Hi all.

I just finished watching Disney's release of "Kiki's Delivery Service." 
Beautiful movie.  It made me feel good, it made me cry, and it just
generally made me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

It also inspired me to write and let everyone know what's going on with
me, since I've virtually vanished from the FFML, and the internet in
general for a few months.  I've responded to very little of the email
I've received, even going so far as to neglect some of my closest
internet friends. (Mark, Mike L., I've neglected you two the most. 
Sorry, guys.)  :(

At the moment, I have a rather overwhelming backlog of unresponded-to
email - most of which are people asking me when Hearts of Ice Part 21 is
coming out.

I'm sorry.  Honestly, I don't know.  I've completed one scene from the
middle of the chapter, but I've rewritten the first scene about 20 times
now, and it's still not right.  I stare at the computer for hours,
typing a word here and there, deleting...  It's just not coming.  It's
like trying to extricate fully-rooted teeth with a pair of rusty
pliers.  The story is still inside me, but... it's stuck.

I have other stories that I'm working on, projects I committed to in a
burst of writing enthusiasm... and they're just not coming.  I've had
writer's block before, but this...

It's very discouraging.  I hate to let down people who are relying on
me, in any way, shape or form - especially when I'm trying so dang
hard.  

Right now, I feel very much like Kiki when she forgot how to fly.

So, in order to recover from this... malady, or whatever, I'm going to
take a haitus.  I'm going to stop staring at my computer, trying to
force something that used to be so easy, and used to bring me such joy.

I'm going to go out, and just live life a little, and try to remember
why I started writing in the first place.

I'm not abandoning my stories.  Never.  They are still inside me.  I'll
be back.  I promise.

Just as soon as I remember how to fly again...

Ja ne,

Krista