Leia Finished Her Game

An hour after the State of the Union tonight, Leia finally finished her game.

I stopped tweaking the novel around eleven and e-mailed Leia's Game to the publisher for my Feb. 1st deadline. I know, cutting it a little close, but I’m glad to be done.

It took six months to write this novel, working on it almost every day since July. It’s been challenging, fun, and an education (can I get college credit for this?). I’m grateful to RiverOak for the opportunity to tell Leia’s story—can’t wait to see it in bookstores next spring.

The experts say to start writing another book the second you finish your current manuscript. Close one folder and open a new one. Maintain the routine.

I think I’ll start in the morning. Or the next day. After I do the laundry, vacuum the floors, pay my bills, and play with my girls.

So maybe it will be next week before I start my next book.

Fiction? Non-fiction? So many ideas, so much laundry, so little time.

Together for Good Cover

An artist has created a face for my baby! The cover art for Together for Good is finished, and I'm so pleased with the design. After working on this book for almost three years, it's hard to believe that it will be in bookstores this spring. Deep breath...

Our Journey Home

After almost twenty-four hours of traveling from Berlin to Chattanooga, the girls were sound asleep as we carried them off our last flight. December 23rd. We made it home for Christmas.

Karly and Kiki cruised across the Atlantic and into New York like they were frequent fliers. The leg to Atlanta was a little more harried (it may have had something to do with keeping track of Karly, Kiki, our eight carry-on bags, double stroller, and a car seat). And no one told the girls that it was only ten o’clock in the U.S. as we waited for our last flight to Chattanooga. They were sure it was 4 a.m.

Jon’s back in Berlin—braving the cold weather for their last month of production. The girls and I are enjoying warm Tennessee. Kiki’s sporting a red polka dotted look this week (someone on the airplane gave her a surprise Christmas gift—chicken pox). Those itchy pox haven’t stopped her from dancing to her Wiggles video or practicing her newfound ability to master the stairs.

I’m so grateful to be back in the States! I’ll never take Wal-Mart for granted again. Or my car. Or the blue sky. Or English-speaking friends and neighbors.

Living in Berlin was a grand adventure. One I’ll never forget. We’re waiting now for our next ticket (car? plane? train?). Don’t know where the ride will take us, but we’re ready to embark on the next leg of this journey.