long as a valve. I do know that I will probably this year have to have one of the leads replaced as it is making extra noise (my body has always been complicated).

6. My first time having carers. I never thought I'd have them until I was much older. They did help me to recover at home, knowing that I wasn't alone all day.

7. My first time using hospital transport. I didn't even know that it existed until I was transferred to my second and third hospitals, and then when I came home could use it to attend my appointments. I still use it today especially to go to my main appointments at Guy's and St Thomas's hospitals. It involves waiting around for them to come and collect you both at home and at hospital but it is a door to door service.

8. Saying that, the above is another first for me – attending hospital appointments on my own. Before the surgery I always used to go with my mum as I was afraid of getting lost and not knowing what to say to medical staff due to my Asperger's. I now go to all my appointments on my own, something that I am amazed I do. I believe that it comes from no longer having a hole in the heart which made me nervous. So, one good thing did come out of that period of my life.

BTW my memoir 'Endocarditis - My Journey' got a 5 star review from The Book Dragon store, which you can read on their website. It is available to buy there as well as my website, Amazon and other ebook retailers.

Want a bit of magic in your life?

 

Yes, I think we all need a bit of magic in our lives at times, especially during tough periods. I for one feel that I do a lot of the time now. It is why I haven 't been here a lot this year as I have had a lot of personal and upsetting days especially since the end of August when my mum passed away in hospital. With Christmas coming up, it will be harder still for me as it will be the first Christmas without her.

Anyway, here is a bit of magic for you to read, especially for us authors. I have a short story in this anthology 'Modern Magic' called 'The Dragon Pen' which helps an author meet her deadline. Don't we all want one of those. It is available to order as an ebook or paperback here https://books2read.com/u/mvXpQz

Have fun reading it all.

Why writing is my saviour

In my current world of anxiety issues, writing is my saviour. Why? There are a couple of reasons, and here I outline them.

1. While writing, I am concentrating on the world of my characters. So I am not thinking about me and my anxiety problems. Unless I happen to write about a character with anxiety and/or Asperger's. My current adult wip has an Aspie lady in it as the main character, but I have made her different from me. She is younger and braver than me.

2. If I didn't write, I wouldn't have books to publish and then sell. Having books to sell, means I can go out and sell them at markets and libraries. Yes, I do have to go out and cross roads, even if my mum has to come with me to the place, but I am still getting out. I do not want to become stuck in my own home with anxiety. I want to go out and meet people, talking about books.

I currently have put The Racing Angel and One Good Turn back into paperback (available from Amazon), so will have more books to sell for both adults and children.

Discoverability - Publishing in different formats

Today is about getting discovered. One way is to publish your book in different formats. What do I mean? There are 3 that I know about: audiobook, paperbook and ebook.

For those of you who write for children, paperbook is probably the only version to do, esp if you write for younger readers eg under 9 year-olds. I currently write for 7-9s and will only publish in print for that age range, especially that I have discovered children of that age do like paper books more. When I come to write the next series, which will be for 9-12s, I might do an ebook version, too. Children of that age do have Kindles as I have been told by one mother who wanted a book for her daughter who was ten. My previous children's books are only available in ebooks for now, but I plan to start putting them back into print this year.

For those of you who write for adults, all three choices are good options, esp ebook and print. There is also audio. I won't be doing this as I don't make enough money on my adult ebooks to warrant this.

I believe the more formats you have out there, the more readers you can reach. I do like to have print copies of my books to hand, esp if I go to a meeting or a library where I can meet people and show them my book. I might sell a copy or two.

So, if you write for older children, think about publishing your book in print and digital. If you write for adults, think about publishing your book in all three formats.

Me, Asperger's and Library Events

Last Saturday I took part in the local community library's grand sale. I was hoping to sell a book or two of mine. I set up a table in the library, next to an older woman who was selling her hand-made jewellery. I got chatting to her about selling. Then came along a younger woman who started talking to me about her writing and asked me to have a read of what she had written. I agreed. Seeing her with the main librarian I know, I realised she had been the lady that had already been mentioned to me. In a break, I read what she had written, and said she had good ideas (she writes fantasy for teens) and needed to write more for me to have a good read of it. I have since decided I do like what she has written, it will be fun to help her write it and want to be her coach. It being a warm day, I later decided to join the jewellery lady outside, which is by a park. We got chatting again outside, and I also chatted to the lady opposite me who was selling home-made natural salts.

So, how did this affect my Asperger's? Well, I think it helped me. I got talking to others whom I hadn't met before, because we were all selling things and trying to get customers. It helped me get out of the house and meet people. Inside the library wasn't too bad, although when children came in it did get a bit noisy but outside where it's more open and bigger was better.

I did sell books - the main librarian returned from a break at her house, and bought a copy of each of my paperback for the library.

I will probably take part in their Xmas fayre in December, if they still have one.

Me, Asperger's and Library Events

Last Saturday I took part in the local community library's grand sale. I was hoping to sell a book or two of mine. I set up a table in the library, next to an older woman who was selling her hand-made jewellery. I got chatting to her about selling. Then came along a younger woman who started talking to me about her writing and asked me to have a read of what she had written. I agreed. Seeing her with the main librarian I know, I realised she had been the lady that had already been mentioned to me. In a break, I read what she had written, and said she had good ideas (she writes fantasy for teens) and needed to write more for me to have a good read of it. I have since decided I do like what she has written, it will be fun to help her write it and want to be her coach. It being a warm day, I later decided to join the jewellery lady outside, which is by a park. We got chatting again outside, and I also chatted to the lady opposite me who was selling home-made natural salts.

So, how did this affect my Asperger's? Well, I think it helped me. I got talking to others whom I hadn't met before, because we were all selling things and trying to get customers. It helped me get out of the house and meet people. Inside the library wasn't too bad, although when children came in it did get a bit noisy but outside where it's more open and bigger was better.

I did sell books - the main librarian returned from a break at her house, and bought a copy of each of my paperback for the library.

I will probably take part in their Xmas fayre in December, if they still have one.

Me, Asperger's and Library Events

Last Saturday I took part in the local community library's grand sale. I was hoping to sell a book or two of mine. I set up a table in the library, next to an older woman who was selling her hand-made jewellery. I got chatting to her about selling. Then came along a younger woman who started talking to me about her writing and asked me to have a read of what she had written. I agreed. Seeing her with the main librarian I know, I realised she had been the lady that had already been mentioned to me. In a break, I read what she had written, and said she had good ideas (she writes fantasy for teens) and needed to write more for me to have a good read of it. I have since decided I do like what she has written, it will be fun to help her write it and want to be her coach. It being a warm day, I later decided to join the jewellery lady outside, which is by a park. We got chatting again outside, and I also chatted to the lady opposite me who was selling home-made natural salts.

So, how did this affect my Asperger's? Well, I think it helped me. I got talking to others whom I hadn't met before, because we were all selling things and trying to get customers. It helped me get out of the house and meet people. Inside the library wasn't too bad, although when children came in it did get a bit noisy but outside where it's more open and bigger was better.

I did sell books - the main librarian returned from a break at her house, and bought a copy of each of my paperback for the library.

I will probably take part in their Xmas fayre in December, if they still have one.