It’s good to be home from the hospital and even good to be back at my day job. When I knew I would be out of commission for
a while, like most people who write as a passion, I figured sick leave would be a good time for getting some words on paper.
It wasn’t.
In fact, I didn’t write a single word. Not one.
The General’s Ambition had just been released. I had plans to attend the Fort Meade Officer’s Spouses Club Holiday Bazaar. I’d started a free promotion for The Peacekeeper’s Photograph and wanted to do some blog interviews and promotions for the new book. None of that was to be. I simply couldn’t concentrate on any of it.
I discovered that healing takes up a lot of time and energy.
My first day back at my day job was exhausting. The sight of more than 600 emails, a bunch of voicemails and projects that still awaited my attention, sapped my energy. I’m not sure when I’ll have balance again to be able to work a full day, then put some hours in at the keyboard. Eventually, I’ll be able to do that again.
In the meantime, I’ve had a new idea for a series I’m very excited about. I’ve started an outline (yes, I’m going to fully outline this one) and the newness of the idea is giving me the energy to put some time into the work.
Thanks to everyone for your words of support while I was away. It was good to know I’d been missed. I’m back now! Look for some blog interviews, maybe more free promotions for The Master Sergeant Harper Series. I may even post a couple of teasers for the new series one day soon.
M. L. Doyle has served in the U.S. Army at home and abroad for more than two decades as both a soldier and civilian. Mary is the author of The Desert Goddess series, an urban fantasy romp consisting of The Bonding Spell and The Bonding Blade. She has also penned The Master Sergeant Harper mystery series which has earned numerous awards including an IPPY, a Lyra Award and the Carrie McCray Literary Award. Mary is the co-author of two memoirs; A Promise Fulfilled; the story of a Wife and Mother, Soldier and General Officer (Jan. 201) and the memoir, I’m Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen—My Journey Home (Touchstone, 2010), which was nominated for an NAACP Image award. Mary's work has been published by The Goodman Project, The War Horse, The WWrite Blog and The Wrath-Bearing Tree. Mary retired from her career as an Army Public Affairs officer in 2020, then packed up her two cats and moved back to her home state of Minnesota where she takes tap dancing lessons, serves on the board of several nonprofits and enjoys taking an afternoon nap when she can. You can read excerpts of all of her work on her website at mldoyleauthor.com. Facebook.com/mldoyleauthor, or Bluesky @mldoyle.bsky.social.
