Is it just me, or does it feel a bit drafty in here?

The first draft of Book 2 in the Sarah & Katy adventures is officially written!

It’s brand new and fresh off the printer, but it certainly isn’t shiny yet. Each chapter needs intense polishing before the product is ready to go.

(As you can probably tell, if you can see my note at the top of the first paragraph asking myself, “Better opening line??”)

I missed the planned July 31 deadline by two days; the last chapter was completed around 10 p.m. on Aug. 2. Even so, every time I hit Save on a first draft, I feel a certain relief. The first step of the process is done. I can move on to the next stages.

Part of Stage 2 is complete as well. Art requests were sent to returning illustrator Hannah Jones last night. (I promised her I would send them over the weekend. Technically I sent them at 4 a.m. Monday, but since I hadn’t gone to bed yet I’m still counting it as meeting the weekend deadline.)

Now comes the tedious part: First-round rewrites. Three chapters already have neon sticky notes flagging the need for major revision.

But it’s well worth the effort. In another 4 1/2 months, these rusty words will be shined into the sequel to Sarah & Katy and the Imagination Blankets.

• Stay tuned for more updates on the next Sarah & Katy adventure!