First Draft

Log Date: April 28, 2007

Wrote: THE END at about 1:38 a.m.

Stats: 283 pages (Arial 12 pt type)

71,185 words

weight: slighty over 3 3/4 lbs.

Time to write: approx 6 months + 3 weeks

I feel? Exhilarated and Spent all at once.

Research: The green notebook contains some of the research

Backed up: Six ways to Sunday

I primarily owe this miracle to my wonderful, loving, tolerant (and incredibly sexy) husband who kept telling me throughout this process: I could do it... I need to just do it... just keep on doing it... and, don't do anything but IT until it is done.

He knew better than I did all the reasons why I needed to do it. He was right and as always, wonderful.

I hope I make him proud.

Mom has been reading along as I have been writing. She hasn't read the end yet. Her encouragement was important in keeping me going, and she's a mystery buff so her comments are a great test of the integrity of the story.

(I doubt that the teenager will read this blog, but he might. In his own way, he helped too. Maybe not in a supportive, how-can-I-help-you Mom so you can get your book done sort of way... but he (and his friends) provided some of the color, research and stereotypes for the characters and their actions. And, he used it as a negotiating point -- if I let him go out he won't bother me and I can write on my book. (smile.)

He's a good son. He'll probably never read the book, but he should because -- in so many words -- there's stuff about he and I in there.

Now comes the hard part... rewrite, polish, send out drafts for reads. Then rewrite and polish more.

Then market.

Like a patient farmer, I'm hoping for a good crop of responses.