"GLO FOR IT!"

I have this blogger friend, who writes as Redneck Mother. She has two sons that she calls Rocket Boy and Hurricane Head, and a husband known as Hombre. I'll let you in on a little secret, that most people don't know: Hombre's real name is Chris Barton, and he has written a super-cool children's book called THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors. It's all about the guys who really did invent day-glo paint, right in their own basement, but it wasn't in the Hippie 60's like most people think. It was during the depression!

We went to hear Hombre talk yesterday, at Book People over in Austin, and he autographed a copy of his book for us. Good thing we nabbed our copy early, since within thirty minutes of his talk, they were completely sold out! (don't worry, more are on the way) I'll let you in on another secret, if you promise not to tell. We're not even planning to keep our neato-keeno, super-dooper autographed copy of The Day-Glo Brothers. Nope, it's going to our neato-keeno, super-dooper, karate-chopping, survival-camp-surviving, soda-pop inventing and experiment-loving niece. She may not be willing to sit still long enough for a chapter book series, but she could read this one in a tent, while on safari - if she happens to have a black-light bulb in her flashlight. Visit the author's website here.

Know what else was really cool about the book-signing? Finally getting to meet the amazing chicken-raising, vegetable growing, home-schooling, belly-dancing, and blog-writing, but not at all redneck, Redneck Mother in person (that's her, in the striped shirt on the front row, and that's Hurricane Head up there helping Hombre with a prize drawing). One more thing: I'm not 100% sure, but I think I may even have spotted Stefani, from Blue Yonder, there too!