2 September 2003 I finished the novel for Berkley entitled BLOOD RIVER, which begins in Texas and moves to the Colorado Rockies. The book deals with a ranching family driven from their land by Comanches. They journey to Jefferson Territory (present-day Colorado) to start fresh in 1876, but encounter similar difficulties with the Utes. This is a novel that examines courage and is told in first person. No publication date is set. TEXAS DUST, another Berkley Western, will be published in January 2004. I have a new series under contract at Pocket Books called The Owlhoot Trail. I finished the first of these, under an initial 3-book contract, in on August 30th, and sent it off to my agent the same day. The books deal with a man falsely accused of cattle rustling who is forced to take the outlaw trail. The title of this first one is ABILENE GUN DOWN and will be published in August, 2004. The second novel in the Chill series, THE SEPULCHER, is soon to be published as both an ebook and a paperback POD (Print On Demand) by Hardshell Word Factory. We have corrected the galley proofs and are awaiting the cover for approval. The title character, Russell V. Chillders, called Chill, is an investigator of paranormal activities. The series was originally published in paperback by Pinnacle Books. THE BALLAD OF PINEWOOD LAKE continues to show strong sales in its hardcover edition. So far, it has outstripped any of my western novels and is now on the stands as a paperback. I continue to write short stories for anthologies and help other writers with their projects, which include novels, screenplays and short stories. Skyward Press, based in Dallas, accepted my short story for an Ozarks Mystery Anthology, entitled AVENGING ANGEL. They plan another mystery anthology to follow this one. Also, Robert J. Randisi, a mystery and western writer who also edits anthologies, accepted a short story of mine written for the anthology, THE FUNERAL OF TANNER MOODY. My story is called Souls. It will be published by Leisure Books. Each writer portrays a different segment of Tanner Moody’s life while he is lying in state in a Fort Worth saloon. And, he did not die in a gunfight. Should be an interesting book. This month, September, I will participate in two events, both in Abilene, Texas. Each year, since its inception, I have been one of the celebrities in the Dove Hunting Classic to benefit DRI, Disability Resources, Inc. I have also attended a quail hunt for the same charity, hunting with Chuck Yeager, Bud Anderson, who both still fly P-51s every year, both crack wing shots, Tommy Overstreet, Steve Kanaly, Larry Hagman, and others. The following week I go back to Abilene for the West Texas Book Festival, along with some of my friends, who include Elmer Kelton, John Erickson, Helen R. Myers, Joyce Roach, Linda Broday, Terry Burns, and other Texas writers of note. (See my Links page to find out more about many these writers.) This is a book signing event at the Civic Center, sponsored by the Texas Coalition of Writers, and the Abilene Public Library. Click here to learn more. Recently, I started a meeting place for creative people on Lake Bob Sandlin, at Barefoot Bay Marina, which is similar to the one I started in Branson, years ago, a place where creative people, mostly writers, can meet each week and just talk with like-minded people. The Branson one was very successful and attracted writers from all over the U.S. and overseas. I call this one T.A.L.K., which stands for Tuesday Afternoon Literary Klatch. We meet every Tuesday afternoon from 3-5. It’s informal, non-structured. It’s not a literary group or a critique group or anything like that. We have singers, songwriters, screenwriters, musicians, painters, sculptors, newspaper columnists, fiction and non-fiction writers drop in on a regular basis. All are welcome. For directions from where you are, email me, please. Until next time, J.S.