What's Up Wednesday- July 3rd

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.  Should you wish to join, check out Jamie's or Erin's lovely blogs and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of the post.

WHAT I'M READING

I'm still reading the God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. It's the start of monsoon season in the book and with all the rainfall we've had lately (over 15 inches!), I can really relate to that. (My back yard is a lake...well more of a bog...a boggy lake.)

I've also been beta reading the MS's of a couple of very talented writers. I am always amazed, when I read the writing of people I converse with on an almost daily basis, that all this time they had these worlds living in their heads. I am in love with some of their characters. It really couldn't be helped.

WHAT I'M WRITING

I finished my rewrites by my self-imposed July 1st deadline. Now all I have to do is do a final read through and correct those things that all my additions have screwed up. (Which sadly are many and cumbersome)

And I can't wait to get cracking again on my new(ish) shiny MS. I am in love with this one. Hopefully, it's not all in my head and someone else will like it too. 

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

In case you missed yesterday's Big Reveal...yesterday was the big launch of the 

YA Buccaneers!! I am so excited to be part of this fantastic project. You really should check out the gorgeous website, if for no other reason than to check out the absolutely hilarious pics of some of your favorite writers sporting pirate regalia. (including some excellent facial hair) *grin*

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

Our manatees have had a couple of very, very hard years. First the Deep Horizon oil spill, then a record-breaking cold winter and then a terrible red tide. Everything took its toll, and two seasons of manatee calves perished along with several hundred adults. 

So we were absolutely thrilled last weekend when we spotted a mama manatee with not one, but two tiny baby calves! (So small they were still nursing) We tried to be respectful and keep our distance, but these little babies were so curious about our brightly colored kayaks that they kept coming over to nose us in the water. Then their patient mother would retrieve them and reassure them with a little nose kiss. 

We look for them now every day we're out on the water. They seem to be thriving and healthy. We've got our fingers crossed for them because these little twins represent the future of a species...and we've kind of fallen in love with them. (It really couldn't be helped.)