the Jedi Readers, a boys book club!

David, a Jedi reader!

This is so cool! A mom in the City of Falls Church, Virginia sent this photo of her seven-year-old son David reading The Clue at the Bottom of the Lake, #2 in the Cabin Creek Mysteries series. I'm honored and thrilled by Trish's wonderful letter:

     My 2^nd grader, David, asked me to start a book club for him. I was delighted. David is not a big reader – so I jumped at the opportunity to set up a fun way for him (and his wonderful group of friends) to start reading together.  Our very first meeting was yesterday at our little park across the street under the Gazebo. 

     The weather was perfect for us – no clouds, wonderful sunshine, and in the 70’s. 

     Since David came up with the idea for the club – he was tasked to pick the first book. He asked his older brother Ben to help him out. Together they decided on the Cabin Creek Mysteries – Book One – The Secret of Robber’s Cave.  The boys LOVED the book.  Since David and I hosted the first gathering, I acted as ‘moderator’. I asked each child what their favorite part of the book was (and why), and which character they liked most (and why)….I asked them to try and use descriptive words when describing their favorite locations (i.e. was the cave dark, was it damp, were the walls slimy..etc). 

     The kids then picked a ‘club name’ – they came up with the Jedi Readers.  They’ll meet again in June.  Most are already going to start on ‘The Clue at the Bottom of the Lake’.   

     So the point of my email – to thank you. You have reached a group of very rowdy 2^nd graders – and you have ‘caught them’ – started a love of reading.

Yay!! Thank you, Trish.

Young reader loves mysteries

Young readers warm my heart!

Katelin in Colorado just turned eight and is excited about birthday gifts from her great-grandparents [PHOTO, left]:  a sweet little jewelry box and a Cabin Creek Mystery: The Case of the Spying Drone.

Happy Birthday, Katie! I hope you have fun reading about Jeff, David, and Claire as they investigate the mysterious quadcopter.

New Cabin Creek Mystery: The Case of the Spying Drone

Hello reading friends!
    I'm excited to announce #8 in the Cabin Creek Mystery series:

The Case of the Spying Drone, with illustrations by my son, Cody Rutty.

     Research was a blast, especially with my cousin, Scott Gregory, who gave me an expert tutorial [PHOTO, below]. On a blustery, gray day in Chico, California my uncle and I watched Scott's drone soar over the canyon of Upper Bidwell Park. From his computer screen our bird's-eye view showed us the volcanic cliffs dotted with manzanita and blooming Buckbrush, the creek far below.  It was beautiful and inspired several scenes in my story.

    And since many of you have written and asked to see more of Mr. Wellback, here he is! I hope you enjoy this next adventure:  

     During spring break, college student Ariel (from #3, The Legend of Skull Cliff), takes the cousins and family friend, Mr. Wellback, camping as her assistants: She has grant money to study wildlife with a drone. But when someone breaks into their tents and steals Claire's diary and David's sketchbook, the cousins feel they're being watched. And when a different drone hovers while they're fishing, the kids set out to investigate who is spying on them, and why?

paperback & e-book

New release: Seeds of Hope, Gold Rush Diary

Cover design by Cody Rutty

Hello everyone! I'm happy to announce a new release for
Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild, California 1849.  This sequel to Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie is for readers 10-16 and was originally published by Scholastic for the Dear America series. Now available in paperback and as a Kindle e-book, it includes an historical note and e-links to a Teacher's Discussion Guide and Author Interview.
   I hope you enjoy Susanna's adventures in the wild camp of Miner's Creek: danger, heartbreak, and the joy of family and new friends.

New releases: Hope's Revolutionary War Diaries 1-3

Five Smooth Stones

We Are Patriots

When Freedom Comes

Red, White, and Blue! I'm happy to announce the re-release of Hope's Revolutionary War Diaries #1-3, for young readers 7-10 years old. Originally published by Scholastic for the My America series, they're now available on Amazon, as an e-book and in paperback. Handsome new covers designed by Cody Rutty.

For research, I made several trips to Philadelphia and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I love writing about Colonial America because some of my ancestors served in Washington's army -- and some fought for the British.  The character of Miss Sarah is based on Betsy Ross, and the setting is on the cobbled street where she lived.

I hope you enjoy reading Hope's diaries as she describes school, a forbidden friendship and serving enemy soldiers when they quartered with her family.

Pulitzer Winner in Boise

Boisean Tony Doerr

You heard right.  Boise.

Our community is extremely proud of our neighbor, Anthony Doerr, winning the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for literature for his novel, All the Light We Cannot See.

Congratulations, Tony!

Manhattan Beach Library

My home town! In the 60s, the library in Live Oak Park was a favorite refuge. A few of us neighborhood kids started the Manhattan Beach 4th Street Book and Snack Club. That wasn't its official name, but that's how we thought of it. We rode our bikes to the pier then up the hill to the library where whispering--quiet whispering--was strictly enforced. There we roamed the stacks until we each found a book to check out, its plastic cover then crackling against our handlebars as we rode home, fast, because of the treats that awaited us. It was the best part of the club, eating our snacks while looking out at the ocean. Though we rarely discussed the stories we read, we sure had fun.