National Dog Day!

Even cats offer congratulations to dogs everywhere on National Dog Day! Over fourteen thousand years ago, for reasons unknown, dogs decided to hang out with humans and quickly earned the title of Man(kind)’s Best Friend.

Any human who has never experienced the happiness of a warm puppy has missed out on one of life’s greatest joys. It’s a scientific fact that dogs reduce stress and lift people out of depression. They’re always glad to see us and they don’t expect much of us. They’re really smart and capable of a variety of useful activities, from entertaining us with charming tricks (“Roll over…Shake hands…Catch the Frisbee,”) to guiding the sight-impaired or helping children learn to read.

Celebrate the day by taking your dog for an extra walk to a pet bakery where you can buy him a special cookie, then read to him and your kids about Brittany, Lace and their friend Henry, a stately black Labrador retriever, in our Sweet Tales series by Laurie Hyman.

Editor’s Note: Brittany and Lace, the adorable, adventurous cats in Sweet Tales, offer their congratulations to dogs as well. “Especially since,” Brittany said at press time, “Every day is Cats Day.”

National Senior Citizens Day

The older we get the more we understand why there should be a special day to celebrate and appreciate our senior citizens. In many cultures all over the world the elders in the community are revered and respected for their wisdom and life experience. Seniors are also generous and caring. They give more donations to charity than other age groups, and the give of their time as volunteers in community service. Join us in celebrating National Senior Citizens Day by reaching out to a senior friend or relative and ask how they’re doing, or drop by a retirement home during recreation hour and play a card or board game with the residents. Then relax by reading one of the books in our Cocoon Trilogy. The first one was adapted into a popular movie for the big screen.

National Rum Day!

Way back in the early 1600s, slaves on Caribbean plantations discovered that molasses made from the sugar cane they harvested could be fermented into an intoxicating beverage—rum! To celebrate National Rum Day, do like the pirates of old and turn it into grog by mixing it with your favorite beer. Or blend in nutmeg, sugar, water and orange juice to make a tasty treat called Bumbo. Sip it slowly while reading Lost Treasures of the Heart, which critics say is entertaining and captivating. We’re proud to say it also won three awards in the paranormal romance genre!

National S’mores Day!

The Campfire Girls created S’mores almost a century ago, way back in the 1920s. Folk legend suggests the gooey treat got its name when a kid yelled, “Gimme s’more!” after his first taste. Celebrate the day by eating S’mores and reading one of the fabulous, fantastic Avalon books for young readers (and anyone who enjoys an exciting journey into a colorful, compelling fantasy tale). The series is by Rachel Roberts, and Red Sky Presents has just released Avalon Web of Magic – Secret of the Unicorn and Avalon Web of Magic – Spellsinger.