Sharing a photo of (I think) a cup plant, in my backyard. It's more pleasant to look at than the dead raccoon, about 20 yards away. Second animal in a few months to die in my backyard (a groundhog was the first). Unsure what -- a hawk? an owl? -- is terrorizing my subdivision's wildlife. #nature

So why is my book, THE SUMMER OF DEATH (Pegasus Books), surrounded by corn? It's a reminder that there is also an audio book about America’s deadliest heat wave! And… well, ears of corn… and we listen to audio books with our, you know. (Yeah... sigh... this a corny post.) #BookSky

During the 1936 heat wave, which is the topic of my new book THE SUMMER OF DEATH @pegasus-books.bsky.social, there were a LOT of tire blowouts. Heat increases the pressure inside tires. So be careful out there, especially if where you live is being hammered by the heat. #BookSky #nonfiction

If you can’t find a copy of THE SUMMER OF DEATH @pegasus-books.bsky.social, maybe it’s hiding in your refrigerator. Get it? Because my nonfiction book is about a killer 1936 heat wave, and the inside of a refrigerator is… um, cold… (OK, I'm still workshopping this post) #BookSky #nonfiction #weather

Trump is always saying that we’re “the hottest country in the world." During the 1936 heat wave, the topic of my new book, THE SUMMER OF DEATH (Pegasus Books), we actually WERE the hottest country in the world (weeks of 100+ temps). Of course, if nothing is done about the climate crisis... #BookSky

Day #4 of trying to fry an egg on the sidewalk, or Part 4 of Running a Slightly Amusing Gag into the Ground. My brother suggested my mistake yesterday in trying to fry an egg on a skillet on the sidewalk was that my skillet was too light. I needed to use a black one. Alas... #BookSky #heatwave

A couple days ago in Cincinnati, I was interviewed about the 1936 heat wave and my new book, THE SUMMER OF DEATH (Pegasus Books). Hmmm. I wonder if meteorologists would be upset if I dropped in unannounced on their newscast, with book in hand? What if I also brought doughnuts? #BookSky #heatwave

One of the neighborhood deer visited my front yard yesterday evening, to dine out. If I could charge deer for eating at Chez Williams, I would make a fortune and wouldn't have to bombard the world with my gratituous book marketing posts. #BookSky #nature #deer

Day #3 of failing to fry an egg on the sidewalk (in a shameless attempt to get attention to my book). This time, I brought out my banged up skillet. It still didn’t work. Tomorrow, it’ll be a cooler, but on the next super hot day, I think I may bring out my oven... #BookSky #nonfiction #heatwave

Day #2 of attempting to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Once again, it didn't go well (I'm glad the price of eggs came down). I even had some bread ready, for my sandwich. Dang. The high is 95 degrees in this part of Ohio. Well, maybe I'll try again tomorrow. #BookSky #nonfiction #heatwave

Oh, dang. It’s not hot enough to fry an egg. And I had such high hopes for this post. Well, it’s hot in my part of Ohio (90 degrees right now), but not hot enough to make breakfast for lunch. I’ll try again tomorrow. It’ll be hotter. #BookSky #nonfiction #heatwave

You think it’s hot now and this week? Well, it is – but the heat wave was way worse 90 summers ago, in 1936: It was hotter, it lasted far longer, and almost nobody had air-conditioning. But be careful this week – the heat shouldn't be underestimated. #BookSky #nonfiction #heatwave

I don't know why the media hasn't been listening to me and isn't referring to THE SUMMER OF DEATH (@pegasus-books.bsky.social) as a feel-good book and the perfect beach read. I must be doing something wrong with my marketing... #BookSky #nonfiction #heatwave

I think I'll go out in my back yard and take an evening wa--well, never mind... Maybe later...

If you’re looking for something to read, tree-t yourself to “The Summer of Death" (Pegasus Books), about the 1936 heat wave. Despite my penchant for dumb jokes, it is nonfiction. Lots of people die, in horrific ways. The heat isn't something to trifle with. #booksky #nonfiction #heatwave

THE SUMMER OF DEATH (Pegasus Books) is about the 1936 heat wave. How hot was it? At a book signing, I thought of asking everyone sign a waiver, so nobody would hold me liable if they passed out while reading it. My agent said that was a bit much. So I added a warning to my author’s sign. #BookSky

So while J.D. Vance promotes his book on THE VIEW, another author who also grew up in Middletown, Ohio, is reduced to putting up posts of his nonfiction book, THE SUMMER OF DEATH @pegasus-books.bsky.social, with a photo of his cat. My book is about a killer heat wave in 1936. #Booksky #nonfiction

It was nice to see my nonfiction book in its natural habitat: a bookstore in Beavercreek, Ohio. I stood back, not wanting to block the throngs of readers lining up to read about the 1936 heat wave. Um, they are out of frame. You know, I'm respecting their privacy. #Booksky #nonfiction

You're looking at an author -- and his fans. And you'll need a fan, if you read "The Summer of Death" (Pegasus Books), a look at the 1936 heat wave. Notice the door in the background? These are my a-dooring fans. (No dad jokes in the book, but maybe a good Father's Day gift?) #Booksky #nonfiction

So when I had a groundhog living underneath my patio until recently (not sure if she's still around), I naturally decided to use her to shamelessly flog my new book, "The Summer of Death," about America's (and Canada's) deadliest heat wave in 1936. A great read for humans, too! #Booksky #nonfiction

So for anyone who has seen my earlier post about the vultures feeding on one of the groundhogs who lived in my backyard (hopefully the others are fine, but I haven't seen them lately), here are some photos from maybe a month ago. I had a mom and four groundhog pups underneath my back patio.

Spotted this red-headed woodpecker at my feeder this morning. They’re fairly uncommon in Ohio. By the way, birding legend Kenn Kaufman gave me a very nice blurb for the jacket of “The Summer of Death” (Pegasus Books), my new book. He said, "This is history at its finest!” #Booksky 💙📚 #nonfiction

Um, tragic update on that vulture post I put up earlier this morning. A groundhog, who lived underneath my back patio, met an early demise in my back yard. I'll be searching the neighborhood for suspects, like maybe a Cooper's hawk or possibly a feral cat.

I saw this turkey vulture on my house yesterday, right above me. I wonder if it was trying to tell me something. Am I looking a little unwell?

So yesterday at my first book signing for "The Summer of Death" (Pegasus Books), I had a conversation partner for a talk about the deadly 1936 heat wave: Brad Maushart, a Fox19 TV meteorologist in Cincinnati, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Brad and JP were great; I really lucked out.

I went to two bookstores today to gaze upon my new book, "The Summer of Death" (Pegasus Books), about America's deadliest heat wave (in 1936), and... they weren't stocking it. Well... this is awkward...

Well, after a gazillion years since I started writing it, my new book, "The Summer of Death" (Pegasus Books) is out tomorrow. It's about the 1936 heat wave, which killed over 11,000 Americans and over 1,000 Canadians. (This is an Amazon link, but it's available everywhere: tinyurl.com/46vb3j4v)