Wednesday, September 12th, 2007, 7:30 a.m.

Lots to tell you about!

First off, I want to thank the Brakel family for helping us rescue a Cocker Spaniel. You see, Fritz is a dog at the AuSable Valley Animal Shelter, where Mrs. Chillers does some volunteer work. He needed to get to the Detroit area to Cocker Spaniel Rescue, who will find him a good home. The problem? He needed a ride. So, I put a sign on the door of Chillermania!, and I made this offer: if anyone came in who was headed to the Detroit area and could pick up Fritz and give him a ride, I would give them a FREE book. Well, it just so happens the Brakel family took me up on that offer, picked up Fritz, and gave him a lift! Thank you!

We discovered a baby hummingbird on our deck. The little guy couldn't fly, so he was our guest for a couple of days:

Scooby-Boo looks on as Mrs. Chillers feeds the hummingbird with a syringe . . .

Some recent Chillermania! visitors . . .

Of course, we made time last weekend to take Lily Munster and Scooby-Boo for a dip in the lake . . .

"How 'bout puttin' that camera down and givin' me a treat?"

"Did someone say 'treat?'"

"Okay . . . if I don't get a treat soon, you'll never see your sock again."

"I'm not moving. Deal with it."

Yesterday, I traveled to the Saginaw/Bay City area to kick of the Read it Up Club with Meijer, The Saginaw News, and the Bay City Times. There are four schools involved, and they'll all be reading my story 'The Ghost of Gratiot Road' in either the Saginaw News or Bay City Times. (Chapter one came on yesterday; following chapters will be printed every Tuesday for 15 weeks.) Read it Up is a really cool program that will allow kids to be more 'interactive' with their reading and activities, and I'll be personally working with these schools. Be warned, though: The Ghost of Gratiot road is a creepy story! I advise you not to read the chapters in bed, after dark, under the covers, with a flashlight . . . .

Driving home, and into the storm . . .

I'm home the rest of this week. Lots of writing to do. I'm currently working on American Chillers #22, and I hope to have it finished next week sometime.

Thanks to everyone who's emailed feedback about the 'new look' to the American Chillers logo and covers! Glad you like them.

Lastly, if you're thinking about attending Author Quest next year, get your application in right away. Both camps are going to fill up!

Best wishes, happy reading, and . . . WRITE ON!