After my relative (very relative) success with the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, I once again started shopping Resonance to agents.  Still crashing, still burning.  For the most part, though, I've set aside that novel so I might better concentrate on the next, a contemporary fantasy/adventure set mostly in the depths of Hell.  I have a stack of books on that particular subject piled on my desk.  When visitors stare, or better yet start reading the titles aloud in a stunned voice, I tell them, "Since I'm headed there, anyway, I might as well read up.  You wouldn't go to China without consulting travel guides, would you?"  That's usually when they make some random excuse to part company.   

I'm currently reading the Otherland series by Tad Williams, mainly to help me see how he transitions from the many worlds in the series and how he handles a massive storyline with numerous POV characters.  I'm learning a lot, and really enjoying his writing style.  I think he has found a devoted fan.

I have been trying to better balance the massive renovation with my work, and succeeding only slightly.  As the weather has warmed progressively, so has the level of activity on the house.  There's the entire exterior to strip, prime and paint before winter, not to mention the interior is still at a moderate level of unfinished.  BUT, I have a closet now (whee!) and there is more plywood on the walls than exposed insulation, so that's something, isn't it?

For the most part, things are good.  The economy is not better, but not worse, and for that the Architect and I are grateful.  The sunshine is out, the air is warm and I don't have to worry about pellets or gas bills for several months.  My new herbs are starting to really grow and my back patio looks much less like a nuclear wasteland.  I have more ideas on the new novel than plot stumbling points.  And did I mention I finally have a closet?  Yeah, things are pretty good.