Hello! I'm Misa, a full-time carer edging ever closer to 50, and I live in NW England. I write weird romance (sci fi, paranormal/UF, and fantasy) though I've expanded into contemporary romance in the last year. I've been published since 2011 and mMy main aim for 2021 is to get at least one book out.

When I'm not writing, I usually have a crochet hook in my hand. I'm also a massive geek and love Doctor Who, which is why my thread title is a quote from the Master (the guy in the banner.) Welcome to the dork side, lol.

WRITING

• WriYe Goal: 000,000/150,000
• Projects: The Tombs of Arkon Theta | The Ammonite Affair | Protectorate Space: Archer | Untitled Cont Romance
• Maintain 4theWords streak

READING

• GoodReads 2021 Challenge: 0/30
• Read Me, Feed Me entries

ART & CRAFT

• Sketch A Day: 0/365
• Finish crochet projects: 0/6
• Practice watercolours and pencils
• Practice ukulele

PERSONAL

• Keep track of words and projects in my bujo
• Reach savings goal
• Put money into my author account: 0/12
• Debt-Free by 2023 - get debt down by one third

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The Tombs of Arkon Theta [SFR] - x/60,000
An archaeologist clashes with a native of the planet she's been assigned to, but they have to rely on each other when they get trapped in a labyrinthine tomb where not everything is dead...

The Ammonite Affair [CR] - x/40,000
An art curator's life is turned upsidedown when the gallery he works at hosts a dinosaur exhibition. Then one of the artefacts goes missing and shannigans ensue.

Protectorate Space: Archer [SFR] - 4,000/60,000
Captain Peregrine Archer finds himself fighting for survival after a virus takes down the galactic government he works for. First in a series.

Untitled CR - 1,800/40,000
Richard Evans is sent to idyllic island to find out why the local police aren’t protecting the upcoming resort development. It’s supposed to be a quick mission, but when he clashes with environmentalist Gabrielle Bourdon, he learns that the land in question is in dispute.

Ahhhh! Go Misa~ I'm living for this color theme and the projects. You've totally got this goal down~

Good luck next year!

Good luck with your goals, Misa!

Welcome back, Misa! I love your graphics. Best of luck in 2021!

Your projects sound so cool, good luck!

good luck in 2021~

The 31 Day OC Challenge - 0/5

WriDay - 0,699/2,500

New Moon Madness - 0/900

Full Moon Madness - 0/900

5K Weekend - 0/2,500

I didn't meet my WriDay goal, but given I ended up with a bad headache, I'm taking 699 words as a win. My laptop is finally repaired, so I've access to last year's projects. I am missing one, so I need to check my flash drives. I'll be sad if it's gone forever.

Good luck in 2021, Misa! I love the look of your thread.

Glad you got your laptop back finally!

Good luck in 2021, Misa! I'm glad to see you are still working on The Tombs of Arkon Theta. I am curious at what happens.

WRITING

• WriYe Goal: 005,300/150,000
• Projects: The Tombs of Arkon Theta | The Ammonite Affair | Protectorate Space: Archer | Untitled Cont Romance

READING

• GoodReads 2021 Challenge: 1/30
• Read Me, Feed Me entries

ART & CRAFT

• Finish crochet projects: 0/6
• Practice watercolours and pencils
• Practice ukulele

PERSONAL

• Keep track of words and projects in my bujo
• Reach savings goal
• Put money into my author account: 0/12
• Debt-Free by 2023 - get debt down by one third

---

So January was a bust, and February looks like it might be going the same way.

I think it's lockdown 3, on top of winter gloom, and the last couple of years. Blow after blow after blow. I'm worn thin, to the point I've started counseling because I was afraid I was heading for a full on mental breakdown. Not even kidding.

I've dropped KWIF. Words are not happening. It's hard enough to write this, never mind fiction. I don't know when I'll have the spoons to try again.

I'm trying not to look at my stats and stress. That's not easy, given this was supposed to be the year I started publishing again. My RWA membership is due, which is adding pressure, as is paying for 4thewords. But I need to ignore all that and deal with the build up of shit thatt's dragging me down. I don't know how long that#s going to be, but February is definitely out.

I just want to say that caregiver burnout is real and you need to take care of yourself, whatever that looks like to you. I hope therapy is helpful and gives you what you need. We're here for you and if you need someone else to vent to about caregiving and the draining nature of it, I'm here. I've been through it and I've been on the edge of a breakdown because of it so I know a bit about what you are going through.

This week I had just started to feel better. I was batting around a couple of ideas, and considering April Camp. In fact, I was DMing a friend on Twitter in the wee hours of Friday morning (12th) when news broke that changed my life irrevocably.

The gorgeous, wonderful Cliff Simon - actor, adrenaline junkie, animal rights activist and, most importantly, my very dear friend - had been killed in a kiteboarding accident.

My heart raced as I read the announcement. My mouth was dry. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible. (It still doesn't seem possible.) But the announcement on Facebookwas written by his beloved wife, and as the tributes flooded in, my utter shock faded and the reality bit. He is gone, and my heart is broken.

I had councilling today. I couldn't even begin to explain the depths of my grief. Cliff and I had known each other 9 years, starting as a passing acquaintance on Twitter, then cementing a friendship at the Chevron convention in 2013. We got to DMing each other after I'd left, telling stupid jokes to the point he forgot about the bath and flooded the bathroom. Ahem. He is the reason I'm published. When I dismissed Ironhaven as "just an ebook" he got a little annoyed and reminded me that I'd written a book. What format it took didn't matter. I've never referred to my books as "just" anything since. So yeah, first to encourage me but also very willing to give me a kick when necessary.

I could go on. Honestly, the stories I could tell. The times I've barely been able to breathe for laughing with him (he told the dirtiest jokes). It's not fair, because there should be more stories, but there won't be. That is the hardest thing. The thing that hurts so very much.

But. *deep breath*

But I am still doing Camp. I know without a doubt that he'd not want me to quit. It'll be in his honour, to celebrate a life so very well lived. My goal is not big. I'm going to dig deep and put my emotions on the page. To quote Cliff (and Jack London) I will use my time.

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. *hugs*