I realized today that part of my anxiety is that this crisis brings all my food insecurity issues back. There were times as a child and as a college student that I didn’t have enough to eat, and didn’t know where my next meal would come from. I remember trying to stretch a bag of potatoes to last a month. I got jobs where I could eat — a taco place at lunchtime and a pizza place on the weekends. But still, there was that haunting fear of “what if I can’t afford to eat tomorrow? Next week?”
Kindness
I am struggling with hopelessness today. My life is good. My son is recovered from his surgeries, my daughter has a cold but is otherwise doing great. My husband is amazing. So, why does the world look so gray? #Depression is a thief. It steals hope and light and joy and then makes us feel guilty for feeling lost when we have no visible reason to do so. So, I am struggling with that, too.
But, today, this is where I am. Since January, 2014, when I admitted my struggles to the world, I’ve tried to share, to help reduce the stigma surrounding depression and other mental illness. Some days it’s harder than others. Some days, like today, I feel like a complete failure at everything I touch.
Like there’s no reason to even keep trying.
I am determined to cling to the knowledge that I’ve been here before, and I’ve always come through to the other side, no matter how hard it is. But, today, I’ll wrap up in my softest blanket and hide from the world and pray for hope and light and joy to find its way back to my heart.
My word for 2020 is Kindness, and I’m going to try so hard to put more of it into the world. More kindness, and more love, instead of adding to the constant fuel of anger and outrage. Maybe this will help me survive.
If you’re struggling, too, please know that you are seen and you are loved and hang in there with me. Tomorrow is another day and, hopefully, the sun will shine for us again.
ACIMH: Valentine’s Day edition
ACIMH*
Navy Guy, watching TV: Wow. Lyle Lovett looks pretty old.
Me: Well, it happens. (then I go brush my teeth, after chocolate cookies Law School Ninja baked, catch sight of myself in mirror-always a bad idea on deadline- and scream)
Me: Why didn’t you tell me my hair looked like I’d been living in the wild for a week?
Him: You look better than Lyle Lovett.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, DEAR READER. MY ROMANTIC DECLARATION FROM MY HUSBAND:
I look better than Lyle Lovett.*
*swoon*
(but he also gave me these flowers and a lovely card, so I’ll let him live…)
*Actual Conversation In My House
**apologies to Mr. Lovett
Where is that sponge???
I got Navy Guy a little mini standing desk to try out before we bought a r
eal one, and today he finally opened the box.
NG: I need a damn sponge.
Me: Well, you don’t need to get hostile about it.
NG: No, it’s in the directions.
Me: Damp sponge?
NG: Nope.
CHRISTMAS … IN FEBRUARY!! YAY!!
I’m sorry, so many of you already know this, but I had to postpone the release of A DEAD END CHRISTMAS, due to family health issues. (My son had major skull surgery–I just couldn’t think of anything else.)
So A DEAD END CHRISTMAS WILL BE RELEASED IN FEBRUARY, 2020.
Thanks so much for your patience – I promise the wait will be worth it!
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE!
The RWA situation – my statement
The RWA situation: my statement
Some of you may know about the implosion that has been happening with Romance Writers of America (RWA) on Twitter over the past week. For any who don’t and are interested, there is a good recap here
https://www.claireryanauthor.com/blog/2019/12/27/the-implosion-of-the-rwa
and several news articles that are mostly like this one at the Washington Post
I have been extremely vocal on Twitter about this terrible situation (but only today thought to make a statement here; I’m sorry, but I’ve been pretty sick).
The VAMPIRE MOTORCYCLE CLUB is born!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so thrilled to announce that a book series I’ve been dreaming of writing for more than EIGHT YEARS is finally coming to life!!! BANE’S CHOICE, the first in the VAMPIRE MOTORCYCLE CLUB series, will be out in mass market paperback and ebook July 28, 2020!!!
Isn’t the cover GORGEOUS???
BANE’S CHOICE
A Vampire Motorcycle Club novel
by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Alyssa Day
When a centuries-old vampire in search of redemption meets a doctor who’s on a mission of her own, a searing, world-destroying passion is the last thing on either of their minds.
WOW!!! A DEAD END CHRISTMAS named one of Barnes & Noble’s Top Indie Books for December!!
WOW!! I’m very honored that the editors at Barnes & Noble handpicked my
book A DEAD END CHRISTMAS, to be featured as one of their Top Indie Favorites for December!! I’m so excited for you guys to read this book!! Click HERE for the Nook link.
And, TA DA!!! Cover reveal time – how awesome is this????
It’s Christmas time in Dead End.
And this year Santa’s bringing … murder!
Join Tess, Jack, and the gang for the craziest Christmas since Fluffy the taxidermied alligator was still alive and got into Otis’s moonshine.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope your day was filled with loved ones and pie! A couple of videos from our day . . .
All the hugs,
Alyssa
and hello from Rosie the pug!
JUNE IN ATLANTIS – coming December 26!!!
June in Atlantis: A playboy Atlantean who drinks far too much–to forget a secret trauma–loses a bet to a brilliant Interpol inspector who brought her two older brothers along to Atlantis for a visit. But when Rafe and Saoirse discover a secret chamber, hidden for thousands of years, their only escape may lead to their destruction.
Be prepared for June … in Atlantis!
