It's been over a month since my last blog post, so I figured it was time for a much overdue update. March certainly was a month of change, and I'm not just talking about the crocuses coming up and the first blooms on the trees. For most of us, spring 2020 has been difficult, uncertain, and in some cases tragic.

I'm lucky in that the stay at home order did not prevent my husband or I from doing our work since we both worked remotely anyway. That did not, however, prevent our lives from being turned upside down. My husband's company, like many others, was hit hard by market volatility, so my husband had to take a substantial pay cut. I'm just glad he didn't end up unemployed, which was a real possibility. I also received my first ever royalty statement in March which, while not enough to life off of, will certainly help float us for a time until thing (hopefully) settle down.

The biggest change in my household came with the closing of the schools. Even as I write this, my daughter is beside me doing her schoolwork. I've always been an active participant in her education, but now her educational needs seem to have swallowed my whole life. I get done what writing I can before she wakes up. After that my brain (and patience) goes careening down a steep slope, leaving me too exhausted to think, let alone write, at the end of the day. Most days I'm lucky to get 1,000 words down. Still, having the family together 24/7 has led to plenty of happy moments too, and I'm grateful for those memories. I'm sure I will recall them fondly when Alice is older.

As we roll on toward summer, I am hopeful that I'll find a less insane schedule and get back into a more normal swing. I've got some exciting developments on the horizon that I'm eager to share as soon at they're finalized, so keep a look out for those in my monthly newsletters (the next one should be in May). In the meantime, I hope you're staying safe, healthy, and sane during these trying times. And remember, if you need a break from reality, there's nothing better than a good book. Happy reading!