It’s a blessed time, indeed. Eleven more business days until the students graduate and the business of breaking the school down for the summer break begins. And more importantly, I get to take a day or two off, which means more time for writing.

Speaking of writing, have a field trip scheduled in the next few weeks for research the next book. Many people have warned that the terrain in question is treacherous not because it’s difficult to cross–though portions of the excursion involve blatant acts of trespass–but more because of the denizens that live among the abandoned structures. Since I trance out now and again in the fresh air, I’m bringing an extremely large friend along for the hike.

Spiking deeper into the research vein, I’ll also be visiting my favorite drop zone in a few weeks to get some technical advice about a skydiving scene. Last I’ve decided to begin a correspondence with an individual who has generally resisted all contact with the outside world. Just getting them a letter is going to be a task in itself, but I’m working on it. Their perspective could add a certain something to the book.

That last bit is a long shot, but so is everything else these days.