It has been hot, hot, hot here in Texas. Every day the temperature hovers above 100. The grass is drying, the plants are withering, and it is just too darn hot to be outside.

I have been working on revisions for a middle-grade novel with my agent from Upstart Crow. The editorial suggestions she makes are making the story better. I wish I could work on revisions every day, but personal life gets in the way. I try and get some reading in there as well. Not enough time in the day, though.

This is all part of the writing process—the fun part for me. The story is there; it just needs to be refined to make it better. This is the editing process where you add, delete, or change the way it’s going.

I also have several picture book manuscripts that I need to resurrect. I just sent out a poetry manuscript of about 58 poems to a contest. The winner will not be announced until October. All submissions take time. A writer has to learn patience and always has to be working on something else while waiting.

Happy to report that the black and white sketches from the illustrator for my next picture book have been completed. The book will be out in the Fall of 2023. Can hardly wait.