For the most part, people have been supportive. I estimate about 75 to 80 percent of the people we ask actually sign the petition. It's getting close now.

They are preventable causes of death and as physicians, we think it's important.

We worked hard on it, but the Legislature did not respond. We had some support but many of (legislators) were not as interested in the initiative as we wanted them to be.

We've had a lot of people call and say are you still open even? Is the festival still going on? How's the city?

I meet people at book signings who whisper to me, 'We are trying the spells.' And I think: Well, don't bother, because I know I just made them up. They don't work,

It's very important. It brings a lot of people in, it's the beginning of our season.