Yeah, it’s two and a half weeks into March, and I forgot to post this update earlier but we’ll all just pretend that I didn’t (ha).
I suppose it’s a good thing that I don’t have much catch up to do on this previous month. February was a slog for me. Life (mostly depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem) really knocked me down. When I had the energy, I squeezed in as much books as I could read from my TBR.
On the other hand writing didn’t happen much in February.
I started and then re-started, and then started story after short story. It hasn’t quite stuck yet and it’s becoming obvious I need to stretch my writing muscles more regularly than I have been doing.
I did get this lovely cover and scintillating blurb for my next Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon True Love, The Baby Swap That Bound Them:
Isn’t she a beauty? I’ve been blessed with stunning covers before, and I’m so grateful to Harlequin/M&B for this one especially because having a visibly Muslim female model on the North American* cover is everything to me. The representation is so important. I was sneaking Harlequins at a young age, and I can’t imagine what it would have meant to me to see a cover like this when I’d been younger.
But like I said, I’m blessed and truly full of gratitude. I’ll be stoked when I get to hold this one in my hands. 🙂
*I say North American because Australia/New Zealand and Italy have given me some gorgeous hijabis as cover models. In July 2021, my Mills & Boon Australia/NZ cover for my first book, Second Chance to Wear His Ring, and in May 2022, Italy (Harmony/HarperCollins Italia). You can peep these covers below:
And that’s it for March’s update. Still will try to complete a short story, just so that I can say I didn’t quit (haha). I have plans to read 5 books, most of which are library hauls that I need to clear through before deadlines. In a few short days, I’ll also be fasting for Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims. So if March started kinda slow, it’ll be picking up pace soon enough no doubt.
Once again, sorry it took so long to get around to this post. I’ll try to keep up in April. Promise!
Until then,
Hana
Hana Sheik 