So busy with work, home & activities that most free time spent writing rather than reading. Missed manygreat works. Started writing in 3rd grade. Writing includes: poems, letters to the editor (newspaper), essays, column in college paper, short stories (2 published - limited circulation - training curricula/manuals. Current work based on journal kept by friend's deceased husband. Knowing my writing background), she asked me to turn it into a book. Until that moment (10 years ago), I never dreamed of writing a novel. But she would only let me off the hook if, after reading journal, I could not come up with something. Within a week of finishing journal, I had the first 3 chapters written in my head. Gave up any trace of sanity/ common sense I may have had left & said I'd do it.. Finished manuscript in 2006. Spent last 5 years paring down from original 1120 pages to current 860. Name not being Michenor, no one will read my book at that length! Professional editor = too expensive.