As we approach 2010, Stone Harbour Press wishes to thank all of you who who have worked with us and wish each of you a New Year filled with further creativity, opportunity, and prosperity. Our sincere thanks for the trust and encouragement you have shown in purchasing and reading Heart of a Pirate. Look for new additions to our list of titles in the coming months!

Join us at Amicus Books on Friday, December 18, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. for the last of the lovely Victorian holiday teas hosted by Amicus Books, the Pirate Mystery Tea, featuring guest author, Pamela Johnson. Come and be a character in in this delightful mystery and enjoy tea, cakes, sandwiches, and good cheer. All proceeds from the event go toward the literacy program for authors of all ages. Tickets are $25. 413 D Street / Marysville, California / 530-237-6402.

I encourage all of you interested in a fine bookstore to visit Lyon Books in Chico near Cal State Chico. Heather Lyon has put together an amazing holiday activity for authors in the area, six Holiday Open Houses featuring twelve guest authors at each. Heather graciously opened the bookstore to the community to visit and speak with local writers, as well as giving writers an opportunity to meet each other and to share ideas. Each of the books featured on Sunday (November 29) was well-written and constructed with care and consideration. An absolute pleasure to meet so many talented people!

I am completely enamored by the idea of radio–the small room, lots of metal and technical equipment, casual clothing hidden under serious talk, and ideas spread over air waves that are repeated by others you meet on the street!

If you would like to listen to my radio interview on Book Talk, google KVMR, click on schedule (right side of page), look for Monday, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., click on Book Talk, click on Program for November 23.

Many thanks to Eric Tomb for the opportunity to experience radio interviewing firsthand and to be able to speak to so many on issues of poverty and piracy and the social systems that create pirates!

Another amazing experience. The Texas Renaissance Festival, November 14-15, where I was the featured author at the Festival’s bookstore. The weather could not have been better, and it brought out thousands of fair-goers from all parts of the country. The largest Renaissance fair in the world, Tex Ren is beautifully spread over 250 acres, with permanent buildings in medieval or Tudor style, an arena complete with bleachers for Scottish games and jousting, lots of good food in traditional style served on pewter dishes, plenty of snacks (and healthy ones!) and a place to enjoy them on benches set under spreading trees.

The theme of our weekend was “Highland Fling”, and there were many ladies in plaid skirts and sashes, as well as hundreds of men and small boys in kilts and knee socks and wearing a sporran. Bagpipes and Scottish dancers, even kids from the crowd who used their folk-dancing skills to twirl to pipes and drums and flutes.

My thanks a thousand times over to our sponsor, James Huckabay, who invited us, set up our table and chairs under a lovely tree, drove thirty minutes to pick up Heart of a Pirate so that it would be at the Festival when we arrived, and even gave us a quiet place to rest and a chest of ice for drinks.

To my wonderful family, Phyllis and Adrian Partain and Patti and Pat Buckley, who stood behind me, dressed as pirates and speaking with patrons, who made food and shared wine and laughter, my heartflet thanks.

To Adam, my son, who watched our dear Labrador, Gracie, so that we might travel.
And, as always, to my husband Erik, who follows me whenever I have a new adventure, my love and gratitude.

Many, many thanks!

Just in time for Halloween, I spoke on pirates of the 18th century to the remarkable and accomplished women of the Berkeley Hillside Club, comparing pirates of old to the contemporary pirates of Somalia. Interspersed with the talk were readings from Heart of a Pirate.

Many thanks to Sylvia Paull for graciously inviting me, and to Cynthia Josayma for making it all happen.