Winter Newsletter

Holiday greetings, everyone. 

My gosh, has it really been THAT long since I sent a newsletter around? The last was on July 31st, and now Thanksgiving is already behind us and Christmas rapidly approaching. I haven't even begun my shopping. In fact, I've barely thought of Christmas! I imagine there are among you several who are all prepared. (Ready Envy here) 

In my last newsletter, I wrote about the Cherry Bounce I made with Green Bluff Bing cherries. The time is drawing nigh when it's ready for sampling. Sure looks good, I can tell you that. A beautiful color. I need to put it in a pretty carafe before gift giving.

Also in my last letter I showed a picture of the beautiful addition to our family, Houdini. Well, he's still a Houdini, escaping to somewhere if he so desires. Odd that he can just disappear before our very eyes as he's getting to be a big boy. Justin says he doesn't believe we have a cat, although he doesn't see a reason for the litter box, if not.

Oh, for those of you with cats....a clerk at Petco passed on the best tip regarding litter boxes, so I'm telling everyone too. Don't bother with regular litter. It's expensive and starts stinking almost immediately. Instead, go to your nearest Aslin-Finch outlet and pick up a 40# bag of horse stall bedding. If you change the litter once a week, the bag will last about five weeks or so, (depending on number of cats) it doesn't scatter over the house on the cat's feet, and, since it's made of little wood pellets, it absorbs odors. Best stuff ever! And it's a very good deal. Only $5.99 for the 40# bag.

Anyway, here are a couple pics of Houdini. At eight pounds already, it looks like he's going to be a pretty good-sized cat. He loves to get in the cupboard and sleep in my big soup pot. Or go into Gary's bathroom and curl up in the sink. Hey! I never said he wasn't a little weird.

There's not much new on the writing scene. I'm still plugging away on the contemporary mystery. Slow, but I think it might be pretty good. I've got an apocalyptic fantasy out making the rounds, along with the fifth Boothenay Irons book, titled Gone Rogue. I hope it can find a good home. And I'm waiting for production to begin on the third China Bohannon book, Three Seconds to Thunder, due out early next year. Of course Nimble, the Bedlington terrier, is in there. 

I'm judging in the First Novel category for the Western Writers of America Spur Awards. I've had 21 entries so far, and look for many more before the contest closes on December 31st. Oh, my poor eyes!

Joyce Nowacki, a writer friend of mine, and I are sharing a booth at the East Valley High School Winter Craft Fair this coming weekend where we're selling (I hope) our books. If you get a chance, drop by and say howdy. Don't forget, books make excellent gifts, and if you're getting someone a Kindle reader (love mine) or Nook or any of the many other reading devices, why not load it up with my books? They're available at all the main online dealers. Here's the gen on the craft fair.

December 3 - 4, 2011

East Valley Arts & Craft Fair

East Valley High School

15711 E. Wellesley Ave.

Spokane Valley, WA 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day

Hope to see some of you there.

And now, it's back to writing and planning our booth display. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Carol