Well, Friends: Rock Bound is not finished after all. It seems that sixty-thousand words is the preferred length for a young-adults’ book, but not a full-length, grown-up novel. It needs to be at least ninety-thousand words. So I’m back at it, again, trying to add another thirty-thousand words. I’m working on a subplot that involves people Earthside—Freezeland and his cronies, as well as those working to overthrow the dictatorship and reinstate the Constitution. And I have to do so somewhat quickly, as I have some news—
I HAVE AN AGENT!
Yes—a real agent. The kind who charges ten percent of your earnings, but requires no fees up front. They did suggest that I have the book critiqued by a professional editor. However, they did not supply the editor. There were people on their list to whom they could refer me, but they gave me the option of finding my own editor. So I’ve sent the book to a friend who is a professional editor, and I’m waiting to hear from her, while I try to expand my manuscript yet again.
So—that’s where we stand with Rock Bound. I’m still editing here and there, and of course, I spent the summer with my grandkids. I’ll spare you the blow-by-blow on that. Needless to say, it was not easy keeping up with three kids and a menagerie that at one point included five dogs, a cat and a fish. By the end of the summer, we were down to three dogs, the cat and fish. We had been puppy-sitting one dog, and the largest found a home in the country where he would have space to run off his energy. I’m home, now—and it’s nice to have my two cats and some peace and quiet.
