I was going to start this month’s blog post with some lame attempt to be clever with respect to April Fool’s Day. However, it feels a little flat to do that in the written word. Say something, make it convincing, then chortle silently at the big reveal: “April Fools!”

Although I have my moments, I’m not particularly known for my comedic timing, so I’ll spare you and my ego from such things. You’re welcome.

Last month, I wrote about the impending loss of my best friend. I awoke on the morning of March 4^th to a message from her son, letting me know she had passed in the night. Wrenched my heart before my morning coffee, and just as I had to leave for the week.

If I believed it possible (or that it was all about me), I’d have sworn my friend planned on taking her leave amidst my busiest week so far this year. I had scheduled a lunch in Sacramento the next day with a subject matter expert who had worked on another case – and was largely responsible for solving it. It was the first time we’d meet, and I didn’t want to risk what felt to me like our immediate connection. From there, I was booked into various hotel rooms for the remainder of the week to meet another person with whom I’d scheduled an important interview. To kick off the week of travel, meetings, and the interview, I’d scheduled a hair appointment.

Thanks, Cherie. It’s just like you to leave me at a time when you knew I had to get on with things vs. what I really wanted to do: cancel it all, crawl into bed, and cry for three days.

I persevered. I may not believe that her timing had anything to do with me, but I know her well enough to know she’d have insisted I soldier on.

The week was a drain, but I got some wonderful perspective and a few key pieces of information. And even managed to mourn a bit on the drive and in my hotel room.

Throughout March, I balanced discovering new information, attending meetings I can’t yet discuss, and trying to tick off the second of the three to-do list items I’d mentioned in my January post. The first was to finish my taxes, which I did – though inexplicably, our tax guy only filed them a couple of weeks ago. The second was to migrate my books away from my current publisher to my own imprint.

It looked for a while like this second task would not meet the necessary deadline of April 1^st. One of the impediments to completion was the creation of a logo/branding icon to use for Word Rites Media (my company name). The first company I hired took my money and delivered nothing of substance. Like the fiasco with my audiobook project last year, I have zero heartburn about naming names. This company was awful. If you catch me on social media and ask, I’ll give you the name, no problem.

The second company, though. Wow! A completely different experience. Bottom line: they sent me three possible logos. All were stellar. Two were so good, I couldn’t choose between them so I got them both. My justification for having two mostly different logos for one company is that I can use one for business correspondence and the other for things like the book spine, book trailers I create (for myself and others), etc. I’m very happy with the results.

Even better, I was able to work with my now-former publisher to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for my work. Not bad, considering she was planning her wedding at the same time. A brief hiccough over one of the files notwithstanding, it all went smoothly. Thus, I ticked the second item off my year’s to-do list. Ahead of schedule.

Now, only one more item remains – inarguably, the most difficult one: writing a true crime book from start to finish in six months.

For fiction, it’d be a no-brainer. I tend to break my fiction writing into a scene a day, three scenes a chapter, and (for whatever reason) thirty-some-odd chapters per book. If focused and uninterrupted, I can do that in about three months. Four months with the odd break or obligation. Not bad. Using this logic, six months for true crime seems reasonable.

The trick with this book, however, is that I still have several interviews I’m trying to schedule. Some are with new folks who, to date, have ghosted me despite having initially agreed to talk. Others are follow-ups with previous interviewees. There’s a lot to process here. It’s a very complex case. Moreso than one might imagine, given that it took place in such a small town.

Over the months, I’ll share what updates I can. The goal is still to release the book on the 45^th anniversary of the murders. If completed by the end of September – the stated goal – I’ll have plenty of time for my editor to work her magic, beta readers to give feedback, commissioning the cover with the gentleman who designs all my book covers, producing some marketing materials, getting the requisite files to the audiobook narrator, and planning the actual launch day festivities (more to come on that).

If I think about it too much, I’ll feel overwhelmed.

One task that’ll take time out of the writing that begins today (no April fooling) is revisiting one of the crime scenes. A grueling drive to the place where the final victim, a 12-year-old girl, was discovered. I’m not looking forward to that, mostly because I’m going alone. Largely in the dark hours before dawn. It shouldn’t creep me out, but sometimes it does. There’s a method to my madness, though, and I look forward to the insights it may bring.

All in all, March was productive. Even as I continue my intermittent grieving, I’m confident the old adage will be proven true…that April showers bring May flowers.

That’s all for now. More to come next month.