This morning as I walked the kids to the school bus, my daughter said, “Mom, I don’t want you to be lonely while we’re at school.”

“I won’t be lonely.  I’ll be writing,” I said.

“But you’ll be all alone in the house all day.”

“But I’m hanging out with my characters.  I’ve got Mara and Ethan to keep me company.”

“But Mom,” she said, genuinely worried, “the rest of them are evil!”