Austin area author April Lurie (above) held a signing in celebration of her new release, The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine (Delacorte, 2008) at the Barnes & Noble Round Rock (Texas) last Saturday.

Local authors in attendance included Greg Leitich Smith and P. J. Hoover…

Shana Burg and Frances Hill…

as well as (Greg again, pictured with…) Varian Johnson and Brian Yansky.

The following day, Greg and I visited the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary! From the website: “With more than 300 animals across more than 100 different species, Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary is a private, non-profit zoo rescuing animals and serving the Austin community.”

Note: “The problem of unwanted or rescued animals is large. Austin Zoo is forced to turn down an average of 200 requests a month to care for additional animals, ‘from goats to elephants.’ Due to the growth of ‘roadside zoos’ and private ownership of exotic animals, along with the release of older animals from big city zoos to smaller facilities, the number of animals in need of a safe and healthy home has multiplied at a rapid rate.” Learn how you can help and meet some of the animals….