News

Happy Halloween, or Blessed Samhain; depending on your flavor of holiday. We had the Wolf Howl at the Wild Canid Survival Center last night; the night before Halloween. Some of you dressed up, brave you in the woods. Most of us dressed for comfort and hiking. Jon wasn’t able to come with me. It was the first one I’d done without him by my side. It felt really odd. Many of you wished him well, and a speedy recovery from the knee surgery. Thank you for the kind wishes. I passed them on when I got home.

I read from SWALLOWING DARKNESS. It’s the first time I’ve ever read at a Howl from a book that is actually a book, and is so close to being out. November 4th, and those who heard me read can get the whole story. I tried reading by the little red pilot’s light that I usually use in the dark, but the print on the hardback was too small. I quickly had to say, "I can’t see." Charles held a flashlight for me so I could read to you all. I really enjoyed your reactions to the book. My favorite moment was the cliff-hanger at the end of Chapter Two, when you guys all gasped in protest when you thought I’d stop there. But I actually read for an hour, longer than I’ve ever read before at one of these, I think. Darla was recording it, so we can put it up on the website, but honestly in the dark, I don’t know how well it’s going to turn out. We’ll see.

During the question and answer session before the reading, we had a visitor. A Barred Owl came to the edge of the clearing and gave it’s clear call, that really does sound like ,"Who cooks for you. Who cooks for you." I stopped in mid-answer and looked up, but couldn’t see anything to go with the sound. It makes me sad to think that soon the owl and all the other wild life on the land will have to make way for housing developments, condos, and such. It seems a pity to build more when we can’t sell the houses we already have.

The next time we have a Wolf Howl it will be at their new location, and probably not until next fall. So, no summer Howl. Sorry.

We stood in the dark for a long time trying to get the wolves to howl. I thought they were going to take a pass, but then that first thin call echoed over the trees, then another, and another, and suddenly the night was full of singing. It’s easier to read in summer when it’s light out, but the wolves howling in the autumn dark, is just more, somehow. You need to stand in the darkness, and let those voices rise around you, to truly get the impact. It lifts the spirit, and somehow makes it easier to take that deep breath.

Then we retired to the bunker to have the signing and raffle a copy of SWALLOWING DARKNESS, and a gift basket. All proceeds went directly to the Wolf Sanctuary. Thanks for everyone that came out to support the wolves. Kathy, Charles’s wife, stepped in for Jon, and helped flap the books and hand me the right pen. Hopefully next Howl she can simply enjoy the event, and Jon will be back in his usual place at my side. He has three more weeks on crutches.

Thanks again to everyone who came out to hear me, and the wolves. We’ll see you again at their new location, next year.