top of page

Archived Comments

Lira

August 11, 2022 at 08:38 PM UTC


Hi Kitty,
I’m sorry to hear that your health problems are not over yet. And of course sorry to hear that we’ll have to wait for the books to be written.
All the best wishes! You will get through this!

Maddie

August 06, 2022 at 07:26 PM UTC


I’m so sorry about everything that’s happening and the later release dates are disappointing but your health is the most important thing! I’m hoping and praying for quick and easy recoveries!

Noelle

July 25, 2022 at 08:04 AM UTC


I am so sorry about all the things you are having to go through right now. I’m adding you to my prayer list so I can regularly pray for you, your doctors and nurses, and your family/friends as you face these surgeries and deal with medication and balancing life and such. You are an amazing writer. I stumbled across Vampires Drink Tomato Juice years ago and have adored all things KM Shea ever since. You give so much to your readers in sharing your talent with us, and I hope we can find ways to give back to you.

Meg

July 23, 2022 at 09:14 AM UTC


Thanks so much for the updates! I’ve mentioned to others how impressed I am with your site. I love that you let us know how you’re doing and let us get to know your fun personality. Good luck in the coming months! I hope you have a lovely vacation and a smooth surgery. I hope those red blood cells get their act together quickly!
Nausea is my least favorite thing but honestly I’ll take significant levels of pain over fatigue. Of course the pain creates fatigue and it’s a vicious cycle. For me there is almost nothing worse than not being able to do the things I’d like to be doing. You’d think I’d be used to it by now but I don’t think I’ll ever fully get used to my body’s limitations.
I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for you! As much as we all look forward to your books, I’m sure you’re even more impatient to get back into those world you’ve created. Even more so I’m sure you’re dying to feel your own version of “normal” again.
We love you! Good luck! 加油!!!

Amy

July 18, 2022 at 06:38 PM UTC


Praying for you girl. My goodness what a lot! Take care and stay safe.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:11 AM UTC


Thank you–I appreciate it!

Anushree

July 18, 2022 at 02:18 PM UTC


Well its great news that your anemia issues is soon going to resolved and you would be able to retire of your job of temporary iron man!😂
Focus on your health. Till that time we, champions would re-read and enjoy the books you have written.
GET WELL SOON!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:12 AM UTC


Thank you so much! 🙂 When all of this is over, I can’t wait to really jump back into writing!

Hoo

July 18, 2022 at 12:47 AM UTC


You’re awesome, Kitty! You couldn’t beat us off if you tried, so don’t worry about losing champions; we’re here to stay! Take as long as you need.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:13 AM UTC


Awww, thanks for your support! I appreciate it! 🙂

Julia

July 16, 2022 at 07:29 PM UTC


Hey, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of this or if someone else mentioned it but cooking everything in cast iron is an amazing way to bring up your iron levels. Don’t stress about writing, honestly I’m pretty sure I speak for everyone when I say your champions are more worried about your personal health than the next book.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:14 AM UTC


Thanks, Julia! I have a cast iron skillet, so I’ll have to do some experimenting! 😀

Brielle

July 16, 2022 at 05:39 PM UTC


Focus on your health over anything else!! You are so strong!! It will be good for me to wait for the next Magiford book anyway because I started reading them right after the Hunted series came out so I read all of the series’s in a very short time span with very few breaks… anyway, take care, we love you!! You are the best author ever and all the books I’ve read from you have all been amazing!!!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:15 AM UTC


Thanks for all the encouragement, Brielle! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Hunted and the other Magiford series so much! 🙂

Alana

July 16, 2022 at 01:51 PM UTC


I’m sorry you’re going through so much! As someone with long term health issues I completely understand the frustration of having things you need or want to do but finding yourself limited by health! I know so many people have said this already but definitely put your health first!
Thank you for your update. I find your comments and perspectives to be a real encouragement – especially as you go out of your way to keep pointing out positives despite all the challenges.
Praying for you!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:18 AM UTC


Thanks for the prayers, Alana, I really appreciate it! And thank you for your kind empathy, too. I hesitate to say it’s nice to know I’m not alone because I wouldn’t wish this on either of us, but I really value the comradery!

Geoff Ferris

July 16, 2022 at 11:43 AM UTC


As I and a lot of people have said thank you for all the pleasure your books have brought me. It must be so very frustrating for a person who works as hard as you do to have these health problems. The news does sound promising though so I just hope that things get better for you as soon as possible.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:20 AM UTC


Thank you! I’m SO looking forward to putting all of this behind me. (And getting back to writing faster. This slow pace is killing me.)

Carol

July 16, 2022 at 05:13 AM UTC


Am so sorry you are going through this. I pray that you will come through it healed and strong.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:21 AM UTC


Thank you so much–I appreciate it! 🙂

Aimee

July 16, 2022 at 05:09 AM UTC


As excited as I am for Retha, I’m even more excited for you to get better and not have to keep having a bunch of surgeries! You’re my favorite author ever. I’ve never disliked a single book of yours which is crazy to me. I look forward to reading your books for as long as you write them a

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:22 AM UTC


Thanks so much for the encouragement, Aimee! 🙂 I appreciate your support!

Paula

July 16, 2022 at 04:16 AM UTC


I have to say I’m sorry you are going through all this but, because of your issues I went ahead and had surgery to clean out a sinus infection I had for about 2 years. While doing the surgery they found a non cancerous tumor the size of a large pea. No wonder my glasses hurt. Biopsy showed a very rare type of tumor, I went to research and only papers in the ENT Journal were available in 3 different languages. My ENT said sinus tumors are rare to start with. I’ve decided to call myself an exotic.
I’m a young 60ish but have to tell you I enjoy your books immensely but feel cheated a little bit about Sophia, don’t feel the series ended well as a lot was left blank with the bad dragon riders and relationships with the traveling back and forth between the two groups. However that said, I still have enjoyed you books, the growth of the author from the dream travelers in the circus to the Paris series. Look forward to more.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:24 AM UTC


Wow, I am SO glad you got that taken care of–exotic or not! 😉 That sounds like it was painful!

And thank you so much for your continued support!

Paula

July 20, 2022 at 01:57 AM UTC


Painful or not it is done with maybe only one surgery, it can come back, but it’s only one not as many as you had/have/will have. Because of the infection and that close to the brain (it’s already scattered, I also, have a seizure disorder) an infection there would really have caused major issues. Your bringing infection as a possibility caused me to act, so thank you. Waiting for a new book is minor compared to surgery. You take care, those of us who really like your books will wait.

Chloee

July 16, 2022 at 02:49 AM UTC


Don’t worry about us, we can wait for more books!! Your health is wayyyy more important!!!!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:25 AM UTC


Thanks so much for your patience, Chloee! 🙂

Dolores

July 16, 2022 at 02:38 AM UTC


Take care of YOURSELF! Your readers will be here when you’re back in fighting/writing (they rhyme!) form!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:25 AM UTC


Haha, thanks Dolores! 🙂 I appreciate your encouragement!

Megen

July 16, 2022 at 12:45 AM UTC


We love you Kitty! Please don’t feel one atom of bad—we will joyfully reread the many wonderful books you have written and continue to create fun and crazy fan theories in the meantime! I’ll be praying for your health, wellbeing, recovery, and happiness! Just focus on rejuvenating and enjoying life whenever and however you can ♡.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:27 AM UTC


Awww, thanks Megen! 🙂 You’re the best–and I appreciate the prayers!

Deborah Mascitti

July 16, 2022 at 12:37 AM UTC


Your health is so important, please take care of yourself. You are an amazing author and I love your books so much. So however long it takes to release them, remember we will be here for you.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:28 AM UTC


Thank you so much, Deborah! I really appreciate your kind words and reassurances. 🙂

Jean

July 15, 2022 at 11:15 PM UTC


Hello Kitty,
I hope you have a wonderful holiday and that it helps lift both your spirits and your health. You deserve a good, long break away from all the pressures you have put yourself under the last few years. How you have managed to produce so many books when your health has been playing up for so long is amazing. Please take it easier in the future and don’t push yourself so much, your ‘champions’ will always be there for you and will appreciate your books even more for having to wait for them. Try and spend more time with your family, friends, pets and have more holidays and so make a full recovery and no longer need to keep the medical profession busy. Enjoy life to the full – we only have one. With my very best wishes for your good health. Take care.
PS I’m re-reading all your books and short stories and finding great enjoyment in doing so, especially as the additional information provided in later books in a series makes one understand/appreciate certain sections more.

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:36 AM UTC


Thanks, Jean, for your encouraging message! I will definitely be trying to make some fixes/adjustments to make work easier in the future, but I’m afraid bad habits are hard to break!

Still, I’m glad your enjoying your re-reads! 🙂

Kim

July 15, 2022 at 11:00 PM UTC


I’m so sorry that you are going through all of this. We so appreciate that you let us know how you are doing and I will be praying for you. That you keep bringing us stories is remarkable and very much appreciated – please take care of you first! God bless you in the coming days. I hope that your vacation will be awesome! Kim

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:30 AM UTC


Thanks, Kim! I appreciate the prayers–and the encouragement!

Lindsay

July 15, 2022 at 10:54 PM UTC


I’m glad to hear you are putting your health and well-being first! That’s the most important thing even if you are chafing at all the things you can’t do right now. Also, try a spoonful of peanut butter for the hiccups! It works for me about 95% of the time. ☺️
We love you!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:30 AM UTC


Thanks, Lindsay! I appreciate your support–and the peanut butter idea! 🙂

Shannon Ellefson

July 15, 2022 at 10:50 PM UTC


I’m praying for you, Kitty. I know you’ll get through this. Your books can wait. We’ll always be here. Love ya!

Kitty

July 19, 2022 at 07:28 AM UTC


Thanks, Shannon! I do so appreciate it!

Lisa Nadal

July 15, 2022 at 09:50 PM UTC


Thank you so
much for the update it’s appreciated and sets peoples expectations. Main thing is you health as always !

Kitty

July 15, 2022 at 10:25 PM UTC


Thanks, Lisa! 🙂 I’m glad the update is helpful!

Leslie

July 15, 2022 at 09:02 PM UTC


Oh my goodness! You are such a strong person to have such a sunny outlook. I wish you a speedy recovery!

Kitty

July 15, 2022 at 10:27 PM UTC


🙂 Thank you, Leslie! I’m afraid I don’t always have such a sunny outlook, but I am trying!

Marietta

July 15, 2022 at 08:28 PM UTC


Just get your self better! We are waiting, as patiently as we can, but we’ll be here when you are ready to thrill us will all of the books you have us anticipating. Besides, it’s giving me time to catch my boys up on all your books. And I’m enjoying rereading them with my boys!

Kitty

July 15, 2022 at 10:26 PM UTC


Thank you, Marietta! (I love your name, it’s beautiful!) And I hope your boys are enjoying the books, too! 🙂

Caitlyn

July 15, 2022 at 08:14 PM UTC


Take care of yourself, don’t worry about anything else ♥️

Kitty

July 15, 2022 at 10:25 PM UTC


Thanks, Caitlyn! <3

Health Update v 2.0

I figured it’s about time to give you all an update on my health, so we’re all on the same page when it comes to my workload this year. I’ve got a case of bad news/good news, so let’s start with the bad news first.

Since I made the initial announcement in spring, my health took a nosedive for months, particularly since I’m dealing with some severe anemia. The good news is, I’m going to get a major surgery done in September to fix the issue, and my doctor estimates that by December I should be doing much better!


I knew I was eventually going to get this surgery. Initially the doctor was hoping I’d be able to hold off for a year or two, but my health problems are so bad the surgery is necessary right now. (The only reason I’m not getting it done sooner is I have a vacation in August that I couldn’t reschedule and I’ve been planning for it since 2019.) The anemia is bad enough that it’s throwing a little extra danger into the surgery and I might have to get some follow up treatments. But any problems will be temporary, and I’m taking some preventative measures. (One of those measures is that I’m taking enough iron supplements to become ironman. It does have the unexpected side effect of making me hiccup, though, so if you hear me hiccupping a lot during Sheacon, that’s why!)


The one downside to all of this, is my three remaining teeth surgeries are getting pushed off into 2023 as a result of the major surgery and anemia issue. It’s too dangerous to schedule them in 2022. So my health saga will continue into 2023, but I should be able to bounce back faster from those once I get over the anemia. (The anemia recovery is an estimated three to six months, but I’m hoping to be on the shorter end of that spectrum.)


What does this mean for us? At this point, not much has changed. I’m still on schedule to release the next Magiford trilogy, but I won’t get the opportunity to work on Retha #4 this year now that I have the big surgery in September eating a large chunk of my time, so I have no idea when Retha will launch in 2023. (Spoiler: It will probably be later than we all wanted. But it is STILL the next non-Magiford book I’m going to work on next!)


This summer and spring have been the pits for me. I’ve never been so frustrated with myself before because there’s so much I  can’t do anymore. But! I’m glad I know there is an end, and I’m so thankful it can be solved with a surgery.


Thanks for hanging in with me, Champions. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate our supportive and encouraging community. Thank you so much for all the supportive emails, snail mail, and the gifts! I’m kind of in a weird place, so you all made me cry a lot, but it’s because I’m so, so thankful for you! Your encouragement has lifted my spirits, and you’ve been so understanding even though I currently have the bristly personality of a disgruntled porcupine right now.


Also, a huge thank you to the KM Shea team–Like Meg, my assistant; Vin, the Director of Discord; Jocelyn, Megen, and Sarah, the Facebook Group Champion Leaders; and Cindy and all of the Sheacon planners–who’ve been working hard to keep things running during this time. You guys are the best!


Ending on the positive side, there WILL be an end to this, and once I’m through it we’re going to have so much fun!

Related Posts

See All

Comments