Revising Forever

My red pen is going to be getting a workout for a while. After I sat down with my 2025 goals last week, my immediate and ongoing task is going to be revisions on the things I had planned to have out by now. A couple of them are in good shape, but it's been a little while since I've looked at them--the last two months have been rough, and I couldn't have worked on anything creative if I'd wanted to after my sister died. So I can't beat myself up over it now, I just need to get myself back into the right mindset for writing and revising. I've spent some time this past week reading through a couple of manuscripts, just as a warm-up. In the next week, I need to start the actual work.

I also need to start working through my event prep list for the Books Books Books event next month! I know I've been ready for summer to be over since about June, but I've lost track of time and now we have this awesome booksigning coming up Saturday, September 27 in Lancaster, PA! This is the last event on my calendar for this year, so I hope if you're near enough, you'll come out to see us. The list of attending authors is amazing. You can find me at table 113, and a few of my friends will be along the same row, with a few others in nearby aisles. This is so much fun. I attended last year for the first time, as a reader, and it was a great afternoon in a beautiful space.

Before I get to the last few things on my weekend to-do list and then revisions, I have a snippet for you this week from Light the Way Home.

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            Nate schooled his expression to neutrality before turning around. Hayden’s chin jutted stubbornly, and his blue eyes narrowed. “I’m saying Lucie might be busy right now,” Nate said evenly. “Maybe we’ll see her outside tomorrow.”

            “I can knock on the door.” His son crossed his arms on his chest, covering the spotted blue dog graphic. “She said we’d play later, and it’s later.”

            “We can check, but, buddy, you have to promise not to be upset if she’s busy. Plus it’ll be suppertime soon, so we’ll be busy here, too.”

            Hayden’s chin jutted out further.

            “Just don’t get your hopes up,” he said, trying to keep his tone from dropping in defeat.

            Hayden bolted for the back door.

            Nate followed more slowly, picking up his son’s jacket from the chair inside the door. By the time he reached the bottom step, he heard his son’s voice, then Lucie spoke in reply, though he couldn’t hear the words. When he cleared the lilac bushes, he expected to see Hayden’s shoulders droop.

            He was a little surprised to see the two of them walking into the middle of the neighboring yard while Lucie bounced the big yellow ball on one hand. Huh. He would’ve bet on her putting Hayden off. He paused at the open gate between the yards to watch them. They’d stopped, and she crouched in front of Hayden, who chattered a mile a minute. She nodded as she rose.

            Hayden jogged backward a few steps, grinning, then held out both hands.

            Lucie gave the ball another bounce before she tossed it to him.

            His son caught it, giggling. “Too easy,” he shouted. He jumped once, then moved a few more steps away from her. “Ready?”

            “Ready!” She leaned forward and held out her hands.

            Nate wished he could see her expression.

            Hayden lobbed the ball at her, and she caught it before it hit her in the face. He smiled and shook his head when his laughing son danced backward a couple more paces. “Throw it again!”

            “You sure you can catch it so far away?” The tease in her voice made Nate relax. Lucie Russo might be a nice woman. Mindi and Harry trusted her, which meant she was okay.

            But she seemed to be enjoying his son, genuinely enjoying him. Maybe she had nieces or nephews–she was comfortable, chatting with Hayden as they played catch.

            He leaned on the fence to watch.

            “Daddy, come play with us!”

            Lucie straightened and looked over her shoulder, eyes widening.

            Nate felt a little kick in his gut at the appealing image–pink cheeks, green eyes that tipped up at the outer corners, full lower lip dropping a tiny bit. Lucie Russo was pretty.

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What are you aiming to accomplish this month? I'd love to hear about it?

Until next week, happy reading!