Posted Sep 12 2011, 5:16 am
In 1945, Ray Milland won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Lost Weekend. It was about a guy who loses an entire weekend to booze. I can relate because I definitely lost the summer of 2011. I didn’t lose it to alcohol (though heaven knows I did try), I lost it to pain. Lots and lots of pain.
To briefly recap, I’ve been suffering from a pinched sciatic nerve due to a bulging L5/S1 disc pretty much since the first of the year. (L5/S1 is located in the lower back.) The pain turned acute on Father’s Day weekend. Since then, on the pain scale of 0-10, I’ve consistently ranked 7-9 with spikes to 12. No lie. I’ve had two epidurals; the first one did absolutely no good and the second was considerably more successful. However, my activity level is still greatly diminished with me currently operating at twenty-five percent capacity, if I’m lucky. Thus, after meeting with the neurosurgeon, my first piece of exciting news is that I’ll be having back surgery at the end of the month. How is that exciting? Because I canNOT wait to be pain free and have my life back. My husband, Pat, wholeheartedly agrees with this decision. Maybe that’s because he’s tired of waiting on me hand and foot. *pause* Nah.
The procedure is called mircodiscectomy. The surgeon, a soft-spoken, very balanced guy with a faint, but still yummy Aussie accent, says 90% of the people who have this procedure have no leg pain for up to five years. After five years it’s 70%. The reoccurrence rate of having to have a second surgery is around 15%. It’s totally on me and my stupidity level (what? me stupid?) as to whether or not I’ll fall into that 15%. Please do me the favor of circling September 28th on your calendar and be ready to send positive waves my way.
The second bit of exciting news is that I now belong to a tantalizing new blog called shortstoryseductions.com. We’re a group of erotic romance authors and every month three or four of us will be collectively writing an erotic short. Each writer will be responsible for 250-1,000 words. The fun part will be is seeing how the stories unfold given the varying viewpoints. And the best part is, for our October launch, I get to kick things off with a Halloween-themed story! So please look for future notices and be sure to check us out!
My last piece of exciting news is….drum roll, please….I’ve accepted a contract with Sybarite Seductions to publish several of my erotic short stories. The first story, Fulfilled, will be released on September 27th – the day before my surgery. That’s got to be a good omen, right? For both a successful surgery and a successful launch!
Sybarite Seductions is an up and coming e-press that’s currently specializing in erotic short stories. (20,000 words or less.) Another author in the house is Emma Lai, who’s also pubbed through The Wild Rose Press. The stories will be available through all the usual digital outlets: Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Smashwords, etc. I’m simply over-the-moon to be a part of the Sybarite family. Though small, the editorial staff is easy to work with and extremely professional. So, if you’ve got a decadent little ditty, but never felt like there was a publishing home for it, check out www.sybariteseductions.com.
That’s all I got for now. Hope y’all have a stellar autumn season. I’ll plan to be back blogging on a regular basis once my surgery is done. Until then, drop me a line. lynda@lyndabailey.net.
L.
27 Comments
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Lynda, I’ve been worried about you! So relieved you’ve found the road to recovery. We WILL think positive, and congratulations on the new blog and Syberite Seductions!
Donnell~
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the well-wishes. Remind me (and everyone else), when does your debut book come out? Soon, right? Can’t wait to get my very own copy!
Miss you girlfriend!
Lynda,
Congratulations on all ends. To the end of pain and the beginning of a new writing adventure!
Big wishes to success on both!
Chris!
Missed you at the UWG meeting this past Saturday. Hope all is well in your world. Thanks a ton for the good wishes!
Good luck with the surgery! I will send tons of positive energy your way. Back pain is horrible. Shmoozy sympathy, too. 🙂
And CONGRATS on the publishing news!!!! Yay, Lynda!!! Woo-hoo! 🙂 Happy dance for you, my friend!
Thanks Linda/Regina!
I’m still kinda happy dancin’ myself. 🙂
Good lord, is it something in the water??? I’ve had a “bulging disk” up in the C1- C2ish area this summer. That’s up high and causes my left arm to go numb. (Yeah, I did think it was a heart attack at first) Anyway, I’m so sorry you’ve been in so much pain:( Will be sending good vibes on the 28th.
And WHOOT!! Congrats on the short story sales! That’s great. You’re in good company with Emma. She’s great.
So happy for you, my friend! Now get well quick. Would love to see you at RT next April! Are you going?
Hugs-
Jennifer~
C1-C2 – yikes! With my prob being in the low back, I’ve suffered tremendous pain down my entire left leg, but the *fix* is more straightforward given the location. I will think positive thoughts for you as well for an equally speedy recovery! (No heart attacks, girlie, you hear?)
And I adore Emma! A great writer as well as a great lady.
Hmmm. RT in April? At this point, I have no idea. Will have to take it under advisement.
Hugs back, girlfriend!
Ouch! Not you as well, Jenn! Hope you get well soon too.
And I also hope you and Lynda (and all our fellow 2010 Golden Heart finalists) are going to the 2011 RWA National conference in Anaheim and that I’ll see you there!!
Welcome back to the land of the living! And you’ll be even “more better” after your surgery.
Major congrats on your great publishing news! This is a great beginning of mucho good writing success.
Sending healing thoughts your way starting now–got to get a head start on the healing process.
Much love,
–Suzanne
Suzanne!
Thanks for stopping by and for the *positive waves.* I’ve been building myself up to hopefully cut down on the recovery time. Come the middle of October, watch out world!
Love ya back!
You are such a whirlwind of activity, Lynda, that I can’t even imagine what you’ve been going through with the limitations your body has put on you this year.
My fingers are crossed for you and I’m sending you positive thoughts for a successful surgery, book launch AND to getting back to 100%!
Jacqui
Thanks Jacqui!
‘Preciate you stopping by. Many names come to mind in regard to my activity level of the past summer, but whirlwind sure ain’t one of ’em! LOL
I definitely plan to be in Anaheim next summer. I look forward to seeing you and all our Unsinkables siblings!
Hello there. Congrats on your good news. I can’t wait to see you come up with for your Halloween story. And I’ll be sending good thoughts your way for you surgery.
Hey Lynn~
Everyone, W. Lynn Chantale is one of the other authors connected with the new blog, shortstoryseductions.com. She’ll be part of the *Home for the Holidays* themed story. Can’t wait to see how this all plays out. I think shortstoryseductions.com is gonna be a hoot and half for the writers to write and for everyone to read.
Thanks, Lynn, for the good thoughts! Can never have too many of those, huh? 🙂
Lynda,
You’re definitely in my thoughts. I’m sending you positive vibes daily.
Thanks for the mention, too!
Emma!
I know your world has been car-ray-zee lately and I ‘preciate you popping in to say *hi*!
And thanks for the positive vibes!
So glad to hear the good stuff!!! Can’t wait to read the shorts!!! You rock girl! Love and admire your resilience.
Hey Lynda!
What great news about your shorts! Wishing you the best of success with that and also with your surgery. For now, at least mentally, you should be feeling much better!
Hi Lynda,
As usual, I’m late to the party. So sorry to hear about your back pain and glad to learn your upcoming surgery will relieve it. Looking forward to your Halloween story! Congratulations on your work with a new publisher. Best of luck health-wise and writing-wise!
Hey, I’ll be sending positive thoughts your way right up until the big day==I’m sure your surgeon will work some magic! Congratulations on your work! 🙂
Jen, Mary, Nona and Gillian!
Thanks, ladies, for the congrats and good wishes! Sooo glad you all stopped by. Have a great rest of your week.
Last one to the party, as usual, hehe.I hope your surgery is 100% successful! I suffer from intermittent piriformis pain and I can’t imagine what you’re going through.
Major congratulations for the short story sales. Shorts seem to be among the top sellers in the e-pub world.
I’m the lead-off hitter in the group writing the “home for the holidays” story. Shoot, it’s hard getting in the spirit when it’s so dang hot and muggy, hehe! Can’t wait to read your Hallowe’en story.
Hey Lynda!
I’ve been wondering where you were and I’m so sorry you’ve been laid up with a bad back. I have a permanent back issue myself although nowhere near as debilitating. Just a teensy back pain is bad enough, I can’t imagine what a trial your summer has been.
You have all my prayers going into the surgery day. My SIL and my father have both had a very similar procedure and they did beautifully and have remained pain free. I know you’ll do just as well!
Congrats on the blog, the contract and all the new plans. I’ll wait with baited breath to read the upcoming blogs and books.
Rock on, roomie. Many, many hugs and prayers.
Hi Lynda,
I’m so happy you’ve found a fix for your sciatic nerve problem. Nothing worse than constant pain to drive you absolutely nuts.
I’ll be sending you bunches of good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery on 09/28/11.
Great news on the short story pubs….congratulations!
Hope to see you bright-eyed and pain free at the next SRW meeting. All the best….
Linda Hill (the purple one)
WOW, Lynda! I’m just catching up here, but I’m so sorry for what you’re going through! Sending good vibes for the end of September for both your release AND your surgery.
Wow, Lynda!!! So sorry about the pain!!!
But congrats on the story…gorgeous cover, great blurb!! Can’t wait to download it to my Kindle!