This is NOT the same book as the hard back that debuted in January of 2008. More than 20% of the book is new or updated to account for an Obama Administration being in office when the next 9/11 happens and for those Republicans who accused me of slanted politics, well, you will like this version better. There's no holds barred in the paperback, and I name names. The paperback is far more terrifying and even more real. The book was scheduled to be released 9/11/09, but I am told Barnes & Noble already has it on their shelves. Read the opening AUTHOR'S NOTE and you'll see why this new paperback is a MUST-READ for everyone!

Back when I was penning MEG: Hell's Aquarium, I received an e-mail from actress Lana Wood, a former playmate and Bond girl, who said she was a big MEG fan and wanted to be a character in MEG 4. Being a huge 007 fan (and after carefully researching Lana's Playboy spread) I agreed. Lana, now a grandmom, is a great person and good soul and agreed to do these B-roll videos in the largest MEG jaws in the world, owned by the Bertucci family. Vito Bertucci, a friend and fossil collector, died tragically when he drowned while searching for MEG teeth in a Georgia river. I know Lana's presence in his jaws would have made Vito happy.

Josh Viola is an instructor of Game Art at Westwood College. Josh just finished developing his story, entitled THE BANE OF YOTO to match his concept art for a video game. The story and artwork models were featured recently at Comicon in San Diego. Please take a look at his Yoto website (with its great opening effects).

Back in May I announced a contest that involved spreading our MEG: Hell's Aquarium video trailer virally around the internet. The top 50 cumulative views would be characters in MEG 5: Night Stalkers. All contestants (minimum of 50 cumulative views) would receive personally signed MEG: Hell's Aquarium posters. (My sincerest thanks to Stanley Tremblay for his outstanding work in coordinating the contest!)

Congrats to everyone who entered. Signed posters are on the way to all. The top 50 spots are listed on the Variance contest website. I have now received bios from the following winners:

Kevin Querico, Steven Lebowitz, Kevin Read, Natalie Baker, Matthew Evans, Seth Bowling, Donna Johnston, Craig Myrick, Mike Tvrdik, Jen Marentic, Tracy Ann King, Paul Rudd, Matt Saxe, Stephen Stocker, Brandon Cornatzer, Tommy Beckendorf, Angela Rogers, Tim Rehm, Gregg Hendley, Jeff Elrod, Scott McColl, Dwight Taylor, Tina Chester, Cotton Wright, Nick Van Sicklen, Tim Goldman, Chris Rafalski, Chris Coriasco, Jayson Slone, Donna Johnston, Alexander Hardie, Misty Walker, Alexei Lundgard, Rick Frazier, Liam Molony, Tania Cruz, and in first place Michael Royston.

If you were one of the top 50 winners and your name does NOT appear, e-mail me your name, bio, description, and interesting tidbits at MEG82159@aol.com subject heading MEG 5 WINNER.

We ran a quick contest last month where the first readers who purchased five MEG: Hell's Aquarium books would become characters in PHOBOS, the next book I am writing. The contest produced these winners: Steven Shapiro, Bradly Swartz, Scott Robinson, Paul Jones, May Foss, James Corbett, Donald Engle, Krissinda Rotolo, Ken Mulder, Robert Gibbons.

I need MORE NAMES, so I am announcing an all- new contest, and anyone who enters will win something SPECIAL!

This is EASY! Just for entering you will receive a signed poster of Angel feeding at the Tanaka Oceanographic Institute. The top 30 winners will be characters in the book AND receive posters as well. Like the MEG 5 contest, this is all about uploading our newly revised SHELL GAME movie trailer to YouTube, blogs, etc. To view the new trailer and enter the contest, click on the link below.

(excerpted from frugal living tips.com) Frugal gardening can apply to all gardens, whether it's for pleasure or for food, but the big savings are made when your garden is also saving you money on your weekly food shop. When you consider that a garden can grow most types of fruit, veggies and herbs, all of which can be quite costly in the shops and provide your table with produce all year round (especially if you freeze some of your summer fruits etc.), then I often wonder why more people aren't' exploiting this little gold mine.

1. Always compost- to keep your soil in tiptop condition you will need to add composting material. Available at silly money at the shops, free in your own garden. Simply store all your garden leaves, cuttings and food peelings in an area of your garden and overtime it will rot down into rich nutritious compost for your garden.

2. Recycle water - the worlds water resources are under threat and so the cost of our water supplies have significantly increased over the years. This may get worse, so by saving and reusing as much water in our gardens will over time add up to some quite big savings.

3. Encourage wildlife for a healthy garden - many wild animals will feed on plant destroying insects and so save you money, as you will not have to pay out for nasty pesticides. For instance Hedgehogs love to eat slugs, one of the gardeners most ravenous foes.

4. Use natural fertilizers etc. - be frugal and the planet by not investing your money in toxic chemical fertilizers. Instead keep your garden organic by using animal manure to fertilize your garden. Visit local farms to see if they will let you have their animal waste. You could even ask for the elephant droppings when the circus comes to town (many zoos actually sell their elephant dung these days, so it must be good).

*IF YOU HAVE A LIVING TIP YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please e-mail to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put LIVING TIP in the subject line.

Who knew that two simple words could change one's mindset, perspective and approach to work and life? Just two words have the potential to enhance joy, productivity, performance and change a complaining voice to an appreciative heart. So often we say things like, "I have to take the kids to practice." "I have to go to this meeting." "I have to finish this project." "I have to go to work today." "I have to take care of this customer." "I have to share this new information with my team." "I have to see my family this weekend." We act as if we don't have a choice. As if we are imprisoned by a paycheck and the expectations of a world that forces us to do thing we don't want to do. But in reality we do have a choice. We can choose our attitude and our actions. We can choose how we view our life and work. We can realize that every day is a gift. It's not about what we have to do. It's about what we get to do. We get to live this life while so many have left this world far too early. We get to drive in traffic while so many are too sick to drive a car. We get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. We get to raise our children even if they drive us nuts at times. :) We get to interact with our employees and customers and make a difference in their life. We get to use our gifts and talents to make a product or provide a service. We get to eat three meals a day while millions of people are starving. We get to work on projects, answer phone calls, serve customers, participate in meetings, design, create, share, sell, lead and suit up every day for the game of life. Yes there will be challenges and life isn't easy but each day we wake up we get another opportunity to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. We get to uplift, inspire, encourage, and impact others. We get to live this life. Let's make the most of it by remembering that life is a gift not an obligation. Stay Positive!

Ingredients:

3 med onions, 2 med green peppers, 2 large celery stalks, 2 cloves fresh garlic, 2 sm jalapeno peppers fresh seeded diced, 6 lbs lean ground beef, 7 oz diced green chilis, 28 oz stewed tomatoes, 15 oz tomato sauce, 6 oz tomato paste, 6 oz chili powder, 2 tsp cumin, tabasco to taste, 12 oz beer, 3 bay leaves, salt and pepper to taste, water.

Dice and saute the first 5 ingredients, add meat and brown it. Add the remaining ingredients and add water to just cover the top. Cook on low heat for about 3 hours stirring often. Best chili ever for a cold Sunday afternoon while watching your favorite football team on the tube.

*IF YOU HAVE A RECIPE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please e-mail to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put RECIPE in the subject line.

I originally wrote The LOCH as a stand-alone but something changed: I came across a very cool new storyline for the cast of characters. So YES, laddie, there will be a sequel, but I have to pen a few other books first. However I will move up the timetable if The LOCH paperback sells well in the next few months (for only 8.99, it makes a great gift buy lots of them!)