Here I am at the computer while many of you are either with family, shopping Black Friday sales or both. I’ve worked a few retail jobs during the holidays, and because of this, I have no desire to join in the insanity. Secret is, there isn’t really any benefit to putting yourself through all of that unless you’ve always wanted to know what a riot feels like. I’ve seen humans go from sweet folks to animals in the seconds it took to unlock the door. Now, that’s scary. Me? I’ll chill here with an almost finished first draft, arguing with Murphy over the last few sentences.

Where did all the time go? Things I wanted to accomplish didn’t exactly happen. I did want to present another audiobook this year, but that will have to wait until the new year. I should have had my Cin Fin-Lathen mystery up, but that hit a snag and will be coming out soon. Things happen, and instead of lamenting, I will roll with them. (Actually, I did just lament. Lament’s a great word, makes whining sound classy!)

It’s been a great year actually. Many challenges were met, and my main characters in both series went through some changes. In a book series, as in life, there is change. Time will either scare you or free you. The world around us influences me as it does most writers. We don’t live in time-resistant bubbles, although that is an excellent storyline. Wait, bubbles can be popped. I must rethink bubble…

Holiday plans: Editing first draft and getting the 18th novel “A Rose by Any Other Name,” out early in the new year. Releasing “Unforgiveable Cin: An Opera in Three Acts.” I do hope you mystery readers will enjoy it. Taking a mystery, putting it in the form of an opera, with all the tragedy and comedy and all the bling associated with the stage, was a challenge. It helped me to grow as a writer and tested the patience of two editors, oy.

For the present, I will return to the keyboard and finish my first draft. Time and Stephen Murphy waits for no one…