As we plunge into the unknown waters of the future, I brace for the shock of the cold and the depths and whatever monsters might wait.

But as a psychologist I recently spoke with told me to do, when you start obsessing about what if, ask yourself what is? My endless worrying has been keeping me awake a night (I’m sure I’m not alone in this), and that’s not doing me or anyone any favors. Being sleep deprived doesn’t save the world.

October is my favorite month (as anyone who’s known me for a minute will know), but it’s been a somewhat lackluster October this time around. I had a lovely birthday and a wonderful visit with family. The decorations are up and my costume is ready. The weather though has been far too hot and dry for this time of year.

And the news is a steady stream of horrors–not the delightful horrors of Halloween, of course, but horrors that do actual harm. What’s a fake scare to do in times like this?

Well, my lifelines are these–my family and friends and my writing and art. Subscribe to my newsletter for a bit more writing. I share stories there. Sometimes I wonder why I keep this blog and the newsletter. Why not just put everything together? It would be easier, wouldn’t it? And I don’t know what motivates one reader to read one and not the other because really, are they so different? Well, I do my best to make each its own thing. The newsletter has book and video recommendations and a short story or novel excerpt. This space focuses on things on my mind. And I feel that I can write more here without annoying people. Nobody wants more email. Seriously. I’m drowning in email and I’m not unique. But I read many newsletters even though I don’t have time to read as many as I would like. After all, there are other things to do in life, like read books, see friends, make a living.

But whatever you subscribe to, thank you! It means a lot.

In the next newsletter, I’ll share one more excerpt from my novel, The Fairytale Asylum, and hopefully some art.

And if you’d like some real world mail of art and handmade paper things, there’s Patreon. Everyone’s interest and circumstances differ, but if you can support my art become a Patron. Or even just buy me a KoFi. My supporters definitely help ease the panic of modern life.

The seas are rough, but I’m glad we’re in them together!

What are your lifelines in these tumultuous times?

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Thanks for reading!