Hi friends,
Did you know I do most of my writing in the bathroom? lol.
What? You don’t use the extra sink as a writing station where the noise from the big family has to make it up a flight of stairs and go through two doors to get to you?
Plus, I can stand up and act out some of the fight scenes in the big mirror as I’m writing them.
Hey, I’m sure you do embarrassing things in front of the bathroom mirror, too. 😀
In my writing update, I just finished the first draft of Book 4 and am focused on finishing all the little edits that have added up for Combat Origin, my Book 1 that is going live in under a month. Crazy, huh? I’m excited and a little nervous all at the same time.
Speaking of Book 4, I’m stuck choosing between two names. Which do you think fits best. Here’s a little of the setting: Kiriai is back in the thick of the capital’s political intrigue. She’s fighting in the same major tournament as her boyfriend, while the ‘evil’ government has a secret list of kids with emerging mental gifts that they’re planning on abducting. Save them all, Kiriai! 😀
Here are the two I have – click reply if you have a second and tell me which you like better:
1. Combat Gift
2. Combat Impulse
And for the readers who wrote me emails about enjoying Combat Genesis — thanks!! I’m curious how many of you saw the ending coming. (If it’s in your stack of books to be read – I have one of those, too.)
Just know that your feedback is really encouraging for a new author like me. 😀
Mental Illness in Fiction?
So, Katniss and PTSD? It’s pretty clear she’s having trouble by the third book in The Hunger Games series. Who wouldn’t after all she’s been through?
I was pretty happy, as a reader, to see that she didn’t emerge unscathed from all that violence and go skipping off into the sunset. It made her feel much more real, though I liked the first book much better, story-wise.
What do you think? Should mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, ocd, etc. be portrayed in fiction we read purely for entertainment? Do you think it makes the characters and stories better or is it too heavy of a subject? Or do you fall somewhere in between?
I’d love to hear what you think because my main character, Kiriai, is learning to deal with her own past trauma in my work-in-progress. How much should I include?
As a doctor and someone who wages an on-again, off-again battle with depression, I’m all for speaking openly about the topic. I hope by doing so, those having difficulties won’t feel a need to hide and suffer alone. Support and understanding from friends and family can make all the difference!
Thanks for your emails! I love getting them and answer them all. I look forward to hearing your opinions on mental health issues in fiction and which book 4 title you like best. And I’ll be putting together this month’s self-defense tip soon. If you have a request, please send it.
Until next Friday,
— Misty 🙂
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