By Way Of Update…

So…this break is stretching into a “probably through the fall” thing.  Why?  Well, for once, it’s because I have some good news!  I’ve had cause to ponder, at various points throughout my life, the notion that times of illness and adversity can lead to great things.  Are, perhaps, great things in the making of which the illness and adversity are merely necessary parts.  Sort of like being pregnant, but in the purely existential sense.  The process of bringing my son into the world was certainly a miserable one, as I almost died, but although I only relive it in my nightmares I also wouldn’t trade a single minute.  My son is the most wonderful person in the world and his life gives mine meaning.  The same is true with my husband: we got together young and grew up together, and while we’ve had our ups and downs–both between each other and against the outside world–those ups and downs have made us who we are.  They’re certainly a large part of why our relationship is so strong.

Illness, injury, death…now what?  Well, getting back into making dolls reminded me of how much I like making other things, too.  Most especially jewelry.  Which I’m doing.  Which…one thing led to another and some other people were interested and the short answer is that a miracle occurred.  At some point near the midpoint of the summer (details to follow), I’m launching my own jewelry line!  Yes, really!

That’s a big deal.  At least for me.  The overall theme of the first collection is what can best be described, in these early stages, as a three way convergence of steampunk, art nouveau and Wicca.  I’m still working on my dolls, too, as I have a number of orders to fill there as well.  My studio these days is a busy place.

And books?  No, I haven’t forgotten about Hart!  If all else fails, I’ll be back to telling his (and Tristan’s, and Isla’s, and Rowena’s, and Asher’s, etc…) story by my birthday.  Which is November.  And I still fully intend for the final installment(s) to be out about a year from now.  While putting out thirteen books in a year (that I wrote in three) was an awesome experience, it was also exhausting.  The industry standard is still one per year (unless you’re George R.R. Martin), although I’d anticipate that changing.  Richard Laymon was asked, once, how long it took to write a book.  “Twenty-five years and six months,” he said.  “Six months to write the manuscript, and 25 years to learn how to write.”