And while we're looking forward, I want to respond to those of you who have e-mailed and written, asking if there will be a sequel to Condemned to Freedom. I have moved about 30,000 words in that direction, although sometimes it seems as though I'm working backwards--last year at this time, I had 40,000 words toward the sequel. I like to think I'm tightening up the work.
That's what I like to think, and it is true to an extent. But another part of the truth is that I haven't written in a couple months, and I also like to think I had several good excuses for not writing: There was Laura's graduation from Hamilton College in May, our van breaking down on the way home, helping Laura get ready and take off for an archaeological dig in Spain, Ethan's Little League season, the family's vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Little League All-Stars and two home run derbies, Brian's computer screen breaking and the adventure of getting that fixed without having to take out a second mortgage, shopping for a new car, remodeling our kitchen, helping Brian with his decision on a college major, bringing Laura home from Spain and helping her get ready for grad school, and remodeling our bathroom.
OK, are you buying it? Let me tell you this, the sequel has some of your favorite characters returning. It also has several new characters to torment Randori: an old custodian is given to malaprops and mystery, a powerful new school board member who wants to turn the district upside down, an egotistical state senator, and a dynamic new school district administrator. So, nine days from now, on Sunday August 22, all of my summer responsibilities and distractions will be gone, and I will once again be tapping away at the keys.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. I hope you are having as much fun as I am. --John
