Home is the Sailor! Home from the Sea!

Hello Everyone.

I returned from Vietnam on Saturday. That was quite the experience. Twenty students and five instructors gutted three classrooms and a hallway, and we rebuilt said area with the strength of our backs and shovels. It was a grueling six days, but I feel like I don’t have to worry that I’m losing my edge anymore. I kept up with everyone, sweat and all. We did a good thing (TM).

As is common with many groups, we shared a cold. Mine went from being a manageable sore throat and sniffle to bronchitis in the course of a day. Susceptible was the word the doctor used when I got back. Fear not. It’s not almost pneumonia kind. It’s over the line from sinusitis kind. If I keep resting and taking my meds, I’ll be just fine.

No, I don’t like bronchitis as my new hobby, and yes, I will be doing my best to avoid it as much as I can in the future.

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So, while I have seen many films (can you say 16 hour flight each way?) and read many books (can you say end of day after construction collapse?) since you last saw me, I have done very little writing. Before the construction started, I did a lot of planning and plotting. And, next week, once I feel better and have some more time, I will continue on from where I left off.

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This weekend, I will be at Convergence in Minneapolis. I have 3 panels each day at 5 pm (Plotting, the (Spy Fi) Avengers, and Modern Retellings of Fairy Tales on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively; and I’m part of the Broad Universe reading at 3:30 on Saturday. Please come and see me do my thing.

Photos? Yes. But don’t expect beautiful Vietnam photos. Expect service learning photos.

Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump

Catherine Schaff-Stump writes fiction for children and young adults. Her most recent book, The Vessel of Ra, is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. She is currently working on its sequel, as well as penning the middle grade adventures of Abigail Rath, monster hunter. View all posts by Catherine Schaff-Stump