I never once in my early life dreamed that I would have fans. Guys like me don’t have fans and sign things for people they don’t know. They don’t get emails asking what they are working on because they are working on making it through one day at a time and struggling to do that much.
Surprise! I’m old and have fans. They read my books and tell me what an interesting life I’ve had so far. When I hear those things my first reaction is still, “Me? You’re kidding, right?” Not only am I as old as dirt, I’m as plain as dirt too. Which is why writing this is a challenge.
I feel that I owe my fans and explanation to the question, what’s going on with Ed and Jazz? The truth is—I’m not sure. I have Witch Moon two-thirds of the way done and am having a hard time gutting out the chapters. This is not too unusual. What is out of the ordinary is that so many other things are able to keep me from the work.
My usual course when this happens is to simplify my life. That means cutting out things of lesser importance. At present, I can’t find a place to cut. There are places I wish to cut, but to do so is to take the knife to my word and my commitment to others who are relying on me. That said, Ed and Jazz are counting on me too. Though they are fictional characters, neglecting them frustrates me to no end.
There is hope in knowing this will pass. At my age, there is also the nagging wonder if I have time for it to pass. There is a ray of hope for Ed and Jazz. I am feeling a fire building to write Roads of Battle, the sequel to Trails of Trouble. I know my stubborn self will not let that work begin until Witch Moon is in the hands of my editor.
So, I apologize for the delay. I am making plans to get from Salem back to Lockett by November 1st. Now that I’ve told you, I have to make it happen.
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