Confessions of a Writer:
Challenges of Writing I Hate the Man I Love

BREAKING NEWS!
I HATE THE MAN I LOVE released as an eBook June 15th, 2020

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day despite the restrictions due to Covid-19.  In these challenging times with having to maintain social distancing, it’s painful not to get a hug and kiss from our children and grandchildren.  However, the love is always there no matter what life brings us. Nothing can unhinge love! Despite the quarantines, stay-at-home mandates and masked faces, love and gratitude remain in our hearts and minds.  Nothing will ever get in the way of endless love.

Since my last newsletter, I have new and exciting information to share with you. Due to the COVID-19 virus the release date of my book, I HATE THE MAN I LOVE: A Conscious Relationship is Your Key to Success has been postponed until October 11, 2020. However, you can pre-order the print book in advance of the release date from Amazon or your favorite bookstore. To pre-purchase the print book on Amazon using this link. To purchase at your favorite book store, search the book by name or use the following ISBN # 978-088391-489-2.

Read I Hate the Man I Love During the Stay-at-Home Mandate

If you are following the recommendations of your state’s stay-at-home mandate and are bored and tired of watching movies, TV series, documentaries, news and more bad news, try reading my book. I can promise you this: You will not be bored and if you are a woman, you will resonate with the content. If you are a man, you may learn something! Enjoy and thank you all for supporting my long term effort in writing and publishing my book, I HATE THE MAN I LOVE!

Challenges of Writing I Hate the Man I Love

I have spent more than two years developing and writing this book.  I have faced challenges and obstacles that have stalled and changed the course of the release several times.  I can’t imagine a worse time to publish and release a book than now.  The bookstores are closed, the Library of Congress is closed, libraries are closed, and Covid-19 has been on center stage all over the media since February. As of this writing there will be no platforms to hold book signings as all venues are closed. As soon as they re-open, I will advise you when and where I will be holding book signings.

My mind refused to accept reality. I had my own, filled with hopes, wishes and dreams. I forged ahead, perhaps foolishly, with determination, fortitude and tenacity despite all the hindrances and hurdles. I devoted my time, effort, money and many sleepless nights for this project.  I questioned my sense and sensibilities, my motives and my sanity more times than I can remember. For me, there was only one choice—to move on with hopes that my book would be released and accepted with appreciation from readers, most of whom I would never know.  This was a mission directed by my muse who had no consideration for my bank account, my sleepless nights, my blurry, bugged-out, burning eyes, tender fingertips, endless hours of frustration, anxiety and more. This muse pushed me to the limits of my capabilities and drove me to the depths of hell.  She dictated my every thought and controlled my behavior and choices.

If she was wrong, I will have to grin and bear the losses of my efforts.  I will soon know if she was right in driving me to the brinks of hell.  Only time will tell.  I realized that when the muse rises from my well spring of creativity, I must surrender to her will.  She is my life force and master.  I hope she knew what the hell she was doing, because, quite honestly, I had no clue.  The compulsion to keep writing, keep editing, keep spending money in these uncertain times, was not my idea.  I will either give her the credit or the blame.

I believe this is pervasive for all of us who have a passion with a will that runs riot. I only hope and pray she was right in her unrelenting efforts to keep me going through these perilous times.

Now, I must let go and surrender to the outcome; good or bad.  I did the footwork and it’s up to the universe to decide the future of my book.  The labor pains were worse that the five babies I gave birth to, but the results were worth the pain.  I am hopeful I will feel the same way after June 15 for the release of my e-book and again after October 11, 2020 for the release of the printed version.

Writing a book that comes from your soul is no different than the muse that inhabits a singer, artist, poet, musician, or any other profession that comes from one’s soulful content.  The creative powers that lie within become our masters and control our minds to perform the energy that defines us.  I hope you will enjoy the read.  It represents my life’s work.

What I am is me, for that I came!

Joan E Childs, LCSW is a renowned psychotherapist, inspirational speaker and author of Do You Hate the One You Love: Strategies For Healing and Saving Your Relationship. In private practice since 1978, she specializes in individual and couple’s therapy, grief therapy, EMDR, NLP, inner child work and codependency. Learn more about her services at www.joanechilds.com.