There's a gale out there--rain and wind, rain and wind--and this is supposed to continue for much of the day. The cat blew in looking shocked but also completely dry, as he no doubt spent his outside time sitting in the neighbor's garage. But I'm so happy to hear the clatter on the roof, the spattering on the panes: it has been a long time since we've had the joy of a real rainstorm.

And I've had some other good news too. I can't give you any details yet, but it looks as if my book proposal is a go: I will publish a New & Selected in early 2022. In the meantime, A Month in Summer is in the hands of a several editors, and we'll see what happens.

I do feel uplifted by this. Given all of my writing struggles during the 2020 shitshow, I am so glad to step forward into a large purposeful revision project, one that I know will definitely appear in print. And yet I can do it slowly, without too much pressure for quick publication.

This morning I am feeling like a fortunate woman. Rain. A book contract. Dear friends and beloved family. Fresh coffee and a clean kitchen. Blessings amidst the dread.