... And I Am Back!!!

I will keep this short and to the point, but I am back at in the writing game, and it feels great. I tried over the last three years to get into Twisted Fate, but unfortunately for everyone who's been waiting for Fate's Revenge to come out, I was whacked upside the head with life. First, I put aside everything and started a new job. Within this post, I worked hard to obtain my CAIB designation, which I was able to obtain in just eight-and-a-half months while this usually takes two years for all four exams. Not only did I finish quicker than most, I earned the top mark for 2017 within my region, and I find out this month (hopefully) if I have earned the top Canadian mark for 2017.

​That is the fun stuff. Unfortunately, it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows. In January of 2015, I moved across provinces to continue work as a claims adjuster; however, in October of 2015, everyone within my division was laid off. At that point, I didn't know if I should move back or stay, and what I should do if I did stay as I didn't think I really wanted to continue as an adjuster due to the long hours and the stress related to the job. My daughter was doing fantastic in the new school system, but I didn't want to take the time away from her on evenings and weekends, so I went and wrote the exam for a general insurance license, and a week level obtained my level two general insurance license. At this point, I started to work as an agent for a direct writer, but again I did not enjoy this. So I moved to a brokerage . . . It has been a lot of work, learning the different aspects of the new role and increasing my education, but I feel like I finally know what it is I like to do with my days, and it leaves time on evenings and weekends for not only my daughter (who is now nine-years-old!), but for writing.

​Again, this was sidelined, though. In the summer of 2016 my grandfather passed away and then in April of 2017, my father passed away during the time that my daughter and I were moving to be closer to my job yet again. To say that I tried to fill my time with anything but thinking​ would be an understatement. Now, within the past few months, my mum has been getting worse and worse. We travelled home for Christmas and she seemed to be in great spirits, but the medication she was on made her quite . . . loopy is the only word that comes to mind. We spent two weeks and finally it was time to come home. A few weeks later, we had to go back as she was hospitalized and a lot of scary diagnoses were made. That said, she is home again and tests are continuing, and there is nothing to do but wait - hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Cliché, I know, but it is true nonetheless.

​So while we were home and spending hours in the hospital, I started to reread the books in the Twisted Fate series. Not only did I remember what I loved about the story, I remembered how lost I became in my writing, and how much that can help during trying times. For anyone that has been waiting for the next installment, I apologize for the delay. I hope you can bear with me a little longer while I become reacquainted with the world of writing, and I promise that Fate's Revenge is soon to come.

​Cheers!

​Sasha Leigh

The Reluctant Pen

So many people love to write and can't bring themselves to tell anyone about this passion that they have. For years, I kept my love for writing to myself - even denying it to myself. On one hand, this  allowed for an amazing experience I wouldn't have discovered otherwise: reading. This is the most invaluable learning tool a writer can have. Not only do you get to enjoy a new world, love, pain or information on what interests you, you learn the craft. You know, without having to open a textbook, that you enjoy a good 'voice' or so-called flow. You see the way your favourite authors write and hope to emulate them, not just in their success but their style (without copying it). This works in the opposite way, as well. After reading as much as you can, you know what you don't like, and what style you wish to never be compared to.

Take the Poll

Considering my earlier post, this couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Despite the headache, I am happy it has happened - maybe others will learn from this mistake. Unbound is the third title I chose for my first series, which has two books written to date. I thought I was done making changes regarding its name; however, I found another series written by a well-known author with the same name. Even more, someone else has a series called Forsaken, which was my second choice next to Unbound because it is the name of the first novel. To really ice the cake, the Forsaken series written by another author has a book called Forgotten as its third installment - that was to be the second title in 'my' series.

How It Began

Even before I could write, I was fascinated with words. It amazed me how they could be strung together to form thoughts, emotions, and sometimes, beauty. The way they roll off the tongue or produce such vivid imagery is incomparable. Even now, twenty-odd years later, words still have the ability to captivate me. Wherever I am, whether I want to be there or not, I can pick up a book and escape until it's time to leave.

So how did I pick up a pen and decide to write?