I often get incredulous looks from people when I talk about how much I love the editing process. But it’s true - I find revision and editing to be so satisfying. Seeing how a draft takes shape from the first to the last is almost magical.

The story that is out in Peatsmoke Journal today is called Unveiling. The characters for this story began kicking around in my mind over 20 years ago. I’d written different scenes and meandering character studies with them but I never expected that Ira, Zach, Will and Paul would find their way onto the printed page. It feels good!

There is one scene mid-way through the story where Ira is sitting on the steps of the Boston Public Library watching skateboarders practice on the steps below. I first wrote that scene back in 1998, inspired by a moment outside on the steps while I was on a break from doing research work at the library. I can still remember the heat of the day, the sound of the skateboard wheels against the concrete and granite, and the impish grin of one of the skaters - a shaggy boy with sideburns and a beat-up baseball cap.

If you’d like to read the piece, you can find it here.

I really liked working with the editors at Peatsmoke Journal - they gave me excellent line edits and holistic revision ideas and were extremely professional. THANK YOU!