A Rough Week, and a Silver Lining Ahead

Last week was definitely not a good one. My mother had to be hospitalized, at 2am on a 911 call. She was going into some serious tremors, breathing complications, and more, which turned out to be due to a serious blood infection and pneumonia.

She was in the hospital all last week, so I spent quite a bit of time there and had to hold down the fort for her. Thankfully, she was released on the weekend, though she is going to need assistance this week as she was very weakened by the arduous week in the hospital.

I had to end up canceling my trip to Des Moines for DemiCon, which I really was upset about missing. Only something like what happened could keep me away from my appearance committments, but I simply could not leave mom in the situation she was facing.

DemiCon is one of my favorite events in the US, and thankfully they were really understanding, and indicated that I am welcome back next year. I plan on doing something extra for them for sure.

I am also going to see whether I can squeeze in a trip to Des Moines for a book signing in support of the forthcoming 2nd book in the Rising Dawn Saga, so I can at least visit with a few of my friends and readers in the area.

On a brighter note, it looks like new press release is going out tomorrow. Keep an eye out for the announcement here as well. It will involve the new book, and will reveal cover art, title, and illustrations. I'm looking forward to it, as last week really, really was horrid, capped off by the news that Ronnie James Dio, one of my all time favorite heavy metal singers and by all accounts a first rate guy, passed away from cancer. I've been a lifelong fan of his, in all his stuff from the Rainbow days, all of his stints with Black Sabbath, and his incredible solo stuff. Saw him twice live, once solo and once with Black Sabbath in Texas during my college years in the 90's. I still remember loving the heavy metal version of Live Aids that he put together back in the 80's, called Hear n' Aid, where he got guys from bands like Judas Priest, Queensryche, and others to participate. I think that project is one testament to the kind of guy that he was, and may he soar into the heights of "Heaven's Metal" now.

So while I don't feel overly upbeat at the moment, onward and upward with some better news in the next day or so...