After a crazy week, I'm back. We ventured to my hometown to celebrate Thanksgiving, which is about an 8-10 hour drive depending on traffic and weather. I love getting to see my family, and I have a new appreciation for the color green now that we live in Arizona, the land of two dozen shades of brown.

I'm trying to give myself a few days to recover and get caught up on things (and fight through these nasty allergies that are making me spacey) and then I need to resume work on Normal. I have three chapters left, and I need to finish it up so I can let the draft marinate for a month or so before I begin viciously editing.

I'm expecting word back on a few fiction and nonfiction submissions this month, and I need to mail more out to compensate. Once the draft of Normal is done, I must open up The Locked Door again, refresh my brain, and then start querying. Yes, I'm having to tell myself to do this like a mantra, otherwise I'll keep putting it off. MUST QUERY. GWAR. *slaps self in head*

Also - is anyone wanting a critique partner or in a group with an opening? I'm thinking that might be a good thing to take part in, but most of my friends tend towards fan fiction at this time and I'd really like to partner with folks who have similar goals (agent, publication). I saw Critique Circle mentioned in the FundsForWriters newsletter this past weekend - anyone use their site?