I apologise for my silence over the past few months. As those of you who follow me on twitter may know, my mental health has taken a beating and I've been struggling to do anything that I love - including writing and reading. I also haven't been working this year, so haven't had anything new to share from the classroom. After a 3 week hospital stay, numerous appointments with professionals and changes to medication doses, I can finally say things are on the up. I'm writing again, and will hopefully be catching up on book reviews soon.
It's no coincidence that I shared about my experience with Depression and self-harm in February's edition of Gravel Magazine. Those who are interested in gaining a sense of what it feels like, you can read my article here. It has been a part of my history since my teens, and I've been lucky to have supportive family and friends around, as well as to live in a country where a suicidal person can walk into an emergency department and not be concerned about the bill. A more recent struggle for me is the diagnosis of an eating disorder and I've discovered just how few resources are available to fight that.
In the midst of all this unhappy news, I do have happy news to share! I am expecting my third child in early October. Obviously the pregnancy complicates the things I shared above, and I hope to be writing about that soon. However, it is wonderful to be celebrating a new life and feeling early movements from a baby who is already very much adored.
I'm still working on my second novel, now about halfway through after an extended break, and pursuing publication with my first. I'm still passionate about the creative process and encouraging young people to see where their imaginations take them. I'm still interested in hearing from other book lovers and wordsmiths.
Until next time, keep reading!
Gabi