One Down...

L.G.C. Smith

When Sophie started talking about getting a group blog going, Lisa looked me square in the eye and said, "You know, she's going to make you do this."

Lucky for me, I'd already dealt with the voice in my head that shouts things like "Nobody can make me do anything I don't want to!" Because it isn't true. Sophie can make, er, sorry, motivate people to do things. There are the gentle nudges. The kind, gracious smiles that glow like polish on a steel blade. The relentless regard for the betterment of all.

This reminds me of how Sophie got us going.

Knowing this, I'd already decided I would like to be part of what was to become the Pens Fatales. I also knew that any people Sophie brought into the fold would be Exceptional. And they so are. Heck, I tear up at the thought of how much each of the other Pens has added to my writing practice and my life. I love these people. I even like them better than many of my family members.

I'm currently on a family assignment in Austin, Texas, helping my brother and his wife as they await the imminent birth of their third child, and each morning when I read the Pens posts, I feel the distance separating me from our main lair in Northern California. It's astonishing how important the right kind of people can become in a year. Thank you, Gigi, Martha, Lisa, Adrienne, Juliet, Rachael, and Sophie. Thanks also to all our amazing guest bloggers, and to all of you who have visited and participated in our first year. It turned out pretty well, don't you think?