After a short but delightful visit early this morning with my eldest daughter and our two adorable granddaughters, I drove to the Abbey of the Genesee, which is about an hour south of Rochester in Piffard, NY. Some of you may know it from Monk’s Bread, which is made and sold on the premises. The Abbey is set amidst rolling farm land and tree lined hills, its A - frame chapel looking comfortably unassuming from the road. I go there often, usually driving past the Abbey to the Bethlehem Retreat House down the road where I leave my car and then make the three quarter mile pilgrimage to the Abbey along a path that is mown regularly by the monks. Their corn and sunflower fields are still waiting to be worked; there were plenty of birds, though - - - red winged black birds, morning doves, geese, a hawk or two - - - as well as three deer grazing about two hundred yards from where I walked. When you enter the Abbey the first thing you notice is the rich smell of freshly baked bread; there is a baked goods room and a book area and down the hall, the chapel, which is wood and stone, dark and quiet, just right for thinking and meditating, which is why I went.
I took a break from writing to go to the Abbey because I have just completed a few days of good work on Chimney Bluffs. On Monday and Tuesday of this week I wrote, edited and completed (I think) the pages that, in my view, will define the book. The three main characters have finally come together in the same place at the same time, each with their own wounds, each seeking some balm. As soon as I finished these pages, I knew that the end of the story was near. I know now how the book will end, which is always a relief! But I will slow down a little so I don’t rush to the finish line¸ but instead, allow it to evolve in the way it should.
As for Charlie No Face, I had a lot of fun at a book group this week and will do another reading next Monday (Ogden Farmers Library). Today I received notification that an interview I did with a book blogger has been posted. For anyone who might be interested (or unable to sleep!) here’s the link:
http://babs - worldofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/guest - david - seaburn.html

Take it easy!
Dave