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
