It took weeks longer than I expected, and that’s weeks of actual work, not of putting it off. It’s also about 10,000 words longer than I expected, which explains how long it took. But I finally wrote those two magical words: The End.

Of course, it isn’t the end. It’s just the end of the first draft. There will be at least two more drafts and some heavy duty proofreading before I can actually say that. But the final draft will never happen until the first draft is complete. I’m one major step closer to sharing my first Sam and Meg Stone Mystery with the world.

Over the coming weeks, look for excerpts. I’ll also be in the market for some beta and, eventually, ARC readers. An ARC, or Advanced Reader Copy, is a not-quite-but-almost-final draft that comes out shortly before publication. Folks who agree to be ARC readers would receive a digital copy of the book for free with the request that you write a review once the book is published. It’s not a requirement to give a review. Just a request. So, maybe think about it and be ready in the next few months to reply to the post when I’m ready.