We've hosted a number of guests this summer - mostly the furry kind!

The photos above and below are just a few of the visitors who've stopped by our place since June (photos by my husband, Bill, photographer extraordinaire).

Bill and I live in the suburbs north of Seattle but we have a small protected greenbelt behind our home, a ravine with a creek that flows down to the open farmlands of the Snohomish Valley. It's not uncommon to see coyotes, raccoons, deer, bunnies, and the occasional black bear or bobcat trek up our way, however, this summer we've experienced a wildlife boom. So. Many. Animals! At the same time, we've also noticed a rise in development in our area. Coincidence? Doubtful. We know that habitats are lost with such development and wildlife is squeezed into smaller and smaller spaces.

Protecting animals and their environments is why writing EXPLORER ACADEMY is a passion for me. Gardening is another love, so it's been fun to create a backyard that's wildlife friendly. If you have a yard, balcony, or even a container garden, it's easy to turn it into a wildlife habitat. A little research will tell you the kinds of animals that are native to your area, along with the types of plants, shade, and nesting materials they require. We learned that the bunnies who visit us like to dine on campanula so we've planted several of the low-growing, pet-safe perennials under trees where the bunnies seek shelter from the sun and predators (you can see the pretty purple bellflowers of our campanula in the flying bunny picture above). Want to learn more about making your yard more welcoming to wildlife? The National Wildlife Federation offers additional tips HERE (including a wildlife habitat certification program). Wouldn't this make a great project for a school? It may seem like a small thing to plant milkweed for the monarch butterflies or raspberries for the deer, but it can make a big difference when you realize it all adds up!

Read on for my latest event news, the inside scoop on the next book in Sailor's series in the world of EXPLORER ACADEMY, and, of course, an update on the cats. Keep reading and I hope to see you down the road!

Dare to explore!

Trudi

Look for THE UNBREAKABLE BOND from National Geographic's Under the Stars imprint available for pre-order from your favorite bookseller this fall.

Let's dip into the mail bag and see what readers have been asking!

Q: Does your fan mail affect your writing?

A: Yes, absolutely! I love hearing from readers, parents, educators, and book lovers everywhere. I read and respond to all your letters and I appreciate the feedback, though it doesn't mean I can use every suggestion. If you want to see more (or less) of a certain character or particular storyline, that's important for me to know, especially when I'm working on an ongoing series. For instance, many readers have written requesting that Bryndis make an appearance in Sailor's series. So will she? All I can say is ... maybe! You'll have to wait to read THE UNBREAKABLE BOND to find out!

Q: When will the audiobook of THE SAILOR CIPHER be released?

A: I've been getting a ton of mail about this. Sadly, I'm told National Geographic has no plans to produce audiobooks of the VELA series at this time. However, as someone with lifelong vision challenges, I remain committed to advocating for accessibility for all readers.

Q: How are your three cats?

A: They're doing great - sassy, as usual! Misty, Woody, and Emmylou (a.k.a. Team Shenanigans) definitely keep us on our toes. Emmy's a pro at sleeping on my desk with her collection of stuffed bunnies (in fact, she's snoozing a few feet away as I type this). Sweet Woody is a hefty 20 pounds of floof but thinks he's a kitten! He still comfort nurses on his favorite blanket. Misty, our chatterbox, is never at a loss for words. It's rare to get a photo of her with her mouth closed (see below!). You can keep up on all of the kitty shenanigans by following their Facebook page, Pippin J. Shenanigans HQ where I post new pics of them almost every day!

Have a question about Explorer Academy, reading, or writing? Drop me a note through the contact page of my website and you might see it answered here!