2017 is now nearly through. I'm sitting here listening to Christmas carols as I write. Some people can't stand Christmas, but I am certain it will always hold some magic for me. It's fantastic having an excuse to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. And as C. S. Lewis writes, it appears God in fact finds our desires for happiness too small and too weak... we're slumming around "making mud pies" while being offered "a holiday at the sea". Christmas puts me in mind of this. There's no point doing Christmas by halves. It's right to be outrageously joyous round this time of year. It's right to be achingly happy. I don't deny that this can be downright impossible for those who are spending their first Christmas without a particular loved one, lonely and smothered by memories - and my heart does go out to these people. How I wish we could all be happy round Christmas!
One day, there'll be a wonderful celebration in heaven. And all of us at that celebration will be equally joyful.
I've written three entirely new books this year. One was a fictional novel about a musical genius who becomes the object of scientific research and is obliged to escape and somehow rebuild a normal life for himself. Two were works of Christian apologetics. I have no idea how I did on these. They're probably awful. But I wanted to write particularly on the topic of gender dysphoria and gain a compassionate understanding of the subject while seriously grappling with what is right in this area. I desperately wanted to be a boy in my childhood. I'm now very comfortable as a woman, but it took ten years for me to be content with my body and my biology. Hence, the public discourse on gender dysphoria fascinates me. As one who has come safely through my own struggles, I find it difficult to condone the treatment that is being advocated for children now. It completely neglects to expose the psychological roots for desiring to drastically change oneself - one's gender, one's body, one's name, one's presentation. I believe that this is irresponsible on the parts of doctors. But no need to say too much about that book. I have no guarantee it will ever get published anyway.
This year, I also signed a seven book contract that includes the impending publication of four short stories of mine as well. Everything tends to happen every two years for me. When I was sixteen, I was published for the first time. At eighteen, I got an international literary agent. At twenty, I signed a four book contract. At twenty-two, my first four books released. Finally, at age twenty-four, I signed a seven book contract with Burnett Young Books and saw my first three books release their second editions.
Next year, it looks like the rest of the series will be releasing. It will be good to see this huge work consummated. A seven book series, in retrospect, was a massive project. Maybe I bit off more than I could chew. Anyway, it's getting published now. Hopefully it's all right!
Finally, I taught creative writing for the first time this year and helped my students write their own short books and get them printed at the school. This was very rewarding as well. It's fantastic to teach creative writing. It makes me realize how passionate I am about it.
So another year of writing is just about over. Bring on 2018 - and hopefully some new books!
Merry Christmas to all you writers out there.
One day, there'll be a wonderful celebration in heaven. And all of us at that celebration will be equally joyful.
I've written three entirely new books this year. One was a fictional novel about a musical genius who becomes the object of scientific research and is obliged to escape and somehow rebuild a normal life for himself. Two were works of Christian apologetics. I have no idea how I did on these. They're probably awful. But I wanted to write particularly on the topic of gender dysphoria and gain a compassionate understanding of the subject while seriously grappling with what is right in this area. I desperately wanted to be a boy in my childhood. I'm now very comfortable as a woman, but it took ten years for me to be content with my body and my biology. Hence, the public discourse on gender dysphoria fascinates me. As one who has come safely through my own struggles, I find it difficult to condone the treatment that is being advocated for children now. It completely neglects to expose the psychological roots for desiring to drastically change oneself - one's gender, one's body, one's name, one's presentation. I believe that this is irresponsible on the parts of doctors. But no need to say too much about that book. I have no guarantee it will ever get published anyway.
This year, I also signed a seven book contract that includes the impending publication of four short stories of mine as well. Everything tends to happen every two years for me. When I was sixteen, I was published for the first time. At eighteen, I got an international literary agent. At twenty, I signed a four book contract. At twenty-two, my first four books released. Finally, at age twenty-four, I signed a seven book contract with Burnett Young Books and saw my first three books release their second editions.
Next year, it looks like the rest of the series will be releasing. It will be good to see this huge work consummated. A seven book series, in retrospect, was a massive project. Maybe I bit off more than I could chew. Anyway, it's getting published now. Hopefully it's all right!
Finally, I taught creative writing for the first time this year and helped my students write their own short books and get them printed at the school. This was very rewarding as well. It's fantastic to teach creative writing. It makes me realize how passionate I am about it.
So another year of writing is just about over. Bring on 2018 - and hopefully some new books!
Merry Christmas to all you writers out there.
Some of my writing students' books. Can't wait to look them up when some of them are published authors.
