Mama pack rat with baby.

The Last Word—for discerning readers—by author Gregory Zeigler.

Something good to read. 

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian, “Some people presumed that, in the end, it would be the roach that ruled the world. But others? People like me? We put our money on the rat.”

And this.

“Our Last Best Chance,” by Jeff Goodell. Rolling Stone, April 2021. “With Biden in office, a serious plan to combat climate change … but the clock is ticking and there is no more room for error.”

Something I wrote after pack rats disabled both our cars within 48 hours.

Toyotas Taken out in Separate Rat Attacks! Free Range Writers Blog, July 27, 2020. 

“… car makers were trying to do the right thing for the environment by using a soy product rather than a petroleum product. Well—the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men, etc.—the greener product is apparently luring the environment (as in critters) in under the hood.”

Something to consider. Be kind to an inconvenient animal. Hard to do, I well know.

Even inconvenient animals contribute. According to The New York Times article, “Reading the Past in Old Urine-Caked Rat’s Nests” by Marion Renault (2/20/2020), “But for paleoecologists studying the prehistoric natural world, ancient, urine-soaked rat nests can be a treasure trove … to learn about regional changes in climate and ecosystems over time.

Something to do.

Check out my recent interview with Wise Ink, www.instagram.com/wise_ink

or join me for my Teton County Library author showcase on 5/5/21 at 6 p.m. http://www.tclib.org.

Happy reading. Gregory Zeigler, author of the Jake Goddard and Susan Brand eco-thriller series.

Website: http://www.gzeiglerbooks.com  Book trailer:  https://youtu.be/je1zwN3g-W8   

Sent on or near the last day of each month. Opt out? Reply, “No thanks.

  Magnificent One*  Chuck Schneebeck Photography

The Last Word—for discerning readers—by author Gregory Zeigler.

Something good to read. 

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware. “If you ask me, she’s a couple of Xanax away from reenacting the shower scene from ‘Psycho’.”

And this.

“When the Kids Started Getting Sick.” The New Yorker, March 2, 2021. Eliza Griswold examines illness in Western Pennsylvania and whether it can be linked to fracking.

Something I wrote.

“Lorna Matson, our heroic school nurse … is convinced she is seeing more cases of severe asthma at St. Mike’s, and she believes they are tied to the literally thousands of hydraulic oil and natural gas wells that surround us here in Pennsylvania.” Rare as Earth. Pub. 1/4/2020

Something to consider. 

Show an Asian-American that you see and respect him/her.

Some things to do.

*Check it out. Renowned mystery author Margaret Coel has honored the Free Rangers with a guest post—”The Eagle Catcher.” https://www.freerangewriters.com 

My Earth Day (4/22) Facebook Live Interview on the Wise Ink Company page.  helpful article

Happy reading. Gregory Zeigler, author of the Jake Goddard and Susan Brand thriller series.

Website: http://www.gzeiglerbooks.com  Book trailer:  https://youtu.be/je1zwN3g-W8   

Sent on or near the last day of each month. Opt out? Reply, “No thanks.

Our resident wise guy.*  Chuck Schneebeck Photography

The Last Word—for discerning readers—by author Gregory Zeigler.

Something good to read.

Hamnet, a magical novelby Maggie O’Farrell

Agnes, on the subject of owls. She likes them, likes their eyes, which resemble the center of marigolds, their overlapped, flecked feathers, their inscrutable expressions. They seem, to her, to exist in some doubled state, half spirit, half bird.

And this.

The Terrifying Warning Lurking in the Earth’s Ancient Rock Record. Peter Brannen, The Atlantic, March 2021.

Something I wrote.

A giant, rapidly expanding, birdlike shadow driving a tremendous rush of wind and culminating in a withering impact hammered Sweetgrass face-first into the dirt of the trail. Some Say Fire, the second in the Jake Goddard and Susan Brand trilogy.

Something to consider.

The light is changing, and the days are getting longer, but there is still time to shovel someone else’s sidewalk.

Some things to do.

Take five minutes to check out our new book trailer produced and directed by Art Fitzsimmons.

Happy reading.

Gregory Zeigler, author of  the Jake Goddard and Susan Brand thriller series.

http://www.gzeiglerbooks.com    https://www.freerangewriters.com

*This impressive Great Horned Owl, known by us as Bird, spends the winter in our spruce trees.

Sent on the last day of each month. Opt out? Reply, “No thanks.”

  Pica illustration by Margaret Pettis*

The Last Word—for discerning readers—by author Gregory Zeigler.

Something good.

“Picas Are Adapting to Climate Change.” High Country News 1/20/21

And this.

“How Reading Fiction Can Shape Our Real Lives.” Greater Good Magazine 9/21/20

Something I wrote.

“Eli’s body lay crumpled in a pile of hemp, his hand on Jake’s shoulder as if initiating an embrace.” Rare as Earth, the third in the Jake Goddard and Susan Brand trilogy.

Something to consider.

I recommend the Proust Questionnaire for timely, rejuvenating and healthful introspection.

Something to read.

Truman by David McCullough. “Republican Owen Brewster said it was not hard to get men to agree when the facts were known.” Biography of true leadership in a very different time.

Some things to do.

Join a Zoom discussion of Rare as Earth on February 3rd at 7 p.m. (MST) Hosted by cover artist Jane Lavino and The Jackson Hole Book Trader. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99049501046

*Enjoy Margaret’s prose, poetry, photography and illustrations at https://www.freerangewriters.com along with over fifty inspiring mystery authors’ posts.

Many thanks. Happy reading. Gregory Zeigler  

(http://www.gzeiglerbooks.com)

Sent on the last day of each month. Opt out? Reply, “No thanks.”