Brynn, insent from me, too. I really enjoy your writing style.

Deena: Thanks I just opened it up and am looking over your corrections. You're a very astute editor. Thanks again for taking the time, and for your kind words. It'd completely slipped my mind that you'd read the first mini version of this story. It's kind of neat to see how much it grew since then isn't it? I find creative process fascinating.

I find creative process fascinating.

Which is exactly why I (mostly) lurk in this thread.

Nilly, angela mia, received and read and noted and intensely useful, as always.

BTW, I'm doing the Jewish Writers literary festival in December, by invite, with Ayelet Waldman and Ellen Sussman. Since I'm a multifaith upbringing sort of baby, it ought to be interesting.

Jewish Writers literary festival

Now I'm curious - how is the focus on the Judaism (or whichever faith) being expressed?

Well, this is being sponsored and held by the Foster City Jewish Community Centre; Foster City is actually closer to Betsy than to me, but an easy drive.

I think they want us to talk about faith in our lives (in my case, it would be while growing up, the half of my family that was Jewish), how it affects our work (none of us are writing about Jewish themes, so I have no idea how this pans out), what we've run into because of it one way or another. I'll probably be on a panel or two with Ayelet and Ellen; Ayelet, I think, will be the most interesting of us on the subject.

Maybe she'll bring her husband. Le swoooooon...

It's kind of neat to see how much it grew since then isn't it? I find creative process fascinating.

Brynn, it's really neat. I have always had difficulty "growing" a story to fit a certain length, but you did a really good job of it. And thank you for the compliment. I enjoy editing.

I think they want us to talk about faith in our lives (in my case, it would be while growing up, the half of my family that was Jewish), how it affects our work (none of us are writing about Jewish themes, so I have no idea how this pans out), what we've run into because of it one way or another.

Thanks, deb - that reads really interesting.

Deena, now I'm curious to see Brynn's original short piece. I only saw the longer one, which worked perfectly - a very organic feel to the progression.

Deena, now I'm curious to see Brynn's original short piece. I only saw the longer one, which worked perfectly - a very organic feel to the progression.

edit: Nilly, it's in early December, and they're projecting 2,000 people showing up; it's the opening of the new Centre, which has a huge list of moneyed donors, all of whom read. I'm expecting major fun, and the timing is perfect, because Famous Flower of Serving Men will have been out for about five weeks.