I’ve got some unfortunate news to share with you today, Champions. I’ve been going through some minor health issues, which have ballooned into some larger health issues, and basically I’m going to have two (minor!) surgeries and a slew of dental procedures over the next few weeks.
I’m fine! None of this is life threatening. It is painful–I just got the first procedure done and I have a puffy gums and a bruised jaw–but it’s mostly annoying because of all the recovery time I need. Each procedure has several days recovery, and each surgery has about a week recovery, and the amount of surgeries/procedures my surgeon and dentist think I need keeps fluctuating. (So I might end up with three surgeries total, and only a couple dental procedures, or it might be just the two surgeries and several additional dental procedures on top of what is already planned.)
Basically, when I moved houses (Yaaay! We’re still celebrating that one!) I went to a new dentist who discovered I had a major infection that had eaten into the bone of my upper mouth. I’ll spare you guys the disgusting details, but basically this means I need all of these surgeries/procedures to get that cleaned out and to replace the bone. Yes, all of this was preventable and shouldn’t have been a problem considering I was regularly seeing a dentist for cleanings and checkups, but my previous dentist missed all of the warning signs. (Good thing I moved, huh?)
The extra bad thing about that is that this has been festering for somewhere between two to three years now, which is why I’m getting hit with all of this in a very short amount of time–they want to take care of it before it does more damage.
SO! What does this mean for our community?
There won’t be large change to the release schedule for Pip’s series since I was able to push through and really get those first two books done–I’m now prepping them for editing. At the latest, Pip’s first book will launch in January, but I’m still hoping for a late December release right now.
Second Age of Retha, book 4, however, is getting pushed back a few months to a fall release since I’ll still be having surgeries/procedures in January, February, and March. (Hopefully not beyond that.) It’s still the next unfinished series I’m working on next, just the recovery times for all of this is going to mess up my timeline, particularly because I didn’t get a chance to work on it much between Pip’s books because I was rushing to finish as much as possible before all of…this.
The other big thing you’ll notice is that I won’t be posting as much on social media for November, and my Christmas event is going to be scaled down. I’ll probably only have one book for free in December–though I do have some goodies I’ve been waiting to share AND Court of Midnight and Deception and Hall of Blood and Mercy will be on sale sometime in February or January, soooo let’s just count those as an Epiphany celebration or something. 😉
Myrrhlynn is helping me repost some of my NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) blogs–so you’re going to see some old content–and Vin has very graciously agreed to head some Champion NaNoWriMo events. We already made a post about it, but here’s the link if you want to read it again!
Honestly, having to scale back my plans for Christmas and Thanksgiving crushed me. I love holidays, and I love celebrating holidays with our community. Christmas is my absolute favorite, and I love making it into a huge deal. But I’m trying to keep a positive spin on this, which leads me to…
Thank you, Champions!
When I first found out about the infection and everything that was going to happen, I drove to a parking lot of a Home Goods store, and then proceeded to bawl my eyes out while sitting in my car. I didn’t know how badly it was going to affect Pip’s trilogy, I didn’t know how I was going to cope with the changes it would force on my work schedule, and I was just plain scared.
I was in pure panic mode…until I started to remember when I broke the news to you all that Angelique book #5 was going to be released in three years, and I remember how many of you told me that was okay, you would wait, and you very specifically told me you wanted me to focus on my health and make sure you I took care of myself. I can’t tell you how much relief I felt when I remembered that–it’s actually making me cry right now as I think about it just to write this blog post.
So, thank you, Champions, for your support. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate each and every single one of you. You make a huge difference in my life! Thank you for sticking with me through all the fun times–like Sheacon and book releases–and the not so fun times…like surgeries and recovery times. And finally, thanks for reading! 😉
Please take care of yourself. Good luck on your surgeries. We’ll read the books whenever they come out…there is no rush. Your health comes first!!!
Of course! I hope you feel better and prioritize your recovery! Hope you feel better soon!
What a blessing to have found this and maybe this will help your overall health, as your body won’t be fighting this underlying issue?!
Please take your time to make sure you’re all healed and recovered. You are a treasure, and I think we all wish we could be around to cheer you on, in your day to day journey to recovery. Just keep reading all these great encouraging notes if you get down.
Thank you for all the gifts of your stories, I’m on many the 3rd, 4th or 5th time and when I snort out loud or can’t get the smile off my face -my husband always knows I’m reading one of yours! Your writing brings such joy and encouragement to so many!
Thank you for gifting us with your stories and praying you heal fully and can enjoy your Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Hey Kitty,
That sounds like a really difficult thing to go through. I hope everything goes as smoothly and painlessly as possible. Don’t worry about how long it does or doesn’t take for your books to come out; I’m at the point that I’m going to buy absolutely ANY book that you publish. No matter how long I have to wait! You have a huge gift, you’re an amazing writer. Your books make me smile so hard!! Thank you!
I’m so sorry Miss Kitty! I will pray that all goes well with your surgeries. Please take care of yourself! Lots of books and good food. (Or maybe not, considering that you are having surgery on your MOUTH. Yeah, just stick with the books.)
Ms. Kitty, you are too sweet for this world. Most people wouldn’t explain their medical conditions to their fans, but you’re not only telling us, but you’re worried about our reaction.
Thank you so much for all your work for us, and please get well soon Ms. Kitty, not so that you can get back to work, but so that you aren’t hurting.
Oh no, that sounds really painful… Kitty, please relax and give your body plenty of rest to recover in the knowledge that we‘ll all still be here when you‘ve recovered! You are so amazing and give so much light through your books – you deserve to be treated by yourself with the same love and light you so graciously give to others.
Wishing you all the best and sending you positive thoughts!
I get the frustration. I was aiming to publish my first book last year. Several major surgeries and procedures happened instead over the last year, your books being one of the ways I kept myself sane.
But if you don’t spend the time and get better than we don’t get more books. Best of everything with what’s in front of you. Soon, it will be behind instead.
If you were any other person in the world, I would recommend spending your recuperation times reading K.M. Shea and A.M. Sohma books. That’s what I would be doing!
May God be with you every step, surgery, and procedure of the way.
Amy
That’s actually not a bad idea! I’ve reread my own books occasionally and really enjoyed them. If she hasn’t read them for a long time, they might be fun to read!
Yes, I would suggest Kitty re-read the Retha books. 😉
Take your time! If there is no you, that would be the pits! We will wait and we will have time debating all sorts of things about the books. Heal well. Sending well wishes and feeling good thoughts your way
Kitty,
I’m echoing everyone else here when I say I hope that your procedures/surgeries go well and I’m hoping for speedy recoveries! As you said you already know, your health absolutely comes first and your fans will always be here for you. If there’s anything we can do to help you out during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Kitty, I’m so thankful for all that you do for us champions. I discovered you earlier this year and couldn’t be more thankful! Your books have been such a joy in my life. I am so thankful that I have found an author who writes clean and remarkable books. You are my favorite author. Don’t worry about any book delays or anything of the sort. We are more concerned for your health and safety. Please take all the time you need to heal and recover. I will be praying for your surgeries and procedures to go well and for your healing afterward. I hope that, despite all of your surgeries and procedures you have an amazing thanksgiving and Christmas!
Much love, Sarai
It’s still true–get healthy, then come back 🙂 ! We’ll still be here on the other end of the internet when you’re feeling better.
And hey, who knows? Maybe resolving this will help with some of the other weird stress-health related issues, since this has been going on for years and you didn’t know! Possible silver lining there, and one way or the other, it’s good to get things taken care of!
Hope you get well soon and you’ll be blessed with all you need! Things can be scary but we can have your back. We love you lots!
Hi Kitty,
several years ago my mum has gone through the same procedure so I know how long this takes and how unpleasant it was. Probably today procedures have technically advanced but still these are surgeries and take their toll. The best thing you can do is taking your time, do not pressure yourself and most of all take care of your wants and needs 🙂 I wish you a good, fast and as hurtfree as possible recovery…
We love you Kitty!!! Have a low key relaxing November and December and know your champions are here for you! 🙂 And are totally fine with being patient too! You’ve given us so many good books, we can always re-read those while we wait for your next book! 🙂 Take care!!
We’re here for you Kitty! Please don’t worry about books and writing—just focus on resting and taking care of yourself! I strongly recommend lots of sleep, a Harry Potter and/or LotR marathon while wrapped in the fuzziest, softest, warmest pajamas you can find, and cuddles from Perfect Dog. Us fans would wait years and years (decades, even!) for your novels. What’s absolutely most important is your health and well-being. Remember: we’re not just fans of your writing, we’re fans of you in general and think you’re the best! This means we all want you to get well soon because we support YOU, not just your wonderful stories (although those are awesome too, of course). Positive thoughts and prayers for everything to be easy, as painless as possible, and a speedy and healthy recovery!
Oh no, you poor thing! Here in the UK we recently saw a dentist after nearly two years and I was ever so worried, but we were all good.
All the best wishes and hope you are not too painful and please don’t stress about it. We can wait for your lovely stories!
Oh, that sounds awful! I am glad they found the root problem before it got worse. Also, I hope clearing out all that infected tissue will help your general health after the recovery. (((HUGS))) Don’t push too hard during recovery. Rest and get better.
Oh no!!
Man, dental stuff is the worse. I had a similar though less severe experience of a dentist not noticing something until it was extremely bad and expensive to fix. Including the time I TOLD him something was up and he denied it… only to retire and have the new guy go “oh, this needs a root canal!”
Anyways, prayers up for you. You sound like you’re handling it with a gracious attitude and that’s no small thing. You’ve got this!
Absolutely focus on your health and getting better! If you don’t there will be no more wonderful Kitty to write us amazing books to read! Get better and we will be here waiting and cheering you on. My prayers are headed your way for a full and speedy recovery.
Went through something similar 24 years ago, so deeply sympathize. It was not a fun time, but thanks to excellent surgeon and a dental professional who was really perceptive and caring, my bones are intact and most of my teeth survived (have a bit of titanium in my mouth, but only a dentist could tell the implants from the natural teeth). I am sending you my strongest positive energy for strength through the procedures and quick recovery after each.
Will be praying for you! Hope all goes well. I love your books, and having to wait a bit longer doesn’t matter as it’s just something to look forward to!
Oh my! That is very extensive! My mother-in-law just had the same thing happen to her! I will be praying that they are able to get everything out and built back up safely! May your recovery go quickly and smoothly and may it be a time of peace and rest for you! Your books have been such a wonderful part of my life, and I have gotten other people hooked on them as well!
Oh, Kitty! Don’t you worry about a thing beside your health. It should absolutely be your number 1 priority. We’ll be rooting for you and patiently waiting for news. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be part of this community, to be able to speak to you, the larger than life AUTHOR of several of my favorite series. It’s the first time I’ve been able to do that and it’s amazing. Your books helped me a lot in times of unrest. I was just contemplating that last week, after finishing King Arthur and Her Knights. After a slow start, the books and characters reeled me in and it’s so refreshing to be ingrossed in a light-hearted series. I recently read the Court of Thorns and Roses and was almost overwhelmed by the gravity, angst, almost opressive feelings it stirred in me. Why must everything be so dark? In contrast, your writing is like a gentle breeze carrying me home and rocking me to sleep for the ride.
So, I thank you for the bottom of my heart for being there for us Champions. Both as the creator, and as the human and fellow geek. We wouldn’t be Champions without someone worthy to follow.
Much love from Romania
Oh, dear! So glad they discovered this before more damage was done! Blessings to you as you walk through this time. And may your holidays be sweeter, even though they are smaller. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas – enjoy them!
Don’t worry Kitty, we will all wait for you to return eagerly but patiently! Take care of yourself and know that I am praying for you!
Kitty – As a recent traveller along a very similar path I do hope that your specialists are very aware of the importance of supporting your neck during procedures. I learned the hard way after this didn’t happen for me, I needed to find chiropractor skilled in treatment of my upper cervical vertebrae. I now ask for a rolled up towel to support my neck on every visit. Everyone else has written so lovingly and expressively echoing my own thoughts and well wishes. May you find joy and humor everyday to enhance your full return to health in your body’s own time.
Kitty, Thank you for updating us but take care of yourself first. We will be waiting for the books even if they get pushed back so don’t worry about that. Good luck with your surgeries, we will be praying for you
Oh my gosh! I hope you feel better soon! I know oral/dental surgeries are such a pain (literally) to get done! Please take all the time you need to fully recover!!!
So sorry. I hope you get better soon. I just copyrighted my paper about my sinus/dental issues and family and friends health issues that I found the cause to be widespread. Please let me know if you are interested in reading it. It may be the underlying cause of your dental issues. I was just going to start on my website.
Omigosh Kitty I am so sorry! We all love you to pieces and we care so much more about you than book releases. Pls pls pls stay healthy! Take all the time you need to recover-we all love and support you and will wait for as long as you need us to! Take care of yourself! 💜💜
I am sorry for all the health issue you have to deal with I will be keeping you in my prayers. Remember to put your Health first.
I will pray for you!!!
Oh my goodness! A bone infection sounds like really bad news! Yes your books are awesome and I look forward to each release, but your health is SO much more important. Don’t worry about us. Get yourself better – we will still be here when you get back! Hope you feel better soon!
God bless you! Just get healthy! You are one of my top two authors period, (I can’t choose between you!) but you are more important. I have read everyone of your books several times. I immediately always get your books when they come out and drop nearly everything so I can cram it in. You truly are gifted. (And work hard). And you make me laugh and laugh! Especially in this crazy world we live in. So thank you so much for writing. But rest and get better!
Wishing you all the best during all your surgeries/procedures and a speedy recovery. Health comes first, so take care of yourself.
Hey Kitty!
Don’t push yourself too hard or worry about us. We all care about your wellbeing first and foremost – everything else is secondary. Your champions are a dedicated bunch. We’ll wait as long as it takes to know that you’re doing ok.
In the meantime, take care of yourself! We all know you’re prone to overworking yourself, but be sure you get enough rest. Stock up on soups and soft meals beforehand, and don’t try to eat solid foods until you’re actually healed (speaking from personal experience here – it set me back weeks of progress >XP )
Praying that your healing process is as short and as painless as possible,
Anne
We love you, Kitty! I hope you feel better soon and the surgeries get done smoothly!!! I’m here praying for you!!!!!
Glad to hear that they’re taking care of it! Hope everything goes well and that you recover well! And yes, you’re health is so much more important than a book (even though your books are definitely something to jump up and down for)! Take as much time as you need to recover. 🙂
Stock up on hot/warm soft foods like mashed potatoes. Jello and applesauce get old real fast. 😉
Thanks for keeping us informed. If the meds don’t make you too loopy, maybe you can catch up on some of your fun reading. Think of it as a hopefully-not-too-painful mini vacation. 😅
Your health (physical and mental) is more important to us than quick release times. In fact, you could never write another book and we’d still love you. We would be sad, of course, because your stories add so much to our lives, but we will never hate you.
Get well soon!
Kitty,
I feel for you mouth stuff is the worst pain. I will pray for your swift recovery hopefully with as little pain as possible. I know having to push back your work is frustrating but sometimes it’s what you have to do and nobody decent will be upset in the slightest. Take the time you need to heal and recover. You are more important than the characters in books much as we all love them we love you more. I hope all the procedures/surgeries go great and that afterward you feel 1000% better.
Be well,
Natalie Smoot
I completely agree with everything said so far. I would just add, that, based on my own experience with recovery from surgery, it’s better to spend a little more time than you think you need to recover to make sure you are good and thoroughly recovered then to jump too early back into trying to do everything you did before. And when the time comes, “make speed slowly” is a tried and true strategy for ramping back up. I think you will find that, in the long run, you will save time (and avoid more pain) by taking this slowly.
Just a speculation, but I’m wondering if this might have been what was causing, or contributing to, your facial swellings you got earlier when you pushed yourself too hard. Not that I want you to push yourself too hard. Just wondering if this infection was happening way back then. So glad it’s been found and I’m praying that your doctors will be able to correctly determine exactly what needs to happen and that your recovery will be swift and complete! In case you couldn’t tell already…WE LOVE YOU!!
I feel so bad for you! My husband just recently had something similar happen to him and not only is it painful, it’s pricey!!! My immersion blender got a good work out though, making yummy food easier for him to eat, LOL. I hope you make it through this ok. And while the delay isn’t ideal, we’ll definitely wait, it will be worth it! 🙂 Take care of yourself <3
I’ve been thru hell this year but just keep moving forward. I am always telling my kids and grandchildren to just put one foot in front of the other and never give up. You are an awesome writer and I definitely enjoy your books. That won’t change. As I’m sure everyone else who is a fan of yours agrees your Health is most important. Take the time you need to heal and mend both in body & spirit. I’m a optimist so remember when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Who knows going through all this will give you some time to come up with many more ideas for books that have yet to be written.
Kitty! I’m so sorry you are going through this. Reading your post brought back all the feelings and memories of me having to go through something very similar. I too had an infection that ate away at my bone in the front of my mouth. I went through a few surgeries to get it fixed. The new bone wouldn’t take in my mouth so in the end, I had to have more teeth taken out and a 5 tooth bridge put in.
I hope the bone takes, in your mouth. I hope your recovery is smooth sailing, and I want you to know that oral surgeons can do amazing things these days so even if things don’t go as planned, things will work out in the end. Sending prayers and thank you for being the wonderful person and author you are.
Please take care! Re-reading is always a joy!
Kitty – I am glad you are getting the right help for the dental issues and surgery. Isn’t it wonderful they can grow bone! I saved up and I am getting four new teeth this year and next year.
It’s hard to know what to do when your physician dismisses symptoms you are experiencing. For what it’s worth, I suggest that you get a second opinion!
I hope all goes well.
Please put your health first. it really sucks to have to see your body not cooperating with your plans, i would personally know. I have dealt with a lot of stuff in my body that pushes me back so please don’t feel bad or beat yourself up! We can wait it’s not the end of the world just a break to focus on what your body needs (which is important!!).
Thank you for sharing your books with us, Kitty! My little reading group will be praying for your procedures! Like so many have already said, focus on your health! We can always wait for books if your health is in the balance! Thank you again for sharing your stories for us to enjoy!
Take care! We love you and will wait. You are the best and we will just be all the happier when the books get to us. However long it takes!
Dear Kitty, don’t worry about us! We will be fine. It’s your time now to focus on yourself and your health needs. Everything is going to work out….maybe just not the way it was planned, but….all in good time.
——And Thank You sooooo much for sharing your gift of writing with us!! Looking forward to re-reading all your wonderful stories while you heal (they DO hold up well on 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc reads💕.) Hugs and prayers from Texas💕🙏🏻💕
This may suck for now but it will be better in the long run. Your health is more important to us Champions than your books. Good luck!
Kitty, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!! We love you, and your health comes first! And you are in my prayers, that your doctor/dentist does a great job, and that you fully recover.
I am personally dealing with chemotherapy, (1 down, 5 to go), following a bilateral simple mastectomy. But your books have made it easier for me to deal with.
And you have SO many WONDERFUL, AMAZING books, that I will just have to force myself to read only one per week, until you get back in the saddle again 😀 😊.
Thank you for all that you do! You are my family’s FAVORITE author, by a loooooong mile!!
Good luck, and TAKE CARE!!
Linda
We love you Kitty!
Take care of yourself. I was in a car accident 7 years ago, and it is still messing with my daily life (migraines and more for me, yay). It took so long to find any time that wasn’t constant, excruciating pain mostly because I wanted to do everything I did, or I got caught up trying to help others. It was so hard to learn that I needed to slow down, take care of myself, give myself all the rest I needed, before I could try to do anything. I felt selfish and needy, and I didn’t like either. But I was in worse shape and needed more from others constantly simply because I didn’t listen. It wasn’t until I slowed down that I was able to find out I could do some things normally, or just less often, and that I could still help others, but in different ways.
All of this to say, I may not know the specifics firsthand, but I know how hard it is to feel like your dreams are getting crushed by a health issue. Hang in there! What YOU want is not gone. It may be delayed, but you will be able to see it through! Don’t listen to any voices that tell you you’re not trying hard enough–they’re not in this situation, they don’t and can’t know all the details. Focus on what you need to be healthy! Focus on what you need to deal with the pain. Focus on whatever joy you discover in this tough time, and treat it like the gift it is.
Kitty, your writing has made such a difference in my life, especially in my own dark days. You bring my joy in my own pain, and delight when everything seems dark and gray. And still, if you never wrote another word because you had to take care of your health, I would understand and still say thanks for all you’ve done. But you’re not looking at that scenario, you’re looking at a few delays. I know it hurts, but you can get there. Let this time of healing be a gift. If you look, I bet you’ll discover some things you never would have noticed otherwise. I did.
I’ll be praying for you! When all else seems dark, God will carry you through. And He loves you so much!
Man, that sucks. Take care of yourself and I hope it doesn’t hurt too much!
I pray that everything goes well and that you have no complications and heal without any problems. Your health is more important than your time table. Love your writing, it’s fun and engaging. We can always reread and reread your books for our KM Shea fix.
Intentionally scaling back the holidays is hard, but it can be beautiful and healing. I had to do so in the past and now I tend to scale back every year because the lower stress really helped me to really enjoy the activities I choose to do.
Also, as someone who has tried writing computer code while heavily doped up on pain meds after mouth surgery; it won’t work – don’t do it. I thought I’d accessed a secret muse and written brilliant, world changing code….only to find out the code “solved” a problem I didn’t have with 2 nested infinite loops that only closed due to a typo.
However, if you do decide to attempt to write on pain meds, please share the trippy – I mean brilliant – results with us 😉
We love you, Kitty! And we totally want you to take the time you need to get well! As much as we are looking forward to Retha because it is AWESOME, we care more about you. I hope that the surgeries go well and that the dentist is able to get everything cleared out so that you can heal.
I’m sorry about your Thanksgiving/Christmas being scaled down. I’ll hope that maybe they end up being relaxing and enjoyable anyway. Hey, maybe if you need to take a break from writing, you’ll get extra time reading! I know a few good books releasing in December . . . 🙂 And/or maybe watching some fun Christmas movies if you’re too tired to read.
Many hugs from a whole family of readers in Germany who love your books!
I’m so sorry this is happening to you! I pray that it will all go well during every surgery and procedure!
You books are so good, we’ll wait!
Please, please take care of your self.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with all that. Do what you need to do to heal. Don’t stress at all about us. We really will wait. ❤️
We support you Kitty!!!!! Recover well and good luck with the procedures and surgeries!!!!!