Black Poplar is resting quietly now. I've completed the book and come to terms with the fact that it was a fun project and a great learning experience, but needs a serious reworking to make it a viable read. I've been given some good advice that I inted to take, "leave it sit and come back to it later."
Rhymes With 'Campfire' is complete and due in stores in June. I'm doing a bit of work with the publisher around marketing (and learning a lot about how Amazon works), but there's not much left for me to do but tweak the Myspace page.
I've got enough work completed to feel comfortable saying that I'm working on another (untitled) project. Instead of starting from a loose idea for a plot, I'm experimenting with a truly character-driven story. In this case, I've spent the last two months developing the cast and letting their stories shape the universe of the narrative. I'm also trying very hard not to box myself in around a genre, a page count, an audience, due dates or a rigid outline. It's a different approach for me, but seems to be working so far.
More to come...