Well, I survived. And what’s even better than that, I feel good.<\/p>\n
When I began Book 2 (which now has a title, and which I will hopefully be able to announce soon) I knew I was venturing into unknown territory in terms of my skill as a writer. It was a great big gamble as to whether I could pull it off, and at times during the writing of the book it felt very much like that moment in the movie Maverick<\/em><\/span><\/a> where Mel Gibson is about the turn the last card over, willing it to be the Ace of Spades. Only I still don’t know if I have the cards or not.<\/p>\n I was also gambling that Scholastic would like it. Book 2 was – still is – very different from The Clockwork Three<\/em>, and I wondered at the time if it was the right story to go after. But I was passionate about it, really taken with the idea, and my wonderful agent, Steve, gave me the push I needed to dive in. And then Lisa, my editor, loved it too.<\/p>\n It was hard to make some of the changes, to let go of what I’d written. That “delete” key really took on a sinister cast, and it truly felt as though I was “murdering my darlings” (a writing expression I understand much better). But now that it’s all done, and I’ve stepped back to get a good look at what the effort has produced, I’m very happy with it. It’s a book I’m proud of, and hopefully, my readers will like it to.<\/p>\n And now, on to Book 3…<\/p>\n ______________________________<\/p>\n You might be interested to know that it was exactly two years ago today that I posted my first entry on this blog. Not that I expect that anniversary to mean anything to most or all of you. But it means something to me. I started the blog before I had an agent, and before I was published. So in that sense it’s become a record of all the little milestones of my writing career from the beginning.<\/p>\n It’s also personally gratifying on a different level. You know how at the end of the book Jumanji<\/em>, two new kids pick up the game in the park and take it home? And they’re the kids who never finish a game? That’s me. I’m notorious for not following through on things. So to say I’ve maintained a blog for two years is something of a personal accomplishment in which I take a measure of pride.<\/p>\n ______________________________<\/p>\n I’ve been meaning to post links to some more online reviews that have popped up for The Clockwork Three<\/em>. I appreciate the time that each of the reviewers and bloggers put into reading and thinking about the book. Hop on over and check them out.<\/p>\n – Fuse #8<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n – Kidsreads<\/span><\/a>, which also has an interview<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n – The Review Broads<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n – 21 pages<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n – Fantasy Literature<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n – The Unread Reader<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n – Dearest Dreams<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Update:<\/strong> A few more reviews…<\/p>\n – Librarian’s Quest<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n