Reluctant

Blog Post No. 490

I was hoping to announce that Snow from a Distant Sky is available this week, but I haven’t gotten the sample copies from the printer (as of writing this) so the wait continues. I hope I get to release it soon. Not just because I’m excited for people to read this one, either. Since the province where I live is opening regardless of infection rates, I’m getting more and more requests to take part in events.

Again, I don’t want to talk a ton about the pandemic, but in this case, it’s central to the topic. I’m not yet comfortable with taking part in events. Shock Stock is happening at the end of this month and I’m gutted that I’m not going this year. Christian will be there with one of his new books though. His novella, We All Fall Before the Harvest, is a really exciting and appropriately twisted book that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you feel comfortable going to a convention and are even close to London On between April 29th and May 1st, you should totally go pick up a copy. The environment at Shock Stock is as shocking as advertised and really fun!

Christian’s other book, the novel Infested, is coming out in June and he and I have been in talks about a shared launch event. I know he’s really excited to get back to our hectic (and oddly enjoyable) schedule, and to be honest, so am I, but as stated in the last paragraph, I’m just not ready. I’m sure you’ve had a lot of family, friends, or coworkers who have either caught COVID recently or one of their close family has. It’s all anecdotal since numbers aren’t being shared like they had been, but it’s no surprise that the restrictions were lifted and more people are getting sick. I know I’m almost definitely getting it sooner or later, but since I’m at risk, I’m trying to push it off as long as possible.

I’m really hopeful that by June everything will be open and there will be fewer and fewer cases. Not only do I want to do the launch with Christian, but I want to visit friends who I haven’t seen in over two years. I want to go get breakfast with my brother and get a coffee at Anchor and a hundred other inconsequential things. But I’ just not comfortable yet. At this point I kind of hope I’m being paranoid. If in the summer, everything is fine and I was extra cautious for no reason, I’ll gladly say that I was wrong. Though, it’s been nice not having a cold or the flu for the last few years.

On a side note. I’m getting close to 500 posts and I’m still not sure how to celebrate. I’m going to ask the Wrecking Writing Crew for some ideas, but if you have some, please leave a comment. I’m not planning on doing anything over the top, but I feel like I should acknowledge it somehow.