I finished the first draft of my WIP The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn minutes before the ACFW awards dinner began live streaming on Saturday, Sept 24, which I watched while I unwound. I’ve set the story aside for two weeks with the hope that time away from it will lend some objectivity for when I dive in again for edits (barring interruptions like one of my other stories selling) on October 17.
It’s a bit strange not writing every day. It wasn’t so hard the first part of this week when family visited and we went to the coast for a couple of nights. No computer. No hard copy of chapters. No research. But being back home… it’s hard to keep my brain from picking apart the story and getting a jump on the editing.
Instead, I’m painting a room in my house and catching up on some reading. If anyone noticed, the books I’m currently reading over in the sidebar haven’t changed in weeks. That’s because I’ve had so little time to devote to reading other than research and critique. But here’s a reading snapshot anyway. Hope you’ll share yours in the comments.
The last book I finished reading:
Wayah of the Real People, by William O. Steele
The book(s) I’m reading now:
The Colonel’s Lady, by Laura Frantz
Long Knife, by James Alexander Thom
Ransome’s Quest by Kaye Dacus
Cherokee Dragon by Robert Conley
Home Life in Colonial Days by Alice Morse Earle
(as you can see, I have trouble not starting new books before I’ve finished the current ones)
The book I’m reading next:
Torrent, by Lisa Tawn Bergren
(I love this time travel series and can’t wait to devour this third book)
What book is up to bat for you now? What book is on deck? Any books get benched recently?
I'm reading The Colonel's Lady and am loving it. I reward myself for my day's work by savoring a few chapters at night. There have been many nights I've wondered how much sleep I could do without so I could sneak in one more chapter. I'm nearing the end of the book and think I'll be sitting in front of the fire Sunday afternoon to finish this wonderful story because I can't wait to find out what happens next.
So glad to see you back, Lori! Happy your time away was refreshing. Randy and I are about to take a road trip next week but am hoping my edits don't arrive first! And I should have that chap back to you soon.
Keli, Oh, you always bless me:) It's wonderful to think of you reading Roxie's story at night and that it is tempting you to stay up late! Love that. And thank you.
I tend to have too many books going at once – and quite a few endorsements to read. I just ordered Heiress by Susan May Warren as I've heard it's very good. Plus it deals with generations and that's something I'm thinking about. I've read one chap of Thom's craft book on historicals and am hooked but can't seem to find time to get back to it.
Anyway, happy reading to you both!
Keli, I actually forwent (forgoed?) my morning bike ride so I could read a bit further in The Colonel's Lady this morning. I'm even more entranced than the first time I read it. I keep thinking Laura can't write a better book than last time, but she keeps doing it.
Laura, Thom's book on historicals was the book I finished reading before Steele's book. I know you're going to get a lot out of it, even if you are inching your way through it like I end up doing with so many books I wish I had the time to blaze through.
Happy reading back at you! I'll send up a prayer that the trip and impending edits fall out in good order.
Enjoy your brief hiatus, Lori. It's a good thing to step away for a time.
Loved THE COLONEL'S LADY, but then anything Laura Frantz writes is superb. As you said, she just gets better & better with each book.
Right now I'm reading THE CHAIR by Jim Rubart. It's a supernatural suspense which isn't my favorite genre, but Rubart's a talented writer.
On deck I have Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee's FORBIDDEN. I love Tosca Lee so I know this will be excellent.
Congrats on finishing your WIP!
Thanks, Ruth. Wish I could say it was DONE, but I have the suspicion this one needs extra editing work compared to previous books. Probably because it's the fastest first draft I've ever written. But it's also the most plotted draft I've ever written so we'll see how all that shakes out.
Brenda, I've been too chicken to read Ted Dekker. While I like suspense in my reads, I'm not fan of the suspense genre per se. I'll have to see what Forbidden is about.
What? A time-travel story? I love time-travels!
After looking at it, it looks like it is young adult, right? I wonder why time travel is acceptable in YA, but not adult?
I am reading A Heart Revealed, by Julie Lessman. A nice story.
Sherrinda, Yes, it's YA. I'm surprised I'm enjoying it so much, but the third book has sucked me in like all the others. Something about that voice, I guess.