Summer officially wraps up on the 22nd this year—or, for those who are astronomically inclined, on the Autumnal Equinox. Either way, mark your calendars, because after the brutal heat we've had, autumn cannot get here fast enough.

That blistering summer heat also means I'm approaching what I might normally consider a foul weather scam tip ahead of time. On deck: Home Repair scams. You know the type—a guy shows up at your door, dazzles you with promises of a roof that'll outlast the pyramids, takes a hefty deposit, and then vanishes faster than your patience during a heat wave. By the time you realize what happened, he's long gone and your bank account is a lot lighter.

With fall weather likely to bring its own set of home repair headaches, now's the time to arm yourself with the knowledge to spot these scammers before they spot you. Check out this month's tip—your wallet will thank you.

Several years ago, the City of Vista embarked on an art project and commissioned artwork in public locations around the city. This one, in a park less than a mile from our house, is one of my favorites.

Writing News

As I'm writing this, we've been home for two whole weeks! Many of our "Palm Desert tasks", as we call them, are behind us. I've actually had time to start thinking about a new book, and I have two ideas. The first I'm going to tackle will be the tenth Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery. In a sense, the series will return to its roots--think lost treasure and murder. What could be more fun? 

Booklovers Bench Contest

We’re running our September contest over at Booklovers Bench. This month, we're giving away books by Nancy J. Cohen – Dreidels and Dead Ends, ebook or advance reading print copy (U.S. only) and Debra H. Goldstein – Five Belles Too Many, print (US only) or e-book. Be sure to stop by and enter at bookloversbench.com