NaNoWriMo and Update

 Well, it's official, I "won" NaNoWriMo. 

Not only that but I surpassed the winning 50K goal and finished the first draft of my novel. The final word count is 71,997. The average thriller novel is between 70K to 90K so I feel I did a good job on the rough draft. I'm sure I'll get more words when I do edits.

I am following the advice of several writers and leaving the first draft alone for a month before jumping in to editing. This will give me fresh eyes for the story.

I've also been brainstorming an idea for a new novel but it's too soon ro share the details on that one. It feels exciting to be creating a new story. I hope it turns out to be a good one.

Things on the health front are moving along. I walked 230 feet with a cane the other day. I have one more surgery left to go. I have a consultation with the surgeon on the 13th. After the surgery I'll have a little bit more physical and occupational therapy and then I can go home!!

Home to my kids and my family. It's up in the air as to where I'm going to be living but I'm working on that too. Home. I can't wait.

Prologue: Murder, She Kinked

 

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Please send an ambulance! My friend, she's covered in blood and I don't think she's breathing! It looks like someone stabbed her!"

"What's your name and where are you calling from?" the dispatcher asked.

"Ava. Ava Samuels. We're at 3114 Forrest Avenue. Please hurry!!" Ava cried 

"Okay Ava, help is on the way. My name is Brenda and I need you to check on your friend. If she's not breathing you can start CPR."

"There's...there's so much blood. Oh Cassie, wake up!" Ava shook her best friend's arm but Cassie did not respond. She turned on the speaker phone and set the phone down on the floor next to Cassie. "What do I do?"

The dispatcher relayed the instructions for CPR and Ava started quickly, trying not to look at the wounds on Cassie's neck and body. "It's not working!" She could hear the sounds of an ambulance in the distance. "Please hurry!" She continued doing chest compressions.

It wasnt long before two EMTs came in through the door that she had left open. They entered the living room wheeling a stretcher. "Ma'am, my name is Brent. Please let me take over," one of the EMTs said gently.

Ava reluctantly moved away. "No pulse," the second EMT reported. She watched them working over Cassie and said a little prayer.

After what seemed like an eternity, the EMTs stopped working. They both looked at her with sad looks on their faces. That's when Ava knew Cassie was dead. Tears flowed down her face. Her best friend in the world was dead.

Someone had murdered her. 

Update

 My current work in progress (WIP) is coming along quite nicely. Word count stands at 60K+ and counting. The end of the book is within sight but there is a bit of book left to write.

On the health front, the end is within sight there as well. I had an imaging study on Monday and a pre-op procedure yesterday. The surgeon says it's a go for the last surgery. His office is supposed to call me to set the date.

Once that surgery is complete I will need a little more physical and occupational therapy and then I can be discharged from the rehab facility. It's been a damn long road since January 5, 2021. I've had numerous physical and mental challenges. I've overcome a lot to get to this point and it may be corny but I'm proud of myself.

I'm worried about leaving here. So many things have,changed since I've been ill. So much missed time with my children.

I'm excited to go home but unsure of the reception I will receive. I know I can handle life outside of rehab but I can't help but be scared. 

I guess we will wait and see what happens. I'll worry about the surgery first and the rest later.

Writing and NaNoWriMo

 Hello, it's me. I've gone through a hell of a time since my surgery on January 5, 2021. Long story is for another day, suffice to say I am currently living in a medical rehab facility and had to learn to walk again.

In some recent free time I have started writing again. My current work in progress is about a dominatrix that gets murdered and her best friend who is determined to find the killer. It's full of suspense and some sex and a bit of kink. Beta readers who have had a chance to read thus far have all had good things to say about it.

That brings me to the month of November also known as National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. This year I'm going to be a participant. My goal is for 50K words added on to my current work in progress which will being me to a finished novel.

So please, stick around. I'm going to be updating more frequently from now on and may even include some excerpts from my work in progress (WIP).

Thanks for reading!