Almost Done

     Seventeen reads and re-reads. You'd think I could recite my novel "Between Thought and the Treetops" by heart but I can't. Some parts still take me by surprise. Emil would put the blame on my weakening brain and I suspect he's right.

     My editor is the problem. No doubt about it. I thought the stories were fine from the get-go and didn't want anyone to lay their grubby hands on my words, so I decided to self-edit. That did no good. Even though my editor and I occupied the same brain there was a continual battle going on. Re-read by re-read I relented, beaten into a corner. Compromise after compromise with that little voice telling me "it's all about the reader." Hah! Maybe I should have asked, "What reader?" 

     Anyhow, it's done. At least that's my hope. By December I should have a copy in my hands.