And so, on Sunday, summer didn't just come to a close, but so did our summer serial. The last installment of Cary J. Griffith's "Savage Minnesota" ran on the Variety cover, ending both the mystery and the story. (If you missed it, or missed any installments, or want to read it again, you can buy the e-book on our Website.)

The story was a fun one, set in Minneapolis and the south suburbs, a murder mystery with plenty of local color (and local wildlife).

And now we are starting to scout around for next summer's masterpiece. Got one? You know you do. The story does not have to be set in Minnesota (though that helps) and it does not have to be a murder mystery, or a mystery at all (though mysteries do make good page-turners). You do not have to live here (though that also helps). The manuscript does have to be appropriate for a family newspaper, and it must be something that we can split into about 75 or 80 or 100 installments.

If you have an unpublished manuscript (unpublished either in print or online) that you would like us to consider, please email the first chapter (and only the first chapter) to books@startribune.com. If we like it, we'll ask to see more.

We will consider entries through Oct. 31.

Happy writing!