A GLOOMY FIRST OF JUNE
Well, family, friends and neighbors, the one who bragged about how careful she was with forwards, attachments, etc., was brought low on June first when the lurking virus shut down her computer. My hard drive was wiped clean as a whistle and the computer stood silent for a week until Mark Curtis, bless his heart, was able to work tech magic upon it and bring it back to life. That was on Saturday, June 9, and it took until the 13th to get everything reconnected and reprogrammed to where it is the familiar system to which I have become accustomed. If you have not already put in place an antivirus program, don't put it off and whatever you do, back up anything valuable on some kind of external drive.
I had just begun doing that about three months ago, saving whatever I was working on to my zip drive at the end of each session. Had I not done that, I would have lost the 27,000 words that made up the fourth book in the Angel World series. As it is, I've just lost the last chapter.
My printer is still not working and that is a distinct disadvantage. I'm working on downloading a new drive at present. Don't you just LOVE product websites! Most of them are totally greek when it comes to instructions.
In the virus storm I lost all the names in my address book so if I had your eAddress, please email me as soon as possible so I can refill my book. This newsletter is sent from AuthorsDen where your addresses are safely stored but only appear as an abbreviation. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

MAC

I was hoping to give you a more comprehensive update on Mac, but we won't know the results of his MRI until the end of the week. If I have your address I can let you all know when we have that. Mac began working again on June 4. He works at Harrison Steel where he repairs motors and any complex machinery. He worked an eight-hour shift all five days and so far has felt no ill effects. His last day on the incurables program was June 3. He and Shelby are confident that the MRI will show the cancer gone. Mac is enjoying real food again although he will now stay on a vegetarian diet.
Our family owes a great debt to Shelby without whom Mac could not have remained on the program. She has literally saved her husband's life.



BOOKS

As I said above, CARNIVORE was not lost with the hard drive. I did lose the last chapter which must now be rewritten. However, I had already given it a new plot twist and was experimenting with how I would manage that. I enjoyed meeting with the 6 - 16-year-olds to whom Melynda had been reading ANGEL WORLD TRILOGY a couple of weeks ago. They had just finished the book so I asked them to make illustrations and write reviews for me. I also answered questions about the book. Their main question was when I was going to provide illustrations for the book. I'm working on that.
SPLINTERS OF LIGHT is ready to submit for publication but I may wait a bit to see if I can interest a regular publisher. Please add that project to your prayers.
I hope to write at least a first draft of the sequel to RACHEL'S DAUGHTERS this summer. I've lost two weeks to the virus and another two or three will probably be spent finishing CARNIVORE.

FAMILY AFFAIRS

Our family celebrated May and June birthdays last week. Melynda turned 44, John, 65, Jacob, 6, Adam 3, Zach 17 and David 12. Zack got his driver's license finally and is now onroad. He is still enjoying his job at the supermarket and making friends right and left. David went to the Indianapolis Zoo with his folks and enjoyed a special presentation at the reptile house. He showed so much knowledge about the snakes that the young man in charge of the exhibit asked if would be interested in an internship there when he turns 14. Do bears sleep in the woods?
Granddaughter, Kim, entertained us at her dance recital.
We also enjoyed fellowship with our cousins at Elinor Allen's 85th birthday party.
All in all, our family is happy, loving and blessed to part of one another.

If you would like to pass this newsletter along to others, I believe there is a place to do that. If not, just give me their email address.
Please ask about my books at your bookstore and library.
If you have read RACHEL'S DAUGHTERS or ANGEL WORLD TRILOGY, would you consider putting a review up on the online book markets like Amazon and Barnes & Noble?
LINKS

MIND SONG BOOKS: http://www.localline.com/~swanson
AUTHORS DEN: www.authorsden.com
BOOKS ONLINE:
www.iuniverse.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnes&noble.com

May the Lord of peace himself always give you his peace no matter what happens. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
2 Thess. 3: 16…