At last, all my critiques are done. Now I have to start a couple of critiques.
Funny how that works.
It’s like this: the contest over at Codex is over, but them participants as are willing may participate in a critique swap of entire novels. Not committed to a new project yet, and in need of feedback on Wet Work, I signed on. So now I have two full novels to read and critique. The rewrite of "The Hills" will have to wait a bit. Do try to contain your disappointment.
I also spent a bit of the past week in a reflective mode. Year-end assessments will do that to you, I guess. A documentary I watched on J.K. Rowling (an extra on the latest Harry Potter disc) contributed to the contemplation. It occurred to me as I watched it that Rowling, in creating Hogwarts, found and claimed a place of her own. She’s hardly the first; she won’t be the last. Stephen King has Castle Rock. Jeff VanderMeer has Ambergris. And you know, it seems to me that it’s possible–possible, mind you–that I might have found a place of my own, too . . . and it’s Petra.
No, I’m not comparing myself to these well established authors. I’m not as arrogant as all that–not yet, anyway. But seriously, folks, I love that prison planet. I know most of you out there know next to nothing about it, but I am drawn there, and I feel like it’s mine.
So my faith in Petra has been renewed. The publishing world hasn’t heard the last of it, and neither have you, I’m afraid.
Anyway, onward.
