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It’s such a pleasure when people are recognized for their hard work. We want to say a hearty congratulations to John Gritts for receiving the National Indian Education Association’s “Elder of the Year Award.” John has spent his life encouraging and helping native youth to go to college. The world is a much better place because of his efforts. We’re proud to know you, John. Thank goodness you have many years ahead of you! Mike and Kathy

Greetings All: Many of your know that we have a young sheltie dog named Jake. He came from Al Harris’s champion line down in Roswell, New Mexico. Having a grand champion mother, Dark Lady Cher, and with two emerging champion brothers, Ben and Bandit, Jake has a lot to live up to. Sometimes we read him Al’s letters about his family’s triumphs in the show ring and Jake gets a little…well, down about the whiskers. Here’s the thing. Jake isn’t a showdog. He’s just a little oversized, and to be a great sheltie show dog, the ears can’t stand up straight. They have to bend forward in a most alert and provocative manner. Jake’s ears stand up like redwood trees. Probably Mike’s fault for not using the right method for training them during the puppy days. Lots of things in the world are Mike’s fault because he’s easy to blame. So Jake, not being a show dog, ended up as head of Red Canyon Ranch security. Any of you who read John Erickson’s Hank the Cowdog series understand how important the head security position is. Being in charge, Jake’s duties include riding around on the six-wheeler, the John Deere tractor, the ranch trail bike, and, of course, the trucks. He goes everywhere we do, patrolling, sniffing, peeing, and ensuring that all the coyotes, lions, and bobcats understand that they are under constant scrutiny. And then there’s the constant job of reminding the raccoons and deer that the back yard is off limits. The most exciting part of the job is when cattle break in and try to eat grass reserved for the bison. Two days ago, three Arapaho bulls knocked down the creek fence and were grazing in our pasture. Jake alerted Mike to the fact and they both drove the six-wheeler down to the creek. After a perfect sneak, they surprised the Arapaho bulls–three BIG guys! And with Jake nipping at their heels, were able to herd them back onto the reservation. Sure, Jake’s mom and bothers are champions. As great as they are, however, they’ve never faced down three big Arapaho bulls! After surveying the situation, Jake duly reported that the creek fence was down. Mike and Kathy, under Jake’s supervision, have spent the last two days fencing, placing panels, driving posts, and sweating in the sun. And how do dogs in charge of ranch sequrity fix fence? They sleep soundly in shade under the six-wheeler, asking only that they be awakened when everything is finished.

Greetings All: Yeah, it’s a tough new world. We heard from a couple of you that COMING OF THE STORM didn’t show up in your local news stand rack. For reasons that we still haven’t been able to ferret out, Simon & Schuster shipped fewer copies than normal of COMING OF THE STORM in paperback. Lots fewer. So please note: If you have been waiting to read the adventures of Black Shell and Pearl Hand as they hunt the fowl de Soto, you’ve got order on line, or hit your local bookstore. Wal Mart still has copies, but they will be pulled within the next week or two. So why is it a “tough new world?” Bookselling is changing by the moment. In February ebooks made up 2% of the market. In July, they made up 11%. We haven’t heard today’s numbers, but they are growing. Prognosticators expect ebooks to top out at around 35% of the market. So, how many print copies does a publisher print? Not just of a Gear title, but of all the other paperbacks they are releasing that month? COMING OF THE STORM fell into that chasm of uncertainty. So, here it is: If you want it, you’d better scramble. Collectors, pay attention. COMING OF THE STORM is on third printing in paperback. First editions are still out there, but you’ve got to search them out. Finally, once I finish the blog entry, I’m off to do the newsletter. You can subscribe by clicking on the “monthly midden” button on the home page. The newsletter goes into greater detail about the books and projects we’re working on. We wish you all the best. If you’re a book person, a true bibliophile, welcome to the Tough New World!

Greetings All: We’re still in awe. The opportunity to give a lecture in the great kiva at Aztec National Monument in New Mexico was a humbling and wonderful experience. This was, after all, the beating spiritual heart of the post-Chaco Anasazi world. Knowing that we were talking from the very seat of Power, we poured our hearts into making this the best presentation ever. Hopefully those who attended enjoyed the lecture and have a new appreciation of our nation’s Native heritage and how it shaped our American identity. We set an attendence record and almost filled the kiva. Afterwards the park bookstore sold out of copies for us to sign. To all who attended, thank you for coming. We know that some of you drove all the way from Abiquiu. We wish to thank Cyressa Bloom and the great staff at Aztec for all their hard work. Head archaeologist–and long-time friend–Gary Brown, gave us a fantastic tour of the East Ruin, the mystery tri-wall (or four-wall) mound, and the environs. These areas are currently off limits for visitors–a real shame given that seeing them exponentially expands a person’s understanding and appreciation of the Aztec site’s three great houses. Like all archaeologists, Gary is struggling to get funding to expand his ability to interpret the site’s archaeology. Please write your congressmen and senators. They seem to be throwing money around as if it were food in an elementary school cafeteria. Maybe they could throw some Aztec’s way where it would actually be put to use. Gary, Donna, bless you both for a wonderful evening under the trees, spectacular enchiladas, and the chance to catch up after all these years. We ask that anyone reading this visit Aztec National Monument in northern New Mexico. The Great Kiva is the finest example of a restored Anasazi structure anywhere. You will be delighted and amazed. Finally, we would like to thank Andy at Arches Bookstore in Moab, Utah. He carries our latest titles in one of the last and best independent bookstores in America. When you travel through Moab, Andy’s store is on the east side of Main Street. Drop in and say hello.

Greetings All: We’re packing to head to Aztec, New Mexico, where we will be giving a lecture at Aztec Ruins on September 10th at 7:00 p.m. We are looking forward to being in the Southwest. The temperatures should have cooled down a little by the time we get there, and the Equinox shadows will be stretching across the desert like cool fingers. Not only that, the Mexican food, influenced by Native American cuisine and flavors, is just unbelievably good. We’ll gain weight, and it’ll be worth every ounce. Not only that, we’ll spend a good deal of time wandering around archaeological sites, studying the ruins, considering where to set future books. After Aztec, we’ll be off to Phoenix for a few days, then we’re back in Cortez, Colorado from September 17-19th to teach a Writers’ Workshop at the Cortez Cultural Center. We hope to see some of you in Aztec or Cortez! Take care and enjoy the autumn brilliance. Michael and Kathleen