A Month of Mud and Titles

I have been bad, very bad, about posting to this blog. Because I've been busy digging the deepest hole I've ever dug:

Lined with a 55 gallon plastic drum.

Which I covered with plastic sheeting, hardware cloth, and part of a cattle-panel to hold up stones, ducks, chickens, guineas, kids and me.

 I dug a trench to run electricity (Pat did the wiring).

And installed a fountain

 

 We also had family visit and watched fireworks with friends:

And we've collected and examined as many living things as we could lay our hands on

As for my writing-life, I've written a three-chapter audition for a series for Working Partners, and I'm hard at work on my still-untitled new novel, set in New Mexico. I've helped plan a writing-retreat for the IN-SCBWI in November which allowed me to talk with a great group of editors who will be offering critiques to all the attendees! I've also been ironing out the details for my trip to LA for the National SCBWI conference, in August, and now I'm back to work on further revisions for my debut novel, which has recently gained an official title: "Rape Girl". 

Life is exciting and full and good and I have my fingers crossed it stays this way!