Coming up for air

I did a foolish thing. I not only agreed to help plan IJET-33, an international translation conference (in a reduced role, but still) during a period when I was supposed to be finishing up the manuscript for my latest novel translation, I also volunteered to do a presentation at that same conference. All while still holding down the remaining tatters of my regular translation and checking work.

Folks, it took a lot out of me. The two weeks before that conference were… Well, they’re a blur. I do remember some numb-brain level exhaustion, and some tears, and some unkind thoughts about the whole world.

And unsurprisingly, I found almost no leeway in the past couple of months for words. It was a struggle to keep up with my obligations, much less work in voluntary stuff like this blog or even social media. Hell, I didn’t even get any good bird pictures taken!

But the presentation is past (it went really well, or so they tell me). The conference was a rousing success. The manuscript is in and edits will wait until June. I have dug up from all the various jobs that I had let pile up. I am, in other words, recovered enough to find words to spare. Hence, this.

I plan to post something about my presentation here soon, but for now, I just want to let the internet know I’m still here.

Oh! And Strange Houses comes out next month in the UK and US. Preorder, reserve at your library, go and read and enjoy!