I left my novel on the operating room table…

If I were on Grey's Anatomy, I'd have been fired. (Wait, scratch that. I'd just be on probation and then I'd save a patient's life with my bedside manner and hopefulness and everything would be fine again).

My crime? I left the patient (my novel) cut open on the operating table. Cruel? Nah, there are gobs of painkiller and anesthesia flowing into the patient right now.

OK, let me explain myself. While THE MOCKINGBIRDS was on submission to publishers (Little Brown will publish it in 2010!) I...