My next book, Spider: from arachnophobia to obsession will be published early next year by Allen & Unwin. The manuscript is done and we are now into the editing phase. For a high production book, this is a lengthy process - but it is worth it.

I will be travelling to the US in October as a guest of the Nueva School Inaugural Gifted Learning Conference. I will also be speaking for CFI-West in Los Angeles, The Colorado Free Speakers in Colorado Springs, and for the Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock. I have a few photographs to get for Spider, including Dr Normal Platnick at the Museum of Natural History and a tarantula in Colorado. I will be doing research for my next book, as well as making contacts for the release of Spider.

Meanwhile, I am the online expert for Our Gifted Online Conferences, August 2007. Between writing for education, taking workshops based on my educational material and writing more natural history, I am also working on my next novel.

Pictured left: Chini, a wolf spider living in the zucchini patch, peering out from her damaged burrow after a bird attack.

My addiction to spiders increases every day. My nightly excursions out the back door to talk to my current crop and find new ones, is one of my greatest pleasures.

The new Spiderbloggers project is just getting ready for the book release. Interest has been expressed by a number of organisations which will be formalised with the release of the book.

I dream of getting everyone in the world to know and enjoy just one spider in their own house or backyard. If they get half the pleasure I do from mine, I will be delighted. And it is free! You just need to know how to find them, sneak up and then watch their traumatic lives unfold.

Last summer's orb weavers have died, but their tiny young have appeared. Fruitisia (pictured right) is a tiny orb weaver building minute orb webs on an apple tree. I look look forward to watching her grow as summer approaches. She is still smaller than a flower bud on the apple tree, but by summer she will be building metre wide webs - if she lives. It is a dangerous life for a young spider.

Crocodile: evolution's greatest survivor

December, 2006. Crocodile was launched at Melbourne Museum. It was released in the US in July, 2007. It has reviewed really well!

Kelly's treatment is clever, entertaining and complete, making this a fine read and a great example of species history done right.

Publisher's Review Weekly

Lynne Kelly is never short of dramatic material in this lively account of the crocodile's evolution and natural history ...

The Age, Pick of the Week

This is an excellent, well-written and absorbing book.

Christopher Bantick, Weekly Times

All in all, an astounding book, can't wait for the next one. Hats off to Lynne Kelly!

Crocodile is available from all good bookstores, including:

Amazon.com.

It is also available in electronic format from:

October, 2004, was an unbelievable experience! With the success of The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal, I decided to jump on a plane to attend the World Skeptic's Congress in Italy. There was just time for a brief stay in England first. This included seeing family, meetings with publishers and research for Crocodile, my next book. It also included a great deal of magic!

The many magical meetings and performances were organized for me by good friend and great magician, Ian Rowland. After dinner with Michael Vincent, a small group was treated to the most amazing display of card handling I have ever seen. Watching from less than a metre away, I can assure you what that guy did with a pack of cards was impossible. I was then privileged enough to be invited as a guest to The Magic Circle, where I was able to see Michael perform on stage as well as enjoy a tour of the building and museum. Female magicians are rare and I was very warmly welcomed, despite my newness to the field.

An evening I will never forget was spent at the home of Lewis Jones and his wife, Susheela Devi. After a wonderful meal, I spent hours working on magic routines for my own set with Lewis and Ian. My copies of Lewis' books, Seventh Heaven and the Encyclopaedia of Impromptu Card Forces, will be treasured for ever. Ian's book, The Full Facts book of Cold Reading continues to be the world's best on the topic.

Many of the Big Names in skepticism spoke and many performed magic. There is, of course, the mandatory photograph of the author with James Randi, himself (left).

March, 2005, I was inducted into the Australian Society of Magicians by the President, Charles Gauci.

I continue to be as addicted to magic as ever. Two magicians offer a great deal of virtual friendship and support from England: Ian Rowland and Lewis Jones. How lucky am I?

August, 2003, was the launch of my novel, Avenging Janie.

After ten educational titles, I finally made it into fiction and into the trade publishing world.

I knew then that nothing would ever stop me writing.

With Lothian publisher, Helen Chamberlin and editor Ngaire Ravenswood - both totally wonderful women!