We're back in our home!

Hi there! Sorry for the delay in writing here. I've sent a few newsletters out, which you can read at http://theauthorhour/newsletter.php. After waiting a full year, we're finally back in our home that was destroyed in a fire. What a relief! Now I have the huge task of unpacking. Arrg! Here's a photo of our new and improved kitchen. My wife is feeling spoiled with her suspended island chairs, wood floor, upgraded cabinets and granite counters. I guess some good did come out of losing our home.



Also, check out my latest interview on TeensReadToo

Jim Butcher interview, Easter scorpion, G-Tube

Jim Butcher’s interview aired on my show last week. He’s the #1 New York Times best-selling author who wrote the Dresden Files, which was adapted for TV on the Syfy (i.e. Si Fi) channel a while ago. I loved the show but it was cancelled after the first season, despite it doing very well with viewers. You can listen to Jim’s interview at http://TheAuthorHour.com/jim-butcher/

I don’t know how your Easter vacation was, but for my wife it ended badly. We were outside on the lawn when she suddenly jumped up and started hopping around yelping, "ouch, ouch, ouch!" I thought an ant had bit her, but upon closer observation I found a tiny scorpion. I was going to take a picture of it for the newsletter but someone smashed it into nothing. So the picture you see is not the one that stung her. It’s another scorpion that I killed in our garage when we first moved into our home a few years ago. It’s WAY bigger than the one that stung my wife. She felt the pain for several days. [see my newsletter for the picture]

We’ve been waiting for this moment for around three years now... Jared finally got his G-tube removed! If you asked him what it was, he'd say it's his "second belly button" or his "plastic belly button." We used that little thing to feed him. He no longer needs it! We've been so cautious for so long, it's going to take us some time to not be scared when we pick him up or hug him.

You can read more at my newsletter: http://www.paraworlds.com/newsletter/2010-04.php

The Author Hour - Speculative Fiction (Episode 15)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_25ioIe628

Join Matthew Peterson on an episode of The Author Hour: Your Guide to Fantastic Fiction devoted to speculative fiction. Meet Mary Pope Osborne (former Authors Guild president and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Magic Tree House series, which have sold over 53 million copies), Cory Doctorow (one of the top web celebrities in the world and New York Times bestselling author of Little Brother and Makers), Mindy Klasky (the bestselling and award-winning author of Glasswrights, Jane Madison, and As You Wish series), and Garth Nix (the New York Times bestselling author of Old Kingdom, The Seventh Tower, and The Keys to the Kingdom series, which have sold 5 million copies). These bestselling authors will discuss their books and the future of publishing.

• Speculative Fiction
  • Mary Pope Osborne (#1 NYT bestselling Magic Tree House series, former Authors Guild president, 53 million books sold)
  • Cory Doctorow (NYT bestselling Little Brother and Makers, Boing Boing blog, #5 Forbes top web celebs)
  • Mindy Klasky (bestselling and award-winning Glasswrights, Jane Madison, and As You Wish series)
  • Garth Nix (NYT bestselling Old Kingdom, The Seventh Tower, and Keys to the Kingdom series, 5 million sold)

Don't forget to visit http://www.theauthorhour.com/episode/15/ to catch the bonus questions that didn't air on the live show.

The Author Hour - Magic, Mystery and Zany Worlds (Episode 14)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjtMazNVUV0

Join Matthew Peterson on a fun episode of The Author Hour: Your Guide to Fantastic Fiction filled with magic, mystery and zany worlds with Daniel Handler a.k.a. Lemony Snicket (international bestselling author of A Series of Unfortunate Events with over 60 million books sold), Brandon Mull (New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven series and Candy Shop War), Maria V. Snyder (New York Times bestselling author of Poison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study, which have received two Audible Editor's Pick Awards), and Obert Skye (author of The Leven Thumps series, which have received the Benjamin Franklin, ForeWord Magazine, and iParenting Media Awards). Come listen to what these fantasy authors have to say about fiction for kids, teens and beyond.

• Magic, Mystery and Zany Worlds
  • Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events, 60+ million books sold)
  • Brandon Mull (NYT bestselling author of the Fablehaven series and Candy Shop War)
  • Maria V. Snyder (NYT bestselling author of Fire Study, Booksense Pick, Audible Editor's Pick Award)
  • Obert Skye (The Leven Thumps series, Benjamin Franklin, ForeWord Magazine & iParenting Media Award)

Visit http://TheAuthorHour.com/episode/14/ to catch bonus questions that didn't make it onto the live show.

The Author Hour - Dragons and Creatures (Episode 13)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXZ1itgd7eY

Join Matthew Peterson on a dragon and creature-themed episode of The Author Hour: Your Guide to Fantastic Fiction with Dean Koontz (world renown author of over twenty #1 New York Times bestselling books, including Odd Thomas and Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, with over 400 million copies sold), Christopher Paolini (international bestselling author of Eragon, which is now a movie), R. L. Stine (the #1 children's author in the world with over 300 million books sold. Author of Goosebumps and Fear Street), and Todd McCaffrey (the New York Times bestselling author who is continuing Anne McCaffrey's popular Dragonriders of Pern series). When it comes to dragons, creatures, and just good storytelling, these authors are at the very top of their genre.

• Dragons and Creatures
  • Dean Koontz (International bestselling author with over 400 million books sold)
  • Christopher Paolini (International bestselling author of Eragon, now a movie)
  • R. L. Stine (International bestselling author of Goosebumps, 300 million books sold)
  • Todd McCaffrey (continuing Anne McCaffrey's bestselling Dragonriders of Pern series)

Visit http://TheAuthorHour.com/episode/13/ to catch bonus questions that didn't make it onto the live show.

The Author Hour - High Fantasy (Episode 12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EgSUFDSjmU

Join Matthew Peterson on an episode of The Author Hour: Your Guide to Fantastic Fiction devoted to high fantasy. Meet some of the most respected authors in the high fantasy genre such as L. E. Modesitt Jr. (bestselling author of nearly 60 novels, including The Saga of Recluce series), Carol Berg (winner of the Mythopoeic, Prism, Geffen, and Colorado Book Awards), Dennis L. McKiernan (bestselling author of the Mithgar series and the "Once Upon" faery series), and Diana Pharaoh Francis (author of the Path, Crosspointe, and Horngate Witches series). This episode is sure to be filled with discussions about elves, warriors, magic, and epic quests.

• High Fantasy
  • L. E. Modesitt Jr. (bestselling author of nearly 60 novels, including The Saga of Recluce)
  • Carol Berg (winner of the Mythopoeic, Prism, Geffen, and Colorado Book Awards)
  • Dennis L. McKiernan (bestselling Mithgar series and the "Once Upon" faery series)
  • Diana Pharaoh Francis (Path, Crosspointe, and Horngate Witches series)

The Author Hour - Military / Hard Science Fiction (Episode 11)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyNiRfCNHoI

Join Matthew Peterson on a futuristic episode of The Author Hour: Your Guide to Fantastic Fiction devoted to military and hard science fiction. Meet the leaders of the science fiction field such as David Weber (New York Times bestselling author of the Honor Harrington series), David Drake (bestselling author of the Hammer's Slammers series and Lord of the Isles series), Ben Bova (author of over 120 novels, winner of 6 Hugo awards, and former president of NSS and SFWA), and Joe Haldeman (former president of SFWA, author of The Forever War, and winner of 5 Hugo awards and 5 Nebula awards). Visit http://TheAuthorHour.com/episode/11/ to catch bonus questions that didnt make it onto the live show.

• Military and Hard Science Fiction
  • David Weber (NYT bestselling Honor Harrington series)
  • David Drake (bestselling Hammer's Slammers series, Lord of the Isles series)
  • Ben Bova (over 120 novels, 6 Hugo awards, former president of NSS and SFWA)
  • Joe Haldeman (The Forever War, 5 Hugo Awards, 5 Nebula Awards, former president of SFWA)