writing update
My Nano update is waaay late. I did get close (40k) but the cold fought for my attention. It was my best year, though. I hope I'll do even better the next time I do Nano.
Writing-wise, things are in a weird place. Writing is happening but so is life and sometimes life jumps me. In November it was the cold. In December, the holidays.
And, the rest of the time, Jen's dad.
A year ago, we learned Jen's father, Robert, had dementia. He's been getting worse over the last few months. When Jen and I visit him, we watch Scoobie Doo cartoons together. Sometimes he's chatty and tries to talk to Jen about car safety. Another time he tried to teach me how to ski. Other times he naps while Scoobie solves various mysteries.
After each visit, Jen and I go for a drive and discuss how it went. We're glad we saw him, though it's always painful. The situation is scary and sad and, despite everything, sweet, because he's always happy to see us and he tells Jen he loves her, even though he no longer remembers her name.
A few months ago, after one visit, I came home and wrote a short story about the situation. That story, Shadow Memory is coming out today.
I went back and forth on whether to mention either the story or Robert. In the end I decided to mention SM because sometimes the situation is so scary, Jen can't put it into words. After she read the story, she said it helped her get what she wanted out. Maybe there are others who feel the same. Maybe it's just us and the story is just a story.
Either way, SM's out now. It's about a guy dealing with his father's dementia. Unlike most of my work, there's nothing paranormal about it, so I'm releasing it under my pseudonym, Jennifer Brooks.
I hope you enjoy SM If you don't, it's okay. Just hug someone you love.
Writing-wise, things are in a weird place. Writing is happening but so is life and sometimes life jumps me. In November it was the cold. In December, the holidays.
And, the rest of the time, Jen's dad.
A year ago, we learned Jen's father, Robert, had dementia. He's been getting worse over the last few months. When Jen and I visit him, we watch Scoobie Doo cartoons together. Sometimes he's chatty and tries to talk to Jen about car safety. Another time he tried to teach me how to ski. Other times he naps while Scoobie solves various mysteries.
After each visit, Jen and I go for a drive and discuss how it went. We're glad we saw him, though it's always painful. The situation is scary and sad and, despite everything, sweet, because he's always happy to see us and he tells Jen he loves her, even though he no longer remembers her name.
A few months ago, after one visit, I came home and wrote a short story about the situation. That story, Shadow Memory is coming out today.
I went back and forth on whether to mention either the story or Robert. In the end I decided to mention SM because sometimes the situation is so scary, Jen can't put it into words. After she read the story, she said it helped her get what she wanted out. Maybe there are others who feel the same. Maybe it's just us and the story is just a story.
Either way, SM's out now. It's about a guy dealing with his father's dementia. Unlike most of my work, there's nothing paranormal about it, so I'm releasing it under my pseudonym, Jennifer Brooks.
I hope you enjoy SM If you don't, it's okay. Just hug someone you love.