We're back!!

Yes, it's mid-January--a time when Mafioso of every stripe arise from hibernation. The Don's leaf "clean-up" operation is going great guns (pardon the pun!) blowing leaves into the gutters of harried homeowners, and then charging a hefty fee for their removal. ("Hey, a man's gotta put food on his table, Michele.") As for my immediate family, my wife Marie has recovered almost completely from her surgery in December and returns to work full-time on Monday. Thanks to all of you who sent well-wishes her way.

Middle Grade Mafioso has quite a busy schedule planned for the early part of the year. We're chomping at the bit to review the Cybils' middle grade titles we've been reading, as well as a couple of other books which have come our way. However, the code of silence (which, of course the Don loves) means that the Cybils have to be kept under wraps until the winner is announced sometime in February.

To keep you busy till then, keep abreast of the goings on over at Project Mayhem, the wonderful group blog of which I'm honored to be a member. We've added FOUR new writers to the team--Dianne Salerni, Chris Eboch, James Mihaley, and Lee Wardlaw--after receiving a bunch of amazing applicants. There is so much talent out there!!

But for right now, scoot on over to my review today of THE SECRET ROOM by German writer Antonio Michaelis, and please leave a comment. Also, on Monday, Marvelous Mike Winchell will be unveiling a middle grade contest in which the winner's manuscript will be sent on to his agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin. The Don's offered to throw in his yard-cleaning crew as a prize, but I've persuaded him that an ice chest of gelato might be more welcome instead. Of course, if the other famiglia hear about these goings on, all bets are off.

Till then, Happy New Year to you all. Let's hope it's a superspecial one.