Today I spoke with Kate Seaver at Dorchester who, among many kind comments on Lord Ruin, tells me it's set for publication December 2002, ISBN: 0-8439-5135-4. She's asked for one revision to one paragraph on pg 424 of the MS. This conversation cheered me up no end because I was reminded how often I thought LR sucked and was perhaps beyond hope or ability to fix. And it wasn't, so neither is The Spare. So, I will take a look at the paragraph in question, I imagine she's right, it needs either rewrite or deletion. Her first mention was deletion which tells me that was her first instinct and dollars to Belgian chocolates she's right. I'll take a look tonight. Afterward, I will sit down and tackle The Spare with renewed fierocity. My post from yesterday tells me exactly what to fix. Get those two talking and interacting! I think I'll add more guests as background so that SA and OW can wander off without being so obvious. I do love the story and the two of them.