I have recently been the victim winner of an auction which got me a package of reviews and other goodies for my port. I got an Award Icon for a letter, and a Merit Badge in Style (Imagine! I KNOW!) for my work. It has been a wonderful "return" to the active writing life in this community. It has reinvigorated me, and my muse. I am so very grateful to Daizy~wetandcoldbrr for her gift to me! I did not know what to expect, but I promise you that I got more than I had hoped for.

One of the reviewers went so far into my port as to review a work that I hadn't touched since writing the rough draft! Wow! I know they saw it all. The reviews were kind, friendly, and so very helpful. In some cases, I got some confirmation that my work was at least okay. I got interesting comments on how to make my work better that made sense, and came from a clear impression the reviewer was seriously concerned about making my work better--not their review. It was just great!

I got nominated to be a "Best Author". That was a kindness that lifted my soul. It's been almost two years now since I had the abilty to even communicate online, much less write a word. Having no computer, life as you have known it can become a bit of the "terror in the night", if you know what I mean.

At the same time, I have been reviewing work again--one of my favorite activities. The group I am in, "Reviewing Reviewers"  is a really fun bunch of dedicated and talented reviewers who give "in depth" reviews because the focus is on the reviews other writers have given. We also review their ports and their personal work. Good, or bad, we look at them all with the intent to encourage better, friendly, and more significant reviews of other writers' work.

I would also tell you that I have sent some manuscripts to an agent who wants to rep "Notre Dame" and the series. That is an exciting note of news, but of course we "shall see what we shall see."

NaNo   is on cruise mode right now. I noted that some of the nano friends have already submitted their 68k+ novels. I'm going to have to find out how you write 68K new words in seven days. I'm shooting for 16, a goal which in all likelihood I will miss. I have company this weekend, and things of the writing kind are on the back burner. Medical things are on boil, and a mandatory movie attendance is in the works. So, for today, it's just going to be normal (?) living for me.

I encourage you to take the time to have some "Wow!" moments in your world.

Budroe