Happy birthday, Michael Bond.

British author Michael Bond, beloved for his creation of Paddington Bear, turns 81 today. In mysterydom, Bond is known for his hilarious series featuring Guide Michelin critic and sleuth Monsieur Pamplemousse and his faithful if somewhat bemused dog Pommes Frites. M. Pamplemousse's latest mysterious outing is Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Militant Midwives. Bond received an OBE in 1997 for his contributions to children's literature.

I once tried to convince Bond to write a short story featuring Paddington as "Hercule Bearot," to which he replied, "The mind boggles." Instead, he wrote "Monsieur Pamplemousse Tells the Tale," which appears in Malice Domestic 7.

Bond's vastly entertaining memoir Bears and Forebears talks about his work at the BBC and his writing career, including one of the funniest accounts of an out-of-control author tour.