I’m delighted to announce that my story, “Hunger Pangs,” will be published in the premier issue of Under the Fable, a UK-based literary journal. It will come out in four days! (I’ll link to it then.)
Since I’ve been concentrating so much on my novel(s) this year, I haven’t been publishing as much fiction. I kinda forgot how good it feels. (Note: it feels great!)
I’ll talk more about the story when it comes out. Until then, some housekeeping:
— I decided to keep my blog, and to rename it. While I feel in some ways as if I am a self-centered beastie to use my name as the blog’s name, for now it just makes sense. I don’t want to have to choose between all of my interests. And since those interests are housed in me, well, maybe my name is most fitting for the blog’s name.
— That said, I will be mixing up what I talk about. I LOVE writing, adore it, but I think I’d like to include some of my other interests as well. (Such as cooking!)
— I will be updating and overhauling my blog, too. More on that later.
Though we are five months into this year, in some ways it feels to me as if it has just begun. The end of last year was a blur — I lost my dad and submerged myself in a months’ long grief eating fest from which I am just now beginning to emerge. Two days after we buried my dad was our first Christmas without him, followed in February by his birthday. I’m holding my breath for next month — Father’s Day. I know he would want — does want — me to get back to all of those things I love most and to take care of myself. Part of that is getting back to my blog, back to plotting out my writing course.
Getting this story published seems a good place to start. Happy New Year to me!
dremadrudge.com 
Dear Drema,
What a sweetheart you are. I appreciate your candid post and am sorry for what you have been through and the new territory you navigate following the death of your father. My mother became quite ill in November and passed away in February, and though I can’t know your pain, I do empathize with it. And what is it about grief that makes me feel as if I am starving all the time? It feels like absolute hunger and I am attempting to pull myself back toward a healthier lifestyle.
For today, I would like to take away the pain and replace it with an ocean or a warm wood fire in cold mountains. From today, I would like to take away loneliness and fill its place with turquoise sky. I would like to take bruises from your soul and replace them with birdsongs and the softness of new puppies – To take away hunger and fill empty places with fluffy clouds – for today.
Congratulations on your publication in Under the Fable, and I look forward to reading whatever you share in your blog. Love and blessings and I will be thinking of you as Father’s Day comes along, for such holidays enlarge the space left empty,
Bonnie
Dear Bonnie,
What a kind, generous and sweet reply. First of all I am sorry to hear about your mother. I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I can relate to the hunger thing! All of the wonderful things you wished for me in your comment, I wish for you as well. You are so thoughtful and kind. Blessings on you, Miss Bonnie!
Yes to the cooking idea!
Lots of hugs coming your way as well! ❤
Thanks for the hugs and the congrats. I do love to cook, although most of it in the past few years has been low carb, so you might want to reserve your approval until you see what I come up with, LOL. (I know you are a baker.) 🙂
I am a baker, that is true, but I do love my vegetables… 😉 (but not capsicum, or beets)
Oh and YAY on getting published!!
Congratulations, Drema! I look forward to reading your piece. It’s hard to get everything pulled together after a death. All those first events without them are the pits,so I sincerely feel for your grief.
Drema Drudge sounds like a good blog name to me. 😊
Thanks for the empathy and the congrats, Danni. It makes me feel less alone knowing that others have been through this. And I’m glad you like my blog name — I kinda like it (for now!) myself. 😉 Seriously, some people say my name is an ideal writer’s name. If only I had a doctorate I could be “Dr. Drema Drudge!” Might be worth it just for the alliteration.