The trees are in their autumn splendor, the nights are chilly and Canadian Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I hope this finds you & yours well and happy. Thought I'd give you one of my infrequent updates...

APPEARANCES

Tonight MaryAnn and I will resume our gig at Patty's Pub. This winter we'll play only on the first Thursday of every month. We're looking forward to reconnecting with our regulars and sharing the stage with some excellent guest musicians. If you're local, get there early. Seats will disappear fast.

Farther afield, I'll be in Seattle later this month for a workshop and a reading with a bit of music thrown in. Unfortunately, MaryAnn can't come along this time. The workshop is full, but the reading & music will take place on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Richard Hugo House. For more info, go to:

www.nwmediaarts.com/2008Event-Salons03.html

BOOK NEWS

My next adult novel, The Mystery of Grace, will come out from Tor in March 2009. A few advance galleys arrived this week and MaryAnn has put one on eBay:

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180295319759

We had a small glitch with the cover, as the John Jude Palencar painting on the galley, although outstanding, was far too grim for the story. Tor has commissioned another Palencar painting. We're dying to see it and thrilled that his art will continue to grace my covers.

Subterranean Press will release another early stories collection, Woods and Waters Wild, later this year.

For more info: www.subterraneanpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=delint17&Category_Code=B&Product_Count=36

An early unpublished novel of mine, Eyes Like Leaves, will also see print from Subterranean Press sometime in 2009.

I'll have other book news shortly, but don't want to let the cat out of the bag about it until contracts have been signed.

THE HOME FRONT

Speaking of cats, our cat Clare has fully adjusted to the addition of Johnny in our household. Mostly, she has the upper hand, but that doesn't stop the Johnster from trying to assert his ultimate power.

No regrets on having adopted Johnny. He's brought great joy to our household and is much loved by the extended family. This dog radiates happiness.

He adored riding on the raft this summer. What a life!

Despite a cool, rainy summer, we enjoyed the last bit when the temps got balmy. Sadlly we had to close up early because of work commitments, but here's a glimpse of what our lake looks like right now. We had to climb the mountain across from us to get this shot (on left).

Here's the opposite view from our porch (on right):

I'll give you some music recs next newsletter. There are too many to fit in if I want to get this out today.

cheers

Charles