Catching Up... A Writing Update & Thanksgiving Menu

Hellooooooo blogosphere!

It's been a while. I have neglected my blog for several weeks as life came at me full force... in a good way.

My oldest son - now a freshman in high school - participated in his school's marching band. So, from September through early November, our afternoons and weekends revolved around his band activities. And it was great fun! The band enjoyed tremendous success during competitions, and it was a real joy to watch my son "come alive" doing something he loved. I also completely enjoyed getting to "hang out" with the rest of the kids and get to know them.

Now that marching band season has ended, life is settling back into a normal routine. I am writing much more these days, and I'm pleased to say that ONCE AND FOR ALL, the sequel to ONCE AGAIN, is nearing completion! HOORAY! When I finally type "The End", you may hear my shout of joy wherever you are! My plan is to finish the first draft before Christmas, then spend a month in edits/proofreading, and hopefully release the book late-January or early-February.

I'm just giddy with excitement over this book. The writing hasn't been as "smooth" as the writing for ONCE AGAIN, but I have fallen SO in love with these characters. Phoebe Campbell is a "hidden jewel", and Todd Miller, flawed as he was at the beginning of ONCE AGAIN, is a gentleman just waiting to bloom. I can't wait to share these two with you!

In the meantime, I wish each of you a glorious Thanksgiving with your loved ones. May your holiday be filled with lots of love, laughter, and delicious food!

Here's the menu for my family! I'd love to hear yours!

Smoked Turkey (Hubby's the "smoker" in the family!)
Cornbread Dressing
Green Beans
Sweet Potato Balls (Mashed sweet potatoes molded around a large marshmallow, rolled in raw sugar, and baked!)
Cole Slaw
Pea Salad
Cranberry Sauce
Yeast Rolls
Sweet Iced Tea
Mini-Pumpkin Pies