I've had almost a week to think about some of my editors suggestions. Because her initial reaction to the book was favorable, I really was thinking I would not have to do too many rewrites. when Rick finished reading Book II he told me that it was so much better. He claims my writing and thought processes have progressed and he made the remark that maybe I should rewrite Book I. I, of course, scoffed at that (at him really). He irritated me when I showed him the notes from the editor. Of course he had the four most hated words in the English language written all over his face (he knows me too well, to say them out loud) I TOLD YOU SO.

I finished reading Book II and adding my edits. I'm almost done putting my and Rick's edits on Book II into the computer and I can see everybody is right. including my characters, because I keep waking up at night rewriting scenes from Book I in my head.

All of the advice for writers is pretty diverse, but there is one thing that keeps coming up in every advice article and that is join a writer's group. Get the support of other writers to know your not crazy,lazy, totally insecure, obsessive, etc, etc, etc. Kind of like a Cancer Support Group, you can get through this dread disease if you know others are going through it or have gotten through it too. Well, in my circumstances it's a little hard, but I do follow almost exclusively writers on twitter (I know, I know, your thinking; Are you kidding me? Social Media?). Yeah Social Media that's my Writer's Group. I read quite a few of their blogs and yesterday by accident I was lead to the blog of a very successful young woman writing in the same genre. Her blog was devoted to"Changes" and went on to say how hard it was to listen to editors and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite, but she wanted the book to be the very best it could be. I've read her book. It is. It was interesting to note that it was not what or where she started out. Guess I didn't find that blog by accident after all.

So, I'm ready to listen and rewrite. Some of the suggestions have already been worked out, in my head anyway, best to get them on paper. Funny, after all these years I'm becoming a perfectionist. I do want this to be the best it can be.

Whew! Don't worry, 'thinking is still optional.'

YIPPEE! Got an email from the editor yesterday. It only took me a half hour and about a gallon of sweat to open it. She's only about 50 pages in to it and she did not hate it. Many complementary things to say. (Here's where I'm doin' a little ole dance around the room. Back is much better by the way.). There are also many things she wants me to rewrite.

I'm in the middle of the self-edit on Book II. Told her I would take a little time to think about her suggestions and reread Book I. Yeah, well. Apparently Book I and my characters like her better than me. I was wide awake at 3:30AM doing the rewrites in my head. Are you kidding me?

I'm still insisting on finished the self-edit of Book II before I start. I get too confused about where I'm at and what we are doing. That is of course, unless they wake me up again tonight or tomorrow morning. Talk about the voices in your head.

No matter what they say: Thinking is still optional.

The slacker is back. Today at noon-Atlantic Time, I finished writing "Far Away Dreams" or Book II. One more to go. Do I have it in me? I guess we'll see.

This story consumed me. I would forget to eat (Not necessarily a bad thing.), didn't cook much (A bad thing according to Rick), the house is a wreck (eh!) and there were times I could not sleep (Not necessarily a new thing). I have to admit I feel a little bit like a fraud. I started Book I with a general idea of wanting to write a story about Mermaids. I started out with no outline, having no idea where I was going or what I was doing. Simultaneously, I started taking college course, again. (One day I'll actually get that degree. Nah, they still want me to take those math classes.) I started reading blogs and studying like mad to learn how to write. I mean, I want to learn how to craft a good story, something you can't put down. Characters you become invested in. I want you to feel my passion and learn about the things that are important to me. I want to make you cry. I want to prick your conscience. I want you to laugh out loud with tears streaming down your face. I want to embarrass you. I want you to feel the heat of my love scenes without going to far and crossing the line that offends your imagination.

Anyway...back to being a fraud. I don't know where these stories are coming from. I start writing with a vague idea and it gets away from me and the characters start talking and ideas start coming. It's crazy. Sometimes I worry about myself. Some of the ideas that became incorporated into the story were NOT my idea. They wanted to be there and there was no getting around it. These are all ideas that I am very familiar with, with a twist, of course, but I did not intend to include them as part of the story. What is that?

Book I is with an editor. I haven't heard a peep from them in three weeks. I'm anxious. At the same time,no news is good news. I terrified they will say this is the biggest piece of crap I have ever read. Rick likes it,but unfortunately he doesn't really count. He counts on me for dinner. (Most days.) There is no way he would say it was a piece of crap. Book II is better than Book I. Maybe that's not fair. Book I is so much setting the stage, developing the characters. In Book II they get to take off. More action, more danger,more everything.

I have confidence I have a good story. I hope I'm good enough to write it.

I don't promote my blog. Primarily it's my Journal. I write here for myself and I don't worry about where the commas go (That would be because I have no idea where they should be. I'm just a storyteller.) I do know that some of my followers picked me up from my Twitter page, so anyone, everyone, let me know what you think.

Next step slash and burn on Book II, it ended up at 110,119 words, probably a little bit too long. When I hear back from the editor, hopefully I will be able to make "minor" changes and start to sell myself by querying agents. Wondering who I can get to help me edit Book II. Editors for Book I are working for a week stay with us in the Caribbean. I'm sure they will want $$$, that I don't have for Book II. Can't really blame them. Finally, I guess I'll start on Book III (Hopefully the final in this series.) The characters are already calling to me. I'm not sure where they are going, but I know they want to get started on the journey.

When someone asked me what the books were about I told them: "Strong women with strong values. Ancient customs and rituals. Value of family; first the immediate family, next the global family. And Mermaids,of course." My take on mermaids may be a little different and shocking to some.

Titles were the hardest. I have finally settled on "Far Away Eyes" for Book I and "Far Away Dreams" for Book II. Of course, if I find a publisher who is interested, changing the title would not be a deal breaker for me. Changing some of the story would.

For me; Thinking is still optional.

I admit I've been a little whiny lately. OK I've been a lot whiny. This backache thing is getting old real fast. Sitting against the heating pad helps. Imagine sitting against a heating pad when you live somewhere with an average temperature of eighty-five degrees in September. Yeah, I'm a lot whiny. Anyway...

I decided yesterday,that I should take the day off. Lay around and try to get better. I force myself to stay away from the computer and not write on Sunday,it is work for me. Anyway...I finished reading the book I have been working on for almost two weeks. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. This was such an amazing, heartfelt book I want to leave a little review, in hopes that you all will take the time and read it. I love almost anything that will make me laugh out loud. I am impressed by those that make me feel. It is rare that I'm reading with tears streaming down my face. This story was able to accomplish all three.

Simply put it's the story of upper middle class white women in the south during the 60's and their maids (The Help). It's a work of fiction with characters so real you expect to see them on Oprah.(OK, I do know that Oprah is no more - even if we don't watch TV, but you know what I mean.) As their stories unfold, my heart broke for some, for others I cheered and there are a few I wanted to slap silly.

I grew up during the 60's. I grew up real fast during the 60's. I also grew up in Chicago in a house where the word "nigger" was not considered a bad word. As a matter of fact, my father, a Chicago Cop used every possible euphemism for people of color. Some, I'm sure if I told you now, you would never have heard. Even then it made me cringe. Don't worry Dad had ethnic slurs for every nationality and race. I remember a few years ago at church when a sweet lady was talking about how she loved all of Mr.Twain's books even though some of them contained (whispers here) the "N" word. I had to ask someone what "cuss word" starts with N.

Anyway...that's just a little background on me. Where and how I was raised. The reason Ms.Stockett touches my heart today is that I currently reside on an island in the Caribbean where, by the color of my skin, I am the minority. Actually only 8% of the population here share my skin color. I hear, daily, the complaints about the work force on the island and it is not dissimilar to what I read in this work of fiction. I meet people regularly who do not like me because I am white. They are sure all white people can't be trusted, are out to exploit them and their nation. We kidnapped their ancestors and sold them into slavery. Unfortunately,some of my ancestors probably did. At least I do know that they were salve owners in the South who fought on the losing side of the Civil War. This is not what touches my heart, only my conscience.

What touches my heart is the Sister from church who called today, because I was sick yesterday to see if the "bush tea" she sent home with my husband helped me to feel better. The other Sisters who give me a hug and kiss on the cheek (typical Caribbean greeting on my island) and tell me that they love me. The acceptance I feel from the youth that I work with. The advice and protection offered from some of the people who work at the complex where I live.

I remember my Dad once saying to me that so and so would call me "everything but a white woman". Well now I have been called a "white woman" and more than once it has been meant to be just as derogatory at the "n" word. Other times it is just a statement of fact. I am a white woman.

Thank you Ms. Stockett for putting into words and print some of the facts. The fact that all women everywhere share the same hopes and dreams for their children. The fact that all women everywhere want to beloved and cared for.The fact that no matter what color our skin, hair or eyes women everywhere want to make their little part of the world a better place.

I have never thought of myself as a feminist but I do know that it is women who will change the world. One child at a time.

Read it, you will like it. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.

Maybe one day I'll tell you about the two years I lived in the South. The Deep South.

Whew...that's an awful lot of thinking from someone who lives by the motto; "Thinking is optional."

OK, I'm really a boob. I have been busy with the magnificent obsession. closing in on the ending of Book II, it is exhausting. I know you're all just dying to hear about my 'so called life'. I promise I'll post on the weekend.

Tremendous back ache yesterday and today. I can just imagine how much fun I am to be around. Forced myself to sit in the chair and write today. Doesn't hurt too bad when I am sitting down, getting up is another story.

Going to bed and hope to sleep this pain off.

Today is overcast, the air is still and the humidity is great. Apparently TS Maria is passing us by to the North. That's the good news. People on the island are still flipping out. I hope there isn't something they are not telling me. Then just for good measure a few minutes ago the power went off. Are you kidding me?

Maybe no you see why you are better off when "thinking is optional".