I finished the first draft. Unthinkable to me that I would ever, ever actually start and finish writing a novel. I have 5 unfinished attempts in various drawers and computer files, but this one is done, and not terrible. As I often say, "There are so many mediocre novels being published…is there any reason my mediocre novel can’t be published?"

Next step: a second looks that is both deep and broad. Fixing small problems and inconsistencies, as well as making sure the whole thing coheres – bringing insights that grew and developed during the writing of it into the earlier sections, etc. That will actually take more concentration than this first stage has, so…well…

Anyway, speaking of books, news comes that Archbishop Myers is co-writing a sci-fi novel.

Archbishop John Myers of Newark is well known for his authoring of numerous pastoral letters on subjects from the Eucharist, to the family, to terrorism. But the archbishop has put his pen to paper to tackle a different genre of writing — science fiction.

The avid fan of "Star Trek: Next Generation" and the "Dune" novels by Frank Herbert, began working with longtime friend and author Gary K. Wolf, creator of "Roger Rabbit," about three years ago to co-author a new science fiction novel, reported the Star-Ledger Staff.

"Space Vulture" is a fast-paced intergalactic tale about a heroic marshal and a con man, who team up with a widow and her two children to fight Space Vulture, the "most villainous marauder in the cosmos," Wolf told the newspaper. Wolf already has three other science-fiction novels under his belt.

The co-authors were friends in middle school, where they discovered their mutual interest in science fiction. The men, who grew up in Earlville, Ill., stayed close while their careers took different directions. Myers became a priest and then a bishop, and Wolf worked as an author.

Harrumph. I’ll bet he won’t have problems finding a publisher…