Well, here I stand, on the edge of being finished with the Milana Legends.

I'm in that long slog through the wilds of line editing, and have thirteen chapters to sift through, line by line. I'm very happy with it, and I was excited to see how the last of the story unfolded.

To be honest, I'm pretty nervous about making sure I've closed all the loose ends! But that is what beta readers are for, right? When I'm done, it will go off to my proofreader, and then the betas will be on the block...

What a way to start the new year.

Well, I have (again) reached that magical moment in motherhood where you can tell the littles that they may get up after seven, and it actually happens. It's really amazing, because, well, I'm a lot more motivated to get up before everyone else and write if, well, everyone else is actually asleep. Crazy idea, right?

So I am really, really having fun with the first draft. I have an outline, but it's pretty lose, so it's fun when Nani suddenly decides to chuck everything and go hiking by herself, and I get to follow her to see how on earth that's going to get me to where I need to be (ahem, and her route made more sense, so you know, there's that). I'm also enjoying how my characters have different motivations and promises to keep, and that's putting some of them in some awkward spots.

I've started the second act, and am about to take the group into Cayos, which is the last Province to explore. When I finish writing a chapter, I print it off and hand it to my three oldest kids, and if I do anything really ditzy, someone notices pretty quick, so I make note of it and move on. This keeps me going, because they wake up wondering if there are new pages today?

If you'd like to check out some of the images I've collected to inspire me, you can see them here: Inspiration Board. I have a pile of them printed out, right in front of where I write.

If you want to know how long this will take me, then well, sorry, I can't make any promises. The last time I tried to give an estimate, I got half-way through a book and then broke a finger (which you kinda need to type). So maybe pray that my kids keep sleeping in, and that I don't brake any digits, and I will do my best to crank it out!

My brilliant narrator, Juliet Jones, has finished the audio version of Lost. This is her best work yet; I was completely carried away listening to the story. If you enjoy audio, please check it out!

Juliet is nearly done with the audio book for Lost, so...

On to the sixth Milana Legend! (drumroll, please) I give you... A Book In A Box!

So, on the off chance I take a sudden and surprise departure from Earth, one of my kids will make sure you have access to how the Milana Legends come to a close ('cause I'm pretty sure book six is the last part of this Milana story)...

The fifth Milana Legends is here! The print version is available at Amazon, and the ebook will be out Thursday. My amazing narrator, Juliet Jones is right in the thick of recording the audiobook, so that will be available soon, too!

I'm really excited about Lost. I've learned a great deal about story and poured so much into this one, and watched my kids pour through the pages as they came out, chapter by chapter. I hope you'll find the story an encouragement and a fun adventure!

Thank you sooooo much to my amazing Alpha and Beta readers! The book is better because of you, and I am truly grateful. God bless!