Hi all

June 15. Egads. In a few more days, we'll be half-way through 2011. And just to confirm how behind I am, I'm still planting spring flowers. Seems "the hurrider I go, the behinder I get." (Sigh.)

Thanks, Mahala, for the atta-girl on the publication of two of my pieces in the University of South Alabama's fine arts magazine Oracle. That was a real kick! I am very pleased and honored to have been chosen.

Repairs to the homefront (literally) are ongoing, and it seems headway is being made. Amid all the commotion, I managed to put final touches on my story, "Deadly Star." Even had a celebratory lunch with three of my favorite fellow authors: Wanda Woods, Linda Busby-Parker, and Mahala Church. Now my task is to recruit a few kind folks who will read the 318 pages. I'm working on that.

My son, who loves western stories, which "Deadly Star" isn't, tells me "I liked it." Sadly, that's not the objective opinion I need--even if I do know he'd be just as quick to tell me "It's okay" or "It needs . . ."

I'm one of those writers who can't/doesn't like to/won't work from an outline to create my story, but I will make an outline after the fact. I'm currently going through the work chapter by chapter. I find the task helps identify holes in the story, any unanswered questions, and any loose threads that need to be tied off. It also seems to help me do a synopsis and an elevator pitch (which can become the back-of-the-book blurb).

Ooops . . . the repairman calleth. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I'll try to do the same.

cj

The painted bunting posed for a photograph by Jeff Johnston on Dauphin Island. A storm front on the Gulf of Mexico had "knocked it down" -- meaning it needed to rest for a while because it was too pooped to fly.