Hi Jersey Girl! I don't know if empathy will really HELP you at this point, but I CAN empathize becasue I've gone through a similar slump. It was right after I finished my first book and needed to get started on the second but just couldn't. I honestly think I was just burned out and needed to rest (!) but I felt like I should be writing. So I just got AWAY from the novel and tried doing a few short stories instead and it seemed to pull me back into writing, but in a different direction from my mystery series.

It seemed to work because after I got those other stories "out of my head and onto paper" I was able to get back to work on the second novel. I've had a few minor slumps since then - but when they hit I just take a rest, write something "fun", then I'm able to return to the novel.

We're all here to help so if we can help you in some way - WE WILL!