I’m exhausted, the inspection bullshit has murdered me, and I could use the three extra weeks to better proof the book and not kill myself riding a deadline.
If you are going to perish waiting three weeks, please let me know in the comments below. We’d definitely like to send your family flowers and condolences. (Okay, I’m mostly partaking of morbid humor so I don’t cry at this stage. I’m THAT tired.)
According to my spreadsheet… I have not taken a day off in a month and a half because of the inspection bullshit and deadlines.
Whiskers on Kittens will proceed as normal. I thoougghhtt I’d be able to just leave Old Secrets where it’s at, but… I’m exhausted. So, yeah.
Reason for delay: I like my status of “living enabled”. COULD I finish the work on time? Yes. It would just involve 15+ hour days until release, and I’m just not all that keen on that.
(I really do hate delaying releases… ugh.)
SUE P
Don’t care how long I wait as long as you are ok and able to keep going as YOU want. Just being greedy here as I do enjoy your books and can, once again, start at the beginning 🤭
The Sneaky Kitty Critic
Yep, this delay means I stay okay. I recognize I need some time off and have been working too hard.
Randall LaPlante
If you desire it, I wish you your own paid-for house and land in a.nice place and with a staff dedicated to taking care of you. Now, if only I were a Djinn….🌻♥️🌞
jjmcgaffey
I will love Old Secrets whenever it comes – please take care of yourself, I don’t want you to burn out (altruistic and selfish reasons!).
Bill G
I say you should take the time to make it be the book you want it to be.
Elaine
While the delay is disappointing, I’d rather you lived and wrote more books than kill yourself over this one. Looking forward to Whiskers on Kittens as well.
Mark Paulus
I am all for quality of life and work/life balance (I’ve lived long enough to realize that the old adage, “No one ever says, ‘I wish I had spent one more day in the office’ on their deathbed” has loads of merit. When it happens, it happens. Take care of yourself so we get more wonderful works in the future.
No early terminations allowed due to overwork.
Cory W.
I think people can get over a short delay. If they complain, they aren’t real fans of the work. It’s much better for you to take care of yourself and put out a product you are happy with than to stress yourself out and not be happy about how you feel or the book you release.
Pam Dee
As a retired librarian I assure you many books get delayed for many reasons! Take time to rest up
Elizabeth N
Will NOT perish or even cry, an exhausted RJ is not good. Definitely want a happier not stressed RJ so please take all your deserved days off etc. Stress and it’s buddy anxiety tend to snowball if given the chance which is not good for anyone.
pattymele3363
I won’t! I can wait
Chris
Sleep, rest and take care of you. As a fan I am always excited when a new book comes out but I am more than willing to wait. I know that a healthy work life balance is incredibly important.
Jocelyn Malone
Nah, absolutely won’t perish with a delay, even if you need a bigger one than that. Take the time you need, with absolution from guilt via all the readers who care (and the ones who don’t care are haters and thus not to be factored in). Work normal-person days, stay healthy, smack your idiot apartment people as needed, and we’ll be here when you’re done.
The Sneaky Kitty Critic
OMFG if it wasn’t for that fucking inspection, I would have totally been okay, but they’re inspecting AGAIN in a week, and I’m legit crying almost every day right now because of it. Because it’s STUPID.
Ann
Why again? That’s harassment,
The Sneaky Kitty Critic
Yeah, it is stupid and ridiculous. I took the opportunity to heavily declutter the place, though, which needed it. And I bought shelving units without permission, and illicit shelving unit purchases DO make me happy…
Becky
Rock on with your illicit shelving unit purchasing self!! How are shelves illicit though??? Wall mounted?? I love shelves!
Rick
Do what’s best for you, Ms. Reba. Period.
Cecilia Satterthwaite
I can wait 🤔 I’m busy reading other books right now, am looking forward to reading Karma’s story…😊
Nancy
No. Take the time you need and I’ll enjoy he book when it is available. Thank you. Now rest!
Karen Dugan
Take your time please. It will stress you out more if it’s not up to your own standards by trying to move faster! Sending hugs and grace💗
Martha Diskin
First, love your books!!! ALL of them! Please take care of yourself. Take 4 weeks if you need to. Sick authors don’t write well. Or fast. All of your fans want you at 100%. We will wait for we know, when we get a new book, we’re in for a treat!
Patricia Schwindt
Please take care of yourself. A little delay is WAY better than you getting “dead”. I’m selfish and want your new stories to enjoy when you are ready to let them go.
Kim
Take al the time you need. Your well-being is so much more important than a book. I’m in a BIG book slump so I only reread (listen)at the moment and you have written so much already that I don’t run out of books.
anthony
fine by me, take care of yourself
Jaunita James
You take care of yourself. We will still be here. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to write and we (me) will be very sad. Feel better soon!!!!!
Loredena Frisealach
A delay is fine to me! It’s not like traditionally published books don’t get delayed on the regular, and we get more books longer if you don’t kill yourself trying to meet a deadline.
Nargel
Take your time. Not going anywhere. Your health/peace of mind/mindspace are what counts here.
Margaret
A delay is fine. your health is more important.
Naomi Bampton
It’s a minor delay, with a huge personal impact. Take your time, look after yourself then finish up.😺
Ryan
We really like you alive! Please take whatever time you need to continue to be Living Enabled!!
Bethany
We can wait. Get some rest and regroup. I, for one, appreciate your hard work and the results!
Pamela Crippin
Do not kill yourself trying to hit a deadline. As long as we can get it later is fine, because if you Die no more books will be written by you. I love ALL of your books in all of your pen names. You are a fantastic writer with a huge variety of books. Keep up the good work and keep your sanity, and just breath and keep your health up. Work at your pace and just relax, we love you.
Janine Wood
Take your time. Rather have you mentally healthy and in a good place to continue writing. We can wait.
Carol Schmoker
You do what you need to maintain your health & sanity! The world will NOT end if a book comes out later than planned!
Heidi
🪦💀
Miranda
Oh no, you’re dead already! Oh well, the rest of us can wait! 😆
Holly
sounds like a nap and cat snuggles are in order
Carole
I have never lived in an apartment, if you aren’t in the process of moving in or out, why do they even need to do an inspection? And I’m for whatever will get us more Royal States of America, and Client from Hell, and Otters, and Pets in Space. Rest so your stories will flourish. And a pox on inspectors.
Michelle
No Problems, rest up, recharge and restart when you are ready!😁
Prue Kearney-Pauli
Take your time. We don’t mind waiting. Anticipation is good for the soul.
Adena
I would rather you be able to write rested than get the book immediately. Go take your day(s) off!!
Kitty Elder
Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. And take the time you need. Your fans can wait!
Carol
Take all the time you need. We’ll still be here when you’re ready.
Valerie
Do what’s best for your health and welfare. We readers would rather wait than losr the source of good reading.
Lee Dalzell
I might not die….just whine, maybe. However, honestly I forgot when it was supposed to be out, so I won’t worry until it actually comes. I have lots of books coming that I have not read yet.
Miranda
Please sleep, as a caregiver for young people with additional needs, I don’t get much sleep. It’s not fun or healthy. Please delay and recover from the insanity of inspections.
In our state owners can require inspections every 6 weeks. I am sorry for any person who has to endure inspections. That is one reason we are in our own property after getting help to do so, my kids weren’t coping and I was so scared they would wreck things all the time.
Please remember to take care of yourself and sleep well. We love you
SusanB
Please get some rest!
I am fine waiting for the book. There is no rush. Take care of yourself.
Becky
Please, take the time to take care of yourself! I, personally do not want to fall ill from overwork. I hope you feel better.
Robert D Kelly
Not the slightest problem.
I would far prefer you to be happy and comfortable than force yourself to meet a deadline set long, long ago.
I am more likely to get well prepared works if you work under comfortable conditions.
Pam
Please take care of yourself and take the time you need! I’d rather wait to read a book that you are happier with.
Wilma
Don’t worry so much about it! Rest and recover before you get really sick.
Chris Stott
:Tis better to take the time, we will survive and importantly so will you and both parties will be receiving a better product
Olivia N Greenwood
Get some R&R. We can wait.
Dana
Hmmm … 1 book delayed by 3 weeks, vs a nervous breakdown and all the rest of the books delayed by 6 months. I choose the 3 weeks with mental health break. Take care of yourself. We really are patient. (We love your BEST work, not your RUSHED work!)
Dana
And by the way, LOVED your story in Pets in Space! Would love to see more of that universe in the future!
Briget
Relax already! No one wants your demise. How would we get our next kitty fix? 🙂
Rose Aliff
Delay is ok. Take care of yourself. Everyone needs a day off.
Theresa B Thompson
Not a problem. I will just take that time to re-read the prior books. Take the time you need.
Ingrid Schijven
No problem, take your time. Your health is more important.
Helen M Lamberton
You need a wee break. We need to practice patience.
Randall LaPlante
You do not kill, or overstress, or make unhappy the Author that lays the Golden Books! Please treat yourself well.
Chris
I would like to still be reading your books in a few decades, so I think you should have a nice long break where you enjoy yourself and don’t stress. Sleep, pet furry things and beloveds, and get back to the book when your heart is ready.
Diana T DiMascio
Take the time you need. We want your wonderful stories which are totally worth waiting for. You need to take care of yourself in order to be able to give us the stories that bring us such joy. We truly appreciate all you do.
Mary Ellen Moore
Take the time you need. None of us will die for a delay. Better you’re healthy and happy than too tired to make the magic you do on the written page.
Ann Rovetto
No problem, take whatever time you need,
Barbara Rouhier
Absolutely not. You are a person, have a life, and need to focus on your mental health more.
I honestly pray for and worry about you often.
Melissa Horn
None of us will perish. You need to stay or become healthy and well. 🙂
KateP
A short delay now vs you being healthy, happy (and productive!) is really a no-brainer. I might whine softly to myself, but I’m always going to be voting to keep the author authoring!
Cynthia Emery
Heck take 4 weeks or 5! We will be fine. some complaint s, we don’t really mean it. With 4 or 5 weeks off you will get a recharge that will do you a ton of goid! Just think about it!!!
The Sneaky Kitty Critic
However nice, 4-5 weeks means it would ripple to every other book up for preorder, so not viable.
Elizabeth B. Walkowski
For heaven’s sake, take a break!! All of us readers would prefer having the best books you can write, for as long as you want to write. Your health is primary (and sucks-boo to those who carp and quibble over a few typos or take exception to a region’s argot.) Looking forward to the coming opuses (or is that opusi?) No, spell-check liked the first one.
Hugo
Nope. Take care of yourself and of your family, then in the remaining time work. Your fans will be here waiting when your book come out. Chance are that those (readers) who might not be are the one bothering you with stupid demands and expectations that you write for them and their wants.
Thank you for letting us know of the delay though, that’s nice.
Robin
If you’re taking a bit of time to keep the sanity, please consider adding in a few bits of previously unscheduled maintenance. May I suggest a massage? Possibly some time in a hot tub? Getting someone else to cook and cleanup for a few meals? (Trust me, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with some grapes alongside will go a long way towards your goals!). Basically, make it count rather than simply extending the time you are concerned about getting done.
The Sneaky Kitty Critic
I’m playing computer games. ^^;;;
Arianna Fulthorp
I waited almost ten years for the last book in the Clan of the Cave Bears series… three weeks is a sneeze. Get a good raid or two in and come back (please please please come back) ready to enjoy being living enabled.
Debra
Worth the wait. ☕🌻🐺
Brooke
Your books got me through the recovery of a total of 16 broken bones at once and 4 month of zero mobility! Forever loyal and hope you enjoy a long and happy resting period. Looking forward to the release. Might even have to break down and buy a kindle for those books only in electronic format.
Rest, enjoy family, fur-babies and sunshine. We be here waiting, when you are ready.
The Sneaky Kitty Critic
I recommend looking into a kobo instead of a kindle. The devices are really good, and kobo plus is a lovely program (And my books are in them.)