General:

Reminiscing

As the years pass, we gather more and more things that we can’t bring ourselves to throw away or discard, just in case we discover a need for those items. Whatever they may be.

Today, I found myself rummaging through an old trunk and I found multiple backup disks. I decided that it was time to go through them, make decisions on the content and possibly lighten the load.

I found myself taking a walk down memory lane. Music I liked to listen to. Photos I haven’t seen for some time. Free software I had downloaded and believed I couldn’t live without, but haven’t used for over ten years. And then I opened a folder to discover my very first website.

On 6 April 2002, I uploaded The Writer’s Cave. This was before I discovered WordPress (or perhaps it hadn’t been invented then). The template was one of those old fashion ones that I had self coded and was extremely proud of. You know the ones I mean. They were colourful, had flashing icons and images that were nearly always slightly blurry. It was brilliant (at the time), but embarrassing to look at now. I had a good laugh over it.

I went through the folders and saw how I learned HTML and CSS, and how that helped my website to evolve. And then in 2004 I announced I was moving to a new location and that’s when (it appears) that I started using WordPress and my new website became The Desk of Karen Lee Field.

A lot has happened since then. In my life. On the internet. In the world. It’s hard to remember life without the internet, yet life shouldn’t revolve around the world wide web. Life should actually revolve around family and friends, finding love and happiness. Enjoying everything the world has to offer, not just the things we find on the web.

Subscription Special Offer – OFFER EXPIRED

Everyone loves something for free. And most people like discounts too. So I’ve put together a special offer for anyone who subscribes to my quarterly newsletter through the link below.

You will receive a free copy of Book 1 in The Land of Miu series, in epub, mobi and pdf versions. You can pick the version you like the best and start reading. But, that’s not all! 😀 You will also get a coupon code so that you can buy book 2 in the series for $1.50.

All you have to do is follow the link below and sign up for my newsletter. Don’t worry, I won’t send more than four to six a year.

 

More Website Issues Fixed

I’ve had a productive day. No, not in writing terms, but in fixing website issue terms. You may or may not notice that the images in the shop are no longer blurry. And, the pages are aligned correctly (the sidebar is at the side, where it’s meant to be, and not pushed to the bottom of the page). I feel much happier about the way the website is looking. I might do some odd tweaks here and there, but mostly I’m done.

Now, to turn my attention to more important things. Writing. I’ll write an update in a few days, but I am writing consistently. 😀

Happy 2018

Welcome to the New Year. Last year wasn’t the best for us, but 2018 is going to be so much better. G’s health WILL improve, I will continue to write and will publish the third and final book in The Miu Series, and life in general will provide us with reasons for laughter, love and happiness. This year is going to be great!

We saw the New Year in, however reluctant it may have been at the time (I really needed to go to bed, I was so tired). This morning I am heavy eyed, but the birds are singing and the world out there is sunny and otherwise quiet. Blue sky, warm sun, peace and quiet – the year has started well.

I have two New Year Resolutions that must be said “out loud”:

  1. This one has two parts: I will continue to write. I have been writing regularly for a few months now. Sometimes it is only a few hundred words, sometimes a few thousand. I put no pressure on myself and the manuscript is growing steadily. I’m pleased with the outcome so far. And, even better, I am approaching the end. The second part of this resolution is that, this year, I will publish book 3 of The Land of Miu, The Lions Gods.
  2. Due to the circumstances around G’s health, for the first time in my life I turned to emotional eating and have put on weight. This year, starting immediately, I will stop the emotional eating and I will lose the weight I’ve gained. I need to loose 10 kilo.

With that said, I would like to wish you a very happy New Year. I truly hope that 2018 is good to you and your family and that your life is happy, healthy and that you are surrounded by love and laughter. 

Semi-Online and Forging a New Routine

The last three months has seen my entire life change. Sadly, Dad passed away at the end of June from lung cancer. Those last few weeks were horrible, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget certain details from that period. The pain. The confusion. The acceptance. The moment I realised he was gone.

Then the changes started. Moving house. Transferring location at work. Forging new routines. Learning to cope with Mum’s condition and the constant questions. It hasn’t been easy. In fact, at times I found myself sitting staring at the floor consumed with thoughts that scared me. But, like all bad situations, there were teething problems but it is settling down now.

My only constant during this time is that I have found time to read. I finished “The Lavender Keeper” by Fiona McIntosh, which was a brilliant book set in WWII. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I also finished “Wanted” (A Leopold Blake Thriller) by Nick Stephenson, which reminded me of The Da Vinci Code without the history lessons (and believe me when I say that’s a compliment). Currently, I’m reading “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. Many people that I trust recommended this book to me. At first, I found the backstory annoying, even though it is a large part of the plot, however, the storyline is quite twisted and I’m so engrossed in it now that I find it hard to stay away from. I look forward to seeing the movie when I’ve completed the book.

Anyway, I set up my laptop yesterday and here I am … checking on things, writing updates, sifting through emails, catching up with news.

I don’t think I’ll have the same internet experience anymore, not like I used to. I just don’t have the time. But I will write updates when I can. And I will attempt to start writing book reviews once more, but no promises.

And, no, I haven’t written during this time, but I have found myself thinking about my works-in-progess. If time permits, I think I’ll try to dedicate that time to finishing those works-in-progress rather than spending time on other activities.