*dusting off account*

Three months since you passed. I miss you. :(

I got covid.

Strangely enough, my ART test was negative. Spouse's ART was negative, but his PCR was positive.

I had symptoms.

Now I have a lingering sore throat, chest weirdness, and fatigue.

Please stay safe all and wear your masks.

May your year be one of joy, peace and good health!

1st March.

Happy Birthday me.

The MG (middle-grade) book that inspired the graphic novel is released today on Gumroad:

https://gumroad.com/l/mXbvE

I don't know what's worse: the fear-mongering by the media or the fear-mongering by well-intentioned people eager to help/give advice during this uncertain period.

Covid-19 has well and truly dominated everything. The media is non-stop talking about it. The economy is dying because of it. Governments are weaponising it for their own selfish purposes. Don't know who and what to trust? Yep. Social media has made it 1,000 times worse, because "everything said is valid and how dare you criticise me!".

Basically everyone is running in circles.

Geez. Can we even live past March without killing one another online, in FB or in real life?

EDIT:

Didn't attend ICFA, because it was cancelled.
I made the decision not to attend before they cancelled it.
Now Florida has confirmed cases and the US is a mess.
Actually the world is a mess now.

Swancon is cancelled too. Many cons are cancelled.
So... yes, I am actually quite furious with the virus.

So...

Happy (belated) Lunar New Year! Today is the 7th day: so we all turn a year older. (I am 45, gosh).

Merry Imbolc too!

The coronavirus thing is fucked up. I blame the media for causing panic and paranoia. And also the rank assholes who have been spreading falsehoods. I have seen and heard the spike of racism in many countries. Doesn't take a lot to bring out the racists, eh?

I am anxious. Singapore have 13 cases and the cases are bound to go up. We are getting on with our lives, but now with extra precautions (washing of hands, wearing of masks etc).

But... there are THINGS.

First of - Fire Heart is being released in MAY.

Second - ICFA.

Third - Local kidlit folk getting together.

So, I have good things to focus on.

This decade: 1. I wrote books. 2. Spearheaded werewolf in Singapore urban fantasy. 3. Wrote YA. 4. Fire Heart. 5. Taught students (and might go back to teaching again). Yeah, I survived. 😀

And I wrote werewolf in space space opera too! Take that, sff snobs! (that’s no. 6) 7. I lived through medical scares, ops and stuff. I am tenacious!

Adding on: my writery trajectory is different from others. The key thing to note is that you shouldn’t compare yourself to others. Paths are often determined by privilege (or lack of it), opportunity (or lack of it), access (tied to the first two factors) (or lack of it).

I don’t fit “normal” norms of writery “success”. It’s time we relook at how we define success. At the beginning, I thought getting a lit agent and big book deal was the Thing. At the end, all changed. I couldn’t afford to sacrifice my health to a false life.

A false life composed of fawning, back-scratching, ladderism and throwing people under the bus. That’s just NOT me. 45 means living life honestly and truthfully. Not lying, not throwing people under just to achieve that seat at that table.

I am taking November and December off – as in I am going on a writing hiatus. Will still work on necessary things (editorial, contract), but otherwise, will be resting more.

Possible burnout: I am experiencing lapses. The medical issues and anxiety meds have done a number.