Hey beautiful readers! I hope everyone is doing well. April 12th officially marked one year since Doppel Paladin launched into the world. ONE YEAR! Part of me wants to throw a party, and the other part of me just wants to take a nap.
The Anniversary Pressure
It’s wild to think about how much has happened in twelve months. I’m so proud of my first urban fantasy novel, but I have to be real with y’all: I’m finding the process for Book 2 to be a completely different beast. I thought by now I’d be cruising through the sequel, but the reality is that the pressure to follow up my first book is a very real thing. I’m still so passionate about Mya’s journey and the supernatural fantasy story I’m building, but some days, the words just don’t want to come out. And that’s okay. We don’t talk enough about the mental load of creating a series.
The 9-to-5 vs. The Dream
Most of you know I work full-time while I’m out here building this fantasy book series. But in this season of my life, balancing both is A LOT. By the time I finish work my brain is cooked. I want to dive into the “Underground” and write about Mya’s magic powers, but most times I can barely decide what to have for dinner. Mentally, I’m exhausted. Physically? My body is definitely trying to tell me something. Between my desk job and my late-night writing sessions, my forearm and wrist has been really sore from all the constant typing. It’s a literal reminder that I can’t pour from an empty cup…or a cramped hand.
Reclaiming the Narrative
Remember in my last post when I said building something new means something else gets left on the back burner? Right now, I’m realizing that my “creative pace” is what needs to be adjusted. I’m learning that being a resilient author doesn’t mean working until you break. It means knowing when to pivot so you can actually finish the race. If this fantasy novel about destiny takes a little longer because I need to listen to my body and reset my brain, then so be it. (You guys will still love me right?) My health and my creativity have to work together, not against each other.
To My Fellow Dreamers
If you’re out here trying to balance a career, a passion project, and just… life in general, I see you. It’s wild and very ghetto out here! Don’t feel guilty for being tired. Your dream isn’t going anywhere just because you need to take a breath and listen to your body.
Thank you for being on this journey with me for a whole year. If you haven’t stepped into Mya’s world yet, or you want to gift a copy to a friend to celebrate this milestone, you can head over to the home page of my website to grab your copy. Your support for my first book is what keeps me going. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Happy anniversary to me!
Until next time!
Lera Bishop