Sorry I'm getting back so late. I haven't checked this site in a while. I did just got a new book and put it in and saw your message. I am trying to get back into the second book. I had finished what I thought was the final draft back in November and sent it to about 20 agents, but it was declined by all. So I stayed away from it until March, and I came back to it pretty fresh, and I saw much more clearly how I could improve it. I wrote myself notes and have made up a very basic outline for the final final draft, which should be much crisper and leave out a bunch of superfluous and nonessential material. So it's just a matter of writing it. I intend to do that as soon as I get a chance, but this geneology project has taken hold of me and I am trying to get through that. My goal was to go back to my Great-Great-Great-Grandparents, and I currently have all but 4. So I am going to give myself a little more time for ancestor-digging, then I'll try to organize all the information I do have, and then it's back to writing. Things are actually going very well at my job now, so I'm not in such an urgent mode as I was. I used to think that I would have to write a bestseller or I would wind up homeless, but I am making strides at work. Hopefully I will be able to move out next year, and I can take my writing at my own pace, and I think that will make it better. So that's all. I had a lot of fun at Craig's party yesterday. Talk to you later.

posted by BeaverMeyer at 6:04 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2008

Funny you should send this comment... I ate gumbo last night. A lot of people do indeed add okra, but my family never cared for it. But you must sprinkle some file (pronounced fee-lay) on your gumbo before eating it... this is dried and crushed-to-a-powder sassafras leaves; makes the gumbo a bit thicker and gives it that extra taste. I stock up on it every year when I visit home. And gumbo does not taste as good in Malaysia as it does down on the bayou. Environment affects taste.

posted by Banoo at 10:14 pm (EST) on Apr 25, 2008

Hi, Terri. You were definitely right about this sight. It's rather addicting. Well, so long.

posted by BeaverMeyer at 1:22 am (EST) on Jul 15, 2007