Hey awesome,

I'm still catching up on rest from my sleep-deprived but incredibly wonderful trip to Colorado for Superstars (full debrief on my blog here). I maaay also still be dreaming of this view...

Dreams and exhaustion aside, I have put more than a few shiny new learnings into place. For instance, as I mentioned in the blog, I rewrote the first page of my fantasy-novel in progress after digging into pacing with the phenomenal Jonathan Maberry. Presented for your thoughts, the before and after:

Before:

After:

Which did you like better? And, more importantly - would it make you turn the page and keep reading? That is a key job of the first page, and I'd love to hear what you think.

Speaking of first pages - and the corresponding amazing story to follow - Kacey Ezell had a new release last week. Skies to Conquer completes the Psyche of War trilogy, so for those of you who are wait-til-it's-done readers, get all three. Whether you're reading one or three this week, whew...you are in for a treat.

Kacey doesn't do half-hearted stories, and this one is a full on heart-render. In the best possible way. From the blurb:

"Pearl Silver was happy. She had a good job teaching young nurses. She was married to a good man who loved her. She had a son who made her proud every day. Most of the time, her memories of her time fighting in the skies over Europe remained a distant part of her past. Something she was proud to have done, but that time was over. Her life twenty years later was very different, and she didn’t have much reason to tap into her psychic power—or to stay in touch with her old comrades in arms.

But when her son signs up to fight for his country in Vietnam, it puts a strain on her perfect life. And when her baby boy goes missing, Pearl doesn’t question what she has to do.

Twenty years ago, Pearl went to war at the behest of her nation. This time, she’s going to war to find her son.

And she will leave no sky unconquered."

Amazing - treat yourself here and have a wonderful time.

I'm off to enjoy the 80 degree end-of-February heat wave, and then it's back to my writing cave. I hope the weather is kind where you are - at least the days are getting longer!

Til next time,

Marisa