Back from the deep, dark woods

Hello, Adventurers,

I return from the wilderness of Yosemite with a layer of dirt on my skin and the smell of campfires in my clothes and hair. The trip was incredible — a stream of clear, snow-melt water flowing beside my tent, the granite giants looming overhead and the stars guiding my way. I was able to focus on the adventure at hand without the distractions of the city and email. And on one particular hike on an extremely warm and dry day I was reminded of a part in Adventure Two: The Fakersville Power Station.

As Ida and I reached mile marker 6 on a deep wilderness trip I heard a branch snap up on the hill in front of us.

"Stop!" I said to Ida in a hashed voice.
"What?" She replied.
"I just heard something." All of my senses focused on the dense treeline at the top of the hill. "Up there."
Ida turned and spotted something on a fallen tree. "What is that? A fox?"
It wasn't a fox, and I didn't know what it was until the ball of fur turned and hopped down. It was a small black bear. Thankfully it trotted away from us.
"It's a bear," I said.
"Really!" Ida exclaimed.
That's when a 400 pound Momma bear stood up and stared down the hill at us.
Her eyes locked onto us and the fur on her shoulders raised. She was in control, only 100 feet away and us on the downside of a slope.
Ida and I pulled the whistles from our pockets and blew as hard as our lungs could while our stomach fell to our feet. I waved my arms, trying to look bigger than I really am and Ida beat on a log with a stick.
Momma bear didn't flinch or turn.
My mind raced with "What if's."—"What if she runs down the hill?" "What if she attacks?"
TWEEEEEEET!
BANG!
BANG!
TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Momma bear took a step forward, off the log.
TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
"She's coming!"
"What if it's me against her?"
"I have to protect Ida—with what? A stick? A tiny pocket knife?"
I could see the headlines now—"Writer dies while on an adventure with wife."
Momma bear turned, looked back, snorted and walked away.
I looked at Ida. Fear masked her face. I probably looked the same.
With the whistle in hand I ordered, "Let's go!"
We hurried down the narrow trail, covering the next two miles in a record 12 minutes, Ida with the whistle at the ready—me scanning the trees for any movement or sound.

When we reached the Ranger Station to report the sighting the ranger told us, "Oh, you're so lucky. Usually people only see the butt of the bear as it's walking away."
"Lucky!" I thought. "I just stared down a bear twice my weight for twenty seconds."
But now that I look back and tell you this story I realize I was lucky. One for seeing something most people never will and second for experiencing an event had by Edgar, Audrey and Garrett Font in Fakersville. I imagine they were a bit more afraid facing a mountain lion, but still I thank Grandpa Edgar for telling me how to fend of a wild animal.

Until next time Adventurers, have a wild week!
Your friend & storyteller,
patrick

I return with news.

Hello adventurers,

I return from the location of Adventure Three with news. I am close to completing the cover art and have written eight chapters! We're on schedule for its release next summer! I still can't tell you where the next house on the Font's list is, but I will share this one illustration with you. Any guesses on what Audrey and Garrett are doing?

If you have completed "Adventure Two: The Fakersville Power Station" and solved the puzzle at the end you should know where you'll be heading next. I know the puzzle was harder than the last one, but to become a great adventurer I must continuously test your skills with more difficult problems. If you need help, write me an email and I'll give you a hint (it's not cheating). Type the answer from the adventure into the shark tooth puzzle on edgarfont.com and you'll be given a special glimpse at the "house."

Coming soon -- I will be starting "The Edgar Font Adventure Club." All adventurers are welcome to join no matter where you live or what your age. I'll post more information here once the page and details are up on the website. Be sure and spread the word to your friends about Edgar Font and get them in on the adventures!

I must go now and pack for my next trip. Ida and I are heading to Yosemite for a few nights of camping under the stars. It will be good to get away from the computer for a while.

I'll write to you and tell you all about it once I get back. Have an adventurous weekend!

Your friend & storyteller,
patrick

Edgar Font at the Hollywood Book Festival

Hello Adventurers!

Great news! Edgar Font's first adventure "The Castle Tower Lighthouse" has been awarded an HONORABLE MENTION at this years "Hollywood Book Festival."



"Adventure One: The Castle Tower Lighthouse" &
"Adventure Two: The Fakersville Power Station"
are available now online and at your local bookstore.
"Adventure Three" will be out next summer.

*BOOKSELLERS: You can find "Edgar Font's Hunt for a House to Haunt" series at INGRAM, Baker&Taylor, QBI, and BWI.

Thank you all for your continued support.
Have a haunted and adventurous day!

~patrick & edgar

A review from Sally Kruger, School Teacher

The Edgar Font series by Patrick Doyle is sort of in the tradition of the Series of Unfortunate Events. Take one eccentric old grandfather and two adventurous grandchildren and send them out to look for a house to haunt, and you'll have what it takes for this new series.

When their father goes off on business, Audrey and Garrett find themselves shipped off to their grandfather's retirement home for the summer. They beg to be sent off to camp instead, but it's the retirement home whether they like it or not. Fortunately for the sibling pair, they are not even in the door of the home when they find out they might be in for a real adventure after all.

Grandpa Edgar is a character. He has decided he needs to be prepared for the future. He tells the children he needs to find a house suitable for him to haunt someday. On his map he has already circled the castle tower lighthouse as their first destination. They soon find out there is already at least one ghost and that's when the excitement begins.

Readers will be happy to know the second book in the series is already underway. This fast-paced, action-packed series is sure to be a success. Visit Patrick Doyle at www.edgarfont.com or http://www.myspace.com/patrickhtdoyle

Thank you Sally.
~patrick

My favorite review so far.

"It's a great story, I liked everything about it, especially the ending. It was pretty dang neat!"
~ALEX, age 14, Huntsville, AL

Thank you, Adventurer Alex!

The interview

Hello Adventures,

The interview with TAPS Family Radio went well. If you weren't able to listen live you can still hear it online at:

http://blogtalkradio.com/tapsfamilyradio

Feel free to contact me and tell me what you think.
~patrick