Libby Drew

Thank you! Yes, Micco's trauma is a little more involved than a simple house fire, and the fallout from that incident has shaped him in many ways.

All true. Your first words should always be, "I want a lawyer." Without exception. Micco's a slow learner, as time will show. 😏

Such an adorable pic, which makes that part of the story even sadder. 😭

I think that one of the elements of ‘geek chic’ that has always stood out to me is the fact that it can really be relatable to an audience, no matter what it is that you’re writing. The magic word here is "relatable", in my opinion. Shared experiences and emotions breed a strong connection between the reader and a character. Absolutely! And he should at least begin that journey, if not finish it, in every narrative. Transformation is a vital part of storytelling.

Early days, indeed. 😉

Haha! I'm going to take that as a compliment! 😉

Thank you for reading it!

CHAPTER 3 Billie greets me in Maskóki, by my ceremonial title, not my boyhood name. A man’s ceremonial honorific is never shared outside the tribe. I’ve only broken that rule once. I’ve never been able to guess Billie’s age, and, if rumor is to be believed, the exact date of his birth is unknown. He might be sixty. Or one hundred and sixty. Very little in his face and demeanor give solid clues. Fine wrinkles fan out from the corners of his eyes. His skin appears stretched thin in pla

I know, right? Adorable!

They really are. I love puppies. I love all animals. My dad was right more than he had any right to be. A companion story to Great Restorations is on the list! Promise...

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I've done this. Just another indication of how my job has eaten my life. I’ve always found blogging therapeutic, though, so I will make time this morning. Life: One of my kids is a scientist. Like an honest-to-God, in the lab, with the white coat, type of scientist. I love him more than life itself, but when he starts talking about work, I absorb maybe one word in three, though I do my best to remain engaged and make the appropriate positive noises. I finally figured out last night that he knows this and teases me with it on purpose. My husband: I figured that out years ago. Me: You could’ve clued me in. My husband: What fun would that be? Me: I suppose you have a point. Writing: With Keeper of the Rituals finished, I need to decide which long project to tackle next. I know which I should focus on, but it’s not technically under contract, so I don’t think I will. How’s that for passive aggressive? I’ve had a fun idea for a companion story to Marc and Sawyer’s tale that takes place in the Great Restorations universe. I could start that. But I also have a fully fleshed-out concept and outline for a YA trilogy that’s been beating in my brain for, oh, I don’t know… two years? So there’s that. It’s been a while since I’ve had the freedom to choose. I’ve been playing catch-up since before COVID. It’s liberating not having a backlog. It’s so liberating, I’ve exercised my non-decision-making skills for nearly a month now. And that can’t go on. My dad, God rest his soul, would've said S*** or get off the pot, kid. Always spoke his mind, that man. But he wouldn't be wrong. Time to commit. Service Puppies!

Thanks for the vote of confidence. ☺️

FACTS.

130?? I can't even. This whole book isn't even two-thirds of that. I'm considering. It may post as one very short chapter, and then a long one the next day, towards the end of next week.

Amusing in a macabre way. I expect better from a statey.

I just checked and it's close to 7k. Which, not gonna lie, is nearly twice as long as I prefer, and I could split it down the middle, but it would be a clunky transition. So... you're just going to get it all at once. Sorry? 🙂

Not farfetched at all. Human emotion is the great motivator, in most cases, for violence. The next chapter is loooooong. Perhaps too long to post in one piece, but I didn't really find a suitable place to chop it in half. It should start, I think, fleshing out some of the details that have been missing.

A sobering fact.

Good question! It will be answered eventually, of course. 😉 The laws and protocols that apply to the Seminole tribe of Florida were fascinating to research. As was how they settled in south Florida. I learned, for instance, that the tribe never technically surrendered to the United States in 1842 after the Second Seminole War. No peace treaty was ever signed; the US troops simply withdrew.

As for Adele, I have a love/hate relationship with the woman's music, so I take your comments in stride. 😄 Kane's death was difficult to write, and it didn't get easier to accept as I got further into the story, so I get your anger 100%. I chose the names for Micco's wolves very intentionally and with much careful thought. They each have a distinctive personality. Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting.

Thanks. I find it comforting, in a strange way, that I'm not the only one disturbed by what happened to Kane. I'm one of those animal lovers who can't watch those videos on YouTube about abandoned and neglected dogs or cats. They're just too sad. Because of that, my initial draft didn't include Kane being put down, simply separated and isolated. However, the individual I interviewed during my research phase rather brutally disabused me of the likelihood of that scenario. Apparently, when it comes to animals, especially wild ones, it's 'shoot first, ask questions later'. And yeah, Micco has demons by the dozens. Thanks for reading!

Reading your guys' comments is almost as fun as writing these things! 😄🥰

It's early days, but I like the guesses! Thanks for reading. 😉

CHAPTER 2 Burke guides me across the refuge by the arm. His grip is firm, not tight. I don’t feel trapped by his hold, or restrained, and I think he must be taking great care to make sure I don’t. The wolves are silent. So is he, although he dials, then redials a number on his cell several times before punching the end button and slipping it into his pocket. I don’t ask him again about the identity of the person in Kane’s pen. I don’t think he knows who it is, but it’s a topic I expect will

Yes! Many questions, and not a whole lot of answers for a while. I hope you continue to read and enjoy. Thanks for the comment!