As of August 18th, I finally finished writing and completed the first editorial pass through “The Wayside” – the only book I have ever seen through to the end.

Now my plan is to let the book go to sleep so I can revisit it with fresh eyes in October. IF that ends up being long enough for me to separate myself from all 125,000 words of the manuscript.

Even thinking about Ben and Carolynne and the journey I sent them on causes a funny feeling in my chest.

I can’t wait to continue writing. I can’t wait to make this book everything I know it can be.

And I can’t wait for it to be read. And enjoyed.

And loved.

Loved the way I love it. And the way I love Ben and Carolynne and Derek and Liz.

So now I move on to Wes and Ali and Cooper and Dustin…so I can tell their story.

Hopefully I love them just as much.