Selkie has undergone dozens of revisions over the years, some of the deepest innitiated by writers' groups or workshops I've attended. I am in the process now of editing the novel to send to an independent press. Inspired by the feedback at the most recent meeting of my current writers' group, Scribbling Women, I am looking at every word, every sentence, every paragraph and chapter through fresh eyes.
One of my sister writers asked me to contemplate how I would tell the story of sixteen-year-old Ben Corbin and Eloyn, the seal woman he discovers and saves, if I were writing it for the first time now. Ben is so different already from the character as I originally imagined him, I resisted my group member's suggestion at first. Now I feel Ben's story opening up in a new way, and I am endlessly grateful.
Will keep you posted on the journey of Selkie Song as it unfolds. Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!