The Second Time Around...

I remember when I announced I was pregnant with my second child. My mother lovingly patted my belly and said, "Don't worry, honey. The second time around is always easier." I thought, well it would have to be! During my first pregnancy I developed everything from maternal diabetes to toxemia, and my doctor threatened to wire my mouth shut if I gained one more ounce. Apparently gaining eighty-five pounds during pregnancy isn't healthy, but I figured I'm going to get fat anyway, so why not eat that entire chocolate cake? I had to admit, the second pregnancy was easier as far as knowing what to expect, and how to better deal with the emotional ups and downs...outside of reminding my husband he could just forget it because that's how I got into that condition to begin with. But, the fears and excitement and woes and wonders were all just as remarkable the second time around as they were the first.

I recently found the same to be true in my writing career. There is a reason many writers refer to their novels as their baby. It starts to feel that way after months of labor, and then finally after all that hard work there is this creation...that nobody else in the world will talk about as much as your mother. I released my second novel, Knight Everlasting, a couple of weeks ago. It was another labor of love. And thankfully I found the second time around to be no less terrifying, exciting, woeful, and wondrous than the first time around. And I've decided no matter how many times I'm blessed enough to experience them, there are some things in life that should always be worth eating an entire chocolate cake!