My debut as editor of a published book

Today marks my debut as the Editor of a published book – The Shadow Prophecy: Shadow Wolf Trilogy #1. I had the honor to work on the Shadow Prophecy as a pro bono Editor. It was an enthralling journey.

I met Rae Egan through the writing community forum on Twitter. She was looking for editorial inputs and I offered to help. Rae and I collaborated for over 2 months using Google Docs and messengers. Without speaking with each other on phone or voice chat we created a workable collaboration that enabled a quick turnaround.

The entire project was made possible by Rae’s acceptance of guidance and feedback. She explained to me themes and storylines when I posed questions. With each passing day, the book 📚 gripped me with the mystery of the Shadow Prophecy.

I wish self-published author Rae Egan all the best on the launch of her book. She needs our encouragement as she works on the trilogy. After reading book 1, you will want more of this young adult fiction.

This book would not have been made possible without the help of my amazing editor Aneesha Shewani. Her time and dedication went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. If you have enjoyed my book please follow her on Twitter @felinemusings

Rae Egan

Unsaid

#FromOneLine 146

Those who leave with words unsaid
Stir up longings, buried yet not dead
For one can only wait and wonder
How their world was ripped asunder
Songs of love, once carefree, wild
Now broken chords, when lyrics died

Newer Gods

Spoken myths tell
The truth of fallen worlds
Apocalyptic disasters
Sealed in Time’s capsule
An open Pandora’s box
Blows the last storm
In our hapless faces
We kneel in obeisance
When darkness unfolds
For we brazenly ignored
All our History ever told
In human laments and curses
Newer Gods are born

Yesterday

Do not tarry for tomorrow
Dwell not on the clamor
Of those loud yesterdays;
Time’s hands in tandem
Hold us strictly to ransom
To make the most of today.

Shed the anxiety
Of another tomorrow
Let go of the
Worries of today
Fear only the
Whispers of yesterday
With the unfailing power
To haunt each living day

Striking the balance as a work from home parent

A poignant post on LinkedIn by a woman leader about work from home and personal life “imbalance” caught my eye yesterday. You can read Kim Crean’s post – She wrote me a note – here. It got me reassessing how it’s never been easy for working parents. The pandemic-driven work from the home situation has brought all our job stress, conversations, and reactions to the home.

Children hear everything; they imbibe our stress; they wonder about our problems. They are struggling with loneliness and online education. As a parent, I have had moments like these in the past 2 years. The workday begins early and goes on until you can convince yourself not to check the next email.

The lessons I learned was to:

  1. Keep the weekends free and for the home. Resist the temptation to check emails unless there is something really important going on. Every weekend cannot have something demanding urgent attention.
  2. Be aware of your child’s schoolwork and online interactions. Let them know you are there to guide them. Take interest in their day. I helped my son with some essays for his winter break homework this week and I enjoyed it. We learned things together.
  3. Take a break, sneak in a snack, indulge in a light banter in between work, just as you would do in the office. Don’t remain glued to your home office. Your child will also get a break from constant screen viewing.
  4. Even the youngest of kids can understand things explained to them. So, if you know there is an important meeting coming up, let them know. Talk about the importance of being quiet and disciplined for that half-an-hour. Thank them for adjusting. Reward appropriately, if needed. Acknowledge their contribution to your work life. It usually sets a trend and the children pick up cues for similar circumstances.

My 11-year old has held up post-it notes asking something when I am on a call. How different is it from diversions at the workplace – the message ping, a quick scribble of Lunch! on your desk whiteboard by a colleague, a gesture from across the hallway by a friend? It is not. Take it all in your stride.

We are humans navigating the strangest of times. Be gentle with yourself. A few years down the line you will recall. these days with your children. Your family 👪 is the best team you are working with right now.