The last month and a half have been such fun. I want to thank everyone who read along with all or part of Touched and especially thank those who left comments. Writing is much easier when there are people enjoying the ride.

Over the course of writing this novel, there have been a bunch of people who pointed out some of the more egregious errors. The best one being that I said Toyota made the Accord, when everyone (but me) knew it was Honda. Mom and Dad Meeks have also worked tirelessly to help with the edits, so they deserve a big high five, too.

Today, I entered Touched, in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. On February 13, I’ll find out if I’ve made it to the next round. The contest is limited to 10,000 entries and only 2,000 make it to the quarter finals.

I had intended to enter the YA novel I finished back in November, but it seems that only one entry is allowed. I chose Touched, because Secret Doors is almost ready to publish. The cover art is being worked on as we speak. Not to brag, but it is maybe my favorite thing I’ve ever written, and that is saying something, because I’m a huge fan of my work.

So, the question becomes, as Stephanie Berget put it, “What’s next?”

I like having you all visit and read my stories, so it seems like I should continue with a new project. It only seems fair to get feedback, so here are four ideas.

1) I continue working on a spy thriller I started some time ago, posting the first 10K or so, that I already have and then continuing with it.

2) I’ve always wanted to write a screen play, so I thought I might do that for “Secret Doors”, which is a delightful YA novel I’ll be publishing soon.

3) Begin the 5th book in the Henry Wood Series.

4) I let you all follow along as I write the sequel to Secret Doors. I realize reading the sequel before the first book seems like crazy talk, but I wanted to put it out there, because it is such fun to write.

Here is a description of Secret Doors: The Challenge, <Yes, I just now changed the title. Writing books sometime works that way.

Abby’s parents died two years earlier. She was miserable living with her new family until she met Stevie.

The two of them, both age 12, are about to wander through a tiny little door in the alley behind Mr. Pak’s Grocery Store. This secret door is one of many, but before they can explore this new world, they must survive the 1000th annual challenge.

When the selection begins, Abby and Stevie are still trying to make sense of what has happened to them. The frightening Mr. Pincer reacts poorly when he sees her red hair, and the beginning of the challenge is halted as all eyes turn to our two friends. When they try to leave, a kindly owl, who turns into a man before their eyes, invites Abby and Stevie up to his office. The owl, Chancellor Alphius Omega, is just as startled to see these unscheduled children as they are to be there.

Alphius, who mostly goes by Alphie, decides they must be there for a reason and convinces Abby and Stevie to take part in a little adventure.

Teamed up with the last three children left — as everyone else was picked while they were talking with Alphie — the five children choose the staircase that will lead them to their test. But, what waits for them on the other side is far more of a challenge than anyone, even Alphie, expects.

The novel, at just over 50,400 words, is the first in the Secret Doors series.

(Note: Special thanks to Bruce Lebatte, who did some editing on this piece.)

If you will simply cast your vote with a comment, I’ll be sure to tally up the vote or votes, as the case may be, and then tomorrow we can get to work on a new project. If you have another idea, please feel free to submit it, as I’m always open to suggestions.