These are the things I know as 2003 draws to a close:

Ms. Jessica Lange, I am told by her agent’s office, has a copy of Dancing on the Cellar Door. Stay tuned for the finale on that but don’t hold your breath.

As for book sales, it appears, according to my publisher and sales figures from Amazon.com , that my novel has taken on a life of its own, selling better than this time last year. I will not ask any questions, I simply want to honor that phenomenon here.

I have just finished reading one of the great first books of all time, Learning the Circle, by Paula Coomer, soon to be published if the publishing world has any sense left. Watch for it next year and I will keep you posted here.

After a remarkable past six months, I have two writing goals for 2004 — to complete my original script, Love In His Veins, and to begin a new book, © Sanded and Stained, not yet assigned a genre. I plan to sing my truth. (As for the script adaptation of …Cellar Door, I am letting that go, much as Sophie let go of the Island at the end of the novel.)

Hurry back. There will always be news from me.