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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

FAVORITES, FAILURES & FRUSTRATIONS--GUEST AUTHOR NANCY HENDERSON

Poster from Wellcome Images
The Frustration of Back Pain

Nancy Henderson writer historical and contemporary romance, as well as humorous cat stories involving cat ownership and being a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady. Today Nancy discusses one of her constant frustrations—back pain—and how she deals with it. Learn more about Nancy at her author website and her cat website. 

No one ever wants to talk about frustrations. However, a writer’s life is filled with them. You guys know. I see you shaking your heads. Well…I can’t actually see you since I’m writing this and you’re reading it, but you get the picture.

Sitting is second nature to a writer. We have to stay behind a computer screen for long periods of time and that often means sitting, unless you have one of those standing or treadmill desks. I unfortunately cannot use them because I have chronic back pain and standing for long periods of time kills me.

My grandmother always preached to us grandkids “If life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.” If you fall you get right back up. I’ve always been plagued with back pain. In 2005, my doctor said I had two degenerating discs in my lower back. I’d go through periods of being relatively pain free then I’d do a tough workout or lift something too heavy and I was flat on my back in horrible pain and unable to write unless I had the laptop on my stomach in bed or succumbed to pen and paper. In 2015 I completely blew out the disc between the two degenerated discs and required surgery to remove said disc because it was literally wrapped around my sciatic nerve and I was unable to walk without excruciating pain. I’m since dealing with recovery (still), scar tissue, pain of bone-on-bone with the two discs. So the physical aspects of being in front of a computer have been both challenging and often frustrating.

But I remember Grandma’s words. You get up. Fall. Get up. Repeat. That’s what life is all about.

And that’s what a writer’s career is really about too, isn’t it? Whether it’s an agent’s rejection, a particular tough review, or challenging edits. We get up. We don’t stay down. That’s what makes us the classic stubborn writer, and we are tough as nails. Just like our characters.

Blackbird
Adahya, a Mohawk warrior aiding the British during the American Revolution, wants no part of love, especially with the white woman he has brought to his village to hold as ransom. Katherine St. James, a teacher at a frontier mission, sees Adahya as an enemy holding her captive and will stop at nothing to return to the man she has always loved, Reverend Joshua Knox.

If she is so in love with Knox, why can’t she keep her eyes off this half naked warrior? 




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