Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater

Bailey was very excited this week to see the cover of book 5 in her series. The new book is called Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater. The cover pictures the old chicken coop that she and her friends fix up to be a backyard theater, plus Noah, Fred, Justin and herself, plus naughty little Clover, and Sparrow's wheelchair.

I told her how my kids used to have plays and circuses in our backyard. My son used to make his own movies, which are very funny to watch now. The plays, movies, and circuses were very elaborate and clever and we were all involved. Grandparents had to make popcorn or costumes. Our collie got into the act by being a "lion." There were clowns and magicians, dancers and tumbling acts. Lots of fun.

Bailey said she and her friends have more plays planned, now that mean Li'l Bonbon has checked out of Keswick Inn. But you'll have to read the book when it comes out in order to find out what happens.

I'll be speaking in Atlanta about writing children's series on August 11. You can contact Noel Griese, at Anvil Publishers for more information. I will also be at Touch of Fusion in Mineral on August 25, at Cick-fil-A from 5 to 8 p.m. on Rt. 17 in Falmouth, Virginia, on August 14, and at the Orange County, Virginia, festival on September 8. See you then or somewhere.

Linda

Fun at the lake

Summer is so nice at Lake Anna. We've had a few boat rides, despite the heat, and it sure has been hot lately. We met friends for a picnic supper in a nice cove, and enjoyed the fireworks. We also saw wonderful fireworks at Lake of the Woods. It was the best show I've ever seen. Very dramatic and noisy, which is fun. We haven't seen the bear in a long time, but the other day a little groundhog waddled across the front lawn. I had never seen one from that angle before--only when they sit up, so I wasn't sure what it was because it was so furry. Bailey and I have been picking blackberries. The crop doesn't seem as good as last year. It is her first summer at the lake so she's enjoying getting all messy from the fruit.

We've had a lot of e-mail from readers lately and happily have met several of you at booksignings. Sean is one, and Julia is another.