I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that there was stuff happening and in the last couple of weeks it’s all started to come together, the most current of which is the book cover for the Last Prophecy!

cover (5)

I am pretty excited about this but as I’ve mentioned, this book needed serious rewrites and edits as the Well of Youth is being worked on, and key plot points had to change, which means my May release vague plan isn’t going to happen, I’m very sorry. I am hopeful to have it to you guys in the next month or so.

There was also the sourcing of artists for something special I’m going to start leaving you tidbits about over the next couple of months as we gear up for the release of the Well of Youth, which is tentatively set for the end of the year. And not just artwork, a wonderful composer has also done something special for me, and I cannot wait to show you the results of their creativity.

As much as starting all of this was fun it was also a lot of work, a lot of hard work, and even when it’s something you love it makes it no less tiring, if anything its more so because you are very emotionally invested.

And that’s when I sit back and realise that with all the work being done on the next book I haven’t spent as much time and energy being able to promote the Hidden Monastery. Between that and rewrites for the Last Prophecy and all the work that needs to go into the Well I have become my own worst critic over the last few weeks.

It’s very easy to lose sight of the big picture when all you can do is nit-pick at the little things and how much still needs to be done. There has been a very few harsh reminders over this period that I need to be kinder to myself and all of this is a work in progress.

But it’s not just me.

It’s the people I love and work with, or who are offering their work to me. It’s all so easy to judge yourself harshly, but when you think about applying the comments you have for your own work to someone else’s, if you’re anything like me you’d be horrified and never say that.

If you’d never say that comment to someone else, never be so objective about another person’s work, or would even be kinder in your critic of them so as not to hurt their feelings and creativity, then why can’t you do the same to yourself? Be kinder and less judgemental, as though it is not your own work, but someone else who is need of your support. There is a really easy answer this and you know what it is.

You can.

Sure it’s a work in progress, and sometimes you don’t even realise you are doing it, but you need to let go of it so you can work. I knew I was doing it, and gave myself the kindness and time to work past it, and you can too.

Be kind, to yourself and others, there really isn’t enough of it in this world, especially the one inside our own minds.