It’s been a minute… or a few months. And oh so much has happened.
My book, STRUNG OUT, launched at the outset of the pandemic. It was surreal, shifting from the whirlwind of the book launch, which was cut short, then heading into lockdown. Like so many, I went through various stages of anxiety and grief—personal, professional, and global. There was so much to figure out, promoting the book in the middle of a pandemic, trying to work from home with no childcare, and learning how to balance work and home life.
At the end of May, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, protests began to erupt across the country and the world. I have always supported the Black Lives Matter movement and have never been quiet about that. The boiling point we reached allowed me the opportunity to confront how I have benefitted from a system built on white supremacy. No matter what my ideals have been, I have had to look at what I didn’t do, ways in which I hadn’t educated myself. I am committed to confronting racism within my community, my family, and myself. And in doing so, I am trying to balance when it is time for me to use my voice and when it is time for me to step back and uplift Black voices.
As you may know, I recently parted ways with Ravishly, both as Managing Editor and columnist. Ask Erin began nearly 11 years ago on my blogpost blog and has grown and flourished organically. And it continues now, here.
Post book launch, I’ve been finding my legs again as a writer. And I am writing again, working on new projects, and it’s exciting and scary, but it’s mostly a relief to be back in a groove.
Another thing that’s happened is that I’ve found a way to bring horses back into my life. It’s something I have wanted to do again for quite some time. And I’m doing it. I’m taking lessons, connecting with horses, and getting back a part of me that was integral in shaping who I am. I feel profoundly grateful that I have the opportunity to do it.
My newsletter is set to resume. I’ll be hosting more book giveaways. And I have some exciting plans for Instagram Lives with other authors, answering Ask Erin questions.
However, I want to know from you—the Ask Erin readers, my friends (both IRL and online), those who landed here after reading STRUNG OUT—what can I do to help make your life a little better right now? What can I share with you? How can I boost what you’re doing? What do you want to see more of in the Ask Erin column or my blog posts or on social media? We are in this together.