Three months ago, we stopped for a late afternoon sandwich at the Swiftwater Canyon General Store en route to the Kancamagus Highway. Today, these pretty pink pigs, which dispense gas in front of Swiftwater, are going to fuel me for the next five months while I do my best to churn out “Transported,” my debut novel.

My thanks to The Book Doctors, Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, for their words of encouragement last night at Pitchapalooza, sponsored by Booktowne of Manasquan. They deemed my pitch worthy of a connection with a literary agent once I complete a draft. I need no more encouragement than that!

I am also grateful to Maribeth Pelly, friend and marketeer extraordinaire, for bringing Pitchapalooza to town. And most of all, to my husband and faithful reader, Maurice. Hold on, baby…you thought 20 pages was a lot?

Check this space often for mileposts from this journey.