done!

I have been in a tizzy these last days, thinking about and managing logistics for the upcoming Mother Words reading (Oct. 7 at the Loft—don’t forget!) and I’ve also been writing writing writing away, trying to finish the memoir.

Well. I just typed the last sentence with tears in my eyes, and then I turned to the woman, a perfect stranger, next to me at the coffee shop and said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know you, but I have to tell you that I just finished my book.” She was gracious and polite and lovely.

Now I’ve just emailed all 345 pages to myself in case my very old laptop explodes on the way home from the coffee shop today.

I’m not completely done, of course. I need to go back over the last fifty pages, which I’ve written in a rush, and tweak and tighten. And then I’ll send the last chapters to my amazing writing group and then to my amazing agent. And then. And then. And then. Please.

But for now, I’m going to celebrate. It’s taken me a year and a half to rewrite this book, and it’s something of which I’m proud, really really proud.

This goes out to my Stella, of course. And to D, without whom I couldn’t have written a word. And to all of you for your cheering. Thanks, y’all.