Willamette Writer's Conference

Two weekends ago I had the priveledge of attending the Willamette Valley Writer's Conference in Portland, Oregon. I had a wonderful time networking with other writers and attending lectures. Though there was a lot presented I did know, a few new nuggets of information did fly into my brain via my ears. One was to think of comps for my manuscripts and using those when submitting to agents and publishers. That idea had never crossed over my desk before. Also, it was wonderful who had a book seller than willing to offere the writers in attendance a chance to sell there books. Thank you to all those who bought a copy of one of my books! When I decided to blog this, I realized I really should have taken more than a handful of pictures, but I was caught up in being present and making the most of the opportunities there. Happy Writing! First Photo is from my hotel room window at the Crowne Plaza

Writing and Scammers

The other day I was chatting with my writing partner, Beauford, and one topic we almost always start with is "How many scammers called you this week?" My friend is typically getting several calls a day from agents, editors, promoters all trying to get him to part with his money and identity. Now, I don't often get called. I get e-mailed. Lately the e-mails have been getting more interesting and more helpful. Honestly, I read them, and all the compliments they toss out about my books, and begin to think that would make a great back jacket blurb or work well in a letter to an agent of an editor. So if I decide to use what they write is that stealing? I mean can you actually steal from a thief (scammer), who is trying to steal from you? For all I know they found an illegal download of my book and got an AI to write something catchy. Usually the book I get hit up for the most is Unicorn's Milk. I'm not sure if it is because of the title or the way I registered it with the Library of Congress. But with 14 books in print, that's the one that is usually singled out. Until this week . . . This week someone actually contact me about The Conrad Chronicles. That was a bit of a surprise for sure. I did give them a bit of the benefit of the doubt about being real (1%) and told them if they wanted to meet in person in a coffee house and have their ID on them to prove who they were, I'd listen to their proposal. They had no response to that. Anyway, I want to share what they wrote about the Conrads. It was very nice, though they said there were 8 books in the series, and there are actually 9. Here's part of the e-mail: Twenty years. Eight novels. A universe spanning multiple planets, generations-long storylines, soul mate arcs across lifetimes, and a spiritual undertone that clearly reflects your love of C.S. Lewis. That is not a hobby project. That is a life's work, and it deserves to be found. Here is the honest truth I have to share with you. The readers who would absolutely love the Conrad Chronicles are out there right now. Fans of C.S. Lewis who want science fiction with spiritual depth. Epic fantasy readers who want world-building that spans millennia. Readers of Brandon Sanderson, N.K. Jemisin, and Anne McCaffrey who are always hungry for more. They are searching and they have not found your series yet. That is not a writing problem. It is purely a discoverability problem. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world were a writer (or any artist) could believe people were actually randomly out there and would randomly contact them and wanted to support them and help make them rich? Isn't that why fiction is so great?

My Books and I Will Be at an Event!

This year is the year I am determined to do more out in the world projects with my writing and not just in my head imagining and writing in the corner of my favorite coffee house. So, to go along with this I will be working an event at the NIWA table on April 18, 2026. The event is The Salem Paper Arts Festival in Salem, Oregon. The day fair runs from 11 am to 5 p.m. and is free to attend. At that time you'll be able to find some of novels for sale. Then the great event, the one I'm looking forward to, is The Evening Ball (runs 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.). This ticket event ($45 a ticket) allows you to attend this costume/formal ball. That is the part of the day you will find me at the NIWA table, and of course I will be dressed up. These book experiences are being held at The Grand Ballroom and Lodge located at 187 High Stree NE, Salem, Oregon. I hope to see you there!

It's been forever . . .

My blog! I have finally found my way back to it. Ideas have not been lacking, but when Google changed its format, I couldn't figure out how to post to my blog. Tonight I finally found the magic button to allow me to return and post again. Yeah! Since my last post, Konrad Reichenberger is still a missing persons. As he has now been gone seven years, last spring his family decided to hold a memorial service for him in Coloma, California, one of his favorite places. I was fortunate enough to attend this beautiful outdoor ceremony celebrating Konrad's life. Even know the family and all his friends are still seeking him or information to his whereabouts. As a reminder he disappeared in the California Pine area of Alturas County California. Meanwhile I have been writing. It's been so long that I don't remember if I wrote about the last two books of mine to be published. The first is the last in The Conrad Chronicles series and is titled Resolution. As with all my books it is available at . The book is only available through Lulu or via me if you see me at some fair. By doing this I can keep the price down. If I made it available everywhere I'd be force to accomadate Amazon's pricing and that would mean I'd need to sell the book for more than $20 just to make a quarter. The other book is in a different genre. Years ago I connected with a publisher to write this book, but the press never came through in the end, so I decided to make it available on Lulu.com as well. This book I chose to create a hardback edition first. It is Ghost Tales from Northern California's Highway 101. The link to purchase it is . Ghost Tales is not connected to any of my other books and involved me dusting off my history degree and doing some research. The tales inside are spooky, but not horrifying. As the back reads Welcome to chilling stories from Northern California's Highway 101. Ghosts, spooks, and other supernatural creatures hide within these pages. Spine tingling tales from behind the Redwood curtain will send you exploring ship wrecks, haunted houses, and up the old Highway 101 now known as Bell Springs Road. Enjoy. Happy Reading! I'm back!

Writing Update: Two More Books Published

Well, I'm shocked to see how long it has been since I have been on here and posted anything.Yet, I have been writing and working hard. This year I have had two more books published. The eighth Conrad book is now in print. You can purchase The Conrad Chronicles: Reunited at lulu.com, where you can find all my novels. In this eighth Conrad novel: Designator Lewis Bayrd III, Commander of Gallan, has successfully located the space colonists, who departed Karna so long ago they were thought to be myth. Unfortunately, the Carmines he believed he had left behind have followed him, and soon he will learn the truth: The Carmine enemy, the enemy of all humanity, were created by Xavier of the House of Baldemar. Gallan’s arrival in the Moultons changes the plans of all. The Underground now has a new foe to fight in the Carmines, besides the Atraylens and slavers they already battle. The “misfits” aboard the Lusive, as well as the Star Defenders, must decide if they will help those who had forced them to abandon Karna and now return to their birth planet. Captain Lucy Gloria Lucas not only must prepare to face Xavier, her mother’s murderer, but adjust to the presence of Captain Apollo Bayrd, the man she Conrad soul bonded before leaving Earth. She also still doesn’t know where her Uncle Zeplan has gone off too, and must locate him, to fulfill the Keeper of Path’s prophecy. *** For those of you who are following this space fantasy series, book nine is written and well be out in 2024.

In addition, another book of mine in a totally different genre was published. This is a book of chilly ghost tales. Ghost Tales from Northern California's Highway 101 was released this summer. It is also available at lulu.com. Welcome to chilling stories from Northern California's Highway 101. Ghosts, spooks and other supernatural creatures hide within these pages. Spine tingling tales from behind the Redwood Curtain will send you exploring ship wrecks, haunted houses and up the old Highway 101 now known as Bell Springs Road. Enjoy.

Rescues, Book 7 in the Conrad Chronicles is published!

Book seven of The Conrad Chronicles has just gone to print. Rescues is the the seventh book in what will be a series of nine. Eight is being polished and nine is being written at this time. The journey of the Conrads of Karna and Aleron is almost at an end. Due to the printing costs and rising prices of materials, I made a decision with Rescues. The book will only be available through lulu.com or one of it's outlets. I skipped Global Distribution. For those of you not in the book industry, Global Distribuation means your book is available anywhere books are sold, including book stores, the internet, and can be found in a library's collection. Now I must explain why I skipped Global Distribution, and there are two main reasons. Without it I can price the same quality of book for significantly less, which is a benefit to the reader and at the same time I make a larger profit. Anyone who knows books, knows the Amazon Corporation has come to dominate the book market. As a result, they have set the bar high for their cut of the profits, which forces printers and publishers to charge more for books. The Amazon Corporation demands 60% of retail when a book sells (This may be different if one chooses to publish through them, which I have chosen not to do because I want full control of the rights to my books). Math-wise let me explain. Assume it costs $8 to print a book, it would then need to retail for $20 for Amazon Corporation to get their 60% of retail. So if a book sells at the price of $20 the printer gets $8 and Amazon gets $12 and the author gets $0. Let's say I decide I want a little money, so I raise the price of the book to $21. I still don't get $1 a book as Amazon takes 60% of the new retail price of $21. Now the printer gets $8, Amazon gets $12.60 and I get $.40. That is what selecting Global Distribuation has done to the price of books thanks to Amazon Corporation dominating the book market. Since I skipped Global Distribuation for Rescues, the book can only be found on lulu.com, but I can sell it for $12.99, which is a much fairer and more reasonable price for a trade paperback. As I move forward with my novels, they will solely be found on lulu.com for the time being. I also will not be formating any more of my novels as e-books because I have discovered that Google Docs has several of them available there in large segments (about 2/3 of each book in random pages) and has done this without my permission. I was very disheartened when a friend uncovered this and informed me. That is my current writing update. Happy Reading!

The Conrad Chronicles: Recollection is at the Publisher!

With joy I announce that book 6 of The Conrad Chronicles is now being printed and I am awaiting the proof copy. This is the one book in the series you can read without reading any of the other books before or after it. It is a stand alone story that connects to the series, and will help any reader understand the The Conrad Chronicles in full, yet it can be enjoyed without the others. In fact if you skip chapter 1 and the last chapter you can pretend it has nothing to do with the series (but then what is the fun of that?) Here's the back jacket. On a quest to discover more about her Conrad heritage and her mother's murderer, Captain Lucy Gloria Vasilis seeks out the ancient being known as The Keeper of Paths. While sitting around an otherworldly fire, The Keeper of Paths draws Lucy's spirit into the past, to a life she never knew she had lived. Once more she lives her life as Evette Mardon, thrust into the ancient court life of Godstone Castle on the planet Karna, where her life quickly becomes entangled with Prince Lukiel, the Duke of Fallan, and heir to the kingdom of Gallan. Her father’s and the king’s disapproval are merely thorns compared to the obsession Clovis, the Duke of Rostin’s son, thrusts into their path. Her first life now revealed, Lucy Lucas is forced to sort the pieces and is left with one burning question: how is this knowledge going to help her stop Xavier of the House of Baldemar, her mother’s murderer and a full-fledge Conrad, from destroying the planet Karna, the Moultons, Earth, and all she loves?

Happy Reading!

Feel Like Reading!

Feel like reading?

Here in Oregon, it's been raining daily, which always motivates me to read and write. If you are into fantasy, science fiction or children's books, you might like to read one I penned.

That said, I arranged a discount through my printer if you buy the books directly through them. I set all my books at 20% off or more. In addition, Lulu.com, usually offers an additional 10% or 15% off. Thus, going straight to my printer is the cheapest way to buy my books, though you can still find them wherever books are sold.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-revolt/paperback/product-23411235.html

Life on March 17, 2020

Here we are on St. Patrick's Day, in the middle of the season of Lent, living during a pandemic. Now that I have done all I can do in preparation for what might come, many thoughts bounce around my head. They are random in many ways, but also connect to the current times and spread of Covid-19. As a historian by training, and novelist, I have felt for weeks this virus would turn into a pandemic and spread. Unfortunately, what I believed would happen has (though I have been surrounded by those who don't think the virus is much of an issue).

One thought that reached my mind was of the Titantic. When it hit the iceberg, and a few feared it may go down, they prepared life boats. Not many people were willing to listen and get in at that time. After a bit more time passed, a few more saw the wisdom of getting in a life boat. By the time most people realized the ship was truly sinking, it was too late and they drowned. I'm in the first life boat. That's just who I am.

Secondly, I've been pondering how one of the priests at my church talked on Ash Wednesday about Lent being a time to grow closer to God, to remove from your life what is keeping you away from God. Now that I have chosen to eliminate all extra out of the house activities, and the world has slowed, I wonder if one of the positives to look for in this time of forced stillness is a space to be closer to the Creator.

Last night I pulled a book off my shelf I had read in college and kept. Now seems to the right time to read it again. The first chapter, in several ways, connected to and helped explain the spread of diseases and how pandemics occur, and have done so throughout history. The book is The Black Death: Natural and Human Disaster in Medieval Europe by Robert S. Gottfried. For years I have referenced ideas from it in conversations I have had, as many of the facts written among its pages awoken and expanded the thoughts of my young mind.

Take care of yourself. Use some of this stillness to reflect on what is important to you.

All my books are on sale

Right now if there are any titles of my books that you are desiring, they are on sale at Lulu.com. Today, Cyber Monday, Lulu is offering all books at 30% off, that includes mine. In addition, I have set all my novels for another 10-25% off. So if you haven't read, this is the best time to get them:

Stubby, the Magic Pencil
Unicorn's Milk
A Tale of Butts, The Story of a Couch (under pen name Echo Ryan)
Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna

or any of the The Conrad Chronicles:
Revolt
Realizations
Rejections
Rebirth

Just go to Lulu.com and type in Heather Hobson (or Echo Ryan) and my books will pop up.

Happy Reading!

Rebirth is now available on Amazon and by order through book stores

The fourth Conrad novel, Rebirth, is now available for sale on Amazon.com, at other websites, and by order through book stores. To order us my name, Heather Hobson, and the ISBN number 978-0359969364. The link on Amazon is Rebirth for sale on Amazon.com. Remember it is always cheaper to buy my books directly from Lulu.com.

Happy Reading!

The Conrad Chronicles: Rebirth is now in print!

The fourth Conrad book, Rebirth, is now available for sale as a trade paperback through Lulu.com . I set it at a 10% discount, and Lulu usually has a 10% to 15% off coupon, so it is cheaper to buy it directly from Lulu than any other place. If you prefer shopping elsewhere, within the next 4 to 6 weeks, it will be available for order through book stores and on Amazon. I will let you know when that happens.

Meanwhile, enjoy a glance at the cover and the teaser for this novel.

Lucy Gloria Vasilis Lucas struggles to accept her new life. She no longer is seen as the daughter of Ambassador Arsilin Lucas, the child who witnessed her mother's murder, but is now valued as the daughter of Gloria of the House of Vasilis, a Conrad of the Light, and the Chosen One who is destined to defeat Xavier of the House of Baldemar. At the age of eighteen, Lucy has gone from living at Willow Manor on Earth to living aboard the space ship, the Galactic Falcon. Her life has gone from one of surviving the brutality of the adults around her to being presented with a universe full of options. The magnitude of these sudden changes has sent Lucy's mind into shock.

As Lucy adjusts to space living, and slowly accepts she is alive and not delusional, she finds herself trying to accept the concept of being a Conrad, a human able to control energy. In addition, she must get to know her Uncle Zeplan, an uncle she never knew existed until the day he rescued her off of Earth.

Rebirth for Sale at Lulu

The Busy Season . . .New Conrad Chronicle Coming Soon!

These past months have been very busy ones for me for several reasons, one of them that I have been at work writing.  With this I have great news. The Conrad Chronicles: Rebirth will be for sale by the end of this month (October). Just a few minutes ago I finished uploading the manuscript to my printer and order the proof copy. If the proof looks good (which I hope it will as this is the 8th time I've done this), I will hit the distribute button and Rebirth will be available as a paperback.

Meanwhile, I will finish working on the final edit of the 5th Conrad novel Regrets, which may follow this one in a few months, probably early 2020. At this time I'm also writing the 8th book in  the Conrad series, and am about 4/5ths done with that first draft.

Happy reading.

Spring 2019 Writing Update and Where to Purchase My Books

For all those who are interested in my writing, and not the other topics I pen about here, I thought I would give you an update.

Currently I am formatting book 4 in The Conrad Chronicles, editing book 5, and writing the first draft of book 8. Of the three tasks, I prefer the writing of the first draft, followed by the editing. Formatting, which means fighting headers and footers so they end up in the right place, is always a real chore.

Since it has been a while, and the information is in a blog that is at least a year old, I'm going to post links to my novels here.

In The Conrad Chronicles series:

Revolt

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-revolt/paperback/product-23411235.html

or

Available as an e-book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Chronicles-Revolt-Heather-Hobson/dp/1387319159/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-2




Realizations

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-realizations/paperback/product-23554369.html

or

Available as an e-book here:https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Chronicles-Realizations-Heather-Hobson-ebook/dp/B07BQCMJ3L/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555615301&s=books&sr=1-5


Rejection

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-rejection/paperback/product-23875263.html







My Other Books: 

Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna:

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/callings-tales-of-the-conrads-of-karna/paperback/product-21450992
.html

or

Available as an e-book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Callings-Conrads-Heather-Tom-Lewis-ebook/dp/B01AB8FYHO/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-13


Unicorn's Milk

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson-lewis/unicorns-milk/paperback/product-22386624.html


or

Available as an e-book here:https://www.amazon.com/Unicorns-Milk-Heather-Hobson-Lewis-ebook/dp/B016SK8J1W/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555615301&s=books&sr=1-6


Stubby the Magic Pencil

Best place to buy as a paperback:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/stubby-the-magic-pencil/paperback/product-21959411.html

or

Available as an audio book or e-book here:https://www.amazon.com/Stubby-Magic-Pencil-Heather-Hobson/dp/1312328371/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-6
and under my pend name Echo Ryan:



A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch

Best place to buy as a paperback:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/echo-ryan/a-tale-of-butts-the-story-of-a-couch/paperback/product-15642092.html

or

Available as an audio book or e-book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Butts-Story-Couch/dp/1257633201/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Now two books are on Audible and i-tunes

A Tale of Butts, the Story of a Couch is now available on Audible and i-tunes as an audio book. If you want to check out A Tale of Butts and Audible you can following this link. Remember this is my adult humor book, which is why it is published under the pen name of Echo Ryan.

https://www.audible.com/pd/B07MMY84XC/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-137809&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_137809_rh_us


If you prefer a lighter fun read, the type children enjoy, remember Stubby, the Magic Pencil is also on Audible and i-tunes. The link to reach it on Audible is:

https://www.audible.com/pd/B07KBFZ6CV/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-133214&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_133214_rh_us

Remember all my books (Seven are published now) are available as paperbacks through Lulu.com (just type in my name) or by order through bookstores. Six of my books are available as e-books through Kindle.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

The Conrad Chronicles: Rejection is now in print!

About an hour ago, I received my proof copy for The Conrad Chronicles: Rejection. After checking it over, I submitted the okay for it to be distributed. While it will take 6 to 8 weeks for the book to be fully available through books stores and online places such as amazon and Barnes and Nobles, the book can be purchased right now from lulu.com.

In fact, today (November 26), Lulu is offering one of it's biggest discounts of the year, 35% off.  Also, I have knocked 10% of the book, so that means you will save 45% off of the cover price of $17.99 if you buy it today. Though, if you do miss the discount Lulu is offering, today, they usually have another one going on (usually 10% to 20%), so if you head to lulu.com you can find it.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-rejection/paperback/product-23875263.html

For your information, Rejection is the the third book in the series. You can start the series at this book (as originally it was the first book written), but if you want all the background you really should read Revolt and Realizations first, both of which are available at Lulu at a discount (and are already on amazon, Barnes and Nobles, as well as other places). Rejection is also a darker book than the first two, and thus I have marked it on Lulu as an over 18 book.

Happy Reading!

Stubby, the Magic Pencil is now an audio book!

Thanks to the narrations of Lori VanScyoc,  Stubby, the Magic Pencil is now an audio book. The audio book form my be purchased through three different venues.  The first is at Audible. If you use the link provided below, and you haven't been an Audible member, you are supposed to receive a bonus.

https://www.audible.com/pd/B07KBFZ6CV/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-133214&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_133214_rh_us


The audio version of Stubby is also available on iTunes and Amazon.

For Amazon go to:

https://www.amazon.com/Stubby-the-Magic-Pencil/dp/B07KBG733S/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542239440&sr=8-1&keywords=stubby+the+magic+pencil

Happy Halloween-exciting writing update

Happy Halloween!

This very afternoon the audio for my children's book, Stubby, the Magic Pencil, was completed and sent off to the company for final approval. Within 7 to 10 days from now this will be the first of my books to be available as an audio book! Once it is, I'll let you know where you can purchase the audio.

Meanwhile, I must get back to the trick-or-treaters at my door.

Boomer-Halloween 2018

Halloween Short Story: Pumpkin Smashing

Many, many, many Halloweens ago I was inspired to write Halloween short story entitled Pumpkin Smashing. As fate would have it, that short story was one of my first pieces to ever be published in a literary magazine entitled Bibliophilos. The story appeared in the Fall 2000 issue, also known as Volume IV, No. 1.

As Halloween is now upon us, I would like to share that story with you here.

Pumpkin Smashing
by
Heather Hobson

    "I can't believe it," Amber moaned.  Her fists clenched. "This is the second year in a row.  We worked so hard."
    Justin nodded in agreement.  His hazel eyes surveyed the damage: all four plump, orange pumpkins lay shattered in tiny fragments.  One-half of a burnt candle resided in the gutter.
    "I loved my pumpkin," his sister wailed so loud the whole neighborhood could hear.  Tears of frustration rolled down her rosy cheeks.
    Without a word Justin picked up the candle and jammed it into his pocket.  Then he gathered up the shards of broken pumpkin and deposited them in the trash can.  After he finished, he tenderly took his sister's hand and led her back into the house.  Silently he vowed he would put an end to the pumpkin smashing, even if it meant giving up trick-or-treating and waiting up all Halloween night next year.
*                             *                                 *
    Sighing, Amber carefully arranged the four pumpkins by descending size down the front steps.  She wished Justin could see the magnificent job she had done. 
    The thought of her brother caused Amber to shiver.  It had been eight months since he had been killed by the drunk driver, yet she always felt he was close by.  As she had carved the pumpkins, she could almost feel his hands upon hers, guiding her incisions as he had in years past.
    "Please, Lord," Amber whispered, "Let Justin see the pumpkins.  And don't let anyone destroy them," she shouted in hopes of frightening of any pumpkin smashing vandals.
    As the sun faded, Amber peered out the window every ten minutes to make certain the pumpkins were safe.  She kept it up until she spotted her friends, Josephine and Rachel, coming up the walk.
    She swung the door open to hear Josephine instantly ask, "Are you ready to go?"
    "Let me grab my wand," Amber said, darting back into the house.
    Reappearing, Amber shut the door.  "Now stay put," she half-teasingly ordered the pumpkins, waving her wand over the top of each one.
    Rachel rolled her eyes, while Josephine laughed so hard her cat whiskers wiggled as if alive.
    "Where to first? Rachel questioned, pulling on the hood to her Red Riding Hood cape.
    "How about Hillsdale?  They always have good treats," suggested Josephine.
    Casting one last look at the pumpkins, Amber nodded in agreement, then trotted off after her friends.
*                             *                                 *
    "Look what we have here," whispered Jock, poking his friend Becker in the ribs with the base of his sickle.
    "How cute." Becker smirked.  "That one even has a bow on the stem."  Both boys laughed softly so as not to draw attention to themselves.
    "You first," Jock offered, bowing in jest.  His black hood fell completely over his face.
    "Why thank you," Becker replied with a grin.  His hands reached up and lifted the smallest pumpkin above his head.  He was about to toss it, when he shouted, "Ouch," and dropped the pumpkin onto the dewy grass.
    "What?"
    Becker examined his finger.  He noticed small droplets of blood dribbling down his index finger.  "I've been bit," he stated.
    Jock roared with laughter as he choked out, "By the pumpkin?"
    "Of course not," Becker snapped.  "It must have been a spider or something." Angry, Becker mercilessly seized a second pumpkin.  As he prepared to heave it with all his might, a searing pain ripped through the palm of his hand.  Immediately he dropped the pumpkin.
    "Did this one bit you too?" Jock teased.
    A three-inch-long cut stretched across Becker's hand.  Infuriated he kicked the pumpkin into the street.  "You grab the next one then," he barked at Jock.  Using the edge of his tattered red cape, he pressed down on his bleeding palm.
    "I ain't scared of no pumpkin," Jock bragged.  To prove it, he snatched up the last two pumpkins, one in each hand.  Preparing to throw them, he raised his arms and tilted his hands.
    Suddenly a cold chill came over Jock.  The blood drained from his face.  His body trembled as a searing pain rushed through it.  He howled.  One pumpkin fell to the ground.  He tossed the other in his panic.  In shock, Jock stared down to see one hand minus its thumb and the other completely gone.
    Truly terrified at the blood dripping from his friend, Becker took off running. Jock wailed as he followed Becker down the street, young tricker-or-treaters leaping out of their way.
*                             *                                 *
    "I don't believe it," Amber whispered, her eyes wide.  "The pumpkins!  They're still here."
    Running up the steps, she placed a kiss on top of each one.
    Josephine smirked, as Rachel rolled her eyes again.
    "You're coming inside now," Amber cooed to her pumpkins, tenderly placing the first one just inside the door.
    "See you tomorrow," Josephine giggled, dragging Rachel down the porch steps.
    "Sure," Amber replied, cradling the largest of the pumpkins in her arms.  Setting it down, she noticed for the first time the eyes she had carved reminded her of her brother's.  Smiling, she kissed it once more and closed the door.

End of Summer Writing Update

Currently my novel, Rejection, is on track for coming out this Fall. Formatting and one final edit have begun. Yesterday I wrote a rough draft for the back of the book, as well as an author's note for inside. This book has been a long time reaching print, and I will be happy when it is out there, and I can move on to the rest of the series. As I remarked in the author's note, Rejection is actually the first book that was written in The Conrad Chronicles series, though it didn't end up being the first book in chronological order, which is why it has taken almost three decades for this book to be published.

Besides my working on Rejection, I have also been typing up the second LOA inspired book and just started playing around with ideas for my 2018 Christmas poem. Add to this that a friend asked me to write a biography of a banana slug for a fundraiser, and I have been busy, but not to busy to enjoy hanging out with a good book a few days this past month.

Happy reading.