About The Legion of Decency

We've noted over the years that the Bellairsia email inbox garners some interesting comments and questions. Enough time has probably passed to share this unexciting anecdote we received a few months ago - not because there was any sort of security issue but because we managed to lose it amidst everything else. It also proved to of us people were actually visiting the site – and not primarily always as Bellairs fans.

Book Alert: La Poupée et Le Zombi

February 15 is the release date for the new French language Johnny Dixon adventure, La Poupée et le zombi (titled, for some reason, without the tambour).

Time Capsule: 1649

January 30, 1649 - "Of the Witch-Finder, and the Troubles He Brought" reads the chapter title of a moldy manuscript tucked away within Barnavelt Manor, near Dinsdale in Sussex. Lewis Barnavelt learns of his magical ancestry: Puritans of olde believed strongly against witches and warlocks, leading some people to go into business as witch-finders - drifting through duchies and traipsing through towns, exposing men and women for practicing their evil sorcery.

Geoffrey Chaucer and the Internette

Anybody who has ever received chants of support from his peers that go something like, "Go Bellairs! Quote Chaucer!" (as John did) would undoubtedly enjoy the fact that said person named Chaucer has a blog. To be specific: Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog. Wife of Bath – eat your heart out. Looks like there are some Steppenwolf lyrics in there, too.

This is my birth-day; as this very day

Happy birthday to John Bellairs on what would have been his 69th birthday.

Grimoire: The Edge of Nightmare

Brad Strickland's website has announced the second title in his Grimoire series staring Jarvis Midion: Grimoire: The Edge of Nightmare will be published by Dial Books for Young Readers in 2007.

It follows Grimoire: The Curse of the Midions.

Memoriam: Ann LaPietra

Marshall, Michigan and fans of John Bellairs lost a friend this week: Ann LaPietra, owner of the kids' place bookstore in Marshall, died Wednesday, January 3, 2007. She was 73.