It is 18th June, it is raining, and I just got my second jab! In two weeks I can…go to the dentist. The optometrist. The physiotherapist. Ah, the wild times ahead. Seriously, though, I am hopeful that everyone who can, does get vaccinated as quickly as possible. That’s the only way back to some near-normalcy – the only way we can stay ahead of a mutating virus. And if you have long Covid (as I possibly do) anecdotal evidence suggests that the vaccine may help reduce your symptoms.

Summer has arrived with a breath of hopefulness. I just finished the edits on my book Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove. It is off to production! So exciting! At some point, I will have a cover. A map! It’s on its way to becoming a real book and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’ve also resumed work on my next novel, my most ‘historical’ one yet, set during the time of the Gujarat Sultanate. My research folder is 80 documents long. It’s ridiculous! I don’t know how people write historical fiction at all.

I first fell ill in March; one of the things that kept me going, apart from my writing, was gentle anime. If you’re looking for a soothing, bittersweet, fantastic, dreamy, strange show, I highly recommend Mushi-shi. I believe you can watch it for free on Funimation, animekisatv, and possibly Crunchyroll, depending on your location. Mushi are primitive, supernatural beings between the living and the dead, occupying a separate plane of life from ours. Mushi-shi are those who study mushi and help people who have problems because of them. I watch an episode every night. I’m hoarding them!

I’ve also been reading the delightful Bone comics by Jeff Smith. A weird combination of dark fantasy and high comedy, it is utterly enthralling and beautifully drawn.

That’s it from me for now. I’m hoping the second shot helps with my symptoms. Meanwhile, I’m all about this song, lol.