I have arrived at the dreaded middle . . .

It was bound to happen. I was having so much fun, was so filled with hubris, it was only natural that the gods of something would strike me down. Okay, I haven’t exactly been stricken completely. It’s more that things suddenly got a lot more difficult. I knew it was coming, but held out hope it wouldn’t, or that it wouldn’t be so bad. And you know, it really isn’t so bad. My pace has slowed, but not stopped.

I think it helps that this book was planned out a lot more carefully than the first one. Even though I’ve slowed down, I still know exactly where I’m going. I just have to keep herding my seven (!!!OMG) pov characters in that direction. I’m also encouraged because I’ve done it before. It took several tries for the first book, but I made it through a more daunting middle, with some bigger problems to face, at least structurally.

What didn’t help was getting all distracted by Prince Rupert, so my brain jumped forward twenty years and stayed there for far too long. It was somewhat productive in that I’ll now be sure to have the proper wee munchkins in place so they can grow up to be characters in the next series. I won’t kill them off accidentally- I hope.

This also led to me spending too much time on Pinterest, looking at cavalier fashions. What with all of the big hair, the lace, the frilly cuffs, and far too many accessories, you had no choice but to be a badass. My moratorium on wigs still holds, however.

We’ll be in Oregon for Christmas, and I’m hoping to still get a bit written every day, no matter what else is going on. Keeping up the momentum seems to be key. Hope all of you have a Merry Christmas, and I’ll see you on the other side!

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