Saturday, September 9, 2023

A New Season.... by Christine Bush

These words are being written to my creative peers.  Some are writers, like me.  Some are painters, some are musicians.  Some are brilliant craft persons.


All are the individuals who are launched into creating works birthed in some kind of magical inspiration, undefinable motivation.  I greet you.  I applaud you.  I hope you are having a day of creative genius, because we need your genius in this world of ours.

Here’s the truth.  I’ve been stuck.  The feeling has been a bit like devastating, inescapable sludge of quicksand, physically caught.  Add to this the feeling of paralyzing emotional fatigue, tired of pandemic fear and change, worry and lack of hope.

The pandemic was a big shakeup. And then, life began again.  People went back to work, to school, to concerts, to movies.  Traveling again became “a thing.”  This is all good.



But my writing, which had gone on hiatus during the upheaval, didn’t come back.  I can not put into words how much this upset me.

I’ve written over 26 books in my career.  I had begun one in 2020.  It stopped.

Some great things happened during the next 3 years.  I spent lots of time with my school aged grandchildren as they worked from home here on line.  I babysat the wee ones so their moms and dads could work.  I taught on line.  I had weekly zoom sessions with the kids who live distantly, and we spent more time together than before, even though it was on screen.  For the most part, we stayed well. I read.

But I couldn’t write.  Beyond a short blog or two here and there, my creative well was dry.

I missed my in person writing groups, even though we did the monthly zoom thing.  I missed having book signings and meeting readers.  I missed the beauty and inspiration of conferences, that chance to really share with fellow creatives.  And I began to be filled with self doubt.

Would I ever write again?  And why, anyway, when it’s not, in honesty, the way to make a million? Would readers forget me?  And what is important about sweet romance and light romantic mysteries when people are struggling with serious illness, food insecurity, and a broken, depressed world?  Is that phase of my life over?  Sadness.

It’s been a heart wrenching and heart searching time, on many levels.

But I read other people’s books, writers I knew, and new writers as well.  And those stories helped me.  They were entertaining, enriching, and finally, yes, motivational.


The sun came out one day a few months back. A new season began. My mind woke up.   I opened the file of the “stuck book” and read it over, gathered up my notes, and found my way back into the story.  I wrote.  It felt good.  It felt great.

So I’m here to brag today, in the spirit of success and accomplishment.  I just wrote the words “THE END” on the first draft of my new book.  I made it.  It may have been a REALLY long labor, but the book baby is born, and the editing has begun.   I’m beyond grateful for the process and the whole experience.

The new book is titled “CURTAIN CALL”, a romantic mystery that takes place in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and is centered around the Bucks County Playhouse. It won’t be out for a while, but it’s coming!

CURTAIN CALL!    (Book 2 in the "Strawberry Manor" series!)

 It’s a “partner” book to my last book “SWAN SONG” which is available (details below). I hope you love them both.

Creative friends, maybe you’ve been stuck too.  If that’s the case, I’m here to cheer you on, and to tell you that what you write or create matters.  The frustrations of life can sure slow us down, but it can’t really put out the fire.  I’ll be waiting for your next book. Or painting.  Or piece of jewelry you’ll design.

I appreciate the books that were available to get me through some hard days in the last few years. Your stories matter.  I hope mine do too. I’d love to hear how you’re doing in your creative process.

 Love,    Christine

 Christine Bush is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance, romantic mystery, and suspense.  She can be found living in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania with her husband and 2 lazy cats, and spending time with her 14 grandchildren.   When she’s not writing, she’s teaching Psychology at a local college, and working with clients in her private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She loves to hear from readers and writers!

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Bush-Author/213919128638762

http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Bush/e/B001KHSLRG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1392688497&sr=1-2-ent

 

AVAILABLE NOW!

“SWAN SONG”


Swan Song: Bush, Christine: 9798424148651: Amazon.com: Books

 

 

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