Coming to The End

I had my meeting with my critique partners last night. Even after all these years, I still feel nervous sharing a new novel with them. It has nothing to do with them, because they are 100% on my side, no matter what. I always feel that.  And I'm a strong person. I take advice and suggestions well. 

But no matter what, it's hard to lay your heart into your work and then share it with other people.

I didn't need to feel anxious, though. I came away with such good feelings and advice. 

"You made me cry,' Terry said. "Twice!" 

My daughter said it's saddest book I've written, and my critique partners talked about how it's a book about loss. When they said that, I felt a pang of regret, because I love humor in books and I wondered if I should I try to make it funnier. But I do have some sadness and loss wrapped up in this book and New Hampshire and this summer. I'm coming to the end of many things, and life is all of it: funny and sad and everything between. So I'm going to let that regret go and embrace that this book is the book it's meant to be. 

Loons play a large role in this book, and this week, I'm heading to New Hampshire to go to the annual meeting of the Loon Preservation Committee. My friend, Tami Wight, just sold a book to Islandport Press that is also set on a lake, and she and I are going together.  So it'll be interesting and informative. But with Tami's company, it'll also be great fun!