It’s been a while since I posted a blog entry. I had a lot on my plate and the blog moved into the background while I worked on other things.

First, November is National Novel Writing Month. (It should be called international, but hey, I’m not in charge.) I signed up again this year. I also attempted the challenge in 2007 and 2008. The challenged is to write a complete first draft of a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. That’s 1,667 words a day. This year I won! I took a lot of hours typing madly away at the keyboard, telling my internal editor to take a hike and just concentrating on getting the words down.

The novel draft I wrote is called ‘Exiled.’ It is a YA Historical fiction based on the Trail of Tears. My main character is a 16 year old Cherokee named Mary. I spent the weeks before November reading everything I could get my hands on about the Trail of Tears. I grew up in the Northeast. I never heard of this less than stellar moment in US history until I moved to Missouri after getting married. And ever once in a while I would drive past historical markers proclaiming they stood on part of the Trail of Tears in my book signing tour travels. I always told myself I should find out more about it. So I did. And I took what I gleaned and based my NaNoWri Mo novel on my notes.

I don’t know if I will ever spend the hours and hours needed to take it from first rough draft to finished manuscript. I’d have to do some very serious research and most likely speak with more than a few people within the Native American community to get all my facts straight. But even if I don’t do anything with it ever, I met a goal I set for myself. And I did it well, without hair pulling or teeth gnashing. I even made my 50,000 total before the midnight deadline by a healthy margin.

Another November challenge I signed up for was Picture Book Idea Month. The challenge here was to come up with 30 picture book ideas in 30 days. Not all of them had to be wonderful, they just had to be an idea for a picture book. There are more then one or two on my list that have possibilities I am looking forward on following up on.

I also received the final text for the newest picture book I am contracted to illustrate. I spent a number of days (when I wasn’t novel-ing or PB idea-ing) working on character sketches and thumbnail story boards for the book. I have received approval on the roughs to move onto tight pencils. Which will be my next big project – creative wise.

In the midst of all of these work projects, I also am renovating the kitchen/dining room. We demo-ed the dining room down to the studs the Friday after Thanksgiving. And found a prescription pill bottle in the wall. It was dated 12-17-62. That’s some pretty old medication. It also gives us a fairly good idea of how old that kitchen/dining room was. Way past time for an upgrade.

The install begins on Monday. I hope it is not too distracting to my working on pencils. I’d like to have them done and out for approval by the end of next week.