Writer’s Shop Talk: Brisk Miami Winter and Literary Progress: A Writer’s Journey

Hi all!

It’s another wonderfully brisk and gray winter day in South Florida. Believe it or not, it’s colder – by subtropical standards, of course – than it was yesterday. As I type this shortly before noon on this last day of the workweek, it’s a nippy 53°F (about 12°C) under cloudy skies. No rain is forecasted, but I did step outside briefly and felt a delicate drizzle, almost like the sky was whispering secrets.

It’s not the sunny Miami weather tourists dream of, but at least it’s not as bone-chilling as Madison, NH, the quaint New England town I called home for 10 months before moving back here in late October. Up there, it’s a teeth-chattering 27°F (about -3°C), although it’s probably a prettier day with sunshine peeking through the sparse clouds. So, while we’re bundled up in our “Florida winter” gear, let’s be thankful we’re not braving the true winter up north!

My Writer’s Journey: Progress Report on Reunion: Coda

Even though I didn’t get around to writing Scene Two in Reunion: Coda’s 24th chapter yesterday, I did whip up a four-paragraph outline with all the character beats and plot points. This is shaping into an exciting scene that captures the Jim-Maddie dynamic while pushing the story forward seamlessly. I still need to nail down the details, especially the dialogue I plan to tackle this afternoon. The outline already feels promising, even in its rough state.

And for those of you keeping score, here are the latest statistics on the novel:

• Number of Chapters: 24 (23 completed, including the prologue, and one in progress)
• Number of Pages: 502 (including the title and copyright pages)
• Number of Words: 123,045

I need to add Chapter 23 to both WriteItNow 5 and the novel’s Kindle Create files. I usually do this literary housekeeping chore as soon as I finish a chapter, but I’ve been so downcast about Donald Trump’s return to the White House – among other things – that it has slipped my mind.

As I inch closer to completing this labor of love, I’m reminded that there are still those charming “cats and dogs” sections of the book to write, including the dedication, an afterword, and an acknowledgments page. My sincere hope is to have Reunion: Coda in your hands no later than Summer 2025. With a dash of luck and a sprinkle of literary magic, a Spring release might just be in the cards. Not certain, but not impossible!