Mystery Deb – A Writer's Life: Business and Personal

News, Views, and Upcoming Surgery

Goodness, it’s been a month since my last blog post, and spring is almost here. Yay! In late February, our area enjoyed a series of sunny, mild days, allowing the crocuses and camelia buds to appear. Shortly after that, the temperature plunged and our first snow of winter fell in Metro Vancouver. Because I live just south of Vancouver at sea level, we didn’t get snow. Just a lot of rain and wind, which was wintry enough.

Cancer Update

My final chemo/immunotherapy treatment was on February 24^th, and I’m feeling pretty good. My tastebuds are still a little off, but they’ll return. One side effect is the need for a stronger dosage of hypothyroid medication. Until now, I had been on the same low dosage for thirty years. I don’t know if this is permanent or temporary, but time will tell.

I’ll be having surgery to remove lymph nodes and my left breast on March 26. On the upside, I’ll be in and out of surgery the same day. The procedure sounds traumatic, but my sister underwent this procedure thirty-two years ago, and again two years ago, so this is nothing new in our family. I’ll be doing a lot of exercises to restore arm movement, plus a bit of physiotherapy.

My Writing Life

Slow and steady is the name of the game these days. I write every day, but there are only two or three days a week when I manage to write more than 1,000 words a day. I spend a fair bit of time thinking about this urban fantasy trilogy and have realized that more changes are needed in the first book, so my list of things to incorporate grows longer. I haven’t come up with titles for books two and three yet, but there’s plenty of time.

As for big picture thinking beyond the trilogy, I don’t know. What I do know, based on past experience, is that major decisions about writing, or any other life changes, shouldn’t be made when one is going through major challenges. Yes, sometimes those decisions prove to be the right ones, but it’s better to wait until the challenge is over before acting on any decision. Meanwhile, I try to stay focused on more immediate goals.

Promotional stuff

This month, I’m offering a $.99 sale for Casey Holland mystery #6, The Blade Man. Please note that these books can be read in any order. Below is a short blurb:

Who is the Blade Man and why has this mysterious loner been attacking Mainland Public Transport bus drivers? And who is trying to burn MPT down? The company’s president orders security officer Casey Holland to launch an internal investigation or face termination. Convinced she’s being set up to fail and with her wedding only weeks away, Casey desperately needs answers. Forced to take deeper risks, how far can Casey go before someone dies?

This book was inspired by the growing number of assaults on bus drivers in our area. I interviewed one driver who’d been assaulted three times and subsequently left the job.

The book is available at: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

What I’ve Been Watching

A couple of these I mentioned in my newsletter, but they’re worth repeating. Did any of you watch The Copenhagen Test starring Simu Liu? It was an excellent spy thriller with a unique twist. Alexander Hale is a first-generation Chinese American who discovers that someone’s implanted tech in his brain that allows the villain to see and hear everything he does. Not an enviable position, given that he works for a secretive government agency. I’m hoping there’ll be a second season. It’s quite compelling.

I’m also enjoying the fourth season of Dark Winds, which is a superb police procedural/thriller based on the excellent crime novels by Tony Hillerman. This season, Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee are searching for a sixteen-year-old runaway who is inadvertently leading them into a deep and complex situation. Chee and Leaphorn find themselves following her to Los Angeles, where both are facing personal struggles. If you haven’t seen this series, give it a try.

Last but not least is The Night Manager starring Hugh Laurie & Tom Hiddleston. This crime drama is based on John le Carré’s novel of the same name. If you like his books, you’ll love this story. Season two opens ten years later and is a sequel to season one’s events. So, watch season one first. The acting is amazing and by the end of season two, you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

That’s it for now. I’ll be back in April, after surgery, when spring’s renewal, and mine, will be in full bloom.

Unsettling News for Writers, and Another Trip to the ER

Happy Lunar New Year, or Gung Hay Fat Choy as my Cantonese-speaking spouse says (the phrase is quite different in Mandarin). As of yesterday, we are now officially in the year of the Fire Horse. One of the rituals we follow is to thoroughly clean our house. My spouse vacuumed the carpets and washed the rest of the floors while I stuck to lighter tasks. This weekend, we’re having the family over for dim sum and will hand out little red packets of lucky money to the younger generations. Celebrations in some countries go on for five weeks, but that’s a little over the top for me.

Cancer Update

I ended up in the ER again last week, but this time only from about 2:30 a.m. until 6:a.m, and everything turned out fine. As I’ve mentioned before, I self-inject a drug to boost my white blood cell count once a day for seven days after every chemo treatment. On day seven, I started to feel a tightness in my chest several hours after the injection. At first, I thought it was acid reflux until my chest began to hurt when I moved around. I also had lower back pain, but had been warned that joint pain is a common side effect from this drug.

Long story short, the pain worsened to the point where my chest was throbbing and I was experiencing shortness of breath. I began to worry that this was more than a side effect. After bloodwork, an EKG, chest x-ray, and vitals were checked, it turned out that my heart is fine and that the pain likely came from the joints in my sternum. After taking a couple of Tylenol, the pain gradually subsided. 24 hours later it was finally gone. Needless to say, I’m thrilled that my last chemo/immunotherapy treatment is on Tuesday. I’ll be having a chat with the oncology doctor tomorrow about reducing the dosage or stopping it altogether.

My Writing Life

Work on the third installment in my urban fantasy trilogy continues, slowly but surely. I’m up to 83,000 words and writing the last chapters. Although I’m taking my time, I’ll be happy when it’s done.

Aside from the scams I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, I’ve noticed two disheartening trends in the writing world lately. It seems that a growing number of writers are so upset and distracted by tumultuous global events that they’ve stopped writing. Some have decided to move onto other things while others are simply taking a break until they can focus again. Everyone has to decide what’s best for them. Negative external events certainly impact us in different ways. If/when I stop writing, I hope it will be because the timing feels right and not because of what’s going on in the world.

This morning, I also came across an interesting Substack blog from BadReadHead Media called “Why We Can’t Focus Anymore: The Hidden Cost of our Attention Economy”. It’s well worth reading and you can find the link HERE.

I can’t exactly recall the source of this bit of news, and I apologize for that. I think I heard it briefly mentioned in one of Joanna Penn’s recent podcasts, but don’t quote me on that. What did stick with me is reference to an author who’s published a large number of books (I don’t know the genre and assume she’s self-publishing) but the author is also now using AI to write books for her. She puts in all the info she needs for AI to adopt her style, and from that she allegedly produces a book in an hour. Even if that is an exaggeration, it’s far faster than what the rest of us are doing. Not only is her output amplifying, but she’s teaching other writers how to do it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one. Using AI for research or marketing purposes is one thing, but to write your books for you? Is this our future? A number of publishers and magazine editors won’t accept AI generated material at least for now, but will that change over time?

By the way, I find Joanna Penn’s podcasts quite interesting. She provides updates regarding different aspects of the publishing world. She also shares a little of what’s happening in her writing life, and then interviews writers on all kinds of interesting topics. You find the link HERE:

Promotional stuff

On the promotion front, this month I’m offering a $.99 discount on the fifth installment of my Casey Holland series, Knock Knock until Feb. 28. Please note that these books can be read in any order. This novel was inspired by a series of local news stories several years ago about home invasions targeting senior citizens. The topic troubled me a great deal, and further research revealed just how common this was in cities everywhere. Here’s the book blurb:

When a home invasion kills senior Elsie Englehart, security officer Casey Holland is devastated. Part of her latest assignment is to watch over elderly bus riders in an area frequently targeted by a group of thugs. Determined to keep others safe, Casey escorts an elderly man to his home, only to come under attack by an armed intruder. Hospitalized and angry, Casey struggles to regain control of her life, despite interference from family and colleagues, and the postponement of her wedding. Yet another home invasion compels Casey to take action, but at what cost to her health and her relationships?

Platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

I think this blog is long enough, so I’ll stop there and catch up with you next month, after my final chemo/immunotherapy treatment!

Health Update and A New Scam Scaring Authors

After my Jan. 7 blog, the rest of the month passed without any major health incidents. Except for scheduled medical appointments, it’s been a quiet, self-isolating month. My bald head has made the cold feel even colder these days, so I keep a toque on most days now. I always long for sunnier climates at this time of year. Maybe next January we’ll finally get back to Mexico after what will have been eight long years. We’re certainly thinking about it. Meanwhile, my sister was on a walk through the west end of Vancouver last week, and found these daffodils. What!?

Cancer Update

After my chemo/immunotherapy treatment on January 13, my energy again plummeted while the nausea rose, which was to be expected. After some training from the nurse, I learned to inject myself with a drug that boosts my white blood cell count. I’ll be doing this for one week after each of the remaining treatments. It’s cringeworthy, I know, but it’s turned out to be quick and painless. Happily, I have only two treatments left.

I also met with the surgeon and learned that my surgery date is March 24. On another high note, I’ll be able to go home on the same day. Once recovery is underway, physiotherapy will be required to restore arm movement, but that’s not a big deal. The really interesting news came from a meeting with the radiation oncologist. She advised that breast cancer treatment was usually a package deal: chemo, surgery, and radiation. However, new studies have shown that there is no greater risk of returning cancer for many patients after they’ve completed chemo and surgery. In other words, radiation therapy might not be necessary at all. This will depend, however, on the pathology report after surgery. I’ll be meeting again with the radiation oncologist the third week of April to decide if the treatment is necessary. I sure hope it isn’t, but you do what you have to do.

My Writing Life (Helpful Info and a Question For You)

I read about a new disturbing scam that writers, especially new authors, should be aware of. This came from Anne R. Allen’s terrific blog, where she reports that scammers are using Amazon to scare the heck out of authors. They pretend to be Amazon and inform authors that because they have fewer than ten reviews, they will need to hire a ‘Certified Visibility Specialist’ to keep the book from being thrown into obscurity. Anne provides many more details with links to other blogs with further information. You can find Anne’s blog HERE

I follow a number of writers on Substack, including Orna Ross, who is the founder of ALLi, The Alliance of Independent Authors. Orna recently moved her email list to Substack because she felt it would attract more subscribers and allow her to engage with them in different ways. She wrote that she could do many more things that weren’t available on her previous email list provider.

So, I have a question for those of you who use Substack. Does it gain you more subscribers or expand your presence? Would you recommend Substack? I’m not considering leaving WordPress at this point, but the reality is that change is frequent and sometimes sudden. So, it’s not a bad idea to consider other options. You can find Orna’s Substack blog HERE

Promotional stuff

My $.99 sale for Casey Holland mystery #1, The Opposite of Dark, ends on January 31^st. Here’s a quick blurb:

When the cops tell Casey her father was murdered the previous night, Casey doesn’t believe them. After all, she buried her dad three years earlier…or did she? The quest for answers takes her to England, Paris, and Amsterdam, where an increasingly dangerous game endangers the people she loves.—”A fast-moving action-packed thriller with many twists, secrets & lies.”—Nightreader.

Platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

I’ve also been running a $.99 sale on the 4^th book, The Deep End, which also ends on Jan. 31^st. Here’s the blurb:

Transit officer Casey Holland’s first volunteer shift at a youth detention center turns deadly when its director dies from heart failure. But all is not as it seems. There are rumors that his death was no accident. As more people die, the center is about to implode, but who is an ally and who is an enemy? Casey must find the answers before the killer stops her from learning the truth.

Platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

Until next time, take care, everyone.

Happy 2026, and My Adventure in the ER

Happy New Year, everyone, and a big welcome to new subscribers. I hope you’ll find something worthwhile in this blog. So, how is everyone’s year going so far? My thirteenth chemo treatment (this one with new drugs) took place on December 23, and I had enough energy to enjoy Christmas with the family. The granddaughters had a wonderful time. It was the first year that little Abby understood what was happening, although probably not why, which will come later. As you can see, they love their new scooters.

I was reading someone’s blog before Christmas and this person described in one word what they hoped for 2026. I don’t usually spend a lot of time thinking about a specific word to describe a year, but this time, it was obvious: Recovery. Maybe it applies to others as well?

In a broader context, the word will mean different things to people this year. After all, many were blindsided by unwelcome events in 2025, but I hope you’re finding a way to recover from whatever you’ve been through, and are being kind to yourself, or even treating yourself in some small or large way.

Cancer Update (crisis averted):

After Christmas, my energy plummeted. Exercising time became shorter and I did fewer tasks. The goal, as always, is to keep moving because it’s good for cancer patients. But finding the right balance can be challenging. Happily, I haven’t had many nausea issues, however, I have developed some numbness in my feet. It’s not painful, and I do a lot of flexing and pointing and walking, and am treated to massages by my spouse. My tastebuds, which were doing better, have gone wonky again. Some foods are really off for me, but others are okay.

The truly unwelcome aspect of this second phase of chemo treatment is that these new drugs diminish white blood cells, which places me at a much higher risk for infection. My doctor warned me that if my temperature goes beyond 38 degrees C (100 degrees F) then I’m to go to Emergency right away. On Sunday the 4^th, that’s what happened.

My local hospital is only six blocks from my house. We got there after seven, and the waiting room was surprisingly quiet. Because I’m a cancer patient, I was seen right away and tests carried out. Once that was done, I was moved to an isolated room. The doctor warned me that I might have to stay for several days, which made me nearly drop through the floor, since I’d been feeling fine.

I wound up spending two nights in isolation. The first night was dreadful as the sounds of crying kids and vomiting adults at 2:30 in the morning was an eye-opener to the suffering others were enduring. The flu is no joke, and that little hospital was maxed out. To fill the time, I read, listened to podcasts, and slept. On day two, I was moved to a different room, which was off the main corridor and, happily, things were much quieter in this part of ER.

In the end, the test results were all negative, and I discharged yesterday. I’ve been given drugs to boost my white blood cell count, and will meet with my oncology doctor tomorrow. I’m told that the second week after treatment is when the blood cells are at their lowest. I’ve just entered week three, so I’m hoping that some serious rebuilding is underway, because I start this all again on January 13^th.

My Writing Life (and in this case, everyone’s)

Much has been written about the Nigerian scammers who’ve created thousands of AI-generated emails per minute and sent them to authors, both self-published and traditionally published. The emails gush over our books, quoting key characters’ names, plots, etc. They claim to be book reviewers, or book club organizers, or librarians, etc. Those messages and emails are designed to make us think they’re actually interested in our work. All they’re interested in is taking our money. Here’s an example of my recent encounter:

I was contacted by a woman named Lois Nettleton on Instagram, whose profile indicated that she loves to read. She had several friends, so I friended her back without giving it much thought. A day or two later, she messaged me, asking me about my books. Although I had my suspicions, I decided to play along to see where this would go. From there, her spiel went on to assure me that no money is involved. She’d just like to showcase one of my books. I told her about my health situation, explaining that I wasn’t interested right now. She said she understood, told me to take my time, and wished me well. Two days later, I got a message from her…‘Can I send you the material now’? I didn’t respond, and then an hour or so later ‘Now?’ and then shortly after that, ‘Why aren’t you answering my messages?’ I dug deeper into her profile, which wasn’t hard, and discovered that fake-Lois’s location is Nigeria.

I blocked her right away and deleted our conversation. A few hours later, someone on Amazon ordered 4 of my books, and then immediately returned them. A coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. IG is the worst offender, however, I’m not on TikTok or LinkedIn, so I’m not sure. To help you steer clear of these increasingly slick and human-sounding messages, here’s what you do on Instagram and Threads.

Go to the individual’s profile

Tap on the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner, then go to ‘About this account’. It will tell you where the account user is based most of the time, but not all the time. I have friends with legitimate accounts who don’t state their location, so keep this in mind. However, if the profile is new and has almost no posts, and few friends, be cautious!

After my encounter with fake Lois, I received a friend request from Nathan.becktt0 who says he’s a ‘Conservative man and a proud Irish’. His account based in Nigeria. Instant block.

On a happier note, I’ve been steadily working on my urban fantasy, a little each morning, and I’ve reached 70,000 words. The downside is that I’ve been kept awake some nights, usually from 2-4 a.m., plotting the next chapter. I haven’t written much since Saturday, but that’s just fine. I’ll get back to it a little later.

Promotional stuff

For new subscribers and those who aren’t familiar with my mysteries, I’m offering the first book in the series for $.99 right now. This is where it all began for Casey Holland, and it’s been quite a ride. Here’s a quick blurb:

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

I think that’s it for now. I’ll post with updates later this month. Take care everyone!

Christmas Prep and a New Phase of Chemo Treatment

Since my last post, time has gotten away from me a bit. The doctors have encouraged me to maintain my normal activities, so I have been, albeit with longer rest periods. Christmas preps are underway and I’ve had plenty of help. My family came over on Nov. 30 to help put up and decorate the tree. My granddaughters had a great time choosing ornaments to hang. Here’s the final result. I didn’t use the ropes of silver stars and white snowflakes that are usually wrapped around the tree. Sometimes less is more.

Cancer Update (Phase 1 ends: Phase 2 begins):

I’ve just ended 12 weeks of weekly chemotherapy treatments, which means I’ll no longer be taking the two cancer drugs, one of which caused an intense allergic reaction. Nor do I have to take the steroids that have messed with my sleeping habits after treatment. Two new drugs will be administered with the start of this new phase on Dec. 23. There will be only four sessions, and they’ll be three weeks apart as my white blood count will need time to rebuild. I’m told to expect nausea and extreme fatigue for the first week. My family and I planned for this weeks ago, so they’ll be doing all the cooking on the 25^th. My job will be to get out of bed and get dressed, which might be all I can do for those first couple of days after treatment, according to the doctor. This is the time when I’ll be most at risk for infection, so I’m definitely staying away from malls and social gatherings.

Fun fact: One of the doctors told me that a one-centimetre tumour can contain one billion tiny microscopic cancer cells. My tumour was three times that size. After an examination earlier today, the doctor reports that it’s now only two centimetres and very soft, which makes her happy. The drugs are doing their job. In my mind, there’s no question that daily exercise, healing meditations, and healthy eating habits are contributing factors.

My Writing Life (or maybe everyone’s, in this case)

Every so often, I listen to podcasts or attend webinars that discuss the state of publishing and bookselling. I’m always interested to hear what others think, and what they foresee for the future. To that end, I attended a webinar sponsored by the Authors Guild on the topic, ‘Making Sense of 21^st Century Publishing’. The guest speaker, Michael Castleman, has been writing for a long time and admitted that after 19 traditionally published, nonfiction books, his income has been cut in half in recent years, which he attributes to the changing publishing environment.

He stated that approximately 2.5 million books are now published every year. This is a significant jump from a decade ago. He also said that about 80% of the books published don’t sell a hundred copies. He didn’t specify whether this was over the book’s first year or over the span of several years. He also said that only 6% of authors sell over 1,000 copies, but honestly, this is nothing new. Similar stats have been around for quite a while.

The problem, Castleman says, is that the number of readers hasn’t grown at anywhere near the same rate for at least twenty years. Therefore, everyone, including large publishing houses, are increasingly challenged with finding readers. Castleman notes that the publishers have struggled forever to make publishing a profitable business. Given the uncertain economic climate and the growing number of AI-generated books, publishers are more risk-averse than ever about taking on new books and new authors. According to Castleman, this is placing literary agents in a crisis mode as they struggle to find representation for their clients. He said that many are leaving the business, although I’m not sure what he means by many.

Those of us who’ve been writing and publishing for a while won’t be surprised by any of this. Nor do we have illusions about our sales numbers. The simple fact is that this is a labour of love. We love to tell stories and share them with whoever might be interested. If we make a little money along the way, great!

I’ve met many new authors over the years who don’t realize how challenging it can be to market, distribute, and sell a book. Some of them would rather not do any marketing at all, and I understand that. While it’s not a bad idea to note changes in the publishing industry, it’s equally important to keep things in perspective with respect to our own goals. In other words, don’t worry about stats and how others are doing. Think about what works best for you. Maybe start with just one marketing idea, and then begin to create your own numbers. Half the battle is just showing up and trying, right? And on that note…

Promotional stuff

My last promotion of 2025 is a $.99 sale for Casey Holland mystery #3, Beneath the Bleak New Moon. While I was researching street racing for this book, about fifteen years ago now, I was astonished to learn that legal and illegal street racing was a billion-dollar industry back then. How knows what it is now? The story was inspired by a true event in Vancouver that happened a couple of decades ago, when a woman was struck and killed during a street race. Sadly, it’s happened several times since, and all over North America. Here’s a short blurb:

What happens when a street race on a busy Vancouver thoroughfare kills a pedestrian? And what happens when it occurs again, deliberately? Public outrage, a missing investigative reporter, and upheaval in Casey Holland’s personal life creates a wild ride to the heart-stopping end.

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play.

Also, for those of you who use Smashwords, most of my books are on sale for the rest of this month through this platform. Which you can find HERE.

That’s it for now. I wish all of you a joyous and peaceful holiday!

Surprises, Good and Bad

All things considered, life is good. Since my last post, I’ve had another immunotherapy treatment plus two more chemo treatments which puts the total to eight. I have four more to go before we proceed to the next steps. I’m so grateful for all the kind comments I’ve received since announcing my diagnosis. While I’m a little bit weaker, definitely more tired, my hair is almost gone, and I’ve lost a few pounds, I’m staying as strong and active as I can. My realtor, whom I’ve known for 25 years, sent me the beautiful bouquet below, along with some other goodies.

My son has been making me his own delicious chicken soup.

One day, when I’m cancer free, I’ll pay it forward in my own way.

Cancer Update (scary side effects):

These days, I’ve gone off certain foods, especially meat, although I still eat it in small quantities. Everything tastes quite salty lately. My cold is gone, thanks to a humidifier, which made a huge difference, and the coughing is finally subsiding.

On Nov. 11, I experienced an intense allergic reaction to the drug carboplatin. It was the last drug of the day and the pouch was almost finished when my hands suddenly became hot pink and itchy, and my face became flushed. I began coughing uncontrollably. I then began to feel dizzy and nauseous. Shortly after that, I developed shortness of breath. I thought I was going to be sick, but managed not to throw up.

My nurse called a code and more nurses came rushing over. She then contacted the doctor on call, who told her to administer Benadryl right away. Within a couple of minutes, the shortness of breath and nausea started to ease. After about fifteen minutes, I felt better, but they had me stay another half hour to ensure the side effects didn’t return, which they didn’t. The nurse recommended that I take another Benadryl that night. By the time I got home that day, I was exhausted.

My oncologist called the next day and recommended corticosteroids to prevent another adverse reaction. I have to take them 12 and 6 hours before treatment each Tuesday now. Last Monday, it meant setting my alarm for 4:15 a.m. for the second dose as treatment time was 10:15 a.m. Needless to say, my nurse was watching me carefully for signs of an adverse reaction. All went well, except for some extra coughing, which appears to be a side effect that’s hard to shake. Today, though, the coughing is almost gone, thankfully!

My Writing Life

Oh my, where would I be without my many notes? It’s a habit I started while writing my very first book Taxed to Death, back in the 80s. I was working full-time, then got married and had a baby. I knew that writing wouldn’t be a daily event and it’d probably take a long time to finish a first draft, so I created a Word document and made notes so I wouldn’t forget key ideas. At that time, I didn’t realize how many drafts would be needed to get the book into a publishable state! With each draft, I typed up new notes in a new document, specifying both large and small changes. It served me well and still does.

I plug along a little each day on this third installment in the urban fantasy trilogy. Late at night, when I’m having trouble sleeping, I think about character arcs and how best to move the story forward. If it’s a lot, I get up and make notes. If it’s not, a couple of words will jog my memory in the morning.

In the spring of 2026, I plan to read all three books through, back to back. I’ve already started notes for each one. Some are small, like name changes that apply to all three books. Other things pop out at me that require more explanation or description. I’m sure that many of you writers make copious amounts of notes!

Promotional stuff

The $.99 sale for my second Casey Holland mystery, Deadly Accusations, ends on Dec. 2. This story has Casey dealing with the aftermath of life-changing events that occurred in book one. Here’s a short blurb:

A coworker’s murder triggers accusations and suspicion among security officer Casey Holland’s workmates. Her job turns into a nightmare when the company’s president pressures her to find answers. Shunned and threatened at work, Casey must also deal with traumatic, life-changing events at home and the horrific realization that one of her friends could be a killer. “A well-crafted book with lots of teasers”.- Nightreader

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

What I’ve Been Reading

You Can Conquer Cancer: A New Way of Living by Ian Gawler

This book is written by a veterinarian who had the same type of cancer as our Canadian hero, Terry Fox. He too had his leg amputated in his twenties, suffered setbacks, but fifty years later is still going strong. He’s a big advocate of meditation, nutrition and integrative medicine, which involves many forms of treatment. If you know of someone who’s going through cancer, they might find this book helpful.

And on the fantasy front is The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffen.

This is a unique, original take on what it means to be a witch and practice magic. The main character Clara has a rare gift that’s accidentally killed the people she’s closest to. There’s a strong, environmental component that revolves around the four seasons and our rapidly deteriorating planet, which also gives this interesting book a relevant spin.

What I’ve Been Watching

We found Ballard on Prime TV. It’s a gritty police procedural about a detective who’s been demoted and relegated to working on cold cases in the basement of the building. She has her detractors and supporters, and a lot of baggage. This series is a spinoff from Michael Connelly’s Bosch series, so fans of that series will enjoy this one. I’m a fan of the star, Maggie Q, who starred in one of the versions of Nikita, another excellent series. It’s a compelling show.

I think that’s it for now. Until next time, stay healthy, everyone. And to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!

Changes, Challenges, and Chemo

It’s been a challenging few days. I picked up a cold (my spouse and I thought he had allergies, but not so) last weekend, which has drained my energy somewhat. I’ve been checked over and my lungs are clear, thankfully. I’ve been taking my temperature daily, as I’ll have to go to emergency if it rises above 100°F. I have a medical alert card that stays with my ID and a red sheet of 8 x 11 paper that tells the ER doctors that I must be seen right away. If I have an infection, antibiotics need to be administered within the hour. You can see why I’m not participating in craft fairs and social functions this year.

My granddaughters were delighted to go trick-or-treating this Halloween, despite the rain. Luckily, it turned to a mere drizzle at the halfway point. Of course, game six of the World series was on that night, so between that and weather, there were fewer kids this year. This was Abigail’s first Halloween and she managed it like a pro.

Cancer Update (the weirdo side effects):

I’m now halfway through twelve weeks of treatments. Aside from the hair loss, I was losing weight, but it’s levelled out over the past two weeks, and my appetite’s still pretty good. The challenge is that my taste buds have dulled and things taste salty or sometimes metalic. I took the recommendations and swish my mouth with a bit of baking soda and salt several times a day to avoid mouth sores. I also now use a particular moisturizing mouthwash called Biotene that was recommended.

The weirdest side effect is that my face turned a shade of yellow for a couple of days after treatment. Nurses and the doctor took note, but since there was no yellowing in the eyes, they aren’t worried about jaundice. Monday’s bloodwork will also include readings with respect to my liver, among other things. My spouse said I was also quite pale for a day, so we all think the change of colour was a discolouration issue, and not related to the liver.

Disrupted sleeps are a larger issue for me. On treatment day, I’ve experienced restless leg syndrome at night thanks to the Benadryl they give me prior to the chemo. I’ve also started to experience it while the Benadryl is being administered in the IV, but it goes away fairly quickly. To deal with it at home, I do an indoor workout in the evening, and then massage my legs, which helps. All in all, I’m glad nothing more serious is occurring.

My Writing Life

I’m making lemonade out of lemons, folks. My first craft fair would have been on November 1. Although I was sad to miss it, I wound up writing 1,000 words on my current WIP that day. The words flowed out in a quick ninety minutes. I want to be clear, though. My sole focus is on healing. I have no intention of pushing writing goals. These days, writing is simply part of the healing process. It makes me happy and distracts me if real-life fears threaten to overwhelm.

On some level, letting go of writing goals is a bigger challenge. Like many baby boomers in Western society, I’ve been conditioned to live an active, productive, goal-oriented life. A health crisis certainly forces one to re-evaluate things, like how much energy to put into goal achieving or whether to let some of those goals go. As long-time followers know, I made some changes earlier this year by resigning from my casual employment as a creative writing workshop facilitator. I’ve also stepped down from my role as secretary of the Delta Literary Society, and stopped attending writing functions over the summer. Maybe my subconscious knew something that my conscious mind hadn’t quite grasped, but the changes felt necessary.

At the end of my first day of treatment on September 30, the nurse encouraged me to keep living my life and to stay active. It was good advice, but the challenge now is to balance rest with other activities. Some days, it just feels trickier than others. This cancer journey will be at least six months long, and I’m just entering the third month. Goal-setting doesn’t interest me these days, and I’m more than okay with putting other goals on hiatus.

Promotional stuff

For anyone who hasn’t picked up the second book in my Casey Holland mystery series, I’m offering Deadly Accusations for $.99. This story has Casey dealing with the aftermath of life-changing events that occurred in book one. Here’s a short blurb:

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play

What I’ve Been Watching

Have you been watching ‘Maigret on Masterpiece’? The stories are inspired by the Paris-based mysteries by Georges Simenon. I read a couple of his novels years ago and really enjoyed them. Simenon was a prolific novelist, and his stories have been made into movies and TV productions for years. This modern version has Maigret using cellphones and current-day gadgets while still doing his share of legwork, thinking, and observing. The stories are compelling, although I found it strange that all the actors have British accents in a Parisian police department. I’m used to it now and love the series. Unfortunately, the sixth episode is also the season finale, but I could have watched many more. Hopefully, it’ll be replayed so you can give it a look.

What I’ve Been Reading

I’m a fan of the Harry Dresden series, and just finished book four, Summer Knight. Harry is a professional wizard who’s hired by people to solve crimes related to the supernatural. These books are an entertaining blend of urban fantasy, mystery, humour, and action/adventure. If you love these genres and are looking for escapism, give them a try. You could start with book one, but they can be read in any order.

I think that’s it for now. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

Living Normally in Abnormal Circumstances

We live in a world that has made amazing advancements in technology, medicine and many other things, yet life is still difficult, if not precarious, for many. Human beings tend to find ways to pivot and adapt to their situations, although sadly some cannot. We celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada a few days ago. I’m lucky to have been born in a country that has plenty of resources and isn’t being destroyed by war. I don’t have to worry about keeping a job or a roof over my head anymore either. Gratitude is a key component of healing, and for these things and much more, I’m so grateful for where I am in my life right now.

Cancer Update (the setting):

Chemo treatment number four was two days ago. My hair is falling out at a faster rate, although it’s still mostly there. Tuesday’s treatment was the start of a new cycle, so I got the full meal deal with chemo and immunotherapy. Six months ago, I would have dreaded the idea of going to the cancer agency every week. Now, I welcome it. I see it as a place for healing, where teams of people work calmly and efficiently to ensure that patients get the care they need.

My oncologist says I’m doing great, and I’ve just received news that, after two core biopsies, there is no cancer in the breast. Needless to say, I have every reason to be positive. If there ever comes a time when I begin to think differently, when I feel less than great, I’ll tell you. These updates aren’t meant to sugarcoat harsh realities. It’s an honest sharing of my experience, and there’s still a long road ahead that will extend well into 2026.

In case you are curious, here’s what the treatment area looks like. The chemo unit contains what is known as four separate ‘pods’ with four to five lounging chairs in each pod. They’re open areas where nursing staff can see most of the pods easily from their portable stations. I’m assigned a different pod and different nurses each week. Pod number 1, where I was on Tuesday, is a larger area that contains seven chairs and three nurses within that pod when all chairs are in use. Every pod has at least two nurses. I get a pillow and blanket and am offered something to drink. As mentioned in my last blog, I bring my own green tea, snacks, a book to read, and earphones to listen to podcasts.

I’m working with two teams of people. The oncology team at the cancer agency and the breast health specialists at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre a few blocks away from the hospital. The breast health specialists are the ones who organize all the tests, discuss the results, and then share information with the oncologist and my family doctor. If surgery is needed to remove the breast down the road and reconstructive surgery is desired, then the breast health doctor will perform the surgery. The centre is extremely well organized and services all kinds of care needs for patients with tremendous efficiency. Now that I’ve had my final test result, I won’t be going back until after chemotherapy is completed.

My Writing Life

I’m at the halfway point of the first draft in the third installment of my trilogy. The threat to my protagonists, the Rowland family, is ramping up big time, and I’ve done a fair bit of thinking on how to make that happen in an interesting, plausible way. I’ve cracked open Donald Maass’s book, The Breakout Novelist, which I read a few years ago, and am reviewing key points I underlined. It’s helped a lot, as I was stumped with what to do, or where to set this pivotal halfway point. I came across a passage where Maass says that one of the things he’s noticed about published novels is that not enough happens. Just reading over some of his main points triggered some ideas for me, and I’ve been making notes on how best to start this chapter.

For you writers out there, if you’ve found a really helpful, inspiring how-to guide in the past, pull it out again and choose a few key points to jumpstart your current work in progress. It’s an especially useful exercise for those saggy middles that often trip us up.

Promotion stuff

I’m offering a $.99 sale for the next couple of weeks on my latest Casey Holland mystery, A Gold Satin Murder. This time, the book focuses on a more humorous side to Casey’s crime-solving adventures as she finds herself mixed up with a male stripper. There’s no sexual content in the story, just hints…Here’s the blurb:

Security cop Casey Holland does not want to help prove the innocence of a murder suspect and male stripper named Eduardo…until she learns that his relationship with her good friend, Lily, could destroy Lily’s life. So, while Eduardo’s busy peeling off his clothes, Casey’s peeling back secrets that reveal way more than she bargained for.

Here are the platform links: Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play.

So, onward and upward. Normal life goes on. I cook, do the laundry, keep a clean house, exercise, read, write, meet with my online critique group, and make room for the weekly schedule of bloodwork on Mondays and chemo on Tuesdays. Staying active works for me. Keep pivoting and adapting, folks, and may you get to wherever you’re going.

Tests, Treatment, and Tea

I have a true story to tell you. The year was 1979 and I was working as a secretary for a firm of solicitors in London, England. This was the branch office of a larger firm in central London, and I was one of two secretaries working for three solicitors. We occupied the second floor in a rowhouse of office buildings.

One morning, the postman arrived with the mail and mentioned that smoke was starting to filter downstairs. It was coming from the security firm on the third floor. By the time the postman had walked down the long flight of stairs to the ground floor, we could smell the smoke. The lawyers were out at the time, so my coworker called the fire department. I got my things and shut all doors and windows. By the time we were ready to leave, smoke was filling the stairwells.

A woman and her fully grown German Shepherd (I didn’t know the dog was up there) were slowly making their way down from the third floor until the dog froze and wouldn’t move. The woman decided to head back upstairs and wait it out, which I thought was a bad idea. So, I took the dog by his collar and coaxed him down the stairs with a bit of pulling on my part and pushing on hers. By the time we got him outside, I reeked of smoke, but we were all safe. My flat was only a ten-minute walk away, so I went home and called head office to let them know what had happened. Only then, did I begin to shake.

I tell you this because people have been admiring my calm, matter-of-fact attitude toward my cancer diagnosis. The thing is, panicking and pessimism aren’t in my nature. Truth be told, little things drive me crazier than the big stuff, but if there are things that need to be done to survive the big stuff, then I’ll get down to it. To that end…

Cancer Update:

I’ve had two treatments and things are going well. Fun Fact. This phase involves three 4-week cycles. At the first of every cycle, I’ll receive immunotherapy and then chemotherapy during the same session. For those who don’t know, immunotherapy means that my immune system is being used to help attack cancer cells. So far, I haven’t had horrible side effects, but this is low-dosage stuff, and other than a couple of achy joints and a disturbance in my sleeping pattern for a bit, it was fine.

I keep up with my daily exercise routine, and I’m drinking loose-leaf green tea, which is one of many nutritional things recommended by a doctor who wrote the book mentioned in my recommended reading section below. In fact, I’m also eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, and have eliminated sugar as much as I can, which also means cutting down on unhealthy carbs. My CT scan, MRI, bone density test, and breast biopsy were all negative, so things are good so far. However, they wanted to do a second biopsy just to be sure, so I underwent a more thorough one yesterday. Sure enough, they found a tiny, suspicious anomaly which could be the source. I’ll know more in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I’m staying active.

My Writing Life

I’m working daily on the third installment in my urban fantasy trilogy and have gotten as far as chapter 18, which is about 25,500 words into the story. Most days, I work on it for 90 minutes, but on certain days, it’s only a half hour, and I’ve even managed 2-1/2 hours at least one day last week. I’m continuing my Monday night virtual critique group meetings, which are always helpful and proving to be a welcome distraction from health issues. Although I’m working on chapter eighteen, my critique partners reviewed chapter four this week. This means that I’m both writing and editing at the same time, which I find helps with continuity.

Promotion stuff

This week, I’m offering book 5 in my Casey Holland mystery series at $2.99 (half price). The idea for Knock Knock came from a real event in Vancouver several years ago. Seniors who lived alone were being targeted with home invasions. This is one of those crimes that really troubles me, even though I don’t live alone. News stories still pop up about them.

When a home invasion kills senior Elsie Englehart, security officer Casey Holland is devastated. She’s supposed to be watching over elderly bus riders in an area frequently targeted by thugs. Determined to keep others safe, Casey escorts a senior to his home, only to come under attack by an armed intruder. Hospitalized and angry, Casey struggles to regain control of her life, despite interference from family and colleagues, and attempts to prepare for her upcoming wedding. Another home invasion compels Casey to take action, but at what cost to her health and her relationships?

Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Google Play

I also have a page on Amazon that features all of the books in one go, which you can find HERE.

Recommended Reading

As mentioned above, I’ve just finished a terrific book called Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, a doctor who endured brain cancer twice, the first time at age 31. He had a relapse a few years after that, but then survived several more years before passing away at age 50. The book’s been immensely informative, particularly since he addresses the critical importance of nutrition, exercise, and mindset. Whether you’ve faced cancer or know someone who has, this is a candid, straightforward perspective that I found helpful and uplifting.

And on another uplifting note, flowers are still blooming in my garden! Some have fallen since this photo was taken a week ago, but hey, it’s fall and I have flowers 😊

The Post I Didn’t Want to Write

Every writer, with rare exceptions, spends the bulk of their lives juggling many things: childraising, day jobs, volunteering, household chores, errands, caring for elderly parents, and organizing special occasions, etc. They also combat illness. It’s simply part of our lives. We deal with the interruptions, distractions, and unforeseen events as best we can, which is exactly what I plan to do.

Earlier this month, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the prognosis is good, treatment will be lengthy. Since my last blog post, I’ve had a CT scan, MRI, a bone density test, two ultrasounds, a biopsy, and of course, bloodwork. Chemo and immunotherapy begins on September 30. This low-dose treatment will occur once a week for twelve weeks, and there could be more after that. Then there will be surgery, and possibly radiation treatment.

What’s so strange about all of this is that I feel perfectly healthy and neither of the two mammograms I had this summer showed anything suspicious. The suspicion arose from a single lymph node. Most of the testing has been to find the source, which the experts say was definitely in the breast. I’m told that my body may have already gotten rid of the initial cancer, but couldn’t do so with the lymph node growth.

Because this blog has always been about my life, professionally and personally, I’m telling you this for two reasons: one is that my posts will likely become sporadic. Maybe some months will have frequent posts, maybe others not at all. Secondly, I believe that sharing information is empowering for all. I view this as an opportunity for learning and growth and gaining a different perspective about life. Immunotherapy is a new treatment and I’m curious about its impact. My sister has survived two breast cancers (30 years apart), and it’s quite different to be on the receiving end rather than helplessly looking on. The goal is to help any of you who might have to deal with this down the road. I won’t be providing lengthy detailed descriptions. There are times when I might not mention it at all. At this point, I have no idea.

Cancer is not going to consume my life. Far from it. Is it scary? Of course. I’ve had my shaky moments, but I believe in facing my fears. I still intend to discuss writing, reading, family stuff, and other things. If you don’t want to read about my cancer journey, I understand. It might trigger painful memories for some. I’ll put subheadings on different topics, in case you need to skip over that part.

Because I’m cancelling all the Christmas craft fairs I booked this season to protect what will be a fragile immune system, I’ll probably promote my books a little more on this blog. Ebooks are my only way of selling for the next few months, and it’s my way of keeping my hand on the business side of my writing life. I’ll be living a secluded Covid existence again. Again, I’ll add a subheading so you can skip that part, if you wish.

Now, on a more cheerful note. Before my diagnosis, my spouse and I had booked a short 3-night stay in Penticton, BC for three nights to visit good friends. The 5-hour drive to the interior was well worth the effort. We had a wonderful time catching up and enjoying walks along the amazing Skaha beach. On one of our walks back to our hotel, we came across this deer, munching on vegetation. There was a family of them in this area. They seemed absolutely unconcerned with the pedestrians walking by or the cars on what is a fairly busy road.

Tomorrow, I’m getting my hair cut short before my first treatment on Tuesday. I’m told that it will start falling out in clumps after the second treatment. There will be a lot of information to unpack on Tuesday, but I’m ready. I know this is a shock to those of you who’ve followed me here for a long time, but life is filled with curveballs, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, I’ll be doing lots of reading, so if you have any great book recommendations let me know. The genre doesn’t matter. I’ll talk to you soon.