An Update from the Editorial Team!

Or, The Swindles Do Indiana!

Fun fact: our Editor-in-Chief and I are both from Indiana. The Hoosier state! Basketball! The Indy 500! Corn!

Yup … That's it, all right!

Dave spent most of his childhood in California, then moved back after college. And I spent my immediate young adulthood living in Germany and Canada (though, interestingly, we both ended up with degrees from Muncie, IN's Ball State University - go, Cardinals!). So, while we have different experiences with, and attachments to, this state, it's where we met, and where most of our families still live.

Ironically, as Dave's PTSD began to turn a corner this fall, I myself hit a wall. Dave's parents generously spent two weeks with us out in California, which was a tremendous help. But shortly thereafter, I found myself still bone-tired and in need of real rejuvenation. I knew we needed the support of both of our families.

So last week, Dave, Jasmine, and I made the four-day drive from the SoCal Mojave to the Midwest, and now here we are, at Dave's parents' home in a suburb of Indianapolis! We plan to stay through the new year, though we'll be back and forth between here and my own parents' place, about an hour away. During this time, we hope to focus on resting, healing, enjoying the holiday season with friends and family - and writing!

Jazzy-bug helping her dad write this morning

I have written before that we plan to focus intently on filling this Substack with quality content! But now I truly have in place the resources I need to make that my mission. As I do so, I want everyone to know that David is getting excellent care, love, and attention, that I'm feeling better already - and that Jasmine is already absolutely spoiled rotten as her grandparents dote on her. The special relationship between Jazzy and her Grandpa Ralph probably merits its own essay!

So watch this space! And, as always, let us know what you'd like to see - and what you'd like to submit!

Be gentle with yourselves,

Sally Shideler

Managing Editor, God of the Desert Books

Chief Editor-in-Chief Wrangler