Sad to say, I've been struggling. I've been trying to write book after book, catch up with reader expectations, expand my social media and website presence - all without much of a break. It all got to be a bit heavy, and a friend suggested I try something completely different for a little while. Back when, I bought a bunch of craft stuff to build out the star ship from the Scion series for conventions. I never actually got around to building it (soon I hope), but I still have the tools.

I received notification that my grandson would be visiting for New Years. For my best friend's daughter's first Christmas, I gave her a plush little red dragon that signified Drake from the Bittergate Chronicles. This wasn't exactly my little goblin's first Christmas (he was 6 weeks last year), but I decided to repeat the gift with a bit of a twist. His baby Drake would hatch in his arms.

Armed with a never before used glue gun, a ten inch Easter egg, 3 bags of sequins and an idea, I went to work. I nestled baby Drake inside the egg and preceded to burn the hell out of my fingers.  Goblin was pretty excited to have a shiny red egg. So excited his Dad had to chase him around the house and show him that the egg opened.

Big picture, all my work doesn't amount to much more than fancy wrapping for Goblin's new stuffed animal, but his reactions went a long way to healing my fingers and reminding me that my keyboard isn't the only place I can find joy.