I know, I know -- be careful what you wish for. "The light at the end of the tunnel is the light of the oncoming train" (or words to that effect).

BUT -- there may be a light at the end of February's tunnel. I swear, it's been the longest month. Each week has presented enormous challenges. A funeral, a root canal, unpleasant legal hassles ... will this month never end?

However, there was a bright spot in the month. I reviewed a book I wrote several months ago now that it's fresh again. That's how I do it, I let it sit for months then I re-read it and am always surprised that, hey, I wrote it, and it's not that bad. There are a few tweaks here and there, but overall, yeah, I'm happy with it. I am sending it off to my formatter for prep to be released in March.

If you're having a holiday where you are, I hope it's a happy one. Use the time to recharge your writing batteries so you're ready for a fresh burst of

I've been in charge of planning 2 reunions this year: family reunion (planned with cousins & my sister) in which 50 or so people appeared. And my class reunion, coming up this weekend, for which we expect 60 or more people.

I always find it awkward at parties of this kind to talk about my writing career. Inevitably I'll be cornered by someone who "wants to write a book" or who's written one and "needs to find a publisher." They'll ask me how I've done it -- "how do you write and work full time?" "How did you find your publisher?" "What happens once you get published?" and the kicker, "how come you're still working? Can't you retire?"

I am finally making progress on my book that I started in June. To be honest, I think I'm tired of having it looming over me, in the back of my mind, so I let it come to the forefront and occupy my brain in my waking moments.

What does this mean? I expect to have a first draft done by mid-September. I had hoped to have it done by Labor Day, but I have had house guests (so no time to write) and unexpected travel (no time to write).

Let's say I wrap up the first draft in mid-September. That means 3 months, start to finish. Toss in one more week for revisions, then I'll revisit it again later in the year, before sending it off to my editor/beta reader.

I'm in the Midwest, and we're in a drought here. It's not Major yet, but we haven't had much rain, it's been hot and windy, and there's no significant rain predicted for the foreseeable future. So the D word is being bandied about.

Authors go through drought, too. There are times when we're just burned out, have no more ideas, no more energy, no more 'umph' to keep going. I know that I've certainly slowed down since I started writing seriously in 2007. Back then, I could easily do 4 or 5 books a year, many of which were pretty good, some of which needed some serious editing.

I read and re-read that manuscript. I had a beta reader go through it. I read it again. I had another reader go through it. I read it again. Then I had it converted to upload on Kindle, etc,. and I proofed it on the Kindle.

And damn, but there's a wrong word in the wrong place in about the ninth paragraph in the book. It should read "....where I sat now." What is there is "...where I sat know."

I've been on an Oscar Wilde kick lately. I just saw "Earnest" and today I will be seeing "Gross Indecency", a play about the trials of OW back in the day. I fully expect to be amazed by "how the mighty are fallen" by the time the play is over.

In many ways our world has changed a lot in the 100+ years since Oscar Wilde was ruined by that scandal. But you know, when I say "our world" I mean the world I know--America, middle-class, somewhat liberal, and with no pressing financial worries. In many parts of the Big World, there are still fears about being gay or being white or being black or being female.

I've reached that point in my life where I don't need any Christmas gifts. Oh, don't get me wrong. It's fun to get them, but I don't look forward to it like I did when I was a kid.

Remember that breathless sense of anticipation on Christmas Eve? That "I wonder if IT will be under the tree (or in my stocking)?" Remember that feeling of "Wow! It's here!" or "Rats. It's not." I hope kids today still feel that, but I wonder if they do. It seems like a lot of kids today don't have to wait for the Big Present. I'm not sure quite how it happens, but many kids seem to get everything they want.

For the first time in my writing career, I have had writer's block. I just haven't wanted to sit down and finish the damn book. First time since 2005 this has happened.

Gee, I guess I was due, right?

Let me hasten to say this hasn't bothered me too much. I'm a bit peeved I can't slough my way through this book. I think it's a good book, maybe one of my best, but it's like pulling teeth to write it. I think I've discovered the Cause of the block: