Ah. Yes. Writing....

I have been, of course. I always do. But it's been bounce, bounce, bounce around in work -- some nonfiction, a lot of 2YN class stuff --

However, I am happy to report that I'm almost done with this draft of Dancer. It will be far shorter than it should be. I found that I had an entire section that just kept repeating certain actions, so I started cutting out stuff from the outline before I went over it for the third or fourth time. Hey, it made sense at the time! I'm going to be lucky if this draft hits 65k -- but that's all right. That's a good working word count for me. I almost always write short first drafts, and even though this is based on an older novel, it's still virtually a first draft in this version.

Ada Nish Pura is going along fine. The editor and I are bouncing stuff back and forth, and though I would love to just run with the story, I am working slowly through it.

The other thing I'm working on is Glory. Oh and Farstep Station, but it's going to take a printed out edit -- I can't seem to make the opening fall into place.

But Glory -- Glory is doing very nicely. I'm just a little over the half way point in this edit. I want to have it done by the end of May and get it out. I have hopes for Glory.

And since it is the work closest to the 'finished' state, that's where I'll take the snippet for today:


Talis moved off toward the small placid stand of water, walking carefully enough that she didn't warn him about things like poison ivy and snakes. Something scuttled off through the ground plants at his approach, and he marked the retreat with a smile.

Pretty place, she suddenly realized. She could see a huge Turks Cap Lily and a dozen Cardinal Flowers, both summer bloomers, rising on high, long thin stems near the water. Green moss dappled the rocks, and sunlight streamed through the branches of tall trees, highlighting patches of green, and turning them from dark emerald to bright jade.

McCanless finally caught up with them, stalking down the trail like a bear, small sticks breaking under his feet. "What are we waiting for?"

"You're free to go back if we're wasting your time," Davis said and did not move away from the tree where he had leaned back, relaxed.

McCanless glared. Glory decided to follow Talis, if for no other reason than to annoy McCanless. The pond looked lovely, anyway. She pulled back her shirtsleeve, intending to take a shot or two of the area for her personal collection, even if she did label them as evidence. After all, they were half way to the site. She needed views of the area.

She walked far to the side of the pond, hoping she didn't slip into mud instead. Talis had knelt with his hand on the surface of the water, as though he could touch it like glass. She was aware again of how long and artistic his fingers looked, and wondered if he'd ever actually worked in life. Not that she could talk, but...

But...that seemed very odd. When she looked into the pond, she could see a reflection, and yet... it didn't look like Talis. Some odd twist of the light made the reflection turn golden and flowing --

She shivered. Blinked, and tried to focus -- but Talis stood in that moment, and the reflection shattered as the surface rippled with the drops of water from his hand.

Glory looked at him, and wished again he would take those damned sunglasses off. She might have read something in his look if she could see his eyes.

"I think we better go on before they come to blows," Talis said softly, nodding toward the two men.

"Yeah, go." She took a quick picture of the Turks Cap Lily, glanced back at the pond, and followed him to the trail.

"Did you see any salamanders?" Davis asked as they started out again, McCanless heading off first this time. She wondered if he realized how they all slowed, letting him get some distance ahead. "The pool was a haven for them before the fire."

"Yes, I saw a few," Talis said. "They'll do well still. They're protected."

"Good," Davis said. He sounded genuinely pleased.

Salamanders. That's what I saw in the water. Stupid reaction.

But she did not look back at the pool again, and still felt the hair on the back of her neck tingling long after they left the water behind. Things were not right in the woods. Salamanders were the least of the troubles.