Where Have I Been?

It's been two years since I wrote anything on my author website. Gosh, I feel awful about it. But I have a good reason. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns and worldwide economic struggles, I lost quite a few editing clients. It was no longer sustainable for me to work as a freelancer, especially since my ex-husband's maintenance payments were coming to an end as my kids had become young adults. So, I started job hunting. In our country, unemployment is ridiculously high. It's hard to find a job, but I eventually did obtain a job as a sub-editor at a local newspaper. I sub-edit for three papers and sub the online articles for six papers. It's hectic. It's been two years of challenge beyond compare but also personal growth. We had to move as my job was too far for me to commute to every day. 

The good news - the little apartment we found is perfect for us and has been the best place we've lived in since we moved to Durban. And we've made friends in the area - we are thriving here. I've joined a marvellous dance group and have started taking part in competitions. It's been the highlight of my life this year and kept me going while I've held down an incredibly stressful job. 

At first, I thought the stress was due to being new and adapting to the work, but after the first year, I realised it was more than that and that the work levels can be unsustainable at times. At the moment, I'm working on my daily routine to assist me in dealing with the stress, and I'm learning to cope. It was a mixture of approaching my boss and setting boundaries at work, therefore dropping my workload, working on my sleep patterns - something I haven't got totally right yet - and exercising in the mornings before work to pick up my mood and energy levels. It's also helped to tweak my anxiety medicine - which helped me with coping but didn't improve my mood. I'd say the exercise has been the key to my mood and a sense of peace. I guess we never stop growing in self-love and learning to live our best lives. Also, I'm doing some serious thinking about my life and what I want for now and for my future. I have plans, but they may take a while to materialise totally.

Since my marriage started unravelling, my writing flow seemed to hit a snag, too. I wouldn't say it totally died, but I wrote much slower - partly due to losing my muse and my interest in romance (hurt, betrayal and questioning everything) and also due to having to bear much more responsibility as a single mom, etc. But I did write a few books - my two self-help books included. I feel like my writing has been given a total overhaul, and I'm keen to get stuck into it again. And, surprisingly, I know that romance is still my main thing. But I want to add layers to that. Plus I don't wish to write what's popular necessarily but what comes from the heart and what I've learnt about love and relationships. Oh, and being an editor has helped me write way better than I used to.

So, here I am. I'm back!

During my hiatus, I did bring out The Cat Love Hotel. This book has been through the wringer and has had multiple changes and edits. But I hope you will enjoy it as it is a labour of love, and it was a form of healing for me, too.

Blurb:

Cats have always helped Cherry through the difficult times in her life so when opportunity knocks to open up a bed and breakfast where her six cats can provide 'cat therapy' to her guests, she can't pass it by. But the new vet in town, Jeff, doesn't seem too charmed by her idea and keeps stopping by to check up on her operation and her cats. He's so good-looking and seems so kind, which confuses Cherry. Both of them are divorcees and have been through the mill on the relationship front, and soon, Cherry discovers that he only checks up on her because he cares. Running the B&B is not as easy as she thought, and life gets too busy for her to handle. Will Cherry learn to open up and trust or will her desire for independence push away the best chance for love she's ever known?

You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Love-Hotel-Kathy-Bosman-ebook/dp/B0CY354WK8

As you may be aware, I also brought out a contemporary romance, When Love Blooms, in February 2022. Well, it does have a follow-on. If you've read When Love Blooms, you know about Rachel, Collette's friend. Well, In Full Fruit is her story. I'm hoping to bring that out sometime this year! I can't wait!

That's all for now. Thank you for stopping by!