Happy 40th Sesame Street. And still have my favorites... Sing it with me. Imagine the old animation and that trippy ball: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... (YouTube)

Saw Where The Wild Things Are last night. It has no business being great. But it is. So manipulative. So perfect. It just replays all the operas from your childhood, and for ten bucks, you have your childhood back. I will watch anything Spike Jonze does. Eggers too.

Also, I love this and I'm so jealous of them. Like seeing cool kids who you know could be your friends. I can just feel the Gen Ys getting started. Proof that they'll always be something new for us.

Since I'm 15 years old, I've been eating at Jumbo's. I eventually married the owner's daughter. It is a Miami landmark, but it's also the best fried shrimp and chicken anywhere. That's right. Anywhere.

Sadly, because of the economy, it's been losing money by the handful. So take a look at this video and see why history will miss this one.

Click here (YouTube)

Oh, yes, it's that time again -- Fall approaches, pumpkins appear, and my wife revels in the fact that I'm physically incapable of picking my own title for the next book. In my defense, this is a different kind of title, since it's the first non-fiction book I've ever done.

So first, please help us vote (pick one of these titles only -- and the description of the book is below, but don't read that until you vote). Which title do you like better:

Heroes For My Son

or

50 Heroes For My Son

Yes, I know they're similar. Just vote (you can vote below, or send an email to bradmeltzer44 at gmail.com, or at @bradmeltzer on twitter). You vote? Okay, then here's what the book's about:

Since the day my son was born, I've been writing a book for him. It's a collection of heroes throughout history. Some are famous (like Jim Henson, Mr. Rogers, and Rosa Parks). Some are totally unknown. (In fact, if you have someone you're thinking of, send them my way). But the result is this book -- a gift to my son.

Yes, I know I'm mushy. It's for my boys. I'm allowed. (I'll be even more mushy in the book I did for my daughter, which comes out the following year.)

So there you go. Whatever it's called, it won't be out until May 2010 (yes, for Father's Day), so please vote now. And as always, thanks for putting up with this.

Love,

B

I'm coming to Indiana this Saturday (October 3rd, 7:30 pm) for a reading, signing, talk -- all the good stuff at the Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. Fourth Street, Michigan City (Google Map).

Call 219-873-3049 for more information and here's a link to the event.

And as always, will sign whatever you want to bring.

Wanna get your name (or a loved one's name) in my next novel and help a good cause?

Comix4Sight Auction

One of my favorite book blogs -- Off The Page -- is in danger of getting the axe, and so it falls to us to prove to the morons who cancel such things that, well...we're reading it.

It's written by Chauncey Mabe and Oline Cogdill, two South Florida folks who have a real love of books and who are vital to the art community here.

So please do click the link and root them on.

Yes, I'm finally on Twitter, @bradmeltzer.

Happy now, Dad?

Finally back from two weeks away, and just need to recommend one book and one film that're worth checking out.

For the book, it's Stitches by David Small. Yes, I read it months ago, but I think it's so douche-y to talk about a book no one else can buy -- and it's now finally on sale. It was the only book I brought back from BookExpo in May. Yes, it's a comic. And yes, I wish the ending were a hair more self-examining, but man, I promise you will be blown away. Just heartbreaking and wonderful in all the right places.

As for film, for sure, go see the Basterds and District 9, but when you're ready to really get king nerd going (and here comes the douche-y part because you can't buy it yet. God, I'm a hypocrite), go see the independent movie Last Son by fellow Jerry Siegel obsessed Brad Ricca. It'sf packed with never before seen footage/images/facts about Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and the creation of Superman. And to totally steal from him: There is just "an Earth-2 (and 3) level of cool that two Brads were at different times in the same library having these big OMG moments in seeing this stuff. And (ready for this?) In the EXACT SAME ROOM where Joanne Siegel spread out her mail from her newspaper ad and chose Joe's to answer."

How's that for a benefit? Watch this film and see proof that another Earth exists.

That's the summer catch-up. Novel is coming along. First Buffy script is in. Art is just starting to show up. And big news coming about the non-fiction book, which is now coming out in May.