From freezing temperatures and snow to 33 degrees and sunshine – I’m back in Bali, where my writing adventure began.

Right now, I’m sitting in a café with a large glass of freshly squeezed juice. A lot has changed; the buildings are denser, and so is the traffic. I haven’t ridden a scooter in nine years. It’s a little scary as I squint, change lanes, and weave between cars. My shoulders are tense, but it’s fun too. It feels great to zoom through traffic. It’s definitely faster than sitting in a taxi queue.

Autumn didn’t turn out as planned. Since my mother passed away so unexpectedly, all my plans came to a halt. I had intended to self-publish in the fall, but honestly, I didn’t get anything done. I’m strong, just like my mother. But that’s not always an advantage. Pushing through, living, and working at the same pace as before isn’t necessarily what serves you best. This vacation came at just the right time. The last weeks with my mother taught me how to face death and accept what was coming, but the grief afterward was about myself. About losing her. How many times have I thought, “I have to call Mom,” “I need to tell Mom this,” or something similar? Grief is about missing someone, about the absence of the person who is no longer here. My loss. The grieving process takes energy, and yes, I haven’t had much left for creativity.

They say everything happens at the right time. Maybe there was a reason the English launch was delayed? I’ve sent my manuscript to several English publishers. I believe the book will be taken more seriously if a publisher releases it. At the very least, I don’t want to regret not trying. I refuse to be one of those who give up just because one publisher doesn’t see the value in it. I use J.K. Rowling as motivation. She went through countless rejections before Harry Potter was accepted. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll publish it myself. It’s as simple as that. Well, this isn’t exactly a children’s book. During the translation process, ChatGPT kept censoring my content—apparently for inappropriate material.

But enough about that. This time, I can’t say I started my new book project here in Bali. I had to focus on finalizing the English manuscript and website first, so I put it on hold for a while. But now, I’m diving into a rough draft. The plan is a standalone sequel to Alchemy of the Hidden Spring. I learned so much from writing my first novel. Back then, I had no idea what I was going to write and simply followed my intuition. It led me far off track, with stories that didn’t belong there. Like a river branching into a thousand streams, weakening its force and direction. Maybe those stories could stand on their own? What about a sci-fi? I think I have enough material for one. But no, that’s not where I’m heading right now. Some have missed Jacob’s story, and it will be in the next novel. With a full-time job on the side, aiming for a release this fall is too ambitious. Next year is more realistic.

So, what is it about Bali? Nothing, really. Nothing that ties into the book. But I can relax, enjoy life. Disconnect from the daily grind, settle into my body, and create space for my creativity. “Live as if the dream has already come true. That increases the chances that it will.” And that’s exactly what I do. This is how I want to live my life. Spend part of the winter somewhere warm. Sit in a café and work. I love café offices. In my own little bubble, I can work undisturbed while life hums around me. Alone without being lonely. I chat with people here and there, fulfilling my social needs. For a loner like me, this works perfectly. My daughter and her boyfriend are visiting in a week or two, which will be nice too, but my café office time is non-negotiable.

🌿 A little self-care before I continue writing.