Greetings all: Vacation! What a word! We found it in the dictionary one day while looking up “vaquero” and thought we’d give it a try. Yes, dear readers, this is our second real vacation in seven years, and this time we took a cruise ship to Alaska. Now, for all of you who have been waiting for the blog to be updated, we’ve been marshalling our thoughts. First: Alaska is mythic. Nothing else describes our journey to Juneau, Sitka, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan. Some of the scenery can only be seen from a ship. Dogs sit on chairs in the Alaska Hotel Bar in Juneau. What a place! For anthropologists, seeing Tlingit whale-bone sculpture is really cool. As land-bound scholars we didn’t know so many whales had come back–but then we still talk to people who think bison are extinct. We did take along work. Mike carried all 333 pages of CONTACT: THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA People of La Florida with him. He intended to proof read, but his brother-in-law, Richard Lee, of ABC’s Real Country radio, sneaked off with the manuscript, and almost refused to give it back. Richard knows more about the story than even Kathy! Truth be told, Kathy is hard at work on the next traditional PEOPLE book, a story about the development of the Iroquois confederacy in northern New York during the 1400s. She, too, took first draft manuscript onto the boat, but between scenery, whales, and more scenery, got even less done than Michael. Keep in mind, she’s the smart one of the two. If it weren’t for being sexy, Michael wouldn’t have any redeeming features. That said, we’re home for a couple of days and then flying off to the Southeast Booksellers Association in Mobile, Alabama. From there we will be traveling to Moundville, Alabama, for the Indian Festival. We’ll be selling copies of PEOPLE OF THE WEEPING EYE through Little Professor Bookstore at the Moundville Indian Festival in October. We’ll try and announce the time on this website as soon as it’s confirmed. Even if you don’t come to see us, the event is worth your time and consideration. For that one wonderful week, Moundville comes alive again. Gears’ recommended read of the week: C.J. Box Blue Heaven by St. Martin’s Press.