Darn that word counter--it must be stuck!

That small dent I mentioned in my last post remains a small dent. It's been a busy few weeks, between getting my husband and son off to UNT orientation for most of a week, and spending a day and one night up there with them, meeting up with four of the ladies in my online writing group a few times while they attended the RWA National conference in Dallas, and ... a stomach virus. Woo!

My hand is steadily better, although it gives me more trouble some days than others. I had to reschedule the appointment with the specialist because of the aforementioned virus. Now I'll be waiting until August, but I'm hoping by then, it'll be completely better on its own because of the exercises and vitamins and I won't even need to go. *Crossing the fingers that will still cross* ;-)

I've read some amazing books during my forced rest this summer. Last week, I finished both The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver) and The Kindness of Strangers (Katrina Kittle). Each left me somewhat subdued and speechless. (I've been speechless a lot lately--weird stuff!) I recommend both, but don't start the Kingsolver until you have plenty of time, because it'll take you a while to get through it and then to digest it completely, or the Kittle until you have about a day or two where you have absolutely nothing to do, because you won't be able to put it down.

Both make you think hard. A little too hard at times, to be honest, but sometimes we need that. I've gotten to the point where I recognize a writer who is skilled at their craft, and both of these authors are top notch. Even if the writing wasn't superb, the subjects would draw you in like a train wreck. The combination of both is magnetic.

Now I'm reading Before You Know Kindness (Chris Bohjalian). I got started reading his work with Midwives, at the recommendation of another aspiring writer who knows I'm trying to write similarly dark and depressing stuff (Don't laugh! it's true!). I'm not too far in on this one yet, but so far it's respectably dark and depressing as well. :-D

Also reading Jane Eyre after listening to the first 10 or so chapters on audio book and running out of re-checks from the library on that. I know I listened to a condensed version of this on tape as a kid, but I don't remember much about it. I'm really enjoying it. Starting out with the audio book gave me the voices in my head to deal with the old language, although Jane Eyre isn't as difficult as many other classics.

Saturday night while attending the RWA National awards ceremony as a guest of my online writers group friends, I got to see Linda Lael Miller receive their Lifetime Achievement Award. I also got to say hello to her at RWA's booksigning (which raised $57K for Dallas literacy projects, by the way). I met her at the La Jolla Writer's Conference last year, and was able to spend some time talking one on one with her then, and I think she actually remembered me when I talked to her last week. She is a gracious lady and so very encouraging to new writers. I'm hoping to attend the conference again this year, and she's on the schedule.


So, anyway, I said all that to say this--

CRAP! I HAVEN'T MADE ANY MORE HEADWAY ON MY WIP!!!!

(I was hoping you wouldn't notice.)