Alison Strobel

I can't believe February is over in less than three hours. For being a vacation month, I sure was busy! But it was fun. I accomplished nearly everything I'd hoped to do, and the things that didn't get done, I'm okay with. Especially since I know I'll have real weekends to work on them.

Tomorrow I start to work again. Hard to believe I'm starting ANOTHER book. How did I get this awesome opportunity? I'm excited about this new story--code name TC--and about meeting some new characters and researching some new stuff. Unlike The Weight of Shadows, TC is based on some personal experiences, and on the experiences of some people who were/are quite close to me. Writing on those kinds of themes--the ones that have touched me or close friends--is always more interesting to me, but also a little more stressful. I don't want to misrepresent those people or what they've gone through. I don't want them to read the book and think, "Seriously? That's the best she could do?" I feel a greater responsibility for accuracy and realism, and it adds another layer of challenge--and stress--to the process. But it also helps keep me even more invested in the story, and I think (or at least hope) that results in an even better book. You'll all have to decide that for yourselves when it comes out in...um...April of next year. (Good things come to those who wait!)

So tonight, on the last night of my vacation, I'm crocheting a few more rows on my very first crochet project, watching an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition we've got on the DVR, and then hitting the sheets early so I'm up in time to leave early for PJ's thereapy in the morning. We're getting snow tonight and I'll probably have to shovel before I go. Fitting for the first day of a new season of work.