World AIDS Day 2012

December 1 is World AIDS Day.  I never knew a world without HIV/AIDS, i was born in 1983.  Some of the first people i knew were lost to AIDS.  I have only vague memories of Harry and of Rick, but i know they were there for a time.  And then not anymore.  I've known others since then, others who have had positive diagnoses and others who have had "scares."  I remember what it was like pre-HAART and how scary it was back then.  I don't know if a lot of younger people do understand the gravity we knew then.

Somehow or other, this has become the focus of my education and future career in social work.  Right now i'm concentrating my education in community-level research on HIV prevention.  It's a natural fit, really.  I'm a writer, a bookish person, and though i think i could do direct practice (counseling, etc) well enough, i don't think it's quite my calling.  I have always cared deeply about HIV/AIDS awareness, though, and this is a way i can do something on a broad scale.  I love the work i do and knowing that i can have an impact through my skills.

Of course, my other career is writing.  A few weeks ago i signed the contract for my first full-length novel.  Haven't even gotten into edits yet, so i don't want to be giving away too much (but there's a projected release date of Spring 2013 - April or May).  What i can tell you, though, is that this one is quite different from Possession, but maybe no less scary.

Read on for more....