New picture of Doug who works full time at the Wynn Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip.
This is new as of today, October 5th, 2009, an released by the Autism Society of America”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children’s Health, 1 out of every 91 children – 1% of American kids today – has an autism spectrum disorder.
That’s up from 1 child in every 150, jut a few years ago in 2007…
And if that’s not shocking enough, these statistics don’t even include adult prevalence or those children who remain undiagnosed — a still too common occurrence.
I was shocked when I read that on a fresh E mail this morning. We must all work together. We must all pray together. We will find a solution together.
Kathie and her To Dance with Fireflies manuscript
I am sorry for not keeping up with this blog better but I’m not sorry for the writing I’ve been doing on To Dance with Fireflies! Wow, I have finished it! AT least for now that is. On September 27th I handed “my baby,” (tied it up in pink/blue/yellow ribbon) over to my professional editor). Leslie will be doing line editiing and some content as she goes along. We have a 45 day contract so that means I will get it back around the middle of November.
What am I doing in the meantime ~ working on the dreaded synopsis. I have my first draft done so at lease I have something to change. I did a great deal of research about how to write a synopsis first and the time spent on the research is worth it. I would recommend it for all writers. One of the best tips that I read – too late – is to write the synopsis first – before writing the novel. I think that might have been easier and what I plan to do with novel #2. Another great suggestion is to have friends read the synopsis when you have it completed – friends who don’t know a great deal about the plot – and see if they can follow the plot lines.
I’m also working on my query letter. Here again this has to be tight and ready to go to agents and pulishers when the time is right ~ and that time will come.
So, again, I’m sorry that I’ve been lax on the blogging end but I’ve been busy on the writing end. If anyone is reading this, let me know.
Here’s your new quote for Fireflies: Audrey really did not know the man she was going to have dinner with tonight. She knew him as a boy on his way to manhood. A boy with a slight cleft, not a deep one — a shaven face without a mustache — a lanky build not as muscular or filled out — a gentle person who still seemed like he was — a boy who didn’t like to study American literature but whose house was now filled with classics. Could Stephen Grant be the same person she had loved so many, many years ago? Was she the same person who had loved Stephen Grant so long ago? So many rhetorical questions in search of answers Audrey could not begin to know.
