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Good morning, everyone. I walked into my office and the windows are shuttered, even the skylights. I thought I wanted lots of light, but I find the closed feeling sort of comfy. Maybe a little cave time is what I need now. I wanted to explain, briefly, that when I typed done last night, that it’s not done in the way you might think. Done means first draft. Done means still need to go gun shopping; talk to some experts in various fields; go back over the draft and see how many things were in my head but didn’t quite get on paper. I also know, now, that there are about two pieces of plot business that have to be cut, because the book didn’t go in that direction. It went in a totally different direction that worked better, but the earlier bits are like false advertising. It doesn’t happen, so out it goes. Done, means I’m taking today off expect for this blog. Done means tomorrow I begin to print out a complete hard copy and begin edits. (Part of that early deadline so that the book hits the shelves in June instead of October of ’07 is a real pain in the butt for me. I can’t have a week to let the book rest. I have to start editing it tomorrow, there’s no room in the schedule for waiting. Ick.) But it’s done. The last thing I will do is find the perfect, or nearly perfect end line or paragraph. I put an end on it last night, knowing that it would change, or rather be added onto. The last taste in the book should feel complete, but leave you wanting to read the next one. Complete but eager. I almost always change the last paragraph of a book more than any other paragraph. Every writer has their piece of book that they agonize a little on. For some it’s the first line, but I find those easier than the last line. But it is done in some form it is done. My rough drafts are not nearly as rough as some I’ve seen, but for me it’s rough. And more than that, I know it’s rough. I already have a list in my head which I need to put on paper of things I know need cut, or changed. Anyway, I’m off to take a long bath, if I can manage the time. It’s my day off so it’s packed full of stuff. Isn’t that always the way. But it’s fun stuff, and I feel oddly energized rather than depleted. I have wanted this book finished for so long. It has loomed over me for months, and now, I can say, it’s done. Yee-freaking-ha.