It’s been a long trek.

But the trek continues

I’ve had to sacrifice time that I might have spent on this blog in favor of the final rewrites of the first volume in the series of A Wizard’s Life.

I apologize to you who wait so patiently.

To those who have sent notes of encouragement: Thank You. Your kind thoughts are truly appreciated.

To those who have requested an update to the status of the project: The rewrites continue. The days are long, and there is no rest.

However, I could not be more pleased.

As per usual, challenges have appeared that were not on the map before. A single chapter rewrite turned into 3 new chapters of material. Significant structural changes have required some heavy lifting.

There have been hours of frustration followed by long, hard work. Days and days of material are composed only to be tossed out the next morning. When one approach does not work, I try another.

More oft than one might wish, it is only after hours of sweat that inspiration surfaces.

But when it finally does appear … something wonderful, surprising, and beautiful is born.

At times, the process makes me feel as if I build a pyramid, stone-by-massive-stone, carrying each load alone upon my back, trudging up a slope. Day by day, I ascend. I am a poet of pick and shovel. I sweat language. Refrains come at the cost of my bloodied brain.

Rather than look back over the time and labor that has got me here, I continue to look forward.

The journey’s end is in sight. I just have to set the stones to get there.

Of course, that end is the beginning of another stretch. As one stretch in the journey ends, the next begins.

Over the next few months, please grant me forbearance. I continue to pour my efforts into this big push.

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