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| 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?
