Dear Readers,
I am so sad to announce that I will no longer be attending RARE Florence in Sept 2023.
I am incredibly disappointed to miss out on this event, meeting awesome readers, and seeing Italy for my very first time.
I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to share about the reasons, but to avoid confusion or frustration with me, I decided it’s best to share a bit. Multiple people in my family, including one of my children, are suffering with severe mental illness at this time, and need me here. This has been an escalating struggle for the last year. My family will always come first, and I need to be home with them.
For those wondering…I WILL still be attending RARE London in July 2023.
I strongly debated also canceling attending that event. However, a friend is going with me to London, and with everything we’ve already booked (I had yet to reserve more than the hotel for Florence), both she and I would lose money. My husband agreed that he can handle things with our parents’ help for the time I’m away in July, but I just can’t justify putting him in that position again only a few months later.
It is my great hope that things will be much more stable, healthier, and happier here in Owen Family Land by the fall, but I can’t guarantee it. So to me, the most responsible step to take is to cancel now.
I very much hope you understand, and please know that no one is more disappointed than I am.
xoxo, Abigail
P.S. RARE Florence Readers: I am more than happy to mail you a signed book plate if you would like one. Just email me at author@abigailowen.com with your mailing address.
*****
Update 7/26/23
I am very happy to report that things are slowly improving here. At least for our kiddo, we’ve finally landed on the right diagnosis (which was the hardest, longest first step) and, thanks to that, have found the right treatment and people to help, with visible relief and strides being made. I still will not be doing any international traveling for the time being (it’s just too far away and hard to get back home easily/quickly), but I am hoping maybe by next winter/spring to be able to reconsider depending on how things progress here.
Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes.
Abigail
Leave a Comment