They say all good things come to an end. For me, that time is now.

No, nothing dramatic. It’s just the conclusion of the hiatus I’ve taken between finishing my most recent manuscript and the beginning of the first-pass edit, as I prepare to send it to my editors and my betas.

The interim between then and now has been thrilling and unexpected. I was contacted by and spent a day with the former owners of the resort town in which the murders (the subject of the book) takes place. They were surprisingly friendly, something I would have never anticipated, given our shared family history. I also reconnected with some of my family in a meaningful way. Attended my grandson’s high school graduation. Went shopping. Binge-watched some Miami Vice. I even (against my will) conceived of a new, stand-alone novel that I’m looking forward to writing in the future. Overall, it was a pleasant rest.

Now, it’s time for work.

These Monthly Musings may or may not suffer as the progress continues. I’ll still try to check in, give any updates on my progress, etc. Normally, an initial edit on a new book takes me maybe a couple of weeks, depending on the number of words. But this? I don’t know. I want to guess maybe a couple of months at the least. But it sure would be nice if it progressed more rapidly. The biggest changes may end up being in the first six chapters, but I’m not sure. I guess we’ll find out.

I know there are some out there who are wondering about the progress of my Music is Murder (MiM) saga as well. I’ve gotten some repeated requests to start book 5. Trust me―I want to get back to it as much as anyone. And I will. Soon. How soon? I wish I knew.

For now, it’s time to stop hiding behind the “oh, I’m so stressed” excuse to avoid finishing this project. We all have our moments of uncertainty, right? No reason to pack it in or spin a woeful tale.

A part of me can’t wait to see what the Musings will contain for June 1^st.

For now, I hope everyone’s enjoying the end of spring and anticipating a fun summer. Check out the rest of this site for information on the MiM saga, sample chapters, and purchase links for those who love a good read while on vacation.

TTFN