Thanks, Deb.

Ginger, that one was disturbing.

Ginger, that one was disturbing.

I was just thinking that about yours. Bells have turned out to be a good topic.

I love this thread. I learn so much from this thread, even when I'm totally not involved in the conversation.

ancizar

I don't believe in martyrs. In the end, we all die useless. Why should I dry my eyes, dry my eyes, over and over again?

Ancizar Giraldo was a farmer. They tell me he died. I don't know which side killed him. But I know it was me.

I live in the comfort developed by aggression. I eat the fruits of our oppression. I create the environment that fosters addiction. Diamonds for Africa, cocaine for Columbia, oil for Iraq. I know it was me.

Ring the church bells, carry his body over the river. I won't remember. I won't forget.

Liese, you just killed me.

I'd been listening to "Sympathy for the Devil" in the car coming home, and was actually singing under myt breath when I read your piece:

"I shouted out, who killed the Kennedys? When after all, it was you and me..."

Oh my, Liese. Poking at prickly places.

That's amazing, Liese.

Well, you know, I'm feeling rather prickly. Prickly with rage, I suppose.

And thanks.

Wow, Liese.

And for my mememe writers' quandary of the evening....

Having gotten extensive expert feedback (including from our own AmyLiz) on my first novel (Lucy), I've concluded that it's beautifully written, but has enough conceptual flaws that it probably won't sell as is, and I'm not sure I'd even want it to, because it's not the best work I'm capable of. The quandary is what to do about it:

1. I could do nothing. Few authors sell their first novels anyway. I stick it in a box under my bed (actually it already is in a box under the love seat in the living room) and work on making my next novel better. Thing is, I'm already excited about writing Anna, and about doing preliminary research and drabbles here and there for my next (working title Heart of Oak). Fixing Lucy might slow my momentum. It's not like I don't have enough on my plate, between baby and novels and freelancing.

2. I could fix it. I just had a couple of ideas that I think would strengthen it immensely. And since Anna is a sequel to Lucy (though in keeping with romance tradition I'm making sure it makes sense as a standalone), if I rework the one and finish the other, I'll have not one but two strong books to offer editors--and, as a bonus, they'll be connected! Also, I poured a lot of time and a big chunk of my heart into Lucy. It seems a shame not to do what it takes to make it a marketable novel. The question is how to add that to the mix of everything else I've got going on without losing all the lovely momentum I've got going on Anna.