Ranger said. "I've asked Cal to follow you around."
    "Cal has a flaming skull tattooed onto his forehead. And he has muscles in places muscles aren't supposed to grow. Cal looks like...Steroidasaurus."
    "Don't underestimate him," Ranger said. "He can spell his name. He's not overly violent as long as he remembers to take his medication. And he gives good shade."
                                                        -- To the Nines

Just in time for the publication on September 14, the new Wicked Appetite T-shirt is now available in the online store.  Cover your upper torso with Carl the monkey and Lizzy Tucker's fabulous cupcakes.

The Plum News is currently online.  Read it by clicking here.  You can also have the Plum News (twice a year) and/or E-News (once a month) delivered to your very own e-mail inbox.  Sign up here.

Today is the last day to send in your title entry for the Name Book Seventeen contest.  The winner gets his or her name in the book and receives an autographed copy when it's published next June.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Cali has a skateboard.  Koko has beads.  Zeus has his own horse.  Sugar and Moses have high fashion eyewear.

Carl the Monkey and cupcakes are featured on two of the latest Evanovich tour balloons.  Come see us on the Wicked Appetite tour in September and be the first on your block to bring home one of these babies for free.

    "I didn't misplace them," Grandma said to my mother. "Someone took them."
    "Who would take them?" my mother asked. "That's ridiculous."
    I knew I was going to regret asking, but I couldn't help myself. "What's missing?"
    "My teeth," Grandma said. "Someone took my teeth.  I had them setting out in a glass with one of them whitening tablets and next thing they were gone."
    "How was your day?" my mother asked me.
                                                 -- Visions of Sugar Plums

Click here to check out some of the pictures of our famed Last in liners from the Sizzling Sixteen and Troublemaker book tours.  Come out to see us next month on the Wicked Appetite tour.

Boston, MA is also featured in Wicked Appetite, Diesel's new novel, in stores on September 14.  Diesel's cousin and arch nemesis, Wulf, is a man of impeccable taste.  With streets lined with trees and gas lamps, Wulf chooses to make himself home in one of Beacon Hill's historic brownstones.
 

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  It's all about science today.  Dora likes hydraulics.  Skeeter likes aerodynamics.  Shadow's into hypnotics.  Samba loves computers.

Another town featured in Wicked Appetite (Diesel's new novel, in stores on September 14) is Salem, MA.  Lizzie Tucker, works for Dazzle's bakery, which has been a part of Salem since Puritan times.  Dazzle's would be located on a street such as this one.  The shops are filled with everything from restaurants and boutique pet supply stores, to shops that have everything your modern witch...or tourist...might need.

    I made us peanut butter and bread-and-butter pickle sandwiches. And because I had company, I added a layer of potato chips.
    "This is very creative," Kloughn said. "You get a lot of textures this way. And you don't get your fingers greasy by eating the potato chips separately. I'll have to remember this. I'm always looking for new recipes."
                                                       -- Hard Eight

Though she's only two, this adorable young reader likes to read a bit before drifting off on her afternoon nap. 

Copies of Troublemaker (hardcover, 100 page, Barnaby and Hooker comic), signed by Janet, are now available in the online store.  $10.50 with no extra shipping to anywhere in the U.S. and $19.50 with no extra shippping to anywhere outside the U.S.  No adult language, no overly adult situations and no graphic voilence.  Appropriate for a wide range of ages, both male and female.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Anakin's posin'.  Finnegan's eatin'.  Bob and Bud are playin'.  Rondo's packin'.

    "I want to be a bounty hunter."
    I was speechless. Valerie. A bounty hunter.
    "Did you tell Mom?"
    "No. Do you think I should?"
    "No!"
                     -- Seven Up

Today is Ranger's birthday.  Stephanie got him a healthy carrot cake.  At least it's cake.

One of the towns featured in Wicked Appetite (Diesel's new novel, in stores on September 14) is Marblehead, Massachusetts.  This is the Old Town House in Marblehead's Market Square.  It was built in 1727. 

Back by popular demand in the online store -- Sally Sweet T-shirts, the purf-f-f-fect T-shirt for summer.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Lucia is a skier.  Gizmo is a dancer.  Arwyn and AC are real comedians.  Bubbles loves bottles.

According to Variety.com, funnyman John Leguizamo has been cast as Jimmy Alpha in One for the Money.  The movie continues to film in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

    Grandma staggered through the front door. "Boy, have I had a day," she said. "I'm all done in."
    "How'd the driving lesson go?"
    "Pretty good, I guess. I didn't run anybody over. And I didn't wreck the car. How was your day?"
    "About the same."
                                                       -- Hot Six

Click here to check out some of the pictures from the Troublemaker/Sizzling Sixteen book tour stops in San Diego.  Everyone was smiling!

The new monthly electronic newsletter is currently online.  Read it by clicking here.  You can also have the E-News delivered to your very own e-mail inbox.  Sign up here.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Anazi has blue eyes.  Buddy has a hat.  Bella has her books.  Max has wings.

Check out the website's tour page for the September book signing tour dates and locations for Wicked Appetite.

    "I can't have french fries. Another ounce and I won't get into the dress."
    "French fries are a vegetable," Lula said. "They don't count when it comes to fat. And besides, we'll have to walk all the way down the mall to get to the food court, so we'll get exercise."
                                                          -- High Five

In Three to Get Deadly, Moses Beiderman's crime was carrying a concealed weapon.

In Three to Get Deadly, candy store owner Moses Beiderman (kindly Uncle Mo to the kids of Trenton) has gone FTA and Stephanie is out to bring him in.  What was the crime for which Mo was originally arrested?  Find the answer here tomorrow.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Patches likes drawers.  Stache and Goodrich like trouble.  Rebel likes conversation.  Conroy Pugnetti Frank Bottoms hates pants, but is a big fan of irony.

Join us today at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Mira Mesa MarketCenter, 10775 Westview Parkway, San Diego, CA at 2 p.m.

For all you Comic-Con ticket holders, join us today at the San Diego Convention Center as Janet and Alex sign copies of Troublemaker.  They will be discussing the book at the Dark Horse Comics panel in Room 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  They will sign the book from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dark Horse booth, #2615.

    ''You can't do this,'' Mrs. Nowicki said. ''You can't just waltz in here and make yourself at home.''
    '' 'Course we can,'' Lula said. ''We're bounty hunters.  We can do anything we want. We're protected by a dumb-ass law made back in 1869 when people didn't know any better.''
                                                -- Four to Score

"You just blew up my shoes, Hooker!" -- Alexandra Barnaby, Troublemaker

Today's the day that Troublemaker, the Alex Barnaby/Sam Hooker graphic novel goes on sale.  If you can, join us at one of the book signings later this week in San Diego, CA.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Pumpkin likes the sofa.  Sundance marks the page.  Angus marks the spot.  Gina washes and conditions Enzo's hair.

For those of you who love comics and those of you who are excited about giving the world of comics a try, Troublemaker will be in stores on Tuesday.  We've posted one last, special excerpt online.  You can download it here.  Troublemaker is a hardcover, full color, glossy, 100 page graphic novel.  Retails at $17.99, but most bookstores are selling it for around $9.89.

Filming of One For the Money has begun!  Very exciting!!

Also, according to Variety magazine Sherri Shepherd has been cast as Lula.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118021785.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=vertfilm?ref=ssp

     I was still speculating on these possibilities when at twelve o'clock Ranger got us drinks and sandwiches from Sal's.
     My sandwich looked like brown bread and grass.  ''What is this?'' I asked.
     ''Mixed sprouts, shredded carrot, cucumber and raisins.''
     Raisins! Thank God. I was afraid someone had scooped my sandwich out of the rabbit cage.
                                               -- Three to Get Deadly

The online store has just gotten more Rangeman T-shirts back in stock.  Choose from female and unisex styles in short and long sleeves.

Head on over to the Facebook page for Janet for the latest casting poll. Who should play Joyce Barnhardt in the movie?

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Lily needs a towel.  Nico paws a paperback.  Sasha gargles.  Chico is a bit uncomfortable.

Check out the website for new excerpts from both Troublemaker and Wicked Appetite.

     While I hated to look a gift horse in the mouth, I really didn't want Uncle Sandor's car. It was a 1953 powder blue Buick with shiny white top, whitewall tires big enough to fit a backhoe, and gleaming chrome portholes.  It was the same size and shape as a beluga whale and probably got six miles to the gallon on a good day.
                                                -- Two for the Dough

Click here to check out some of the pictures from the Sizzling Sixteen book tour.  It was a lot of fun!

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Bella texts.  Danny chews.  Callie travels.  April Mae June just rolls along.

A reader sent this in.  It looks like there will be a casting call for extras, stand-ins and doubles for One for the Money tomorrow afternoon.  Also, we've just learned that a couple of additional roles have been cast -- Patrick Fischler as Vinnie and Cristina Aloe as Connie, according to imdb.com.

The new monthly electronic newsletter is currently online.  Read it by clicking here.  You can also have the E-News delivered to your very own e-mail inbox.  Sign up here.

     Then I popped the hood and removed the Cherokee's distributor cap. This was one of my many New Jersey survival skills. Anyone who has ever left their car in long term parking at Newark Airport knows how to remove the distributor cap. It is virtually the only way of ensuring your car will be there upon your return.
                                                  -- One for the Money

Q:  The dust jacket of Sizzling Sixteen says that Vinnie hides out at Ranger's apartment watching pay-per-view pornography.  I may be missing something, but I don't think I recall seeing that.

A:  The jacket copy goes to press long before the book manuscript.  In the final edit, Janet decided not to use that scene in the book, but the jackets had already been printed.

Trivia answer

In Two for the Dough, Stephanie would stand to collect $5000 for bringing in Kenny Mancuso.  However, because Ranger is lending a hand, she'd have to share.

In Two for the Dough, Stephanie is hard on the heels of Kenny Mancuso.  She needs to apprehend him so she can pay off her car loan.  How much does she stand to collect for delivering Kenny?  Find the answer here tomorrow.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Bernie and Tina smack their lips.  Licorice looks concerned.  Evita tries on shoe boxes.  Bootsy and PeeWee salute you.

       "I was caught in the cinnamon roll tractor beam." Mooner, Sizzling Sixteen

Join us at Borders, 7836 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC for today's book signing.  It starts at 6 p.m.  Here's Janet at last night's Bethesda, MD event with one of the 12 CCI dogs brought to the event by the Capital Chapter of Canine Companions for Independence.

Join us at 6 p.m. today for a book signing at the Barnes and Noble, 4801 Bethesda Avenue Bethesda, MD.  Here's Janet at last night's Paramus, NJ book signing with members of the New Jersey chapter of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) and their service dogs in training.

Join us today at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 765 Route 17 South, Paramus, NJ.  This is Janet's first signing of the tour.  The fun begins at 6 p.m.

Tomorrow's the day that both the hard cover of Sizzling Sixteen and the paperback of Finger Lickin' Fifteen go on sale.  If you can, join us at one of the book signings.

The New Readers' Pets were updated today.  Looking good, Lacey.  Benny, the exercise dog.  Rabbits redux. The wrapper's the hard part for Bellatrix, the TastyKake dog.

We'll be hitting the road this coming week for the Sizzling Sixteen book tour.  We'll be in Paramus, NJ, Bethesda, MD and Charlotte, NC.  Click here for more information.  The crowds will be large, so, if you can, stop by the store early to pick up your wristband.  We'll see you on the road!

    "Isn't all this going to come to a lot of money?" I asked her. "The gown, the cake, the flowers, the hall, the pigs in a blanket, the fireworks?"
    "A wedding is priceless. A girl only gets married once."
    "Not the girls in this room," Connie said.
                                                   -- Fearless Fourteen