Newest News: There's always something going on in Balona under the hot August sun (actually the August moon!), only most old folks I know don't want to see it, and the teens don't want anybody to notice the goings-on. Mostly it's skinny-dipping in the Yulumne River, where kids leap in the icy water practically nude in the moonlight. Constable Cod Gosling parks his police cruiser up there on the levee so he can save drowning bodies, he says, but probably only to look at the cavorters. I have not deigned to go up there yet since I haven't decided on the just-right bathing suit. Besides, I'm all bloated up from happiness with the great review in School Library Journal about my book Verga's Blessing (which is advertised as coming out in October, but will really arrive in September). Balonans are just beginning to realize, now that the sores on their necks are healed up, that Ms. Bless was a true vampire, even though hard to remember.

   Readers are writing emails to BalonaBooks and telling us that Tery's new book Nobody's Fault is really super-great reading, even though poor old Junior Kuhl doesn't talk in very good English. To make up for Junior's lack, Tery speaks sort of hoidy-toidy, which does sort of grate on an older, more educated person like me. You could email me and tell me, especially about a book I'm a star in: Community Spirits, a ghost story you can read any time of the year.

    More yet: Mr. Don Keyshot is telling about some of his funny and painful adventures. I am one of the stars in his book which is titled, A Perched-in Soul, and tells (in November) how I'm a pretty good journalist, etc.

   When you are ready to buy a BalonaBook, you can buy it (them) right on this Web site on PayPal with your credit card. It's easy. I hope you will e-mail me and tell me if you like my blog.     Patella's E-Mail