Batteries

My internal batteries got messed up, and I’ve missed two blog deadlines.

Messed up from what? you might ask. From Changes, I think.

Change in seeing: I completed the three weeks of eyedrops after cataract surgery and I’m still adjusting to taking OFF glasses to see the world.

Change in company—come and gone. Such a delight to see my sisters, in spite of a rainy week and no big happenings, other than a crisis or three.

Autumn crocuses bloomed just in time to welcome my sisters.

The Monday after they left, I felt like I’d had a real vacation—a staycation, at least. But by the next day, the world had crashed on my doorstep with all the pieces I’d ignored.

It’s rare that I take time off from all my projects. Before my sisters came, I managed to read a book: THORN, by Intisar Khanani; its plot based on The Goose Girl tale, full of middle east flavor. This past weekend, I read its sequel, THE THEFT OF SUNLIGHT, and couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately, it ends in a cliffhanger, and the library doesn’t have the next volume or ebook yet.

After reading THORN, I felt the tug of my own novel-length version of The Goose Girl, and pulled it out. It’s been nudging the back of my mind for months. Looking over the beginning, I was immediately dissatisfied. Told in three voices, at least one voice needs to be in verse. Something to play with when I want a change of pace.

But meanwhile, I’ve committed to writing a complete first draft of Book 3 of the Pawn Quest trilogy by the end of the year. For November’s NaNoWriMo, that will be my main project. And December too.

Sophie is feeling better and better, now that she’s given up jumping on the furniture. She’s not above begging to join us, though. We lift her onto the couch.

And down again—unless she beats us to it.