… as I write at a time like this 😌.
I ask myself this often.
Let me give some context.
I’ve picked up a new interest lately that kind of came out of nowhere… watching art history documentaries on YouTube. It started with a random video about Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and ever since then, I’ve been hooked.
A common theme I’ve noticed in these stories is that many of these iconic works of art were created during times of hardship. Political unrest. Religious persecution. War. And yet, art was still made.
And as I add the finishing touches to my next release, My Only, and prepare for its promo season, it made me think… about now.
It’s only April, and this year has already been a lot. But somehow, it’s also been one of the most creatively fulfilling seasons in my writing life. I’m working on new stories, building out connected worlds, running my premium newsletter, which honestly brings me so much joy, it barely feels like work.
That’s not to say it’s been easy.
Last year, through the election and everything leading up to it… then this January, which felt like three months packed into one—I had to find a way to stay focused on my production schedule. And some days, that meant reminding myself why I even create in the first place.
Because something I think people forget is that artists—whether they’re painting, writing, building—often create in chaos.
It’s a little like that band on the Titanic, still playing as the ship went down. Maybe it’s not denial. Maybe it’s devotion. Maybe it’s survival.
Maybe that’s what this is.
That need to make something beautiful, even when the world feels like it’s unraveling.
That’s exactly what My Only became for me.
It’s a story I’ve wanted to write since I typed “The End” on My First, My Last. Ayla and Hassani weren’t done with me… and I wasn’t done with them either. This new chapter in their journey is emotional, yes. But not dramatic for drama’s sake. It’s life on the page.
It’s happily ever after as a verb.
Love in motion.
Every quote you’ve ever read about marriage or commitment, played out and tested on the page.
And all of that—the emotion, the honesty, the realness—was shaped by the time I wrote it in.
How do I write in a time like this?
Like this…
By turning all the mess into something meaningful. Transmuting the noise into something beautiful. Sorting through the dust to find the gems, just like the artists of the past.
Because everything is cyclical. History repeats itself. And maybe, just maybe, something I create today will be part of the mark I leave behind.
If you’re reading My Only when it drops this summer, just know… some of this season lives inside.
I often wonder what they’ll call this time in history.
Whatever it is… I hope they remember the art… mine included.
Community: I sooo appreciate you ❤️. Have you told your favorite author how much you appreciate them? ☺️. Do it today! I’m sure they would so appreciate it.