Dear Reader,
I hope this email finds you well.
You must have read this generic line a million times, right? Well, today on October 10 we celebrate Mental Health Day, so please know that I mean this greeting from the bottom of my heart.
World Mental Health Day is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through. I saw this really nice photo posted on Facebook by Halsey, one of my favorite contemporary singers, who suffers from bipolar disorder and is an advocate for mental health issues.
Copyright Halsey 2023
It’s been several years since I last published a book, and my own mental health has been put through the wringer. Two years ago my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. Six months later he passed away, only a month after his 70th birthday.
During the year that followed, I climbed my way back from the deepest darkness, only to have my life shattered yet again last month, when I had to comb through everything in my dad’s home – my home for twenty-five years – and practically take it apart bit by bit. It was heart wrenching, as you can imagine, but I take comfort in the gems I found, and in the fact that I found good homes for the important things.
My dad wasn’t into taking pictures, so I was incredibly happy and grateful to find a few photos I hadn’t seen before. Here’s my favorite pic of my handsome father.
The most precious thing my dad left behind is his typewriter. He was a writer too, and he was the person that steered me toward the path of writing – something I will forever be thankful for. His legacy are words – and me.
Going through all of this, I’m trying to write happy, funny, steamy stories. I was told that honoring my dad’s memory through writing would help, and I will do that for the rest of my career. There will always be something of my dad in my books.
I started by dedicating my current book to him, the second book in my new series. I’m only a few chapters short of finishing the first draft, which will then go to my brilliant editor to be gutted. 😊
In the meantime, Amazon have a deal going for the paperback version of Celebrity, which is $5.51 as I write this (its normal price is $13.99). So if you want to get some great AND affordable Christmas gifts, take advantage of this deal that can go away at any time (this is not one of the discounts I control).
Thank you for reading this far. My readers are the ones that keep me afloat, and although it’s a slow process, I am becoming a better writer thanks to you.
Now that I have given you my monthly update, I want to end with a sincere question: how are you doing today? Let me know in the comments or email me at contact@melindadeross.com ❤
If you’d like to stay more up to date with my books and other fun posts, follow my Facebook page and subscribe to my newsletter. Would love to see you there!
If you’re new here, welcome and I hope you enjoy my content! Hopefully you’ll get Hooked on my writing with this FREE BOOK!
If you’re a longtime fan, thank you so much for hanging in here and following my journey. I appreciate you tremendously! ❤
Until next time, be safe and happy!
Melinda
