While the writing is going more slowly than I'd like, it's not nearly as difficult as drafting LITANY was. I think my major struggle with book one was in wrestling with the structure and the sheer number of POV characters. Once I gave in and accepted what the story needed, it became a lot more clear.
In addition, last month I attended an incredible week long writing conference (The Writer Unboxed "Unconference") and it broke the story wide open for me, including helping me see the structure of the last 1/3 of book 2 and the overarching storyline of book 3.
I've written more in the weeks since the conference than the few months that preceeded it. Given that I tend to draft 'lean', I am at about the 2/3 mark of EVERY SKY A STRANGER. I would love to say I'll have a finished clean draft by year's end, but that depends on how I do with my upcoming surgery.
P.S. If you are looking to purchase signed copies of any of my 9 novels for holiday gifts, please email me at lisa@ljcohen.net or reply to this newsletter. I am happy to send books to the continental US with free shipping.
Given that my hands are integral to much of the creative work I do - playing with yarn, clay, food, or words, it became concerning when I started experiencing weakness in both arms and hands earlier this year.
I am scheduled to have neck surgery right after Thanksgiving (happy T-day to my fellow US folks). I'm not sure how long my recovery will be and how much time I'll be able to spend working on a computer.
This, of course, wreaks havoc with my need to have the draft of EVERY SKY completed by year's end.
Fortunately, between my decades-long experience as a physical therapist, my spouse being both a physician and an excellent care-giver, and my friends and community stepping up to help, I know I'm in excellent hands.
I am going to be my typical optimistic self and say I will be at Arisia this coming January.
I'm not sure if I can commit to participate in programming this year, (much depends on my post surgical healing) but I hope to be with Broad Universe in the dealer's room as well as reading as part of the group's Rapid Fire Reading.
I'll be reading from LITANY during the 12th annual author showcase on January 31, 2026 4 - 5:30 pm at the Forbes Library, Coolidge Museum, 20 West Street Northampton, 01060
Hope to see you there! Signed books will be available for purchase.
I am looking forward to being on programming at Boskone and will update you with my schedule as soon as it's available.
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P.S. If you are a science fiction fan, you may know the Boston area writer Jeffrey Carver. He has been a long time mentor to me and an incredibly giving and caring human. He is currently in a rehab hospital after complications following lung replacement surgery. Please offer up some good thoughts to the universe for Jeff and his family during this difficult time.
I do not and will not employ so called "AI" (e.g. Large Language Models/LLMs) in any part of my writing process. All of my work - poetry, fiction, and non fiction - is 100% human generated. The tools I use in writing either do not have AI integrated or I have disabled it. I commission cover art from human artists.
I love to hear from readers! Let me know what you're reading and recommending or if you have any suggestions for what you'd like to see in future newsletters.
