Autumn-kissed trees have started turning scarlet and gold in my region of Vermont. Besides berry-picking, afternoons at the beach, and lots of bike riding, my summer included local book events at Hinesburg’s Carpenter-Carse Library and Shelburne’s Flying Pig Bookstore. I was invited to visit with three local book groups, one was a mother-daughter book club. Answering the freshmen-age girl’s questions about writing has been made this visit one of my most favorite experiences.

I’ve stayed close to home this summer training for a one month long cross-country bike trip I’m embarking on this fall. The trip covers eleven states, 3,178 miles Coast to Coast, and 100 daily average miles in thirty-four days.

When my ride is over, I’ll hit the ground running. It’s not official yet, but I hope to see my second food memoir published fall 2008. This story chronicles the years l lived in Beijing and Shanghai and like the first one has a recipe at the end of each chapter. I’m also hoping give monthly Japanese cooking classes in my home the first of the year. Check back here for more info.

You may have noticed that my mother’s mouth-watering okinomiyaki (Japanese pizza) is missing from chapter ten. The recipe is available here for those who want to try it.

On a sad note, Obachan, my step-grandmother I write about in Bento Box, passed away this summer at the grand age of 95.

Have a fabulous fall and send me your energy and thoughts as a pedal from sea to shining sea!