Oh was Universe Makes a Lot of Gas aimed at kids? I had assumed it would be essays on the nuts and bolts of how science works from the POV of the woman who runs the office. And I for one would love to read that book, if you wrote it.

But then I realize you should listen to Amy, not me. She works in publishing. I hide all my writing on my desktop and never do anything with it.

Well, I think I assumed, based on the first book, and realize it may not have been. But there *are* books like that for adults, too. I'd have to look up titles, but there were a bunch even in the little Waldenbooks I worked in a few months ago.

No, it isn't a kids book. It's essays from my work in science, like Burrell says.

I often think about how it is that lots of people know medical doctors and see them in their daily lives, but people seldom run into physicists (that they know about).

I see physicists far more in my daily life than the average person, I think. Rocket scientists. They're interesting and foibley and I experience these off things everyday: BEEP BEEP BEEP of a truck backing up, and there's a spaceship on it. It's surreal.

Ah...hm. That's a horse of a same color, then.

For what it's worth I like idea number 2. But then, I'm a sucker for science.

You know, if you're writing about working with them, that's a different thing, and that would be really interesting.

There are books like Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze and Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers, but they're more collections of science facts, rather than essays.

So ... ignore me!

My wife has been reading about how to hook readers. I think she is getting into my book writing more than I am sometimes. Anyhow she is now throwing out ideas for my rewrite of chapter 1 and 2. She even rewrote the first scene of chapter 1, though a lot of it is still my stuff. I appreciate her help, but she is kinda overwhelming me while I'm trying to finish the story off. I really need to get this rough draft finished.

Gud, you have to set boundaries or it'll make you nuts. My husband was like that a little when I first let him read my work. He got so into in and enjoyed it so much and while he never dreamt of rewriting a single word, I still remember him coming into my office one day after he'd read a chapter and asking "So, where are we going next with this?" and I nailed him with a look and replied, "What is this WE you speak of, Kemo Sabe?"

I mean, I don't presume to know how it is for you, but writing is such an intensely me thing-- it's always so difficult to share those first drafts and to have someone layering their own vision and ideas over my own before I've even had time to really digest and percolate and think of what changes I might want to make really feels like a bit of a violation.

But then again, I'm wicked protective of my work. Don't mind the crazy person in the corner...

It's a tricky balance. She gives me great input, but I'm just not ready yet. OTOH, like her mother, she can be a bit all or nothing. She can hear a minor criticism as you don't want my help at all. I figure I just need to stay so busy getting the draft done that she can't engage me in the revision process until I'm ready.

She's not really rewriting my stuff, more just trying to give me ideas of how I can approach it or rearrange things. Which is great, just not quite yet.

Well, you're a stronger person than I am, Gud. Because I would be all, "Write your own book and stay the hell out of mine." So, um.