Hello and Happy Friday and so glad to talk to you,

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted because of my technical issues which have been somewhat resolved. I'm very happy to be able to write to you today. How are you? I hope doing just fine and writing to beat the band. I'm okay, writing too and job hunting like millions of Americans though hopefully I will find a good position soon. In the meantime, I'm finishing up--aren't I always?--the 2nd Owen Story novel and it's coming together just as I'd hoped. It's more adventurous than the first; more ambitious, so I've had to venture out of my comfort zone into unknown territory I had to deeply research and it seems to have paid off story wise. Yet, when I think about it, isn't this one of the most important tenants of wanting to write? To challenge yourself, your intelligence, your wits, your imagination and take the chance of creating work that is beyond yourself? Those are definitely the reasons why I write, to do more and be more through my characters and their lives from the safety of my real everyday.

I cannot imagine today--not pun intended--of writing a memoir; so boring it would be sickening and that been-there-done-that feeling would just make the experience tedious but writing about an imagined life on Mars for instance...to add to my point: I heard the plug for an upcoming story today on NPR about a man who wants to send scientist permanently to Mars. Can you imagine that as a story, a novel? Why would a scientist volunteer? What would he be running from? The thought of never returning to earth..the possibilities for a novel are endless and that is the key to me for writing; the questions, the what if's, the possibilities that test my abilities, my imagination. I know its one of the reasons why you keep at it too, because of those what if's that can mean anything you want them too once you get pen to paper.

So keep pen to paper, fingers to computer keys, voice to recorders whatever means you choose, just keep at it. Write well.

If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com

Until next time, God willing.