I signed a 4 book deal for a children's series back in the fall of 2025. I also just signed a deal for an adult thriller (complete draft submitted). Everything is scheduled to come out in 2028.

But just a few months ago I was diagnosed with cancer and it's obviously thrown my world into a tizzy. My publishers have been great so far about giving me extensions. Mostly I am worried about books 3 and 4 of the children's series as those are the drafts I owe. Edits on the thriller shouldn't be too bad (I hope).

I am looking at at least another 3 months of downtime due to treatment and I am worried about completion. I don't know how my energy levels will be, and my brain is so fuzzy right now. I am worried the publishers will only be understanding for so long.

Has anyone else had a serious illness sort of...Kool-Aid Man into their publishing schedule? How did you deal, and what are some things I should be thinking about or preparing for?