• The idea for "Leaving" began as a spin off from a romance novel I worked on in the ’90’s in which Dani was the precocious 12-year-old daughter of the main character. I liked her very much. Originally her story was to be one in a trilogy, but during a dreadful 10-year bout of writer’s block I outlined the romance and left it for a few years. By the time I signed up for Nanowrimo I had decided against a romance and instead focused on Dani and her mother. My first fifty thousand words were written within the Nanowrimo deadline and by the following February I had completed the first draft using a multiple point of view. In the second draft I narrowed the focus by limiting point of view to Dani only. If Dani did not know about it, neither would the reader. I wanted to connect with her, I wanted to get to know the adult Dani better. Limiting point of view also provided a natural boundary in which to contain my effusive ideas and prevented the plot from meandering in to oblivion. The result is this novel. Though "Leaving" has an element of romance, I hope I achieved my goal of putting more focus on Dani’s struggle to come to terms with her mother’s abandonment but especially with herself. I will let you discover the sci-fi fantasy aspects to the novel on your own.

• I’m looking for feedback that will point out the strengths in my story and its weaknesses. At this point I am too deeply attached and too familiar with it to see it with any clarity. Please help me see what works and what doesn’t work.

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