Happy Birthday to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins! Yes, September 22 is the official anniversary of Bilbo’s simply spectacular party in the big field under the tree at Bag End. And in honor of the occasion, the weather here in northern Michigan is "as fine as you could ask." So I invite you to take a moment, raise your glass, and offer a birthday toast to the most famous hobbits of all time. "May your shadows never grow less!"

Now to updates:

• Walking with Frodo had a great summer, including yet another print run (which makes six so far). February seems like a long way off before Walking with Bilbo hits the shelves, but that gives us plenty of time to get the word out! I hope to have some online curriculum available by that time for using both books in small groups: I’ll keep you posted.

• The Northern Michigan C.S. Lewis Festival is gearing up for its second annual "month-long celebration" of the beloved author this November. Visit ►www.cslewisfestival.org for our exciting schedule of events, including information on our world-class guest scholars/speakers for the month. If you’re interested in coming from out of town for any of the key weekends (the 1^st and 3^rd weekends will be the best), the historic Perry Hotel (►www.theperryhotel.com) in downtown Petoskey is offering weekend packages. I’ll be joining a colleague in giving the opening C.S. Lewis Festival Lecture on Thurs. Nov. 4^th at North Central Michigan College. Fun, fun, fun!

• I enjoyed being the keynote speaker for the "Women of Grace" retreat at my home church (Petoskey UMC) on September 11. My next event will be with the Saginaw Bay District of the UMC on October 1 and 2 at Lake Louise Camp in northern Michigan. I’ll be leading activities for youth workers on Friday night and then speaking on youth ministry issues Saturday morning. For information, contact Melene Wilsey at ►Umcprojectdir@aol.com.

• We had a lovely summer, though cool, and it passed far too quickly. Among the highlights was Mythcon 35, the annual convention of the Mythopoeic Society (►www.mythsoc.org), which took place in Ann Arbor July 31-Aug. 2. I had the opportunity to meet/hear a host of scholars, aficionados, writers, and fans of the Inklings: including Neil Gaiman (author of American Gods), Ellen Kushner (of NPR’s "Sound & Spirit") and Matthew Dickerson (author of Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings). Definitely lots of food for thought—no, more like a binge buffet. My brain ached by the end of the weekend.

• July and August were spent reading and researching for "Dating Mr. Darcy," my forthcoming book on dating and romance based on Jane Austen’s romantic comedies (Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and Sense & Sensibility). I’ve had the serendipitous privilege of getting to know Jean Long, a board member of the Jane Austen Society of North America (►www.jasna.org) and a summer resident at Bay View in northern Michigan. She taught a class on S&S and then loaned me a pile of books to study. Her insights, library, and connections to the world of Austen have proved indispensable!

• In late August, I enjoyed a spur-of-the-moment visit from my editor at Tyndale House Publishers (►www.tyndale.com), Jan Axford, and the Author Relations Coordinator, Linda Gooch. We had a great time roaming the streets of my darling hometown, eating out at unique local venues, visiting the Mackinac Bridge, and selecting ½ pound slabs of fudge for them to take back home. I’ve got a tough job, let me tell you…

Seriously, though: The next two months will be the big push till my next deadline, so please keep me in your prayers!

Blessings,

 ►sarah@saraharthur.com

- Bilbo in The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Chapter One