There are benefits even to the flu, or can be, I suppose I should say. When Em was a year old, she and I were both sicker than we’ve ever been in either of our lives, and Brad meanwhile, was in the hospital thanks to a stroke. I still don’t see the benefit of any of that, I must admit. BUT, this time I did have the flu shot beforehand, and I have taken Advil Cold and Sinus religiously for the past week, so it wasn’t as bad. Brad did not have a stroke this time either, although he did catch the flu from me. Em was obedient and stayed well, as she was strictly ordered to, which was very fortunate since she already missed three days of school during the past two weeks due to a lesser illness. So, this time the flu wasn’t as bad. And, it did have its benefits.

First, I was unable to start audio recording Isle of the Crescent Moon. Or Miles. I wasn’t sure which book to record first, and I admit I felt a lot of turmoil over that. I actually sat in my home studio and prayed about it. And I’m not saying what came next was God answering my prayer. I have no idea. But, as I was praying, my throat began to hurt. Bad. I couldn’t possibly read out loud, and it was so weird that this came on with such suddenness, and in the middle of the morning, at that. So recording was out, and will be, until I’m completely over it.

So instead of recording, as I intended, I finished proofing Disengaged. Not for the last time, but for the time being. I didn’t have the energy for much else after that, but I did reread 715 Mystery Lane, and 601 Suspense Street, in preparation for writing the third book in the Mystery Lane series. I forgot how much I love those characters, I really did lose touch with them after two years of focusing on other series and stand-alones. It’s been two years since book 2 was released, which is crazy to realize. It’s about time book 3 was written! I’m ready to write it now, having caught up and reconnected with my old friends. The first two paragraphs of book 3 have now been written, which may not sound like much, but setting the scene for the beginning of a chapter  or a change in scenery usually takes more time than anything else does. I’ve got to describe exactly what I see, hear, feel, and smell, and do it in a poetic, concise, and somewhat interesting way. It would be easy to say “there’s a full moon, a bunch of stars, it smells like it rained a while ago, it’s kind of cold, crickets are making a lot of racket, and there’s a dark house up ahead.” Yes, that would be easy. But, this sounds better,

“The light of countless stars, set like glittering diamonds in the deep velvet sky, joined the other-worldly glow of the September moon, illuminating the earth below. The cool night air, fragrant after the afternoon’s brief rain, stirred in the breeze that whispered  through the tops of the pines, and rustled the grasses and wildflowers that grew along the mountain road.

Amid the distant croaking of frogs, the chirping of crickets, and the faint babbling of the forest brook, the three-story house at the end of the lane stood silent. Chimneys jutted from its steeply pitched, gable-studded roof, and a trailing vine clung tenaciously to the clapboard sides, their color indistinguishable in the dim light. Its shutter framed, paned glass windows were dark, but the broad front porch and the paths that meandered throughout the large garden, glowed with soft light.”

So there’s the beginning of 423 Apprehensive Avenue. It took some time to word it just so, but I’d rather that, than to go with option number easy. And, you’re welcome.

Now, on to benefit number two of being sick, and therefore unable to record. I have changed my indecisive mind entirely, and when I am able, I will begin recording 715 Mystery Lane. This, I feel right about. It’s kind of like going in a store and finding two purses, and you can’t figure out which one to get. They’re both awesome. But then you see that third purse, and that’s the one. So you buy all three, and use the third one first. But the other two are awesome purses, and they’ll get their day. And, my other books will get their day in the studio, as well. But 715 Mystery Lane will be audiobook number one. It’s scheduled to record, pending the return of my normal voice.

In the meantime, I’m getting back to writing paragraph three of 423 Apprehensive Avenue, so… happy reading!