Not only does May 10th mark my mother's birthday, but it also belongs to our eldest, Master Liam, who just turned two.
I know. God is quite the jester.
But the birthday itself isn't what I'm here to report.
What I am here to report is what happened to Liam the moment midnight struck.
It's like the tantrum fairy emerged from whichever crevice she haunts and sprinkled tantrum dust on our toddler while we all peacefully slept.
And let me tell you, she wasn't shy with it.
There has not been a single day since then that our boy hasn't thrown at least half a dozen wobblies. I'm talking foot-stomping, snatching toys from Nathan, throwing said toys on the floor, and then crying because, why the hell not?
You couldn't write it.
And on top of that, Master Nathan is teething, so he's doing his own bit for the cause.
I was warned, of course.
Plenty of people told me the Terrible Twos were coming. I nodded along, smiled politely, and laughed it off in the way only a naive first-time parent can.
And by the gods below, they were right.
Now, I could lament and whinge that it's eating into my writing time (it is, though dictating helps to combat this). I could bemoan my onset of tinnitus. Heck, I could even write a strongly worded letter to the tantrum fairy.
But I won't.
Because one day, on that distant horizon, I will look back on these loud, chaotic, unproductive days and do anything to have what is available to me right now in abundance.
So yes, the days are long.
The shrieks are ear-splitting.
My writing sessions are often cut short.
But I wouldn't change it for the world.
There are memories, moments, and magic in these early days that can be missed if you're too weary to see them.
I dare say there's magic in my early work as I broke into this wacky realm of writing fiction.
Only if you're looking, however.
Two such works exist solely at my Storehouse, and no, they aren't fantasy.
Fair warning, though:
This duology isn't in paperback or audiobook just yet — that'll come once The Divided Region is wrapped up. And if you're expecting purple prose that sweeps you off your feet, then you'll be sorely disappointed.
But if you're happy to see where this all started, and you enjoy a story that invites a little chill, scoot on over here:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/COAR
DJJW