November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The goal is to write a total of 50,000 words – the length of a short novel – in 30 days, resisting the urge to go back and edit material until you’re done. I’ve participated since 2004 – in fact, my novel Shadowslayers began as a NaNoWriMo story. But this year I have a new child at home and don’t have as much time to sit down and work on a new story. So I’m cheating a bit.
For the past couple of years, I’ve been working on and off on a novel called 21 Faces. It’s some of the best stuff I’ve written, but it’s taking forever to get done. With the book almost halfway finished, my goal is to actually get it wrapped up during NaNoWriMo. And to get me in the mood to undertake this project, and because it is some of my best work, here’s the first chapter of what will hopefully be coming soon to bookstores near you.
(Fun fact: I read this opening chapter at a book talk I did a while ago, with the target mostly middle-aged women. The reaction was surprisingly good.)
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