I'm back!

I just returned from a lovely week holed up with my book manuscript. No internet, no phone, just me at a desk with the dogs curled cozily on my feet and a blizzard out the window. I ate simple food when I was hungry and slept when I was tired and just listened to the silence...other than when the propane furnace came on, which sounded like a jet engine revving up. But such pristine silence in between times! When the creative juices ebbed, I would bundle up and go for a trudge along the river, walking out on the levee in the snow, or up and down the streets of the little village I was in, admiring the restored Victorian houses. It was so peaceful! I could live like that forever. I couldn't have pulled it off without my wonderful hubby, who shuttled me back and forth and kept the home fires burning while I was away. I'm not entirely sure the kids noticed I was gone, but Son #3 did say he missed the dogs...

And I'm pleased to report the manuscript is at 56,000 words, so only about 20,000 to go, which is pretty good progress, and I'm sure I can get the rest done by deadline. It was a difficult start, but we're in the homestretch now!