So where does EYEWALL stand?

Now that Old Man Winter (OMW) has retreated from north Georgia and returned to his more usual haunts–permanently I hope–it’s back to the business of writing for me.

For much of the previous two weeks I was wrapped around the axle, first watching apprehensively as OMW marshaled his forces for an assault on a region totally unprepared for such a blitz, then looking on in awe as the attack unfolded, and finally becoming involved in ill-fated guerilla warfare against the cold-hearted invaders. Only by the grace of 50-degree temperatures was the Land of Battered Falcons at last liberated.

So now I can think of things wet and windy instead of cold and snowy. More specifically, I can contemplate a hurricane named Janet and once again focus my efforts on my novel, EYEWALL. Where does the book stand, you may ask. And even if you mayn’t, I’m going to tell you.

My editor, Deb Smith, tells me review copies will be going out to major reviewers such as Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal this month. In truth, it’s rare for a novel from a small press to get acknowledged by these guys, but who knows. Maybe there’s a reader at one of them who’s hunkered down snowbound someplace, in front of a fireplace, just hankering for a rollicking good adventure read.

Next month, Deb says she’ll start on the line edits, but doesn’t foresee much to be done there.

In the meantime, we’re waiting for some more jacket blurbs to float in. We’ve already got some nice ones from advance readers:

A ONE SITTING, WHITE-KNUCKLE READ

AN EDGE-OF-THE-SEAT ACTION READ OF THE FINEST QUALITY

IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN

A DRAMATIC AND FRENZIED STORY

In less than four months, you’ll have your own chance to battle with a surly TV network executive, take an ill-fated flight with the Hurricane Hunters, and fight for your life in a rising storm surge on a barrier island.