Nell Doree Townsend

I received two heartwarming comments recently from people who have enjoyed the Clara Forbes books.

Hearing how they have touched the young and the older, warms my heart.

I plan on publishing Second Time Butterfly (woman's fiction) in the next month or so as I continue to work on the next Clara story.

Comments from readers do wonders to encourage me!

I'd love to hear more via messenger, posts, or texts to help me as I continue to hammer the keyboard every day.

Pic is of a sweet little girl that belongs to my friend. Puppy breath is priceless!

I've chosen the cover image for Second Time Butterfly.

Eva, opinionated even at rest. She's a hard audience...

Hopefully readers will like it.

The cover designer sent me 45 options for the cover of Second Time Butterfly 🦋… I don’t think much writing or editing will happen today!

This is the first time I'm writing a story while getting another one ready to publish.

It's not easy. My mind wants to stay in one story until it's all done.

Second Time Butterfly is close to being ready. I've had several people provide editing on different levels.

This month, the cover design will be complete and I should be able to publish soon after that.

But as I get closer to pushing the 'publish' button, my gut tightens fearful of any hidden mistakes lingering in my blind spot.

My only hope, is that readers have the same blind spot, Lol. Not really...

No, what I really hope is that the story will carry you past any errors and encourage and entertain.

Pic is the manuscript after the latest round of corrections.

The writing is going...but not without a lot of effort.

Feels like I'm in a wrestling match cutting words, rearranging events, and digging deeper into the characters.

Asking myself hard questions to get rid of the unnecessary.

Because more isn't better.

Simplicity rules and as things become more streamlined, I feel better.

Time for the next round...

Never ignore the ni**le.

That undefined 'something' in your gut that says "take a moment and think things through".

I'm perhaps half way through Book 3 of the Clara Forbes series when the ni**le grew to the point that I need to reassess things.

Because I did things backward, there will need to be some serious rewriting. While that's a little frustrating, I think my first, first draft is really my very well fleshed out outline.

Now to address the issues to solve the ni**le.

Pic: Eva says it's good to look back now and then. :)

For me, writing is like putting a puzzle together. All the main pieces are in my head and I just need to put them in the right spot.

Problems arise when I try to put pieces in the wrong slot...sky for water pieces, for example.

And that leads to frustration and confusion and often a stomachache...

but when a piece slips easily into place, others follow suit and I'm rolling again.

Like a domino hitting it's neighbor just right for things to start flowing.

I try to remember each time I'm in a literary pickle that it will pass soon.

Long walks and mowing sessions help the process, too.

A friend (Barbara Rose) called yesterday and gave me some encouraging feedback on Second Time Butterfly (due to be published in Aug/Sept)

Can't tell you how far just a little bit of encouragement goes when you're still learning the ropes of something new.

Keep that in mind as you go through your day...who can YOU encourage today?

PSA, if someone has lost their facial wrinkles, I know where they are...sigh.

You’re waiting for your tires to be rotated but you need to brainstorm your story progression. Pen and paper to the rescue!

I heard an author say it took him 6 weeks to write himself into his story.

Wasn't quite sure what he meant at the time, but I do now.

The current Clara Forbes story has been the same way, but yesterday I truly felt 'in the story' so much so, I eyes may have leaked a little.

To me, that's a good sign. 😊

Pic is of Me and Eva on our morning walk. It may look like she's looking at me adoringly but she isn't. I had to take a minute to stop and breath because she was a handful that day.