Hi YAOTL’ers, it’s me! Sorry I haven’t written in so long. I got sidetracked by a tiny touch of cancer. I’m okay, but it’s been a tough few months, starting with the diagnosis on the Ides of March through surgery after April Fool’s Day, and hearing they got it all and I’m cancer free a week later.

 

I got through it all with the support of family and friends. I also coped by following the example of my oldest brother Bob, who defined the term perseverance. Born with a disability that gave him health issues throughout his life, he faced it all with a just-keep-swimming philosophy and an upbeat attitude that could make Shirley Temple look like a curmudgeon.

 

And he laughed. Because as he would say, life will throw a lot of crap at you. You can either laugh or cry, but wouldn’t you rather laugh?

 

Yes. Yes, I would. And though my laughter has sometimes been more of a wince, I’ve chosen to see the funny side of this journey, like the tech who hovered nearby with a Geiger counter after my radiation treatments and the fact that my oncologist performed the surgery using a robot. Fun fact, though I pictured the robot from Lost in Space or R2-D2 wearing a surgical mask, the machine turned out to look more like an industrial-sized washing machine. With arms. And scalpels.

 

With more energy post-surgery, I’m back at writing, finishing up Every Time We Say Goodbye, the third and final book in the Beryl Blue, Time Cop series. Next, I turn to my memories of my brother again as I revise and polish My Bicentennial, a semi-autobiographical coming of age story about a teenager finding her way and finding her voice during her senior year of high school, 1976. It’s both a time trip to the ’70s with groovy clothes, cars, and music and an emotional journey with a lot of drama, tears, and, of course, laughter. Because that’s how I roll.

 

- Janet Raye Stevens writes mysteries and time travel adventures for all ages, with humor, heart, and a dash of suspense. Connect with Janet at her Website