Dear Friends,
I’ve just returned from the blast of a weekend that was AdventureCon ’09 (www.adventurecon.com)! My thanks to Adam, Laurie, and the rest of the AdventureCon gang for taking such good care of me.
During the Con, I had the pleasure of being at a table beside Renee Witterstaetter (www.evaink.com), a sterling agent and wonderful lady who represents the likes of comic artist legends Mark Texeira (http://www.marktexeira.com/comicart.php), Michael Goldman, and Steve Scott (http://www.comicvine.com/steve-scott/26-19013/issues-cover/). Steve sat directly beside me, so we chatted quite a bit. Not only is he a great artist and all around cool fellow, but–despite being a deep-south surfer dude in true Matthew McConaughey fashion–he has one of the best ‘radio voices’ I’ve ever heard, and does one heck of a Captain Kirk impression!
Another AdventureCon highlight was meeting and chatting with the current TNA Pro Wrestling Champ–and, lest we forget, best-selling author–Mick Foley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley), aka Dude Love, aka Mankind, aka Cactus Jack. Mick is every bit as hilarious in real life as he is in the ring. After cracking up the audience (myself included) during his Q&A session, he walked and chatted with me on the way back to his booth. I think if I hadn’t ended our conversation and insisted he get back to “his public,” he would’ve happily talked all afternoon long. And that’s not a reflection of how awesome and interesting I am (everybody knows that already ;), but rather just how cool and unassuming Mr. Foley is. The charming, witty, scattered-brained guy you see on TV is the same guy he is in real life. What you see is what you get where Mr. Foley is concerned, folks.
Case in point: he’s also as huge as he looks.
Here in the South, upon meeting me, the first thing many people mention is that I look like a “(foot)ball player.” They are referencing the fact that my shoulders could easily become jammed in any given doorframe (At least, I hope it’s my shoulders! The low carb thing is working out pretty well for me these days, after all!). As true as that may be, Mr. Foley dwarfs me in comparison.
Speaking of nice celebrities, I’m standing outside my hotel elevator Saturday morning when, around the corner, I hear someone come out of their room and begin chatting cordially with the hotel cleaning staff. After he bids the staff person a fond farewell, he comes around the corner to stand beside me. Low and behold, the “he” in question turns out to be Jake Busey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Busey), son of the famous/infamous Gary Busey. We exchanged small talk. He was very personable and I have nothing but good things to say about the guy.
After I got off the elevator, I went to the hotel restaurant to have breakfast. I hunker down to eat my omelet (yum!) only to look up and realize I’m sitting directly across from Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman of Different Strokes fame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diff%27rent_Strokes). It was yet another surreal moment that gave new meaning to the phrase, “WhatchutalkinboutWillis?”
After selling out of almost all my books (provided by our friends at http://winderbinder.wordpress.com/), I left AdventureCon early to go visit an old friend who lives in the area with her five-year-old daughter. Needless to say, I fell in love with the little girl. We talked, joked, played games, called each other ‘poopy-butts,’ and tickled, giggled, and laughed until we were both in tears. It made me that much more excited about my impending fatherhood!
From there, I drove a few miles south to pick up Mom and bring her home to stay with the wife and I for a week of pampering and relaxation (hers, not ours).
Overall, it was a wonderful weekend. But all the traveling, joking, and smoking (metaphorically speaking) has worn me out.
But there’s no rest for the weary!
Wheeling and dealing in regard to the Chance Fortune series and my other projects continues as hot and heavy as ever. When new developments arise, you’ll be the first to know.
All my best,
Shane
www.shaneberryhill.com
PS – Far more important things happened this past weekend (And are happening still): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election

Dear Friends,

I thought I would drop you a quick note to let those of you in the Knoxville, Tennessee area know I’ll be selling / signing books this Friday and Saturday at AdventureCon. (http://www.adventurecon.com/home.html). Come join me, Ray Park (Darth Maul / Snake Eyes), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), Larry Thomas (Seinfeld Soup Nazi), and a host of other D-listers in a fun-filled, weekend-long geek-travaganza!

Hope to see you there!

Shane Berryhill
www.shaneberryhill.com

Tor/Starscape’s YA scifi-action series, THE ADVENTURES OF CHANCE FORTUNE, is part of Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader Program. Volume one, CHANCE FORTUNE AND THE OUTLAWS, is also an official selection of the NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age and the Texas Lone Star Reading List. Volume two, CHANCE FORTUNE IN THE SHADOW ZONE, is now available in hardback. If you would like to see a third book in the series, please tell your parents, friends, and teachers to write letters to my publisher and let them know how badly you want it! This is their address:

Tor Teen / Starscape
Attn: Chance Fortune series Editor
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010

In the meantime, you may download a Chance Fortune short story from amazon.com (If you are under 18 yrs old, you’ll need your parent’s permission). Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Chance-Fortune-Joshs-First/dp/B000F6QV0M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195133522&sr=1-3

You may also be interested to know that potential film, audio, and graphic novel adaptations of Chance Fortune are in the works.

Let your teachers and librarians know they will find free Chance Fortune-related classroom materials at the following web address:
http://www.shaneberryhill.com/student/

Feel free to forward this e-mail on to your teachers (or to print it out and show it to them).

Wow! I made Mashable’s “100+ Best Authors on Twitter” list. Thanks, Mashable! Welcome aboard, new twitter followers!

http://mashable.com/2009/05/08/twitter-aut hors/

· ShaneBerryhill - Shane Berryhill is a writer and illustrator. He’s the author of “The Adventures of Chance Fortune” young adult science fiction series of books. He tweets about literature, writing, and his daily life, with the occasional song from blip.fm.

http://twitter.com/ShaneBerryhill

Also, CHANCE FORTUNE IN THE SHADOW ZONE is now on Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader list. Thanks to everyone who worked on my behalf to make it happen! I can’t thank you enough!

Chance Fortune in the Shadow Zone Accelerated Reader
Berryhill, Shane
AR Quiz No. 126829 EN Fiction
IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 9.0
AR Quiz Types: RP
Fifteen-year-old Chance Fortune and the Outlaws find themselves trapped in the Shadow Zone after a teleportation malfunction and must put aside their fears to save one another when some of the Outlaws are kidnapped. Book #2

http://www.arbookfind.com/default.aspx

All my best,

Shane

www.shaneberryhill.com

Aaaah!

I am agony as I type this, folks. I just twisted my ankle!

Aaargh!

I’ve had “Jello ankles” since I ruined them playing high school football. They’ve rolled on me a hundred times over the past fifteen years (sidebar: If a coach ever asks your son to play “pulling guard/tackle” tell him to say, “No!”)

But enough of my belly-aching.

First, I’d like to thank all of you who came out to support me at February’s ConNooga (www.ConNooga.com). My wife would say my ego is already so big that it has its own moon in orbit, but I honestly appreciated all the kind words regarding Chance Fortune from the fans, friends, and school teachers who came by our table. I’m sorry I didn’t get to spend more time with each of you. It honors me that you have read the books and become part of the Chance Fortune family.

On that note, please e-mail me and let me know what you think about ‘Shadow Zone. I’d love to hear from you!

In other Chance Fortune news, I’m still in talks with two prominent publishers of audio and graphic literature about the possibility of featuring the books in those realms. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve loved comic books my entire life. I’m also a voracious listener of audio books. Having ol’ CF in either media (Or both!) would be Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Vernal Equinox all rolled into one for me!

Hopefully, I’ll have good news for you within the next couple of months (Yes! A long time! I know!). But if not, as always, I’ll keep trying(related note: a potential cinematic adaptation of the Chance Fortune series is also still in the works).

In regard to other pending projects, my manager is diligently shopping around my middle-grade Christmas-noir-mystery, The Long Silent Night. To date, the work has been highly complemented–but ultimately turned down for one reason or another–by a few prominent publishers. But my manager and I believe in the story, so we’ll keep plugging away until something gives.

Also, just this week, I’ve completed the first draft of another novel titled, Lost on Dragon Island. The story is a mix of Robinson Crusoe, Japanese mythology, fantasy, science fiction, and, you guessed it, dragons!

But don’t expect your typical Western-fantasy-dragon-fare here. My beasts are Asian-influenced, earth-spirits who are forces of nature unto themselves. Dragon Island moves me out of middle-grade territory into that of young adult. Without a doubt, it is the darkest thing I’ve written (aimed at a younger audience) thus far. In all humility, it grabs you by the throat from the beginning and keeps squeezing until the last page.

I’m pretty excited about it!

There have also been some recent, wonderful developments in my private life. I won’t get into them here, but if you know me personally, feel free to inquire via Facebook or such. I’d love to share!

Until next time, keep reading!

All my best,

Shane Berryhill

www.shaneberryhill.com

P.S – If you live in Hamilton County (TN) and would like to see the Chance Fortune series on the school reading list(s), please contact school cooridnators Andrea (pronounced ‘Ondrea’) Johnson or Gena McKeena at (423) 209-8678 and request that the books be added to the list(s). Also, if there any teachers reading who would be kind enough to formally request that ‘Shadow Zone be placed on the AR list, please shoot me an e-mail at shane@shaneberryhill.com and I will send you the required info.

WHAT I’M READING:

Fear Itself by Walter Mosley
Mystery noir set in 1950’s L.A. Written by famed African-American author, Walter Mosley. If you like his “Easy Rawlins” series, then you’ll love his other tough guy, “Fearless Jones.”

Every Last Drop by Charlies Huston
After a brilliant initial outing, Charlie Huston’s vampire-noir series continues to decline in quality. This may be my last foray into the world of “Joe Pitt.” My advice: read book one, Already Dead, and call it a night

Shogun by James Clavell
Slow moving at first, but once it gets going, James Clavell’s classic novel of ancient ….Japan…. throws more intrigue and swindling at you than an episode of HBO’s The Sopranos!

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES SEVEN TO SEVENTY:

Shade’s Children by Garth Nix
Gritty, fast-paced, and intelligent, Garth Nix’s tale of children living under alien rule on a post-apocalyptic Earth is a truly dangerous book for boys and girls of all ages. I loved it!

Hey, guys!

ShaneBerryhill, Chattanooga resident and author of the acclaimed young adult scifi novels from Tor, THE ADVENTURES OF CHANCE FORTUNE, here, dropping you a quick line to let you know I’ll be at guest at this year’s ConNoooga (http://www.connooga.com/2015/2036.html), a scifi, fantasy, and horror convention occurring right here in Chattanooga, TN February 20-22. I’ll be among several interesting guests such as Linda Blair from The Exorcist (and many others). I plan to make my appearance that Saturday afternoon. HOPEFULLY books will be available for me to sign/you to purchase.

In other news…

Kickstart Productions is still working diligently to acquire a movie deal for CHANCE FORTUNE. They’ve had several studios say they love the story, but would’ve like to have a seen an adult in the lead role. Kickstart is as puzzled at this response is as I am, considering Chance Fortune is a story about a teenage boy. (Shoulder shrug) That’s ….Hollywood…. for ya!

Anyway, if a live-action feature doesn’t ultimately pan out, Kickstart plans to explore our options regarding an animated film. While I wouldn’t knock a live-action feature should it come to fruition, especially considering what ….Hollywood…. can now do with computer-generated-imagery, I think animation might better allow for the full realization of the world I imagined for Chance Fortune.

Also…I’ve had a couple of prominent companies express interest in adapting Chance Fortune to both audio and graphic literature. They are currently reviewing my novels. More on that if and when it comes to pass.

I’ve leave you today with a note regarding “25 Random Facts” about me I typed up for my facebook page. If you’re on facebook.com, you know such notes are all the current rage. Read and have a laugh!

Best wishes!

-Shane

www.shaneberryhill.com

1. My then main squeeze / now wife eloped to ….New Orleans…. / French Quarter Fest not long before Katrina hit, only telling our immediate family of our intentions.

2. While there (….New Orleans….), we were given $100 by the kind total strangers we partied with…one of the ladies in attendance was supposedly Jimmy Buffet’s ex-girlfriend.

3. I have been embarrassed so much / so many times in my life that I’m d@mn near immune to the concept these days.

4. I once almost beat a 5A State heavyweight wrestling champion (I don’t know the weight classes in amateur wrestling, but his would have been the equivalent) in an intramural match despite knowing next to nothing about amateur wrestling/never having done it before in my life. He broke the point-tie in the end. But that was long, long ago.

5. Reading books has helped me / continues to help me get through tough times.

6. I am part of the gag reel from Marvel Entertainment’s animated DVD feature, Ultimate Avengers. I’m the idiot in the horned helm. Seriously. Or rather, not so seriously, as you’ll see if you happen to view that “gem.”

7. I used to be in the Army National Guard.

8. I (and oddly enough, my grandfather, father, and brothers) seem to be one of those people others feel compelled to nickname. Here are just a few I’ve had through the years: Shaner, Berrenhugel, Papa Bear, ….Chester…. (the Molester), Ogre, Hawg head, Barrymore…I could go on and on.

9. I know what the dudes in the electric chair see and hear at the end. When I was four, I tried to separate two adjoining electric cords by clamping down on one with my teeth and tugging on the other. As my teeth sank through the cord’s housing and bit wire, I heard what sounded like the buzzing of a thousand bees. A light leapt out at me from darkness like the headlight of a runaway train barreling down a tunnel. I awoke with two small stalactites of melted flesh hanging from my upper lip (Gross, I know. Sorry!). My lip healed relatively soon, thankfully…Not one of my more genius moments.

10. At ….San Diego…. ComicCon 06, I pretended to be part of Stan Lee’s mob-sized entourage so that I could push past the crowd and get close to Ray Bradbury.

11. I often start singing a song just before it plays on the radio, or I switch channels and find it playing. This is somewhat more remarkable when you take into account that I don’t listen to top 40 radio. This lame power of precognition is so prevalent in me that several women I’ve dated over the years have noticed it entirely of their own accord. Why couldn’t it have been super-strength or the ability to fly? Even Matter-Eater-Lad’s power is more impressive!

12. Check your yearbooks S Pitts High grads. As my own personal inside joke (nearly half a decade in the making), I purposely wore the same T-shirt every year on “picture day (for our annuals),” with the exception of senior year when I was required to wear a mock tux. I never told anyone and waited years to see if any of my classmates would discover this. To date, the only person I know of who has is my brother, Daniel. Cat’s out of the bag now, though.

13. I was captain of my high school football team my senior year. Now I’m just old and fat…I gotta get back in shape!

14. I’m watching THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY on AMC (for the umpteenth-hundred time) as I type this. I love spaghetti westerns, and I wish “they” still made them (in the literal sense). And no, that Sukiyaki Western Django crap does not count…though Kill Bill does, more or less.

15. Those who know me tend to either love me or hate me. As well it should be.

16. I am the eldest of three brothers.

17. I’m madly in love with my wife. She is one of those ladies other women—and men (yours truly included)—admire/look up to/lean on. The fact that she’s probably clueless about this makes me love her even more. If superpowerful aliens bent on destroying Earth demanded we show them one good and true soul as proof the human race deserved saving, we could show them Lesley and sleep safe and sound in our beds.

18. I’m a decent impressionist. When singing karaoke one night, I brought down a packed house doing an impression of Willie Nelson singing ….Luckenbach.., ..Texas….. I did the same singing New Kids on the Block’s Right Stuff (complete with cheesy dance moves), but that’s another story.

19. I have two published novels from Tor. Check them out here: www.shaneberryhill.com.

20. As you may have been able to tell from some of the things I’ve listed here, I am half-geek and half-All American redneck, and so have never truly fit in with either gestalt…like Worf aboard the ….Enterprise…. or Terry Bradshaw in the acting profession

21. I like cheese the way most women like chocolate…unfortunately.

22. I often pretend to be listening to people who are talking to me…in truth, I’m thinking about a plot point or such for whatever story I happen to be writing.

23. Reality TV is my guilty pleasure.

24. I love to laugh!

25. Believe it or not, I ‘play things close to the chest’ and found writing this extremely difficult.

Now go forth and do good works!

Note from the Department of Superhuman Affairs: In accordance with section four, article b., paragraph 12. of the DSA Policies and Procedures Manual, it should be noted that the person known as Santa Claus, aka St. Nicholas, aka Father Christmas, Chris Cringle, and other such titles, is considered a magical person by the DSA, and therefore all matters pertaining to and/or emanating from said Santa Claus fall under DSA jurisdiction. The DSA does not support Mr. Berryhill’s claim that he or any other person other than St. Nicholas himself, can, in any way, shape, or form, be Santa Claus, and asserts that his (Mr. Berryhill’s) following comments on the matter are entirely fictitious in nature. Furthermore, the DSA proclaims any and all sightings, mentions, and/or reports of the person known as Santa Claus can be solely attributed to the one and only true Santa Claus.

Dear friends,

Please forgive the above. I was legally bound to post it in conjunction with this correspondence. But now, let’s move on…

Thanksgiving was good! My mom and bros came down the weekend beforehand and stayed with Lesley and I to celebrate early and attend my book signing at Chattanooga’s new Barnes & Noble (my sincerest apologies to all who showed up early due to the time confusion). On the actual holiday, we rose early to visit my Dad and his family (my parents are divorced).

Dad and his crew had decided to have Christmas extremely early, so he already had his gift—a laser-guided miter saw (very jealous!) that I helped him put together while we deep-fried a turkey. I don’t usually care much for deep-fried turkey, but thanks to Dad slathering it in butter-sauce, it came out one juicy (and surely unhealthy bird!

We left from there and visited Lesley’s fam’ that afternoon. By that time, the walking-crud I’d been battling with had caught up with me. It, combined with the drowsiness-inducing turkey I’d eaten, sent me upstairs to lie down.

Fast forward. Last night was Chattanooga’s annual Christmas Parade. The event is coordinated by Lesley’s office. Not-so-little-old-me climbed back into the sleigh for a third and final time to play the jolly fat man everyone loves to see. On the night in question, Big Red is received as a rock-star by young and old alike (Note to the single young men out there: In my three years dressing up as Mr. Ho-ho-ho, I’ve learned that young coeds especially have a thing for Santa. Personally, I find this to be a bit creepy (Sorry, ladies, I do). But, I’m telling you, guys: dress up in a Santa suit around Christmas time, and you’ll have to beat them off of you with a stick!).

I was driven through crowds of shouting, waving, onlookers to my float where I found it packed to overflowing with little ones excited beyond belief by my arrival.

After hugs and well wishes were passed out, I was assaulted by a litany of comments, questions, and demands. Here are a few verbatim:

I want a Hannah Montana Doll where I can comb her hair!
Do you fly over the moon?
Why do you live at the North Pole?
Santa! Santa! Santa!…(Yes, honey?)…this one time…IT SNOWED!
Why are you so big?
Can we go up in the sky?
Where are your reindeer?
Do you carry a sack because it’s full of all the toys in the world?

And on and on it went, each new statement more adorable than the one before it. While I’m glad last night was the final time I will have to go out in the cold and miss the SEC championship (What happened, Bama?!) to play Santa in the parade, I will miss the children and their unbridled excitement and honesty.

I’m juggling several projects currently, including possibly turning Chance Fortune into a stage musical, of all things! This is something I’ve never attempted, so I’m excited about trying to tackle a new venue! Wish me luck.

I have a live TV interview on (Chattanooga area) Channel 9’s THIS AND THAT around noon on 12/16/08. I also tape an interview with Fox 61’s AROUND THE REGION sometime this coming week, but I’m not sure when it will air. Be sure and check out my TV interview with Channel 12. The link may be found at my myspace.com and facebook.com pages.

I’m having a book signing at A NOVEL IDEA bookstore in Chattanooga’s north shore shopping district on 12/20/08 at 2 PM! I hope to see you and yours there!

Happy Holidays,

Shane Berryhill
www.shaneberryhill.com

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE. GET YOUR COPY OF CHANCE FORTUNE IN THE SHADOW ZONE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

“I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy based book that takes place in a school setting. It is about a group of super powered teens who, while getting transported back to their school, are lost in the shadow zone. The shadow zone is an alternate dimension where the shadow prince reigns supreme, taking members from small gangs and turning them into his army of goons. Fast paced and not for the faint of heart. I give this 9 out of 10 stars.”- Reviewed by Ethan, Portsmouth Teen Book Review

My (male) cousin Ashley got married this past weekend at the Grandview House atop the oh-so-scenic Lookout Mountain here in Chattaboogie, TN. I served as a groomsman. The earliest all the guys could get together for a bachelor party was the night before the wedding, so that’s when we had it.

Perhaps not the wisest of decisions.

While no one was hanging over the rail the next day, so to speak, we definitely didn’t feel like running any marathons. But what’s important was, Ashley didn’t seemed phased…even when the storm clouds gathered to blot out the sun a mere half hour before the wedding (Did I mention the ceremony was to be held outside? No? Well it was).

However, there was no need to worry. I simply used my god-like abilities to clear the sky and call forth the sun (My control over the weather is my second-best power, coming right after my ability to turn on the refrigerator light without opening the fridge door . I’m doing it to your refrigerator light right now. Don’t believe me? Go check. You’ll see.).

Anywho, the ceremony went off without a hitch. The groom was dashing and the bride radiant. Afterward, they wanted to dance on into the night. But as my fellow groomsmen and I had already spent seven hours (I’m not kidding!) in our suits (dress was casual) without having fully recovered from the previous night, most of us opted to retire to our respective homesteads.

Overall, it was a great time. The Berryhills gained a lovely new family member and I gave my infant niece her first dance, twirling her around at the reception.

Now, onto the doubly famous stuff.

Click on the link below to read my interview with the Demon Hunterologist herself, Alethia Kontis (alla Ingram Books). To learn more about Lee and her work visit alethiakontis.com. She’s also on myspace.

http://www.ingramlibrary.com/MRKNG/FD/0608/ra/Genre.html

Kickstart Productions has, at long last, officially announced that the movie rights for Chance Fortune are up for grabs. Lil’ ol’ me even has a couple of pages at Hollywood.com, which apparently is a cross between Fandango.com and E News. Click on the links below and take a look. Holl-ee-wood! Da-da-da-da! Holl-ee-wood!

http://www.hollywood.com/movie/Chance_Fortune_and_the_Outlaws/5248195

http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Shane_Berryhill/5229397

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Happy Independence Day!

Shane

www.shaneberryhill.com

Kickstart Productions, Inc. recently entered into a deal to develop the first and second books in author Shane Berryhill’s The Adventures of Chance Fortune series, Chance Fortune and the Outlaws and Chance Fortune in the Shadow Zone for the screen. Mr. Berryhill has been contracted to write the screenplay.

Chance Fortune and Outlaws is the story of young Tennessee native Joshua Blevins, a normal human boy who secrets his way into an academy for superheroes using a false identity. Under the moniker of Chance Fortune, Josh rises among the ranks of his fellow students through wits and sheer force of will.

Kickstart Productions, Inc., is a full-service production company specializing in live action film, animation, and visual effects. Kickstart’s credits include the live action The Cat in the Hat, Mike Mignola’s Amazing Screw-on Head, and the upcoming Wanted starring Angelina Jolie.

Chance Fortune and the Outlaws was originally published by Starscarpe, Tor’s young adult division, in August 2006, and is currently available in hardcover and paperback. Chance Fortune and the Outlaws, is an official selection of Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader Program, the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, and the Texas Lone Star Reading List. The second volume of the series, Chance Fortune in the Shadow Zone, is to release later this year.

To learn more, please visit the following webpages: www.shaneberryhill.com, www.kickstartent.com, www.tor-forge.com, and www.pmalitfilm.com.

CHANCE FORTUNE AND THE OUTLAWS releases in paperback tomorrow, January 2, 2008. The book is an official selection of Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader List, the NY Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, and the Texas Lone Star Reading List.

Anywho…Last night, Lesley and I spent our New Year’s Eve at a party hosted by a couple we are friends with. The couple in question just purchased a swank new home in a gorgeous Chattanooga neighborhood—the kind where my presence immediately causes the property value to plummet. Regardless of this, they were kind enough to open their doors to us and forty or so other guests to kick off the New Year.

Of those, not counting our gracious hosts, we really only knew one other couple, and spent the majority of our time conversing with them. Now the latter are as fun and fancy free as Lesley and myself, so when our hosts’ fourteen-year-old daughter and her friend came in with a load of balloons filled with Helium, there was only one thing for us to do!

Yes, we rang in the New Year gulping adult beverages and singing what sounded like the Chipmunks’ version of everything from Willie Nelson to Def Leppard, busting our guts laughing the whole time!

Most of the other guests either looked at us with dumbstruck faces or ignored our hijinks entirely. Well, too bad for them. If I ever begin take myself so seriously, please smack some sense into me. But, over all, it was a great way to send out the old year and ring in the new. Good times!

Wishing you all good FORTUNE in ’08,

Shane Berryhill

www.shaneberryhill.com