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Elisa Speranza (she/her)'s avatar

I’ll jump in! I’m working on my second novel, and hopefully nearing completion after many, many, many rounds of revisions. The seeds of this book were planted in the writing of my first book, The Italian Prisoner. A minor character (Rose’s sister Laura, an Army nurse) who never actually appears in person was so intriguing I’ve made her the main character in this new work. I’m really looking forward to finishing and getting the story out into the world. Novel #3 is already lurking in the corner, like the sexy stranger I’m not allowed to talk to (yet).

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Maurice Carlos Ruffin's avatar

You're doing great, Elisa! I know the feeling. I'm deep the many rounds of revisions with my latest. I'm happy for the opportunity to finish it.

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Victoria Richard's avatar

Hi there! I have a few weeks off of work that I am going to spend starting the second draft of a memoir I have been pondering for several years. It's going to focus on my struggles with faith and religious abuse in the Rural South. It's been energizing to share snippets of that experience here on Substack, but I'm excited to really dig in into this story now!

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Maurice Carlos Ruffin's avatar

It sounds like you're really on a roll! I'm so glad you're energized.

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Donna R Ferron's avatar

Hi Maurice. I'm working on the first draft of a novel and writing short stories. A story I wrote to both help me through grief and to help me understand the backstory of my novel's protagonist was just accepted for publication in a literary journal. My first published short story. I spent a week walking on air and now I'm back to writing. I recently subscribed to your Substack and I'm enjoying roaming around your archive.

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Maurice Carlos Ruffin's avatar

That's wonderful when different aspects of your work come together like that. Congratulations, Donna! First of many publications. Keep going and enjoy the success.

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Samuel C.'s avatar

I started the outline for a sci-fi coming of age novel that's been kicking around in my head for the past month. If all goes well, it'll be the first novel I ever complete, though I'll have to wrap up all my planning and actually get around to writing it first. In any case, I'm so excited to showcase all these different alien species/worlds that I've been coming up with.

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