Here are three mini updates, all with pictures.

I had a very successful writing session down at the cabin. I'd say when I left I had somewhere around 20% of the book done and I now have around 80% written. Thank you to everyone who answered my slipshod poll. The reason for the question about Amazon was this: when I sell books through my own website for $15, a little over 50% of that is profit. When I sell books through Amazon for the same price ($15), the profit margin is less than 6%. That means between the publisher and Amazon they are taking almost 94% of the profits. Of course, what one gives up in profits s/he gains in exposure. One option is charging more for the book on Amazon than I do on my own site to make up the difference. Another is offering something additional for people who order the book directly from me. A lot of people ordered directly from me last time just to have their books autographed, but I would like to offer something more. I'm still kicking this one around.

Susan had a nice birthday dinner last night. Family and friends showed up for some Mexican cuisine. Nice, low key evening. Good times.

Put the squirrel trap outside where the squirrel hangs out. Came home and caught not one but two birds. Stupid birds ate my cracker covered with peanut butter too. Dumb birds. I was a little nervous about turning them loose as I was afraid they might hang around and peck me in the head, but my fears were unfounded. The minute I opened the trap they flew away in opposite directions. Apparently spending the afternoon in a trap was not a bonding experience.