I have not finished reading any books.  I am in the middle of one (re-reading an old Karen Abbott—Sin in the Second City), listening to another (David McCullough’s 1776), and foolishly started a third this week because it looked frothy enough to focus on while waiting for my car to get an oil change. Unfortunately, it’s Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander—so although it’s frothy, it’s long as all get out and there are a billion books in the series.

I have also been working extra hours after getting back from a non-writing vacation to visit family, so I have not worked much on my project. I got one email that helped fill in some holes, which was nice. Today’s goal is to research the disputed election of Rutherford Hayes and Samuel Tilden and distill the story into 200 words for a tiny chunk of my book. (Fun and educational! Or at least, short and educational.) I still have to write my missing chapter and I have no idea when that will happen. I have asked for a weekend in a hotel alone to do it. I don’t know if I’ll get it. Maybe Mother’s Day? Hahahaha. “I love you, kid. Now I’m dumping you for two days.”

Next weekend we are going to the Southern Kentucky Bookfest, where my husband will be talking about 1844 (and, to come full circle, Diana Gabaldon will be speaking as well—but not with my husband).  We are going to see one of his childhood friends and I’m really excited; even though this is the third book event in a month, it doesn’t really get old. Perhaps that’s because I’m wondering if I’ll ever manage to pull it off and get a turn of my own at some point.  La la la!

I did talk to another friend of mine, who encouraged me to pick up one new idea and write an essay on it, plus dust off an old idea, write a novel, and send it to her.  So I may start on that in my copious free time.  If I can find any. We’ll see!