I FINISHED CHRISTMAS STRANGER! Yay!

By Marion Kelley Bullock

Hooray! That's a victory cheer. Also defined as "an expression of happiness and satisfaction or relief." And if you're a writer — which I am — that's the way you feel when you finish a novel and send it on its way to your editor.

I did that a few weeks ago. I sent my Christmas novel, Christmas Stranger, to my talented editor, who then line-edited it and helped me make it more the book I meant it to be in the first place.

It's true that I finished the novel. And it's true I rejoice. But there's an element of sadness, too. I'll miss those people I created. Still, my characters live on in the book's pages and in my memory. I know them well: Melinda, Zeke, Timothy, and the others. Not the least of these is Brownie, Melinda's big Lab. And I won't even try to name all the other noisy animals.

I'm so thankful for those persons who work behind the scenes: Gail Delaney, our publisher; Jenifer Raneri, cover artist; and others. These friends do their part unseen. And I must never forget to be grateful for their help.

Desert Breeze Publishing will release the eNovel December 1.