And changed the name back to “Midwinter Gifts”, which comes perilously close to violating one of my personal rules of writing (never title a story “The Gift”), but it’s a pun so I’m okay with it in this case.

Also, I now have glasses.

This is what a life of writing for a living in one way or another will do to you, kids.

And I renamed it to “Midwinter Madness”. I’m not happy with the title, but I’m happy with the story, and that’s what matters.

It gets sent off to the publishers tonight. Hurray.

It’s still a working title. Perhaps something better will seize me in Mexico.

Which is where I am headed for a vacation with the guy. I hope — well, I need — to have the story in rough draft format before then. I would write tonight, but I’m going to a sleep study instead. Bah humbug!

That leaves Friday and Saturday, which is fine. I already have Friday’s meal half-finished, and Saturday the guy and I will be staying up all night because our flight leaves at 6 AM, which means we need to be up at 4 AM. Which means we just don’t go to bed. :P

So we are at the 5500 word mark, and that leaves me 1500 words to still play with. Then I will mercilessly eviscerate the story, and it will be awesome.

And eventually, I’ll figure out what novel I’m writing as a follow-up.

Fun!