It’s been a busy and surprisingly productive seven days, filled with both exciting achievements and a few unexpected hurdles. I wanted to share some of the things I’ve been up to lately.
Firstly, you might have noticed some updates to the website! I’ve been working hard to improve its functionality and appearance, and I’m really pleased with the progress so far.
I’ve also been actively engaging with fellow authors in various online forums. It’s been incredibly rewarding to connect with other writers, share experiences, and learn from each other. And a big thank you to the person who recently reviewed my website and gave me such valuable advice – I’ve spent today putting those suggestions into action!
Now, for a bit of a comical saga: my old Goodreads account. I discovered I had an account from about ten years ago, but naturally, I’d lost the password. After several failed attempts to recover it, I created a brand-new account and diligently filled it with all my book information. Then, the plot thickened! I discovered that Outlook was blocking Goodreads’ no-reply email address, which explained why I wasn’t receiving the OTP code to change my password. Once that was resolved, I finally gained access to my old account, but by then, I’d already put so much effort into the new one, and my author page was approved, and I did not want to bother the Goodreads librarians any further. So, I’m sticking with the new one!
On the writing front, I’ve been chipping away at my second book, though progress is slow. I’m still in the early stages, piecing together ideas and trying to find that “golden thread” that will tie everything together. I’m starting to feel a little anxious about meeting my June launch deadline, but I’m determined to keep pushing forward.
This week also saw me sorting out complimentary tickets for the Autism Show, and I had the pleasure of giving away one ticket and a copy of my book in a lovely online support group. The highlight, of course, was finally getting my Goodreads author page sorted! But honestly, every single small step this week felt like a major victory. It’s been a challenging time mentally, and I’ve learned to truly appreciate those small wins.
In the past month, I’ve also formed a wonderful connection with an old friend of a friend. We share a passion for writing, are both newly published authors, and both live far from our home countries. Our conversations have been incredibly insightful, as we share our life stories and publishing experiences. It’s been a source of profound reflection and a new kind of friendship emerged for us, given that before we only knew each other via our mutual friend.
Looking ahead to the coming week, I’m focusing on self-care. I have a health need that requires attention, which may mean taking some time offline. I hope you all have a wonderful and productive week, and remember to celebrate those small wins!
