Update: 7/13/25 – Due to the recent devastating floods in Central Texas, the amount of money I earn through this fundraiser for the North Texas Wildlife Center will also be donated to the Kerr County Disaster Relief Fund.

Today, I glanced up at my shelf of Halloween coffee mugs and dishes, waiting patiently for fall to arrive, and suddenly I remembered a dream I had Monday night. Apparently, my unconscious brain remembered that the following day was the first of the month—just not which month—because in the dream, I was getting a blue mug for my coffee when I gasped and said to my husband, “Today’s October first! We should be using the Halloween mugs!”

See you in a few months, Halloween mugs!

Sadly, it’s not October. We still have dozens of hot, humid days to get through before that glorious moment. And while I’m known to slurp my coffee from spooky cups in September, July is too early to start decorating for Halloween, even for me.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t get into the spirit for a good cause.

Something SCARY is happening at North Texas Wildlife Center, the beloved rescue organization where I volunteer. Due to a vast increase in the amount of foot traffic at the center (because soooo many people bring animals in need), NTXWC no longer meets the zoning requirements for the residential neighborhood where they’re located and must find a new home in less than 60 days. As you can imagine, this is a daunting task, both logistically and emotionally, for the people who pour their hearts and souls into saving injured and orphaned animals.

NTXWC Facebook post from June 28th.
Note: The City of Plano is not to blame. They are in their rights to enforce zoning and have made a generous exception by offering NTXWC 60 days instead of the standard 13.

Thankfully, the support from the community has been extremely positive, and people are already calling with leads on possible locations that might work. However, even if NTXWC finds a new property in time, the relocation and set-up of a whole new facility is going to be difficult and expensive. And, contrary to what a grumpy man recently told the intake staff when he was informed that he would need to drive his injured animal to the center, the organization does not receive your tax dollars. They get no state or federal funding for the services they provide.

Click the image above to watch the Fox 4 News story about the center.

So… (get ready, I’m about to connect all the dots of this blog post)… What do you do when you’re dreaming of fall, but it’s too soon to decorate for Halloween, and something scary is happening to an organization you love?

Ghost Stories for a Cause!

From now until July 31st, all proceeds from Spooky America books bought directly from my online store will be donated to the North Texas Wildlife Center. AND… everyone who places an order this month will be entered into a drawing to win a free t-shirt from the NTXWC swag shop. You get one entry per purchased book, so three books means three chances to win.

The Ghostly Tales books are perfect for anyone who…

would like to learn the haunted history of Dallas or Austin.
is taking a family trip to New England this summer.
has a child 8-12 years old who likes ghosts.
wants to pretend it’s fall even though it’s not yet.

Also, if you live in Richardson, Texas, and don’t want to pay for shipping, send me a message before you order, and I’ll give you the local discount code.

But what if I’m scared of ghosts?

No one is forcing you to read ghost stories. There are many ways to help the people and opossums and raccoons and rabbits and squirrels and skunks and hawks and herons and blue jays and bobcats and foxes and finches and turtles and turkey vultures at North Texas Wildlife Center without scaring yourself.

You can:

Make a donation.
Buy an item from their swag shop.
Contact me if you have a property in the Plano, Richardson, Garland, or Dallas area that you think might suit their needs, and I will pass along the information.
Share this post with other people who care about wildlife and/or like ghost stories.

But what if I’m scared of opossums?

There is no need to be scared of opossums. They’re adorable.

An opossum receiving care at the North Texas Wildlife Center

Thank you in advance to anyone who buys a book or makes a donation this month. You really are making a difference in the lives of animals and the people who care for them.

The Fine Print:

Only Spooky America books ordered from my online store will benefit NTXWC. I have no control over books sold in bookstores or via Amazon. Some titles have limited availability, so place your order soon if you want a specific one.
The books ordered from my store will be signed by the author (me!) and can be personalized by following the instructions on the website.
If you have any questions about your order or any problems with the site, please contact me. If you live in Richardson and want the free shipping code, let me know.
Books will be shipped within five days of your purchase date.
Everyone who orders a book will be placed in a drawing to win a free NTXWC t-shirt from their swag shop. This does not include hoodies. The winner will be contacted on August 1st and will be asked to choose the design, color, and size desired. Options are limited to the availability of the shirts in stock at that time. Items sold from the swag shop take a few weeks to arrive.
For more information on the North Texas Wildlife Center, please visit their website or Facebook page.
If you find an animal in need, text or call 469-901-9453. If the center is closed for intake, there will be a voicemail and/or automatic text message referring you to other resources, such as DFW Wildlife Hotline (972-234-9453) or ahnow.org.