{Insert Cheesy Thanksgiving Post Here}

I’m all about work this month. I’m at serious risk of becoming a very dull girl (except that it’s really exciting!).

I foolishly told an agent I’d send her a full copy of East of Jesus about the first of December, thinking I was going to skip Nano this year. But then our local newspaper wrote a great article, and blah blah blah, and a new book grabbed me by the … ahem … throat. So.

Barring something enormous, I’m on target to finish both tasks, though I’ll be putting in some serious hours between now and Sunday.  

As I said, I’m all about the writing. So my Thanksgiving post this year is about my work. I am thankful for a rich and wonderful support system. I could never name everyone who helps keep me going, but here are some of the significant people.

• First, always and forever, is my sweet Mars. I could never, never do this without his support. He keeps the house and family running when I disappear for weeks on end. This year, he’s begun offering critiques as well, and he turns out to be a fabulous beta reader. He has great instincts, and he doesn’t spare anything though he isn’t cruel, just honest. EofJ is much better as a result of his critical eye.
• Second … oh, forget the numbers. After #1, everybody’s one big group, mingling like slightly tipsy guests at a really great party. So from here on, people are listed in pretty much random order.
• Donald Maass and the Break-Out Novel Intensive folks. I got a graduate school education during that week in Portland (Mars says the latest revision of EofJ is a “quantum leap” from the previous one). So thanks, Don, Lisa, Lorin, Brenda, Roman, Jason … did I forget anybody? You all are fabulous!
• PotSweetener Nano group. You guys are amazing writers, and so generous with compliments and encouragement. It’s very exciting to be a part of a group of writers who are producing such great fiction. You’re also instrumental in my pushing over the 50K (I’m at 35K right now, but I’ll make it).
• Tanya’s Life Coaching. Everyone should have a cheerleader like Tanya in their corner. She’s smart and sassy. She laughs at my jokes (worth her Au-weight, right there!). Best of all, she’s willing to risk really pissing me off when I need to be kicked off my big, fat inertia.
• Gina, my writing accountability buddy (and great friend). Gina never fails to ask how I’m doing, even if I try to disappear for a few days. She doesn’t prod (LOL, that’s Tanya’s job!), but she’s always supportive. 
• Little Green Aliens, my Sunday night writers group. OK, we’re not really called that. We’ve never been able to come up with a name for us, nor are we organized enough for a web presence. Heck, we do well to actually show up, even though we almost never change the time or place. But this little group has become infinitely dear to me. After these meetings, I’m always energized and excited again about writing. You people, my dear Little Green Aliens, you are fast becoming my closest friends. At least, my closest local friends.
• My Thursday Night Writers Group, which has also been unable to name itself. It astonishing me how often you give advice that is dead-on. And I love watching you grow in your writing too. I look forward to going through the process of publishing with each of you.
• Beta Readers (now and in the past). Gosh, this is a long list, and I’d hate to forget someone. But if you’ve ever read my fiction in manuscript, I mean you. Whether you’re a Nano reader (reading under strict rules to give only glowing praise, sincerity optional) or a Critique-er (telling me what needs to be fixed), I couldn’t do this without you. I know other writers who write solely for themselves and don’t care if anyone ever reads their work, but that’s not me. I write to connect, to know I’m not alone, as C. S. Lewis said. I need beta readers.
• Other writers and authors in my life: Trudy J. Morgan-Cole, Michelle Richmond, Jennifer Graf Groneberg, Kathryn Lynard Soper, Stephen Mellor, Leslie O’Leary, etc. This includes all the Lewis County writers, the Killer Mud Penguins, the writers in W2P (past and present), and especially the Pen Hens: Bev, Becki, and Donna.
• People who don’t fall easily into another category, but with whom I carry on a deeply satisfying and rewarding conversation (Steve, Meredith). In the past there have been others (Lars, Stephen, Jenny). These are people whose conversations range far and wide, but always leave me thinking.

Of course, there are many other people important in my life (hello! My children?!). But this year I wanted to concentrate on those who specifically help me continue to write. This calling of mine can be isolating, and the rejections inherent can be soul-crushing. But I am shored up by these wonderful people who believe in what I am doing, sometimes more than I do. Thank you, all of you. I love you all.