July 15^th, 2010

Dear Readers and Colleagues,

 First, my apologies for being out of touch for such a long time. Some of the great writers speak of dark nights of the soul. While I’m sure I can be poetic and obscure I don’t think it would do anything other than annoy people.

To be blunt, the last year and a half has been a nightmare of loss, illness, betrayal and death. I won’t go into details but most days it was all I could do to cope. My gift and love of writing seemed to dry up and blow away. I have done some work on various novels but nothing has been completed.

 Recently, my mother was diagnosed for pancreatic and liver cancer. The doctors are trying to understand how she was cancer free and healthy less than a year ago and now has signs of stage four cancers. To say the news has sent my family reeling is an understatement. She was fine three months ago.

 My mother is one of my closest friends and has always been my champion. We live close together and talk everyday. I have suddenly found myself unable to share everything with her because the thing that is tearing me apart the most is her illness. It’s hard to express the anger, fear and sense of helplessness I feel.

 At this time I do not know when I will have a novel completed and cannot make any promises. All of my energy has been turned toward my mother’s health, my family, and trying to step in and take care of her responsibilities.

 They say that times of crisis clearly show the measure of the people around you. I cannot say enough about the friends and family who have stood beside me during my mother’s illness and even before that when I was a mess.

 To those who have expressed their love, concern and support: thank you so much, it means the world to me; your care and encouragement gives me strength.

  Sincerely,

 Theolyn Boese