Author John Flanagan has just optioned the movie rights to his Ranger's Apprentice series to United Artists Films. UAF had begun talking with director Paul Haggis (of "Crash" and "Million Dollar Baby" fame) but negotiations were halted due to the writer's strike.

John Flanagan reports that he is thrilled by the deal. "I don't expect to peer over [the director's] shoulder saying 'No, no! You can't change that!' " the author said. "But if anyone decides that Halt, the bearded, grim-faced Ranger, should be played by Scarlett Johansson, you'll hear me screaming all the way across the Pacific. Or not."

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Eric Hill, the creator of the Spot books, including Where's Spot? (G.P. Putnam's Sons) has received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to children's literature.

He will be given the honor by the Queen of England in a ceremony in February and will be in the company of other notable honorees including singer Kylie Minogue, actor Sir Ian McKellen, and children's author Jacqueline Wilson among others.

Eric said: "I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to have received an OBE. Spot has been a huge part of my life for over 25 years and I still very much enjoy the creative process. To be honoured for something that has given me so much pleasure is quite overwhelming."

Spot first appeared in Eric's first book, ‘Where's Spot?' (G.P. Putnam's Sons) in 1980 and quickly became one of the best-loved pre-school characters of all time. Today Spot's adventures remain incredibly popular and are enjoyed around the world by millions of fans including Jude Law, Melanie Sykes and Gail Porter.

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Maoshing Ni is our guest blogger during the week of January 7th. If you have any questions for Maoshing Ni, add a comment to any of his posts. Here is some brief information about Secrets of Self-Healing:

Dr. Mao’s philosophy is simple: We all have a built-in healing ability, so why not try to activate it with natural means before we resort to drugs and invasive procedures?

For the common cold, why not exploit the power of garlic, ginger, and the herb astragalus instead of taking cold medicine that simply replaces symptoms with side effects? For insomnia, why not try to find a long term solution through acupressure or feng shui instead of popping sleeping pills, which don’t treat the source of the problem?

Chinese medicine sees well-being as a result of a balanced life, not just a healthy body. In Part One of Secrets of Self-Healing, Dr. Mao explains that healing food and herbs, exercise, a positive emotional life, a suitable living environment, and spiritual growth are all essential to vitality and lasting health. Using examples of his own patients’ experiences, he demonstrates:

-How negative emotions can make us ill
-How clutter in our homes can create imbalances in our bodies
-How Eastern and Western medicine can work together to fight cancer

Then, in Part Two, he reveals detailed home remedies for seventy common ailments, such as sore throat, allergies, high blood pressure, sunburn, insomnia, memory loss, and jet lag. Inspirational yet practical, Secrets of Self-Healing will put readers on the path to a balanced and healthy life.