I’m excited to share that I’m over halfway through the final review of my novel, with just 100 pages left to tackle. My goal is to wrap it up by New Year’s Eve—a resolution I’m determined to keep, even if the journey hasn’t been smooth sailing.
Over the past four months, my progress has been slower than I hoped, primarily due to health challenges. Two years ago, I was misdiagnosed with IBS; no tests or scans were done to confirm it. I endured intense abdominal pain, brushing it off as “normal” and ignoring the red flags. Then, in August, the real culprit came to light: gallstones and 2 benign tumours on my liver (1.5cm and 5cm).
The situation escalated when my gallbladder was causing infections and pancreatitis. Surgery was the only option, and I recently had my gallbladder removed. Recovery has been tough—physically and emotionally—but I refuse to let it derail my writing.
Despite the setbacks, I’m thrilled with how the book is shaping up. I’ve surpassed my original word count target of 70,000 words, with the manuscript now standing at 73,500 words and 267 pages.
The next challenge? Choosing the perfect title…
Stay tuned—there’s more to come as I edge closer to completing this project!
Kate Halena 
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