Delays, distractions and a revival

Even after the paid edits in 2016, I lost the drive to resuscitate the novel for a small print run in 2023. I felt that it served its purpose as a creative outlet while I learned to manage PTSD symptoms since the life-altering incident in 2003. 

In 2024, I removed the novel's and Flo's presence from Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Smashwords and was ready to enter a quiet retirement with less ambitious creative activities. 

Enter 2025 which brought a random inquiry through email from an interested party searching for a copy of the novel. After confirming real life existence and exchanging polite emails about writing and publishing, I have been converting chapter files from Microsoft Word to PDF, one by one. I can't bring myself to confirm each change by the editor (my Ma. Eng. Lit. daughter). I trust her judgement so I just approved all changes before converting and sharing with the audience of one. I cannot read the details of each chapter because I get misty-eyed when revisiting the reactions between Father Gio and Sera. 

Even with the glowing and somewhat obligatory reviews from family and friends who read The Year of the Rabbit after it was published in 2011, it's a heartwarming feeling that a total stranger has sought out your story, ready to consume one chapter at a time then sharing personal reactions through email. 

This has been an interesting twist as we enter the Year of the Wood Snake this month. 

Thanks for following along. 

T

Birthday wishes

Just wanted to mention that it's Sera Fletcher's birthday.

Happy Birthday!

She's a fellow Leo and Rabbit.

"There's a little bit of Sera in all of us."

How about you?  Are you a Leo too?

Get your copy of the ebook version at Smashwords. 


Theresa

Things that spring up at Easter

You wouldn't know it in the Ottawa Valley but Spring is here.  

The snowbanks are melting into dirt piles, there's dog pooh everywhere and the rivers are rising.  Yuk!

I haven't witnessed crocus sprouts pushing up yet but am hopeful to soon enjoy the annual Tulip Festival.  

Some folks are adorning their homes and work areas with colourful symbols of renewal and rebirth.  

 
Yes, some of us writers still have day jobs in order to support luxuries like rent, food and utilities. 

Friends and relatives are decluttering their attics, basements and garages, planning up-coming events like yard sales.   Who knows what gems or skeletons they will discover in the process?

One of the resident youth recently helped me dig out a piece of concept art that was nicely tucked away in our deep, dark storage area.  It was a Yin Yang egg I painted during the 1999 Year of the Rabbit.

I wanted to inspect this piece of art I attempted while trying to restore harmony during an unbalanced time in our lives, while treading the murky waters of my own well-being.  

If you dig deep enough, you will reconcile with your shame and forgive yourself for not acting soon enough to rescue your family.  You can spend years writing down to the bones to regain your mental health, work up the courage to symbolically destroy the demons from your past.  

The above news story was published in The Seguin Sounder, a fictitious newspaper that evolved out of the novel.  

Spoiler alert:  The antagonist meets with a violent ending at the hands of the innocent - and with a little help from nature.

Read excerpts from The Year of The Rabbit, a Novel About Fate, Family and Forgiveness. 

Join others who enjoyed this unpolished gem of Canadian fiction.  Download the first few chapters of the eBook for free from Smashwords.  If you like what you have read, you can then purchase the entire book for 99 cents or more (you set the price). 

Visit the novel's web site.  Just watch where you are digging though. 

Thanks for dropping by.  

Happy Easter! 
 

T

Something for everyone during Read an Ebook Week March 2 to 8

As a Smashwords author, it is my pleasure to promote Read an Ebook Week 2014.

 
Visit Smashwords.com during March 2 to 8, 2014 for a list of independent authors' books on discount or for free!  So much variety that can be packed into your eReader.

Since The Year of the Rabbit is already listed at 99 cents, it will be available as free this week.  If you don't already have a Smashwords account, you can easily join for free. 

 
Do you like trains?  There's plenty of trains in this novel about fate, family and forgiveness.  

Do you like books that explore human interest, loneliness, belief systems and dabble just a little into romance? 

You will like The Year of the Rabbit. These previous readers did.  
 
Thanks for dropping by.  I hope to hear from you soon.

T