I have twenty alpha copies of my manuscript/chapbook in circulation. So far, three different people have told me the collection brought them to tears, which was at least partially the intended goal of book.

I have taken a peak at some of the early comments and incorporated them into the quote unquote main branch, although I am trying to pace myself when it comes to revision. This ultimately is an exercise in restraint and patience as it is an exercise in cohesion.

The small typos I am trying to fix immediately. The larger more thematically questions may have to wait, should wait.

I spent the past weekend in Denver taking a much needed vacation, although I still find myself compelled to tinker, but I think part of the marathon that is making a book is also giving yourself distance from the whole thing.

Especially since that this book has managed to convinced people, and hence me, that it’s worth pursuing even if it doesn’t get selected for this contest. It will find a home in all likelihood. But it needs to be finished, and part of being finished is letting it rest.

Half baked cooking metaphors aside, I think shifting October back to a usual Mixed Media with Mikkel cadence may be beneficial. We’ll see. We’ll always see.