THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRIANGLE: Guest Blogger Marilyn Baron

Hi Everyone! Please welcome back my special friend Marilyn Baron who has a new book debuting with the WILD ROSE PRESS this August and a lot of cool information about the Bermuda Triangle. I hope you enjoy her blog post today as I share the Veranda with her. 

Author Marilyn Baron

The Truth About The Triangle

By Marilyn Baron

People can’t seem to stop talking about The Bermuda Triangle, but not many people are aware of the other things Bermuda has to talk about. I’ve spent many wonderful vacations in Bermuda, which is why I chose Bermuda for the setting of my new novel, Under the Moon Gate and the prequel Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story.  The place is almost a central character in the book. So, courtesy of the Bermuda Department of Tourism, I thought you might find these little known facts about Bermuda interesting.

1. Bermuda is NOT in The Bahamas. Contrary to popular belief, Bermuda is not in The Bahamas. It’s located 650 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. and is less than a three-hour flight from Atlanta. It stretches for 21 miles along turquoise waters and is surrounded by a 200-square-mile coral reef plateau.
2. Pink sand beaches. Bermuda’s signature pink sand comes from a combination of crushed coral, calcium carbonate, and foraminifera. There’s a picture on my Web site.    
3. Bermuda is the oldest British colony.
4. Visitors cannot rent cars in Bermuda. Tourists can rent motor scooters, but if you’re not careful you’ll get a bad case of road rash. 
5. Bermuda does have its own currency, but Bermuda dollars are only usable on your Bermuda vacation, so it’s a non-exportable currency. Bermuda dollars are pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 exchange rate.
6. If golf is your game…Bermuda is home to more golf courses per square mile than anywhere in the world.
7. Love-Love. Thank you Bermuda for introducing tennis to America. 
8. Bermuda has a rich literary heritage. Bermuda has attracted and inspired Mark Twain, Noel Coward, James Thurber, Eugene O’Neill and John Lennon. Before publishing The Secret Garden in 1911, Frances Hodgson Burnett stayed at the Princess Hotel, giving rise to the rumor that the secret garden was located somewhere in Bermuda. William Shakespeare’s The Tempest was inspired by a shipwreck that occurred near St. George in 1609, the year before he wrote the play. That shipwreck was also the inspiration for my book Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story, which will be released in September. Michael Douglas, one of my favorite actors, and his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, have a home in Bermuda. In fact, he is a shareholder and board member of Ariel Sands, a resort on Bermuda’s South Shore, whose property has been in his mother’s family since the 1840s.
9. Bermuda Shorts. Bermuda shorts, made of Irish Linen, are an acceptable part of the everyday wardrobe in Bermuda and are worn by most businessmen. 
10. Bermuda remains the world’s number one wreck diving destination.

Moon Gate Pendant

Best buys in Bermuda include Bermuda cedar, Bermuda Longtail Jewelry, Bermuda Moon Gate Jewelry and Bermuda Rum Cakes.

If you haven’t been there already, I hope you get a chance to go one day. But reading my book is the next best thing to being there.

Here’s a blurb about Under the Moon Gate, a romantic thriller set in contemporary and WW II Bermuda, now out in e-book form from The Wild Rose Press at AMAZON. The book will be available in print format August 9.

Dashing sea captain Nathaniel Morgan sails into the life of prim and proper Bermuda heiress Patience Whitestone and threatens to expose her family secrets—ruinous secrets she wasn’t aware of. The two are immediately at odds when Nathaniel moors his vessel in front of her estate and refuses to leave until he finds the cache of Swiss gold he’s convinced was buried somewhere on the property during World War II. Can Patience save herself and her family’s reputation when she finds herself reluctantly drawn to this determined “pirate”? Or will someone from the past make good on his threat to destroy them both? Their fate is inextricably linked to Nazi plots and to the beautiful moon gates of Bermuda in this compelling tale of love and intrigue.

Now the prequel to Under the Moon Gate, Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story, a historical, was just released on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Bermuda-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B00D0RABAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369666497&sr=8-1&keywords=Destiny%3A+A+Bermuda+Love+Story 

Here's the blurb: 

Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story

Prequel to UNDER THE MOON GATE

The relationship of star-crossed lovers Elizabeth Sutton and Edward Morgan founders off the coast of Bermuda with the shipwreck of the Sea Venture in the seventeenth century. Edward is seduced by the captain’s daughter and trapped into an unhappy marriage, but he and his new wife continue the voyage to Virginia to rescue the starving Jamestown Colony.

Elizabeth, still in England and pregnant with Edward’s child, receives Edward’s letters telling of the shipwreck but knows nothing of his marriage. When her child is old enough, Elizabeth follows Edward as far as Bermuda. Will he return and will the lovers be reunited, or will their eternally entwined souls search forever to fulfill their destiny?

If you want to read more about my other books and stories, please visit my new Web site at http://www.marilynbaron.com/.

Post Vacation-itis: Or Creatively Avoiding Revisions

I just returned from a lovely visit to White Rock, British Columbia where I spent a week shopping, watching movies, hanging out with my best friend since forever-ago, and giggling at nothing and everything.

Writing was not on the agenda. Other than the flight out to Seattle, I took a break from my usually strong writing schedule. And that's a good thing--I needed it in loads of ways. However, now that I'm home from my fantastic getaway, I am having trouble getting my brain out of creative home decorating and clothes shopping mode.

That's rare for me, but it does occur. Oh, I've thought about the current story I'm revising. I've discussed it with my CP on the phone. I've made a few notes. But I didn't open the document in question until yesterday. Then I looked at it and thought: ugh, it needs SO MUCH WORK before it is where I want it to be as a story.

Yah. Love my process. I go through many stages. The Thrill of First Draft Writing is often followed by the Avoidance Stage of Revision and then I go deep into the Rebellion Stage of Revision.

The Rebellion Stage of Revision is often accentuated with a "I just submitted a story again, and now I am Obsessively Compulsively having a Love-Hate Relationship with my email in-box." My mind is very distracted; filled with memories of lazy and fun days as well as wondering and worrying about the current submission's fate.

I go through a "why am I doing this to myself when I could be decorating the house or shopping for cute clothes or playing with my friends" stage. Usually I push out of it very quickly, but I had the joy of being "normal" for a week and it's hard to force myself to get back into the process of revising.

How will I combat this Rebellion Stage? The usual way. Creative Avoidance. I'll read my CP's pages and critique them first. I'll catch up on all my writing organization volunteer duties (which are minimal, but still require my attention). Then I'll rework my quarterly goals (it's that time again) as well as straighten out the office. Finally, I'll tiptoe back into the story I currently think is in serious need of a intravenous injection of life.

Baby steps. Yesterday I opened the document and peeked at it. Today I will start layering and incorporating some of the notes I made about the story's direction into the main document. Soon I'll be operating on my normal schedule. By the end of the week I expect I'll be finished the first three chapters and will send them off to my CP.

I set a deadline for everything. Sometimes the deadlines shift due to circumstances or other demands, but in general I meet them. Oh, this blog post? Yes. It's another way of creatively avoiding my revisions.

How do you bust through Revision Rebellion?

Shops & Lemon Drops

I'm in British Columbia and it's absolutely stunning here. The views are fantastic. The trees are blooming huge pops of colorful pink and white flowers. Green trees in various shades are beginning to bud. Tall ever greens reach to the sky during rain and shine.

But I'm not going on a nature hike.

I'm shopping--virtually and in reality. So far I've purchased new bedding, a cool soft blanket and taken tons of pictures of pillows, chairs, decorating items and ideas. I really need new clothes, too, but opportunity knocked and I answered. I'll show you the new stuff when I get it home and have it all arranged.

I'm also visiting with friends. And as a result of the visiting, I've learned to love the Lemon Drop martini. MMMMM. I have the recipe on my Pinterest board. I'll share that when I get home as well.

All my recent juggling of my two worlds in Facebook has made it difficult to upload pictures directly to my new FB account. Grrr & hiss. But despite this minor challenge, I've tiptoed into yet another realm of social media called Tumblr. Not really sure if I should--the College Kid's realm really, but I'm trying to be more patient with technology and who knows? I might write a YA series one day. Of course, by then all the young folk will have run to another social media because it's been infiltrated by their parents  (much like Facebook) .

I tried to add a theme. Not sure if I did or not. I tried to follow John Green. I don't think I am. And I tried to repost a post. Didn't succeed. Why am I doing this to myself?

A. I sort of have time to play with it.
B. I'm not in writer mode. Though I am layering in a few words into the first three chapters of a new book.
C. I'm delusional about my ability to learn this monster of techno nerdfighter stuff.
D. I've been influenced by my lemon drop martinis to attempt new things.

You decide. Are you on Tumblr? Do you like it? Is Tumblr only for the young and crazy? Or can a Romance Writer with a College Kid who is also a Nerdfighter learn new tricks?

California Dreaming--Dare I Buy a New Bathing Suit???

I've been busy working on the revisions and I've been preparing for our trip to California. The blog has been gathering dust as a result. But the good news is that I have finally spoken with the editor who wants to work with me and she's excited about the changes I've made to my manuscript. And she told me to relax and take my time to get the story right. I'm so relieved. Now I can mull the story, visit with my characters to make sure they are telling me everything I need to know about the story (again), and I have much to do before we leave for California.

The biggest thing I've had to do is shop for clothes and--and--and--the hardest article of clothing to buy was the new bathing suit. I admit it. I have been wearing the same bathing suit since Darling Teen was in the third grade. She graduated from high school this year and I had to face reality. Lycra can only stretch for so long before it loses its snap back ability.

The dreaded day had come. It was time to face the four hundred bathing suits and try on three hundred of them to find the ONE that would work. Sigh. I went to my favorite el cheapo place to shop--TARGET--and braved the daunting challenge. I and a dozen other women of various shapes, sizes, and ages battled to find THE SUIT. I found some cute tops and then couldn't find the matching bottoms in the "I AM TOO BIG TO WEAR A BIKINI" Tankini section.

Frustration. Oh, the horribleness of it.

I was about to give up, but I finally found two one piece suits and hauled them to the fitting room. What is it about fitting room dimensions? They are small, filled with other people's discards, and the lighting does little to enhance one's features. And the mirrors? I think they are funhouse mirrors that are designed to show every pudgy flaw in one's body.

But I pressed on and tried on both suits. A pink one and a purple one. Hooray!! The purple one fit!! And it didn't make me look like a whale trying to be an eel. Best of all, the "sisters" were properly encased and lifted to a natural degree. So I have a new bathing suit. Yay me. Now I'd like to have a second one, but I don't want to tempt the fates and break my winning streak.

Do you have trouble buying bathing suits? Where do you shop? Are you an El Cheapo shopper or Elite Shopper?

Pitch, Pile, Pack

All right--frittering time away is definitely a no-no from this point onward. Why? Because I am getting ready for the RWA National Conference which begins July 28, 2010. There's a lot for me to do prior to going, and my time is limited due to travels out of the area.

Last year I was very ready for Nationals. I had a roomie via the RWA matching service. I was so glad to make a new friend and share the room costs, I had a pitch for my story(s) written and practiced on anyone, including my hairdresser, who would listen. I'd researched my editor and agent online long before my pitches were due.  I had my elevator pitch, my new skinny body, my hair done, my nails and toes done, my new dress (bought in the spring!), and my days mapped out.

The 2009 conference went so well. I met a wonderful new person and made a new friend with my roomie, I made tons of new connections and I actually survived pitching with the end result of both agent/editor requesting my little book. That was a wonderful result for my first time to any conference.

Now 2010 is here and the RWA National Conference is only 11 days away and I AM NOT READY. Nope. I am no longer sporting my new skinny body. Apparently, the Gods have decided I should be buxom and curvy and every time I lose the weight, I always put the same pounds back on. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not super chunky or obese, but oh, being a size 8 was so nice compared to the size 10-12 I am today. And to be honest, a lot of my cool conference clothes that I bought for last year's conference to fit the said skinny body no longer fit my regained voluptiousness. And we're going to ORLANDO which means there might be bathing suit (haha as if!) time.

So much for wearing pants to the conference and you can forget about catching me in shorts. They should be abolished for anyone over 40. Just saying--they aren't the most flattering piece of clothing for a woman in her forties with curves.

Thankfully, most of my wardrobe problems are solved by my love for summer dresses. They tend to stay with me regardless of my weight's ups and downs. And I do have marvelous shoes to go with them as well as a comfy pair of silver, fun aerosole flip flops that look great with all colors and on my feet (and one thing I have--say I with a vain grin--is adorable toes and feet).

But what I don't have to bring is a fabulous dress for the Golden Heart/Rita Ceremony. Now I have to look awesome for that ceremony. My friend and CP is a finalist and I refuse to go cheer her on in an old, black standby cocktail dress. But the dress I wore last year for the GH/Rita Ceremony has been worn again to the Moonlight & Magnolias conference in Atlanta. I refuse to trot that bad boy out again. Oh the nightmare. Not only do I feel chubby, I have SHOP for a new dress while I feel chubby. AACK.

Talk about not being ready. I am ready for only one thing: PANIC.

Okay, so have I shopped? Nope. I  have not. I keep hoping for a miraculous weight loss between now and Nationals. So far, the Miracle Fairy  has not shown up at my door. This has forced me to use the utmost method of creative avoidance. I have *gasp* sat down and formulated my new title for my 4th book (it had to sound like a spicy category), a log line, an elevator pitch, a long pitch, a short pitch and I've begun practicing. I'll do anything but shop say I.

I will shop, I promise.

But first I have to research my editor/agent and other agents (just in case I get lucky and stand next to one in an elevator who asks about my writing haha). Then I must do laundry, iron, make a packing list, create my business cards (oh, did that--darn), pull together my briefcase, mildly panic about how to get to the airport, check schedules and workshops (shoot did that, too).

Sigh. I've created my pitch, I've got my pile of business and travel documents ready, and now all that's left to do is paint my toes/nails and do my hair. Sigh. I guess I will have to face the dressing room mirror and go buy that gorgeous dress for my not so perfect body. But wait, there's a silver lining! I get to buy NEW SHOES, too! And if there's something I've learned in life, SHOES ALWAYS FIT AND LOOK FABULOUS regardless of how chubby one feels.

I am a PRO

I am so lucky to have a friend who works and she KNOWS CLOTHES and who knows how to find GREAT DEALS!!

I admit it--I got lazy--if there was a little skirt on sale and a lot of little summer tank shirts on sale, as well as... before the great belly button issue... jeans I liked... well, I was set. But heck, I haven't worked outside the home in eons and now I must look PROFESSIONAL. And thanks to my friend, I do!

Okay I admit it again--I got lazy about jewelry -- I had NONE. At least none that coordinated. And my friend, and my DD, pulled together my vision of three colors, and the jewelry and I managed a mini business work set of outfits for very little. Best of all, I already had a major amazing dress for the GH night of partying... and now I have an equally amazing, albeit uncomfortable, pair of shoes... RED and HIGH and PATENT to offset my black and white dress.

woot!!!!

And best of all, it was not expensive. I went to DSW and Kohls and I managed to come away with a lot for a little!

Sooooo excited. Now the only dilemma I have is how to pick my PITCH OUTFIT? I have TWO now~!

The RWA Shopping Calvary has Arrived!

I have been dreading one aspect of my conference. No, not the pitch. Well, yeah, a little. But I think I will be okay because I love people and I am excited about both my stories.

No. The one thing has been the CLOTHES. I haven't worked outside the home since my daughter was born 14, almost 15 years ago! Sure, I have CUTE stuff, and a few dressy things, but mostly I have easy to wear clothes, jeans, old t-shirts, and summer tank tops.

I have a few pieces... and some amazing shoes, and I have a GREAT GH/Rita night outfit, but no "business casual clothes" that are all pulled together.

Enter my dear friend who is visiting from TX. She works as a math teacher, a consultant and she is a shopper extraordinaire. She kindly checked out my ideas for clothes, my shoes, and my very small jewelry collection. And now she is taking me to the shops to buy what I need to round out my clothes.

First of all, I inadvertently bought a pair of expensive, sassy black shoes that are designer and I didn't know it... pathetic, but I know what I like, and I like cool/cute shoes. But I am cheap. I got them at T.J. Maxx! For like $3o at most!! I am pleased. And she loves my GH Dress. I do need a new bra for it, strapless, but that is an easy fix. Any rate, we came away with a list and what to bring to Birmingham for when I shop.

After she helps me shop, I am so buying her lunch! I needed her help. And I knew she'd help me. She's a good friend and I've known her for 20 years (which blows my mind when I think about the time flying by!!). She's always known clothes and accessories. I love her for all her kindness and true style. She knows how to pull it all together.

And she listened to my pitch and she LOVES THEM BOTH. Whew!! I am so stoked!

Practice-Phone-Practice-Pack-Practice

Wednesday I devoted all my time and energy to chasing down health insurance issues and helping my daughter pack for her five day overnight camp. I managed to get through my entire in-box without going insane. And I only had to make one run to the compounding pharmacy to get a second set of claim forms for the drug company's needs. The best part about all of my effort was the good news I received from the billing department for my emergency cyst removal--I only owe $70 instead of $384! Yeah!

This year has been a banner year for health costs--a first for us. Moving out of our company's network is costing us. I'm used to a copay and this 20% of fees is daunting. However, I also feel I am receiving better care and better testing because the insurance PPO's can't dictate what tests I need to have and now I am so much better than I was up north when I didn't have to pay as much. It's truly a Catch-22 situation. Sure, I'd rather spend $285 on clothes for the RWA National Conference, but reality meant spending it on 20% toward my labs which led to my diagnosis.

Choices.

Packing up DD for her camp was very painful. First we had to pack a framed backpack for the first night at the camp for older girls. Our family doesn't camp. At all. I was forced into it as a child (blech blech blech) in Canada. I've used wood seated toilets, washed my hair in cold lakes, and slept on top of barely concealed tree roots in pup tents.

I don't need to experience the delights of camping again.

Darling Husband camped with Boy Scouts. Once. In Texas. A scorpion crawled into his sleeping bag. His only advice to DD was "bang your sleeping bag hard with a heavy stick to make sure snakes and bugs are dead before you slip inside it."

His idea of camping is staying at the Holiday Inn.

We did "camp" in Europe when DD was 6 years old. Camping in France means staying in a house with a small kitchen, sleeping on real beds, and having amenities like hot croissants, fresh baked bread, swimming pools, discos and more. This like staying at a cool Holiday Inn where people are stunned and amazed by discovering the only Americans at their campground.

I could do that again.

Any rate, as a girl scout leader, I did try the camping thing again when DD was a second grader. She wanted to stay in the cabin till the bugs crawled out and prevented her from shining her flashlight onto her book.

Thankfully, I had plenty of backup. We went home at midnight. I was ever so happy to drink my big glass of red wine when we arrived home.

No more GS camping for us. We arranged for things like staying at themed places for our troop.

But now that we've moved south, my rising 10th Grader decided to revisit the idea of staying in cabins, sleeping on the ground, not being able to bath easily because her friends invited her to go to camp. Well, that's fine. We spent almost $200 on camp supplies, modest clothing (cause it's a religious camp--can't even wrap my brain around that one), and bins to protect all her stuff.

But we borrowed the framed backpack.

And we had to pack it for one night.

Who knew the sleeping bag and the bedroll were to go OUTSIDE the pack? *Sigh* Four hours later, we had the bin packed with 4 days of clothing, two squashed towels, two squashed washcloths, a bikini to wear UNDER the clothes, a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of water shoes, a pair of flip flops, a tarp, an air mattress, a cooling water fan, batteries, a small sewing kit, a bible (the only reading material allowed--at what point will she cave??), a journal, a bin filled with snacks (supposed to last five days--might last two), and an air mattress with a pump!

The pack, with sleeping bag on outside in waterproof bag, bedroll, set of clothes, pajamas, mess kit, first aid kit (she might need it), snacks, camp manual (let's train now!), and a pair of socks tucked in when remembered after the pack was well, packed.

Wednesday was a bust for practicing pitching.

Thursday I worked on my pitch a bit, then went to the mall to meet a friend. I had to shop for little things to put into a shoebox for my DD to receive when she is at camp. I brought my pitch with me, and after we finished shopping, I pitched my first book pitch to my friend. She liked it. And her eyes lit up when I asked the final question. Whew. At least SHE wants to read my book.

After we parted, I went to the women's center to get a mammogram. Blah.

Returned home, got call from DH telling me he was bringing over a person to see our house--AACK--quickly cleaned. Then grabbed DD and went to a cool subdivision to check out their houses, and then to two car dealerships to check out cars. Eventually, she'll need one. Why not check them out now?

Somehow, in-between all this running round, I looked up some information about my agent and editor, added what I found to my index cards, and reread my pitch.

I practiced my pitches this morning, checked my favorite blog sites out, made a grocery list, checked online for coupons, gave up on trying to be a smart coupon shopper, and now I am preparing to head to the grocery store. Meanwhile, DD has walked into my office, informed me she needs to shop for secret sister items for her camp experience, and she wants to go to the outdoor mall to shop for a bit.

Now, what to do about clothes for the conference? At some point, I will have to cull through my closet and figure out what I really need to buy with my meager budget. After all, most of my moola goes to camping supplies and secret sister shopping.

I've managed to blog, dig up info for the pitch, write the pitches, but I haven't managed to do more than move my 4th MS over to the Scrivener program to ready it for revision.

Doubt much will happen with it until after the conference.

Summertime is not an easy time to prepare for anything. But I muddle along.

Pitch Panic

Well it's all in. I have my pitching appointments and now I must sit down and prepare my two pitches, my elevator pitches, and my head-to-head pitches.

Yikes. When? This is the weirdest writing time of year for me. Summertime is usually a time of year when I notch down my writing. This year I have a child underfoot, company coming in about two weeks, and I have travel myself (part of it is the National Conference). I can WRITE the pitches, but when can I practice them?

Yesterday I drove to Chattanooga with Darling Daughter and we practiced the first part of my pitch at a restaurant. The GMC of my characters as well as the high concept/hook. I'll start filling in the gaps today. I want to have a pitch ready to practice by Monday at the latest. I want to have both pitches ready by Friday. 

On Saturday I go to the Southern Magic Meeting. Kelly St. John is leading a pitching workshop. I want to be prepared with my two main pitches and a catchy elevator pitch for each one as well. Hopefully, I'll be able to refine the pitches at the workshop and have more to practice the week of the 29th. 

My DD goes to camp on the 29th. My company arrives on July 1st and stays a week. I am glad to see my friend, but I hope she doesn't mind it if I practice my pitches on her!! I pick up my DD from camp on the 3rd. We drive my friend to Birmingham on the 8th. I may spend the night. 

We leave for DC on the 11th! I can practice my pitch in the car, in the hotel, and on my writing friends. 

Today I have a doctor's appointment. I hope it doesn't throw me off my game. I am going to Staples after I'm done. I'll pick up my index card box and different colored index cards for my pitches. I'll buy Avery labels as well to print out my one liner hooks. Must order business cards and postcards for the conference and for querying. Will do that tomorrow. They usually arrive in about a week.

I hope I can focus on this task--it's so important. And when I am afraid I will fail, well then it's easier to fail if I didn't prepare properly. I can blame the lack of prep rather than the quality of my work.

Must overcome that tendency. Must do it now.

Play and Write and Play and Write

I always take about a week off of writing when I finish a major project. Then I hit it again hard. This week, I've played a lot, but I have also done a bit of work on the new course. Now I am itching to have my routine going so I can get going on the course and be ready for BIAW. But it's good to have time off, too. It lets my mind rest. And it starts my brain pumping in an organic way toward the next writing adventure.

Today I went to Nashville to shop at Trader Joe's with a new friend. She is writing, but not sure if that is for her. I think she could be a writer--and published--but I'm always encouraging people to try new things. And I am so organized, that the work of writing is easier in some ways because I always have a plan. Not all writers have a plan. And they don't need it. I do.

I'm anxious to get rolling on my writing schedule again. I want to produce. I am itchy to produce. But taking time off to play, shop, eat lunch, go for a ladies' night, hang with my family, and clean house is important to me. It readies me. It steadies me. And it feeds my mind.

Big Distractions

Today I will be lucky to get any writing done, but I will try if a window of time opens up this afternoon.

1) clean
2) pick up new friend and go to mall
3) shop for christmas
4) lunch
5) another mall--shop for christmas
6) drop off friend
7) home

Friday night--13 sleeps till Christmas--time is a ticking away and I am not ready for the big day.

But my page count is great thus far. I have turned over 62 pages of the MS as I revise the book.

I am moving forward despite it being December and the holidays fast approaching.