In the news:  http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/ My first three Frank Pavlicek novel were originally published by an imprint of Penguin. It’s a fine institution with a venerable history and I’ve always appreciated the opportunity they gave me and the people I worked with there. Random House shares a similar pedigree. Will the merger of these two behemoths enhance their odds of long term survival in the brave new publishing world we all  seem to be moving toward? …

  On the lighter side, this was sent to me by a friend in response to last week’s post. Really, guys? Of course, I have to root for the eagle, but I don’t know, Obama looks pretty confident. Maybe Big Bird can take him. Either way, apparently it’s now official: We have a bird fight.      

As a licensed falconer, I’ve had the opportunity to keep company with numerous birds of prey, including hawks, falcons, and eagles. While differing in the particulars, by their very nature all species of birds of prey share certain characteristics. One of the themes of my Frank Pavlicek novels is that, symbolically and otherwise, we have much to learn from these magnificent creatures. Nowhere has this been more evident than in watching the debates in the run-up to this year’s presidential …

Or else….