Artist Retreat

Friends, tomorrow I leave for two weeks at an artists colony near Sarasota, Florida. I'll mostly be working on my new novel and an essay I've been mapping out in my head for a long time. Of course, I'm also imagining short stories pouring from my fingertips, and progress on something I've been toying with out of my comfort zone. But I can't describe what it feels like to have nothing to do but think and write (and stare at the ocean). How I miss my family when I go off to do this. But some of my best work came out of retreats at Yaddo, amongst others. And so I'm excited and hopeful and ready for warm weather. And of course to return with lots of words written, and eager to smother everybody with kisses.