I haven’t posted much this month, largely because I’ve been under the weather, in various ways. To begin with, my doctor changed the painkiller I take for migraines, which seemed like a good idea at the time. But it turns out that Tramadol has some unpleasant side-effects. I spent a month wallowing in the deepest depression I’d suffered since I lived in squalid conditions in an unheated cabin, during an incredibly bad Winter in 1994. I couldn’t figure out what exactly I was depressed about. Then I ran out of Tramadol and the depression cleared right up. Turns out that depression can be one of the side-effects of that med. Nice. My doctor and I need to have a little chat soon.
For six days in the middle of October, I was at GayRomLit. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a retreat for writers and fans of gay romance. This year, it was hosted in Abuquerque, New Mexico, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. I had a terrific time, meeting and chatting with people I’ve talked to online for years, and even though I wasn’t one of the well-known authors there, I did have more than a few people recognize me and tell me how much they loved my books! I even autographed a few copies!
On the downside, the jet lag, high altitude, and the dry desert air really kicked my butt. I kept waking up at two-hour intervals during the night, feeling dehydrated. The first night I staggered downstairs at 4am in search of coffee to kill the headache I had coming on. Thankfully, the casino had a 24/7 diner next to it, where I was able to get some really bad (but caffeinated) coffee — and I looked so pathetic that the nice lady at the counter gave me the coffee for free.
I never did make it to the casino, even though I walked through it daily. Probably for the best.
I came back desperately needing sleep and with a throat so scratchy that I could barely talk. Then, just when I seemed to have recuperated, I got hit with a head cold this weekend.
Bah.
But I’ve decided to take a break from other writing for a few days, in order to finally finish polishing up Murderous Requiem (or whatever I end up calling it), my occult murder mystery, so I can submit it before November 1st, when I’ll be doing NaNoWriMo again. This is another story I’ve fretted over for too long, even though several beta readers have told me they loved it. So it’s time to stop worrying about whether or not it’s too “weird” to find an audience and just send it out. I have no doubt there are people out there who will like it, even if it isn’t a typical romance.
Jamie Fessenden's Blog 
Sorry to hear you got hit so hard with everything. Good thing you figured out that it was the medication that was making you so depressed. Some people don’t realize that and it can be devastating. Time to find something else to use for those migraines. I am glad to hear that you’re going to finish up your occult mystery story. I really want to read it, whatever you decide to call it. lol
Yeah, it was pretty scary for a while. I’ve known people who were chronically depressed and I was beginning to fear I was heading that way. I’m glad it had an explanation, at least.