Hello readers!
We hope all is well with you and that spring is treating you great. It’s been slow coming in Minnesota, but we’re finally getting some nice days.
We wanted to send you an update about what is happening with us, why you haven’t heard much from us lately, and what’s happening with Phoenix and Dante’s book and why it’s not going to be here as soon as we had originally planned. It’s going to sound like a list of excuses but, I promise you, they are valid reasons.
One. For the past eight months, I have been studying for two huge (and expensive) tests for work. The details are boring so I won’t bother you with them, but they were basically required if I wanted to keep my job. Since writing doesn’t pay the bills (man, I wish it did!), I’ve had to focus all of my energy into studying for them. I haven’t even been reading! (See, I told you that they were important.) But the good news is that I passed the first test at the end of last year and I just passed my second test a week ago. What a relief!
Two. As most of you know, both of us gave birth last July, and as moms of babies know, those little turds are a lot of work. (I have older kids and I forgot how much work infants are.) Not only have they turned our lives upside down, but Lara has been working full-time and is exclusively pumping for her baby. That takes a lot of time, then she has to clean a lot of bottles and parts, so she doesn’t have a lot of spare time right now. (I am blessed that I only work part-time and that my baby nurses directly so I only have to pump at work.) The good news is that our boys will be a year old in July, and Lara’s schedule will get a little easier.
Three. And this is the one I ask for the most consideration. You may or may not know that Lara was pregnant with twin boys who were born five weeks early. One of her sons was born with a congenital heart defect. Sadly, her son was only with us for 16 days before he earned his angel wings. For anyone who has lost a child (or even losing someone you are close to), you know that the grief she has been experiencing is something I would never wish on my worst enemy. She suffers with this every day, so writing isn’t something she will always be able to focus on. But I do know she wants to find out what happens with Phoenix and Dante as much as you all do, so it will happen. Just not quite as soon as we all would like.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding! We are very lucky to have fans like you!
Renae and Lara
Lateefa Dawkins
Lara my prayers for you to maintain and strengthen your heart. I know keeps lifeing , I can wait until you’re ready to read about awesomeness of Dante and Phoenix. I’ll just do what I have been doing by high lightening the last two book that turns it into a Dante and Phoenix mini book. 😊👍🏽 In the meantime my prayers go out to the both of you to have an easier rest of the year.
Lara
Lateefa, thank you so much for your prayers! It’s been a tough year and half and some days are harder than others, for sure. It helps to know people care, so thank you.
The good news is we are working on Phoenix and Dante’s story now. Yay! We hope to have it out this summer. Thank you so much for your patience. Hopefully the wait will be worth it!