Momentous Idle Comments

It's been awhile since I've visited Amazon to see if there have been any comments / ratings left about the novels.  I was surprised to see new comments had been left about Leopard's Kin again.  One person paid me what I consider to be the highest compliment an author can achieve:  "Wished there was a real Noel..."

I know the books I've read where I wished the characters truly existed; I know how much I've enjoyed them.  I know those books have been some of my most favourite books, too.  Character development is so crucial to me that if I have now "created someone" another person could identify, I'm pleased.

Of course, Lion's Kin is still receiving some negative feedback - usually I hear the disappointment that it's too short, but someone has commented that it was "too wordy."  Not sure how it can be both, but what's done is done.  It's interesting for me - as the author - to see how the novel that I had ample time to write and did "my way" (Leopard's Kin) has been far more successful than the novel I was writing after working 9+ hours / day and that I did to cater to what publishers want (i.e. less than 100,000 words). 

It's intimidating, I have to say.  And defeating.  It keeps my fingers still for fear of writing another "failure."

But I've gone back and read Lion's Kin and I'm ok with it.  I know where I want to go with this story and Lion's Kin was an essential step in that progression.  I'm going to take my time with the 3rd, however, and ensure it's what I want.  Even if that means it'll be years before it's ready. 

Bounding

Only a few moments today; waiting for the last load of laundry to be finished in the dryer, then I'll be heading out to let "the boys" (a.k.a. the horses) graze on the front lawn.  I had them out on Friday afternoon and was astounded by the amount of crickets and toads bounding around in the lawn.  Add the great blue heron to the mix and we've got a true working model of the food chain happening at the front of our property.

Was quite pleased with myself today - watching more of Sos Mi Vida (without English subtitles) and actually understood enough to get a joke they were telling about being a "clepto" and Winona Ryder.  I guess that 2 years of Spanish I had 30-odd years ago is finally coming back!

Started re-reading Lion's Kin today in preparation to pick up writing the 3rd novel in the series, Tiger's Kin.  Took awhile to replace my laptop and get MS Office installed on the new version but all is going according to plan and I will hopefully be able to start work on the novel by next weekend. 

Of course, next weekend they are also doing some special events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of the Thames and we will be heading towards Moraviantown to see the site of the battle and rub elbows with Tecumseh's ghost.  Quite excited about that!