For those of you who have followed my journey for some time now, you know that I absolutely love travelling. Obviously with Covid, I’ve remained in Australia for the last year. But before that, for the first time in a long time, I’d settled down in Edinburgh, Scotland calling the land of castles, whiskey, and Hairy Coo’s home for just under two years.
Covid has effected all of us in many ways. When the world began shutting borders and Europe so quickly started shutting off to the world and spreading across the UK in the same fashion, I went into panic mode. Like most of us, I hadn’t realized the severity of the situation until it was almost too late to return to my home country. I’m Australian and was a twenty-four hour flight from home. My family was calling me begging me to come back fearful as international borders began closing. To say the least, I cried a lot and it was one of the scariest things I’d done. Even more so then deciding to sell up everything in Australia in the first place, packing everything into a suitcase and moving to a foreign country. Because it all happened so quickly, within 72 hours in fact. It was manic, I had to leave my apartment, job, friends and most of my belongings behind. I felt like I was being ripped out of the new life I’d created and thrown into my old. I didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye to many of my friends.
It’s now been a year since I flew back and I can say with certainty I made the right choice. I’m one of many and feel so blessed to have come back home with the certainty of being close to my family and support. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the cool, drizzly weather and snow. The inspirational landscapes and crazy accents I’d often try to decipher through fun games with customers who came through the pub I worked at.
It was a place where I found creative likeminded people. A tribe of my own and my best friend, Kristin. I’d created a new life and expectation for myself. But alas, as everything came to an abrupt end for most people I came back to the sunny land of down under. We’re lucky here. For the most part in the state I live in we haven’t had much of lockdown so I’ve still been able to go to the gym, socialise and go about life as ‘normal’ as can be in a pandemic.
But what it’s created for me is opportunity of time and focus. I’ve spent the last year working really hard on myself and writing career. Almost every day I am at my laptop plotting away on the next big book and adventure. I’ve revamped new covers and interiors for my Token Huntress series. As we speak, I’m finishing the series and focusing on the next. I’m so happy with the amazing authors I’ve been able to interview on my YouTube who inspire me and I just feel more at peace with myself.
Though it doesn’t mean I don’t reminisce most weeks about sitting in an underground pub with a pint in hand, listening to live music and simply enjoying the authentic appeal of leaving in the magical world of Edinburgh. I miss the adventures and exploring castles and the highlands with my friends. And I certainly look forward to returning in the near future.
Until then… these books won’t write themselves and I can’t wait to share the magical journeys with you.
I hope you are doing well and are safe.
Sending all my love,
Kia Carrington-Russell xx