Worn-out wrap-up

     Met with a publisher this week! And an illustrator! Very exciting. Not as exciting as it might sound, but still very exciting to me. It is the culmination of a something I've been working on for a couple of years. I've started the last rush of research for the final bit of writing I need to do to complete this baby, and have been working on that ever since. Will probably stay in much of the weekend to continue. Will make more of a major announcement on this project when all details are finalized which I hope will be quite soon.
     Also started the week off by attending a writer's conference. I studied with a New Hampshire newspaper columnist named John Clayton. He happens to write for the newspaper that I was raised reading. When I left home for college I stopped reading that particular paper primarily for political reasons, and so didn't know his work. I'm a fan now and will continue reading him on line. Here is his link;
http://www.unionleader.com/clayton/columns.aspx/John%20Clayton?channel=1c995e31-2510-4986-94ad-a70698fbcb4d
I think he taught me a few things about being a columnist that will improve my work. Only time will tell about that of course. I can say that I wrote my next column this week just a few days after the workshop, and it was a serious variation from my usual model. There is a fair amount of risk taking with it that I'm not sure I would have taken before. I am really looking forward to hearing how it is received by readers which of course is the real test.
     My graduate class ended a few days ago, but I have not received my grade report yet. Will, of course, keep you posted. Reading, writing, weeding, meeting, and battling sneaky teenagers like a Jedi all week has worn me out far more than usual. I wish I could write myself some more energy, and maybe a maid ... and a yard boy ...