Women in Black

Yesterday goes down in history as my most productive writing day ever.

I've had a daily goal of 2,500 words to finish the first draft of my novel, Informed Consent, by last night. But last week all three members of my little family got this respiratory crud going around, which knocked me out of full productivity for a few days. (I told Gary that having the whole family home for four days while trying to write is like trying to get a lot done on take-your-husband-and-child-to-work week.)

Yesterday I was thrilled to somehow make up for lost time by writing 3,800 words between 8 AM and 6 PM...just in time to go celebrate Mary DeMuth's (middle) 40th birthday. (To her left is my bud-of-20-years, Pam LeTourneau.)

And what a party! My husband made his karaoke debut with "Born to Be Wild," later joined on vocals by Patrick DeMuth. I made mine with "You're No Good."

Afterward Pam asked, "So...if we put these two songs together, what does that tell us about your marriage?" Scary, huh?