2/3 done with this rewrite

So far, I've trimmed just over 1000 words from A Place of Safety-New World For Old. Brendan's being a bit of a rebellious teenager due to his uncle's anger over some of the things he's done. They have a massive argument and Brendan reveals he's a lot stronger than others think. He can't do much, just now, because he's still unsure as to what his situation is in the US, but he won't be bullied.

What's more, he's moved out of his shell and made friends with people he normally would never have known. Jeremy, a Jewish lad who's a year older and understands what Brendan's been through in Derry because he was caught in fighting during the Yom Kippur War. Everett, a gay man who's ten years older and sees Brendan's situation with a clear eye. Hugo, who's easy going and opens Brendan up to the freedom of riding a motorcycle. Evangelyne, a Creole lass learning Russian so she can join the State Department, who takes Brendan to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Uncle Sean disapproves of all of them. Which makes Brendan even more determined to keep them as friends.

This is a big deal for him. His buddies in Derry--Colm, Danny, Paidrig and wee Eammon--were almost foisted upon Brendan by his brother, Eamonn, as a way to get him out of the house. Their friendship developed over years...until Colm and Danny parked a car bomb in front of Joanna's father's shop. That not only nearly killed him, it shattered his trust, and he still carries anger over it, and pain.

So the fact he's willing to let these Americans get close to him is a big deal. I think. I may need to do a bit more with that, but it's coming along. Maybe I'll only need 26 more drafts to make it readable.

I got a copy of the Publishers Weekly that will be handed out at the London Book Fair, at the Reading Glass Books stand #2A114, and on page 78 APoS-Derry is posted as a Must Read. Makes me feel really good. Still waiting on the Kirkus Review and various other reviews promised. Hoping they're as good as the BookLife one.