Author: Mona Alvarado Frazier

I’m the author of two YA novels, The Garden of Second Chances and A Bridge Home. A bookaholic with endless wanderlust, I’m also a K-drama addict who loves heartfelt stories both on and off the screen.
Blogging, Books, Writing

Embracing Change: My Journey to Substack

Mona Alvarado Frazier

While I haven’t left WordPress, I no longer blog here, but I send a monthly newsletter on Substack.

Here’s the link to subscribe: Mona’s Substack. I’d love for you to join me there. It’s free to subscribe.

Why the change? I encountered some issues with Mailchimp distributing my monthly newsletter, and Substack makes it easier to connect directly with you.

My intention on Substack:

Where life’s challenges meet creativity and culture. A space for encouragement and finding beauty in every chapter.

Recent posts on my Substack have explored the joy of traditions. One example is “Tamale Making Time: It’s That Time of Year.” They also delve into the challenges we all face, as seen in “Balancing Creativity with Responsibility: Acknowledge the Struggle.”

I also explore the power of community in Thankful for the Power of Community: Family, Readers, Writers and finding resilience in Finding Strength in Every Step: Moving Forward.

Thank you for being a part of my journey. I’m grateful for your support and our shared love of creativity and connection.

Looks like my newly adopted cat, Selena.

Happy New Year!

Inspiration

Balancing Creativity with Responsibility

Mona Alvarado Frazier

Periodically, I post a past Substack entry here. This is from August 2024.

Last month, I talked to you about being in a writing slump. Thankfully, that disappeared, and I finished the 20+ revision of another Young Adult novel.

Life throws challenges at us when we least expect it, and lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of those challenges more than ever. My mom is 97 years old, and her physical health has deteriorated rapidly in the last year. Much to her chagrin, and after many battles, she is using a walker, but that hasn’t prevented any falls and subsequent trips to the emergency room. After scans, she’s discharged from the ER and, luckily, hasn’t had any broken bones.

But this time, there’s a suspicious spot on her pelvic bone. She may be facing a cancer diagnosis. I’ve already cried because I know what’s ahead. I’m a cancer survivor in remission for 17 years this November. This has brought every chemo and radiation pain back to me. I don’t want her to go through those side effects.

Still, the in-between has been difficult as we await further diagnostics to confirm or deny that the spot is cancerous.

As much as I want to keep my creative energy alive, the reality of caring for her and navigating this uncertainty has made it difficult. I know I’m not alone in this—many of us are balancing the demands of life with our creative passions, and it’s okay to admit that sometimes, it’s just plain hard.

Daniele Levis Pelusi

But I want to be honest.

Read the rest here:

https://monaalvaradofrazier.substack.com/p/balancing-creativity-with-responsibility