Madison Has Returned – For Real This Time

Hello reader and writer friends,

I had taken a long hiatus from my website because I’d gone through some tough transitions in my personal life. I’ll give some details below, but I’d like to make it clear that I’ve worked on the shame I’ve associated with my past, and that’s why I feel comfortable sharing what’s happened now and giving you an idea of where I’m heading personally and what my plans are for this site.

What happened to me?

Good question. It seemed like things were going so well. I’d released two novels, started this blog, and kept up with it for two whole years, and I was on a role. I had big plans for my future as an author even if I was scared about imposter syndrome and other things like that, but here’s what happened.

• In early 2018, I began to show significant signs that there was something wrong with my nervous system. I didn’t want that to stop me or hold me back, so I tried to keep going as normal and ended up taking too much on my plate. I wanted to graduate in December 2018, work two internships, continue to write, keep up with this blog, and find a permanent job in media. I couldn’t keep up, and the resulting flare was debilitating, forcing me to slow down to the point where I was mostly bedridden.
• That same year, I moved in with an abusive individual that I had seen as a friend. They had helped me significantly during my health transition, so I thought they’d be a good support system, but that didn’t happen. This person was abusive in every possible way, making it difficult for my husband and me to function daily. After multiple attempts to mend the friendship and wait for this person to receive help for their mental health, the abuse didn’t stop until we moved out in June of 2020 during the pandemic.
• In those two years, not only was my personal life and home life affected by an abusive individual but I also was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and didn’t know what to do with that information. I had brain fog and got into multiple flares, worrying about how I would pay the bills and buy groceries. This put significant stress on me and my husband as we attempted to navigate the world through these various disturbances.
• I gave up reading and writing completely from 2019 – 2021, finally getting back into it after joining my master’s degree program in September of 2020. I applied because I didn’t have many options available to me career-wise, so it seemed like the right choice, and I’m so glad that I did. The program has completely recharged me in ways I didn’t realize I needed, resurging faith in my dream of becoming an author again.

As you can see, my dear reader/writer friend, I was dealing with a lot of issues physically, psychologically, and emotionally. My husband and I took things in stride, and we eloped in 2021. We’ve grown closer as a couple through all of this, and he completely supports my dreams and efforts. Things are looking much better now, and I’m hopeful my 30’s will truly be the decade for me.

What’s going to happen now?

I am working on a few projects, but I’d really like to get back into book reviews! I’ve missed sharing my thoughts and giving people options on what to read. I have a backlog of books I’ve been reading over the last year, so I’m hoping to get some posts scheduled to keep the content consistent! My reviews will be a blend of books I’m reading now and then books I’ve read from 2021 to now.

For my writing projects, I’m working on multiple series during my graduate degree, and I’m hoping to begin publishing once I’m graduated. I am warming up to the idea of sharing excerpts and my progress on Discord, so look out for future links! I’m trying not to overwhelm myself or make promises I can’t keep, but I’m feeling so much more positive about the future than I have in many years.

My next book probably won’t release until 2024, and it won’t be the novel advertised at the end of Escape. I am still planning to write that novel, but it’ll come later in the series, and it’ll have a different title. I’ve shuffled my schedule around, but I’m excited about this world I’m creating. Reading is my biggest inspiration for writing too which is why the book reviews are so important to me.

How can you connect with me now?

My author social media profiles are still not active. If you’d like to follow me personally, you can find me on Instagram @madisondiaz where I’ll be sharing spiritual content as well as writing content. My blog posts will still go to my Facebook page, but it just serves as that. I might bring my author profiles back in the future, but I don’t want to spread myself too thin yet. I’d like to just gradually move in this direction as things slowly shift into place.

Thanks for supporting me and following this blog. I’ve gotten some views and followers over the years of being inactive, so hello! This is my official greeting to you. Look out for new book reviews, writing advice, and book recommendations. I’ll do more shortlists for various tastes as I go along, wanting to ensure there’s a place for different types of romance readers here.