Hey Bonnie,

I'm a San Franciscan too. I've been reading your stuff for quite a while now. Oh, and I'm a guy. Anyhow, I've been writing for a living for years. There are so many ways to start a project, however, the best way I've found is just to start by writing ideas. Any idea. Even if they don't make any scense. One you have a page of these things, you can either fill in the blanks inbetween, or begin to put an outline together in your head. Once you've past a certain point (not the one on your head) the story will begin to flow. You'll think about what you want to say all the time. You'll wake-up in the middle of the night with a profound idea.

You are a great writer, I think you know that and all these folks that read your web page know it. Short stories are different (e.g. articles, etc.) a book is another animal. I think, for you, you should look at this quest as a bunch of short stories.
 
Good Luck Kiddo.