What you think does matter

I love it when people read my book and ask me strange questions like, “Why did she give the rifle to Bill? She was in danger...” But some of my favorite questions come from adults who notice the subtle little gems I intentionally tucked into the story. One adult reader said, “I really thought they were going to kiss.” And yes… that was intentional. There are little moments like that throughout the book—things I included because I wanted parents to be able to enjoy the story right alongside their pre-teen or teen. I didn’t want to write a book that was just a good read for kids. I wanted to create a story where parents could sit down with their child, read together, and discover things their child might miss. Why? Because children don’t always have the maturity or life experience to recognize every little hint, emotion, or meaning hidden between the lines. That’s part of what makes reading together so much fun. Your child gets the adventure, mystery, and excitement. You might catch the...

Want to help an author write a better book? Here's your chance. I'm giving readers the first 10 chapters of Secrets of Whisper Pine: The Missing Moo FREE.  And I'm not just asking you to read them. I want your opinion. Did you love the mystery? Did a character drive you crazy? Was there a part that made you want to keep reading? Was there something you didn't like? Tell me!  I'm looking for honest feedback from real readers—not professional reviewers. You can tell me: What you loved What you didn't like What confused you What surprised you What you'd change Whether you'd keep reading Your opinion could actually help influence how I write future books. Parents, Make It a Family Challenge! Here's a fun idea:  Read the 10 chapters with your child. Then compare your answers. Who do you trust? Who do you suspect? What do you think happened to Daisy? What do you think will happen next? And here's the important part: Let your child have the final word....

 What if your child could help an author improve his next book? Most authors write a book, publish it, and hope readers enjoy it. But what if an author invited readers to be part of the process? That's exactly what I'm doing. I want to invite parents, children, teachers, grandparents, and anyone who enjoys a good mystery to read the first 10 chapters of my book, Secrets of Whisper Pine: The Missing Moo , completely FREE—and then tell me what you think. Not just what you liked. I want to hear what you really think. Did you like the characters? Was the mystery interesting? Did you want to keep reading? Was there a part that confused you? Did something surprise you? Was there something you didn't like? What would you change? What questions did you have? And most importantly: Would you want to read the rest of the story? Your opinion matters to me. A Mystery Begins with a Missing Cow Here's where the adventure starts:  Daisy disappears. Lost—or taken? Who kidnaps a prize c...

Are We Losing Our Tween and Teen Readers? According to the NEA, the percentage of 17-year-olds who read nothing for pleasure has doubled over a 20-year period. Let that sink in for a minute. Interestingly, the percentage of 9-year-olds who read almost every day for pleasure has stayed pretty steady at around 54%. So somewhere between “I LOVE books!” and “Do I have to read this?” something happens. Something terrible. School. Yes, School. I'm calling you out. But don't worry, parents. I'm calling you out, too. Fair is fair. So, What Is the Problem? Honestly, I think part of the problem is that we're asking books to compete in a pretty unfair fight. Think about what kids have available to them today. YouTube has moving pictures, music, sound effects, dramatic voices, explosions, funny animals, people doing ridiculous things, and an algorithm whose entire job is to say, “Oh, you liked that? Here are 47 more!” Video games have stunning graphics, instant rewards, challenge...

In this video, teachers share honest insights from real classrooms about declining reading habits, short attention spans, and changing student attitudes. If you're a teacher, parent, or educator, this compilation will help you understand the reading crisis—and what might be causing it. Discover a summer of mystery, suspense, courage—and secrets.   Who kidnaps a prize cow? Emily thought spending the summer on the farm would mean boring chores, wild chickens, and counting the days until she could go home. Then Daisy, the prize cow, disappears. Lost—or taken? As Emily starts asking questions, she discovers that Daisy's disappearance may be connected to something more. A cryptic clue appears. A shadowy stranger emerges. And a desperate race through dark woods pushes Emily farther than she ever imagined. Along the way, Emily must face loss, unexpected feelings, and a growing threat that could cost her everything. Because Daisy's disappearance isn't the end of the mystery. It...

Discover a summer of mystery, suspense, courage—and secrets. Who kidnaps a prize cow? Emily thought spending the summer on the farm would mean boring chores, wild chickens, and counting the days until she could go home. Then Daisy, the prize cow, disappears. Lost—or taken? As Emily starts asking questions, she discovers that Daisy's disappearance may be connected to something more. A cryptic clue appears. A shadowy stranger emerges. And a desperate race through dark woods pushes Emily farther than she ever imagined. Along the way, Emily must face loss, unexpected feelings, and a growing threat that could cost her everything. Because Daisy's disappearance isn't the end of the mystery. It's the beginning. Read the first 10 chapters FREE. If you enjoy, follow Emily in: Book 2: Secrets of Whisper Pine: Behind Hidden Doors.

Finding a book that bridges the gap between generations isn't easy. You want something with enough suspense and mystery to keep you hooked, but clean enough to share with your middle-grader or teenager. If you’re looking for a fun way to connect, turn your next read into a mini family book club. You can start right now without spending a dime. We are offering the first 10 chapters of Secrets of Whisper Pine completely for FREE . You can read it on your phone during lunch, your child can read it on their tablet after school, and you can swap theories over dinner. The Mystery That Will Get You Both Guessing: The story drops you right into the quiet, seemingly sleepy town of Whisper Pine. Emily, a city girl dealing with a heavy loss, is just trying to get through the summer when a local cow named Daisy vanishes into thin air. Who kidnaps a cow? It starts as a strange local puzzle, but Emily’s search quickly takes a dark turn. Deep woods, locked doors, and unsettling clues reveal tha...

When people ask me who I wrote my book series for, my answer is simple: children. But that's only half the story. As a parent and someone who works in the school system, I've had the privilege of watching children discover a love of reading. I've also seen the challenges families face when trying to find books that are both exciting for young readers and comfortable for parents to hand them. That perspective shaped every page I wrote. I wanted to create a story that would keep kids turning the pages because they couldn't wait to find out what happened next. At the same time, I wanted parents to feel confident that the book in their child's hands was one they could trust. Writing for children isn't just about telling a fun story. It's about recognizing that there are often two readers experiencing the book. The child is asking, "What happens next?" The parent is asking, "Is this worth our time?" As an author, I believe my job is to answer ...

How do you find a book that actually competes with screen time? Or a suspenseful read for your own nightstand that doesn't rely on graphic content to keep you turning the pages? You test drive it. Instead of guessing based on a cover, you can read the first 10 chapters of Secrets of Whisper Pine: The Missing Moo completely for FREE . No credit card, no strings attached—just dive straight into the mystery and decide if it's right for you or your family. The Mystery of Whisper Pine When Emily moves to the quiet town of Whisper Pine, she’s just trying to cope with personal loss and survive a boring summer. But the quiet doesn't last long. It starts with a bizarre crime: Daisy the cow goes missing. It sounds quirky, even funny at first. After all, who kidnaps a cow? But as Emily digs for answers, the small-town charm fades away. Strange clues lead into dark woods, locked doors hide old secrets, and Emily quickly realizes that someone dangerous is tracking her every move. Whi...

Ever bought a book based on a flashy description, only to find it wasn't what you expected? Skip the guesswork. Be the judge yourself and read the first 10 chapters completely for FREE . If you fall in love with the story, you can purchase the rest knowing it’s the perfect fit for your reading list. The Story: It’s a cozy mystery set in a quiet small town: A city girl, a missing cow, and a mystery turned dangerous. Emily’s quiet summer is turned completely upside down. Dealing with personal loss, she is suddenly thrust into a bizarre investigation when a local cow named Daisy goes missing. Who kidnaps a cow? Emily's search for answers uncovers something far worse than simple livestock theft. Strange clues, dark woods, and locked doors pull her deeper into the shadows—until she realizes someone dangerous is watching her every move. The more she learns, the clearer it becomes: Whisper Pine is not the town it pretends to be. And if Emily keeps digging, she could lose far more tha...

  As parents, many of us have faced the same challenge: finding books that our children actually want to read. For children ages 10–14, reading often has to compete with video games, social media, streaming videos, and countless other forms of entertainment. Some children eagerly pick up a book, while others seem to avoid reading whenever possible. If your child falls into the second category, you may be wondering how to spark an interest in reading without turning it into a daily battle. One surprising solution that many parents have discovered is manga. Manga, the popular Japanese style of graphic storytelling, combines engaging artwork with written dialogue and narrative. While some adults initially worry that manga is "mostly pictures," the reality is that manga can be an excellent gateway into reading for reluctant readers. The visual format helps children stay engaged while still requiring them to follow a storyline, understand character development, interpret dialogue,...

Have you ever sat on the edge of your seat, practically yelling at a book or a movie screen, "I knew it! I knew they were the one who took it!" ? There is absolutely nothing better than that feeling. None. Zero. As someone who has spent over two decades telling stories to kids—sometimes trying to keep an entire, chaotic school cafeteria dead silent just by using the power of a good cliffhanger—I can tell you a secret: kids (and adults!) don't just want to read a mystery. They want to crack it. They want to be the detective. But here’s the thing. Great mystery writers aren't magicians pulling random rabbits out of hats. They’re architects. They use a very specific, time-tested blueprint to build their puzzles. Whether you're a parent looking for a fun game to play with your kids on your next movie night, or a teacher wanting to spark some serious critical thinking in the classroom, here is the ultimate 5-part "Detective Cheat Sheet" to spot the elements ...

For some kids, the phrase "once upon a time" is a total snooze-fest. They don’t want to read about talking animals or magic wands; they want to know why the toaster gets hot, how many teeth a Great White shark has, or why the sky turns orange at sunset. If you have a child who finds fiction "pointless," don’t fight their logic—lean into it. These kids aren't "reluctant readers"; they are information seekers . The Inquiry Box challenge is a simple, low-tech way to turn their natural curiosity into a functional reading habit. How to Set Up Your Inquiry Box This method requires zero prep time and turns your next library trip into a high-stakes investigation. Step 1: The "Question Jar" Setup Find a glass jar, a shoebox, or even a clean coffee tin. Label it the "Inquiry Box" (or "The Brain Bin" if you want to be fancy) and leave it in a high-traffic area, like the kitchen counter. Place a stack of sticky notes and a pen right ...

If your child treats "reading time" like a summons to jury duty, you aren’t alone. By the middle of July, the novelty of the summer library bin has usually worn off, and the siren song of the tablet is louder than ever. The problem often isn’t the book itself—it’s the routine. Reading feels like a stationary, indoor chore. To fix it, we need to stop thinking like educators and start thinking like campers. It’s time for the Flashlight Campout , an "environment swap" that transforms reading from a standard habit into an act of forbidden fun. How to Host Your Weekly Blackout The goal here is to disrupt the "normal" house rules. When the lights go out, the atmosphere changes, and suddenly, finishing a chapter feels like a secret mission. Step 1: Declare the "Blackout Reading Hour" Once a week—Friday nights work best—declare a total blackout. At a set time (say, 8:00 PM), the main overhead lights in the living area go off. This isn’t a punishment; it’...

We’ve all been there. You’ve spent twenty minutes browsing the library shelves, finally hand your child a book you know they’ll love, and three pages in, they declare, "I’m bored." Often, kids don’t actually hate reading; they’re just stuck in a "genre rut." If they’ve only ever read survival stories, they might think that’s all reading is. If they’re tired of survival stories, they’re tired of reading. The Book Buffet Tasting is a low-pressure, high-engagement way to introduce variety and help your child discover who they are as a reader. How to Host Your Book Buffet This isn't a school assignment; it’s a tasting menu. Here is how to set the table for a successful session. 1. The "Ingredients" (The Library Haul) Head to the library on your own or with your child and grab 5 to 7 books that look interesting but represent completely different genres. Variety is the goal here—think of it as a flight of appetizers. A Graphic Novel: (e.g., Wings of Fire...

Let’s be honest: generic school reading logs are where summer fun goes to die. There is nothing that turns a child off from a good story faster than having to log "minutes studied" on a black-and-white grid that feels suspiciously like a tax return. If you want to keep your kids’ brains sharp without the nightly power struggle, it’s time to gamify the experience. Summer Reading BINGO turns the solitary act of reading into a high-stakes scavenger hunt. It stops being about "doing your work" and starts being about "completing the mission." How to Set Up Your BINGO Board You don't need to be a graphic designer to make this work. A piece of paper and a ruler (or a quick table in Word) will do the trick. 1. Create the 5x5 Grid Draw a standard BINGO board with 25 squares. Put a "Free Space" in the center—maybe that one represents "Reading in bed," since they’re probably doing that anyway. 2. Fill the Squares with "Situations" I...

Every parent knows the familiar summer struggle: the sun is shining, the "summer slide" is looming, and your child is locked in a power struggle over screen time. We want them to pick up a book; they want to pick up a remote. But what if the secret to getting them to read wasn't fighting the screen, but using it as the ultimate finish line? Enter the "Page-to-Screen" Premiere. This isn't just a reading assignment; it’s an event. By treating a book like a screenplay waiting to happen, you transform reading from a chore into a VIP pass to a family movie night. Here is how you can pull off the perfect premiere this summer. The Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Pick Your "Script" Sit down with your child and browse books that have been adapted into movies or TV series. The key here is collaboration—if they don’t like the book, they won’t care about the movie. For Younger Readers: The Bad Guys , The Wild Robot , or Charlotte’s Web . For Middle Grade: Harr...