Just a quick note

 
Like many people across these United States, Susan and I had power knocked out by the massive ice storm. We were relatively lucky; the first night, we found a motel within fifty miles, and by the time I dropped her off at work the following evening, our power had been restored. Internet, however, didn’t come back until yesterday. (Nor cable TV; we watched a lot of DVDs during that nearly-a-week.) Now that it’s back on, she monopolizes the laptop in an attempt to catch up on late coursework for her online doctoral program.

In the last few days, I’ve managed another few thousand words on “Queen’s Gambit”. It’s past 40,000 words now, and may go as much as 50,000 (but probably not, there isn’t a whole lot left to say). I’m limping toward the finish line here, limping on crutches, but progress does continue. Once I reach the end, naturally, the rewrite/edit process begins. That might add two weeks to the end date — especially given the story’s eventual length — but in the past I either haven’t needed as much rewrite as I expected going in, or the rewrite went more quickly than projected. I’ve been predicting success for far too long (years, by now), but I genuinely believe I can have this one wrapped up by the end of the month.

And that’s pretty much it for now.