This week I submitted my formal intention to retire from the university - on September 1st, 2019, I will be officially retired. But of course, what that means is that, as of September 1st, I will be officially a Full Time Writer! That is a major step forward, a major commitment towards bringing my writing into fruition and getting it out there! I am so excited! My upcoming residency at Triopetra on Crete (in five days!) is a stepping stone (or three, since triopetra means "three stones"), and then in the fall I will be fully engaged, following in the footsteps of my friend Mary Thaler, who quit her science job a year ago.
The writing has been going slowly over the spring, with time commitments from work that spill over into my writing time, but also because I am re-thinking one of the five trilogies that make up my 15-book saga, The Ido Chronicles. I am trying to give the central story of the quintet a stronger, more targeted and ultimately greatly enriched focus, but this cannot be done quickly. I have also been doing prep work for my upcoming residency.
Super cool Geoff, and wishing you a wonderful writing trip to Crete!