When you start out with dreams of becoming a published author, you have no deadlines. No pressure.
But when you finally have a publisher, or become truly serious about an Indie career and set up your first book as a pre-order on Amazon or other platforms, everything changes. Deadlines loom and must be met.
But still, life happens.
Computer crashes. Illnesses or deaths in the family. Other situations that can't be put on the back burner. Spiders.
I was struggling with a tight deadline, with at least fifty pages left and less than a week to do them, when I saw it: The biggest wolf spider I'd ever seen. These spiders are especially creepy because they are clearly sentient.
They see me. Freeze. Clearly watch for my next move. Consider their next move. Then they race for cover. If I move, they change course.
It's all fine if I encounter them outside, but this behemoth was on the workbench in the shop downstairs. Which meant I would eventually see him again.
I love all animals. Our kids grew up owning every kind of indoor pet — rodents, lizards, fish, cats, dogs, and even snakes. But their pet tarantula was a bridge too far, as are random and uninvited spiders.
This one raced underneath a crumpled paper towel. I impulsively slammed my hand down. The creature escaped, but a heavy piece of angle iron was lying in wait under that towel, and I broke a bone in my hand.
Trying to type with my new cast was a disaster, and the clock was ticking toward my book deadline.
Fortunately, speech-to-text programs for Mac computers have been evolving over the years and were fairly good at that point in time. Trying to dictate my story helped me inch toward my final chapter.
And then...I caught a cold, which swiftly turned to severe bronchitis and then laryngitis. However much that speech-to-text program had improved, it could not read my thoughts when I couldn't speak...so I was back to typing with one hand.
I did meet that deadline, but barely, and this experience taught me some lessons:
Appreciate the normal capabilities I (usually) have.
Be kind to spiders.
And never again let myself get behind on deadlines!
That book was out several years ago. But I do have a new book that was released earlier this month!
Leave a comment, and you will be entered in a drawing for a free e-copy of Dangerous December, the book that precedes it in this Northern Pines Suspense series
DANGEROUS SUMMER is a heartwarming, character-driven, small-town romance. This clean, faith-friendly romance has a light touch of suspense.
Sophie is a widowed mom focused on her child. He’s hiding from the world. But with forced proximity and her job at stake, can opposites attract and become an unexpected chance at love?
It's a heartfelt story of second chances, family, and the power of love to heal even the deepest scars.
All my best to you in 2026!
Roxanne Rustand
