Greetings from beautiful Portland, Oregon! I am here teaching at The Tin House Summer Writers Workshop. Right now I am in my little dorm room--twin bed! coed bathroom!--eating yogurt and granola with local blueberries, raspberries and marion berries and drinking Stumptown coffee. What a way to begin the day! I will be here all week, and the faculty and students are so much fun that I know it will be a good one.

My friend Scott Lax has started a blog with writing tips and instruction on it. He has a unique way of teaching, and any of you who are thinking of writing your own stories might want to take a look: www.scottlax.com/blog.htm.

Field trips to Powell's Books and a knitting store are planned while I'm here. Can't wait! Yes, I am still knitting dish rags. Almost finished reading THE ANGEL'S GAME by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. He wrote SHADOW OF THE WIND, which I loved. There are a lot of similarities in his new one, and I am really enjoying it.

My new novel, THE RED THREAD, has just gone off to the copy editor, which means that my work is done for the most part. The cover is gorgeous! When I get home, I'll add it to my website so everyone can see it. Last week I got the good news that I won a Best Food Writing Award for my essay, "My Father's Pantry," which is in the latest Tin House.

Back to my berries! Happy Knitting!