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What Working Around Kids Taught Me About Telling a Good Story

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After more than 13 years working in the school system, I've learned something interesting: If you want to understand what makes a good story, spend some time around children. I've spent a good portion of my life around elementary school children. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that children are some of the most interesting people you'll ever meet. They are funny, unpredictable, curious, honest, and sometimes ask questions that leave you wondering how to respond. Working in a school cafeteria (Lunch duty) has given me a front-row seat to all of it. Over the years, I've told countless stories, shared riddles, made jokes, and tried to get a cafeteria full of children to laugh. Sometimes it works beautifully. Other times, well, let's just say my audience isn't always impressed. But somewhere along the way, I discovered that working with children was teaching me something I never expected. It was teaching me how to become a better storyteller...
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Free Family Mystery Night: Printable Clue Cards + Discussion Questions

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Looking for a simple way to turn an ordinary evening into something a little more exciting? You don’t need fancy games, screens, or a complicated setup. Sometimes all it takes is a few printed cards, a notebook, and the chance to talk about clues together. I’ve put together a free Family Mystery Night kit inspired by the world of Whisper Pine. It’s designed for parents and kids (roughly ages 9–14) who enjoy solving puzzles, noticing details, and talking about what they think. What’s Included The printable PDF contains: Eight simple clue cards set in a small-town farm mystery   Discussion questions you can use with the cards or while reading   Easy instructions for a short family activity   A few tips for keeping the conversation light and fun You can use the cards on their own as a quick detective game, or pair them with the free sample chapters o f * Secrets of Whisper Pine: The Missing Moo . How to Host a Family Mystery Night 1. Print the PDF (regular pap...
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Why I Put Hidden Clues in My Mystery Stories

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  Why I Put Hidden Clues in My Mystery Stories Have you ever read a mystery, decided you knew who was responsible, and then discovered you were completely wrong? I love that moment! As a mystery writer, one of my favorite things to do is give readers clues. Some are important. Others might lead you in the wrong direction. And sometimes, a small detail that seems unimportant at first turns out to matter much more than you expected. But here's something I really enjoy: readers don't always notice the same things I do when I write a story. And that's part of the fun! The Secret Behind a Good Mystery Imagine you're visiting a farm, and someone tells you that a prize-winning cow has disappeared. You might immediately wonder: Did someone steal the cow? Did it escape? Who was the last person to see it? Why would anyone want to take it? Now imagine that, while searching for the cow, you discover a strange key, overhear a suspicious conversation, and notice someone acting differ...
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