I have been such a slacker this year. I finished a short story, and I wrote a number of poems. I started editing a novel, but never got past the first chapter. So far, I've only submitted one poem to an anthology and ten to a contest. The poem was rejected. The contest winners will be announced next month.

            I really need to write and submit more. I just started a short story I hope to submit to an anthology on western horror. It'll be more horror lite, but I hope it'll be fun.

            On a positive note, I was asked to be a book in a human library at the Waterford school in May. There were thirteen of us, fourteen if you count Steve, who was there as my assistant. 

The seniors came in groups of two or three to talk to us. We had bios and the students asked questions and we engaged in conversations. As I was there as a blind writer and publisher, we talked about books, about writing, or about anything that came up.

It was a lot of fun.

            Chen, the girl that organized it, is a senior from China. She'd been trying to get it approved since the fall and was the driving force behind the project. She worked with Kimi, who was the counselor and a teacher. I was asked because I participated in a Human Library at the Veridian Center seven years ago. Liesel Seaborg, one of the librarians there, recommended me.

            I loved the conversations with the students. They were all great kids who were looking forward to college or work after they graduated. It was a great experience and I was impressed by everyone. Steve and I even got to talk to some of the other "books" during a break. We only knew one of the other books. Jarad Quan is a former president of the League of Utah Writers and is heavily involved in a lot of volunteer projects.

            Some of the kids are writers working on books of their own. One girl wants to be a civil engineer. One boy wants to be a clinical psychologist—we told him about my dad's books. Several weren't sure what they wanted to major in just yet, but were going to college. It was an impressive group.

            Those kids were such an inspiration. They're going to do great things! And being a part of that made me want to do better with my own stuff.