The number of confirmed cases in Australia exceeds 4000. As of 31st March, my state, Queensland has 55 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) raising the state total to 743. Our Prime Minister announced that Australians "must stay at home" except to shop for essentials, for medical care or compassionate needs, to exercise, and for work and education if either can't be done at home. People over 70 are strongly advised to self-isolate. And we're only allowed out in groups of no more than two now. Fun times.
How this affects me:
My husband works in IT which is considered an essential service, so he still has a job. Yay! And he gets to stay at home to work. A bigger yay! However he has recently been asked to take a massive chunk of leave. Boo! We'd been saving up the leave for Iceland. I guess we won't be going to Iceland for a while anyway. Boo!
As a writer, I work from home anyway. Yay! But now there are a lot more distractions. I had hoped to release book 3 of my Wielder's Storm trilogy at the end of April, but it looks like it won't be until May now. Boo! But I do have a cover reveal for you. Yay!
Marooned on an island, stripped off her magic, Jasmine must find a way of mending her heart and defeating an ancient evil. Wielder's Fire, the explosive finale in the Wielder's Storm fantasy trilogy.
I've also noticed a general drop in sales. Boo! I had expected an increase with more people having time to read, but alas they are choosing to binge Netflix or play online games. Read people!! Expand your brain! Find an escape through awesome stories! Try some of these:
Sea of Rust: Available on Kindle Unlimited. Loved this scifi. Great premise and world-building and I loved the characters. I think Amazon is offering a free month at the moment (maybe 2 for US customers), so check out my affiliate link if you're interested.
Obsidio: Loved it too. YA scifi
The Vine Witch: Also available on Kindle Unlimited. This is a historical fantasy. Loved it.
Ash Princess: If you like YA royal fantasies, then you'll probably like this one.
Wielder's Prize: Also available on Kindle Unlimited. It's awesome (if I do say so myself). Read this YA epic fantasy. You won't be disappointed.
And if you're looking for spiritual support, then Cling to God and read my daily devotional.
*(assume all my book links are affiliate links)
Back to the impact of world events:
The grocery shops are struggling to keep up with demands on some items. I can't get flour anywhere. And that means no cake! Boo!!!!!!!!
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| Notice at a local cafe. lol. |
Overall, though, I've been super lucky. I should say blessed. An income is still coming into the house. This isn't the case for so many people. I'm not on the front lines. So many are risking their health for others. A HUGE thank you to those people. And I'm still able to write. Kinda. Yay!
Join the IWSG for support from like-minded writers. We're in it together!
How are you faring in this difficult time? What are you reading?
It is a tough time and there are blessings too. I've never done so many on-line meetings, and learning platforms like zoom inside and out! Thanking God for the internet! That would be hard to not see your parents. I hope you are still able to connect to them often through the phone. Canada is completely on isolation too. I've been to Iceland, and I know you will get there! I'm reading books that have been on my unread shelf, some for years, so that is good. I do have Cling To God on my Kindle app too! Take care!
ReplyDeleteI used zoom for the first time the other day! I'm with you: Yay the internet! Thanks for your support. Keep safe.
DeleteI'm sorry you can't see your parents Lynda, but hope you can still keep in touch by phone. This hasn't made much difference to my life as I'm an introvert, only now my husband works from home. Yay! I'm just trying to spend less time listening to the news and increase my writing output as well as keeping fit and healthy. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteYep the phone and email has been great. I recently taught them to use facetime too so that's helped.
DeleteMy work has cut back our hours and pay, but still somehow think we can accomplish the same traveling schedule. I only got to work from home one day before my employment found a way around the requests. With so many large families out shopping and running through the parks, I don't see a huge benefit to social distancing. I think I'm missing something there . .
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting to Iceland and getting the books published.
All we can do is minimize the chances of spreading it. Hopefully everything will get back to normal soon.
DeleteHi Lynda - you'll get to Iceland ... but you'll enjoy it more when it happens. Glad you're ok though and getting through as things are ... all the best with all things - extra writing time ... take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteI really hope I do get to go to Iceland.
DeleteThanks, Hilary.
I'm glad your husband is at home. I still have to go to work.
ReplyDeletePeople should be reading in their free time. But maybe it's easier to forget one's stress in a show that distracts on all levels than a book.
Fitting cover for the story!
I hear you re reading. It's hard to concentrate on anything.
DeleteGood to hear that your husband and you are healthy. I think we are all having to put travel plans on hold due the virus and money worries it caused. And I'm taking your advice and reading more.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear re reading! :)
DeleteEnjoy!!
I wish we were on that tight of a lockdown. Too many states here are carrying on like normal.
ReplyDeleteEbooks might pick up. Audio books sure did in March.
The restrictions are definitely helping to flatten the curve.
DeleteI'm hoping you're right re ebooks. Maybe people will start getting used to this new "normal" and become more able to take advantage of the extra time they have.
Great cover - the colors remind me of flames, which I'm thinking is what you were going for. :)
ReplyDeleteYes for still writing!
Thanks, Madeline!
DeleteYes, flames! And when you see the three books lined up together they look like day, night and sunset.
My spouse is working from home now too. We've adapted. I last saw my 85-yr old mom 20 days ago when I dropped off last minute supplies for her. She lives in a senior complex and they're totally closed off, which I'm grateful for. Lucky for me, my mom emails and video chats. Imagine going through this without our connectivity. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteThat connectivity makes a world of difference.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteYour cover for your new book looks good. It attracts attention. I am very happy that you and your hubby are okay. I hope you get the chance to go to Iceland and I am glad your parents are okay.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thanks, Pat. Stay safe.
DeleteLove your cover. I would definitely reach for it. This has been a challenging time for everyone. Here's hoping your parents are OK. I feel blessed to use Face-time to communicate with my sister in Victoria (East Coast of US to East Coast of AU. She's Face-timing her grand kids now, instead of babysitting them. I do wonder how our individual and collective worlds will have changed when this whole thing plays out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liza, for the cover love. A huge relief to hear that people like it. I've wondered about those changes too.
DeleteBook sales do seem to be down indeed. Great that your husband can work from home, stinks about the leave though.
ReplyDeleteI notice you have a new book out! I'm looking forward to reading it.
DeleteSince I live in the vicinity of Silicon Valley, all my friends are working from home. They're the lucky ones to have jobs. Keep safe and well.
ReplyDeleteI really feel for those who have no income anymore.
DeleteGlad to hear that you both are still working. Check that one off! I am pretty distracted too and I fear, soon, my next book will suffer. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteIt's an odd thing. When things get stressful, I struggle to write. I hope you find the focus you need to put your all into your next book.
DeleteSo sorry you'll have to wait to see Iceland. My cousin has been and loved it! I hope you all stay well. I have The Vine Witch on my Kindle and hope to get to it soon.
ReplyDeleteThe Vine Witch is light and enjoyable with lovely turns of phrases. I loved it. I'm sure you will too.
DeleteSorry to hear about sales being down. I must confess, this seemed like a good time to read some of the 100 or so books I've already downloaded and haven't read yet. Love the new cover! This is such a great series - I'm confident sales will pick up again.
ReplyDeleteTake care, stay safe.
I try to read a little bit each day. I find it soothing.
DeleteThanks for the cover love :)
I've been reading. (I feel like the kid in school with their hand up, jumping up and down.) :) I've read a few SF books by Milo James Fowler, a YA fantasy called Onyx & Ivory, a historical fiction novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and I have more on my shelf to read.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm doing well now. My dad went to the ER a few weeks ago and that was a scare, especially with the COVID hospital rules. My husband has a good job he can do from home, I have more tutoring students (all online) because our local school district wasn't prepared, and my family is safe. So, I am blessed, but the weirdness of life has gotten to me a bit - not sure why, but it did.
Yay for the reading! I might look up those titles. That's awesome to hear you and your family are safe despite the scares. It's understandable the weirdness got to you. It is SO VERY weird!
DeleteYou need to step up and write more books ;)
ReplyDelete(That's what my hubby and I have joked about for me, lol)
I love all the covers of the series. You definitely have an artist's eye.
ReplyDeleteOn the home front, we're pretty safe in BC, but the numbers are going up. So like the rest of the world, we'll see what we see.
Take care, Lyn.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thank you so much, Anna.
DeleteEek at the climbing numbers, but glad to hear you're staying safe.
Each of your book covers is striking, Lynda. Hopefully your sales will go up as people get used to this strange new normal. I know I've been having trouble focusing, and this has led to me being less organized and productive. My husband and I are doing well overall. It breaks my heart to think of all the emotional and financial suffering people are going through, let alone the physical. This pandemic really slammed me when I realized that I couldn't go home to Canada and see any of my family members. Thank goodness for FaceTime. Congratulations for being one of the judges in next year's anthology contest. That's one responsibility that I wouldn't want to have. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm thrilled you like my covers.
DeleteFaceTime us a real help in these times when we can't visit family and friends.
Thanks too for the congrats for being a judge in the next anthology contest. I'm looking forward to it. Stay safe.
I wondered how you all in Australia were doing. We've only heard about it here in the U.S. because of Tom Hanks & wife. Things are bad here, with Michigan 3rd after NY & New Jersey in deaths. We've been self-isolating since the beginning, not even seeing our grandkids. But we're safe and healthy. I hope you & your family stay well.
ReplyDeleteNot seeing the grandkids has to be hard. Good to hear you're staying safe, though.
DeleteLove the new cover, Lynda. I didn't know you used a pseudonym. Gads, where have I been!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the cover. Thanks.
DeleteAwesome reveal! Thanks for the update from Australia. Sounds inline with what I've heard from my cousin who is there. Stay safe out there! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, David. Hope you're staying safe too.
DeleteHi Lyn! The stay-at-home order suits an introvert like me, but when we can't see our children it's sad. Our baby daughter in Townsville (whose wedding was to be May 2) decided to go ahead and get married before they made the wedding crowd laws tighter or cancelled them altogether. So we couldn't share the physical moment, but dressed up and had a virtual party on the deck and videod for her. Fun. Things that would never usually happen. Now after all this hoo ha is over, we'll have the party together.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry too much about changing your release date seeing few are actually buying books.
I'm happy sitting in my writing den watching the butterflies migrate by the millions right in my line of sight, and the Pacific winking blue at me. Not a bad place to stay at home.
Sounds like the perfect place to stay at home.
DeleteYour covers are striking, Lynda.
ReplyDeleteSo the world has gone mad. *sigh* Everything is in limbo… neither here nor there… the global tailspin is crazy. Actually, it’s surreal.
Just under a million virus infections within a month? Leaves one speechless.
Another blogger used the word "discombobulated" and I had a good chuckle. But, if you come to think about it, that's the perfect word.
Stay safe in your corner of the globe.
I agree. Discombobulated is a brilliant word and perfect for this situation. Stay safe!
DeleteIf he is still working from home why do they want him to take leave? Are they going to pay him for work done at home and also pay him the leave part on top it? Or is he working from home free for them plus taking his paid leave he so he receives pay at all?
ReplyDeleteBelated IWSG!
They are trying to cut the leave hours owed, which helps the business, so he has staggered them over a few weeks by taking two days off a week. Not working for free.
DeleteOkay, when I read that I was thinking that is not fair, but I see.
DeleteYeah, it's not too bad. It hurts to lose the saved up leave while being stuck at home, but we'll survive.
DeleteYour new cover looks great!
ReplyDeleteI have been at my house for three weeks. Haven't left but things are much the same here. People are supposed to stay home and social distance. I haven't had a chance to write, like I had thought I might, because I am working from home and after looking at the computer all day and with everything going on- I have felt like writing at the the end of the day. Hopefully soon.
Stay healthy and safe!
~Jess
Yeah, I totally get that. That's the problem with working from home. There's no switch-off time unless you do something away from the computer.
DeleteWasn't your husband a doctor before?
ReplyDeleteAll older than 65 have been locked up officially in their houses here for three weeks now :)
Yay, for Luanne's new book!
Nope, my husband was always into IT.
DeleteHope you're staying safe, Dezzy.
My husband and I are both still working as we are in the health field, but it hasn't been easy. Still, we are blessed to be able to make an income right now.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading a little and not writing very much at all. It's all the distractions of Covid messing with my mind. Glad to hear you and yours are doing well, as well as you can, in this time.
You are very blessed. And yes, I can relate. I, too, am finding it easier to read than write at the moment.
DeleteI think we writers are going through similar experiences: working from home as usual, so not that disruptive, but seeing fewer sales. And certainly no book signings! I'm sorry you can't visit your folks, but I can see how problematic that would be. Still, there are ways to make the most of this time, and I'm reassured that "This, too, will pass." Stay safe and well.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely will pass. Slowly, but it will pass. Yay!
Delete