Today is the official publication date of RETURN TO ELM CREEK, so copies should be appearing on store shelves soon if they have not already. That's the good news. The bad is that today is also the last day for one of my babysitters and I'm very stressed out about how I'm going to finish the eighth Elm Creek Quilts novel without her. Our other babysitter generously offered to pick up some of the slack, but in the meantime, the search continues...

I've had a Wisconsin Book Festival event added to my schedule of appearances, and it sounds like fun. It's called the "Book Club Night Club," and includes an informal cocktail party with me and a few other "book club favorite" authors, followed by readings and signings. I'll post more information on my schedule page as it arrives, but for now, the important details are:

Wisconsin Book Festival
"Book Club Night Club"
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
6:30- 8:30 PM

Club Majestic
115 King Street
Madison, WI 53703

No, Michael is not chasing me with a knife! That's a toy shovel. See the bags of mulch on the lawn? We were working in the garden.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to photograph my youngest son, Michael. He would much rather peek behind the camera to see the digital images than stand in front and allow his own picture to be taken. Recently I have resorted to sneaking up on him and taking a few shots before he notices I'm there. I'm rarely successful, so lately most of my photos have been of Michael charging the camera.

A campaign phone call yesterday afternoon from someone working for the presidential candidate for whom I do not intend to vote sparked an interesting political discussion around the supper table, punctuated by rants from my youngest son and food-throwing by my husband.

No, sorry, that would be the other way around.

The discussion culminated in my 4.5-year-old son's declaration that he would become president himself.

"Really," I said, intrigued. "What would you do if you were president? How would you make our country a better place?"

"Well..." He thought for a while, and I waited for him to say something inspirational about helping the poor, creating world peace, or, as a bit of pork for his aerospace engineer father, fully funding the space program. "Well, first, no sharks could bite people. And there would be no bullies allowed. The only problem is, if I was the president, when would I have time to play?"

(Please insert your own straight line here depending upon your political affiliation.)

If Nicholas's anti-shark-bite/bully-free platform appeals to you, check back in 2036 when he will be eligible to run.