Valley of the Giant

No, not a real giant. I mean the Jolly Green Giant.


One of the things that brings added interested to the books I write for kids, is the many experiences I’ve had while working on film or video productions.

In 2007 the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Soldier Field,in Chicago, o cover a Bears VS Cowboys game. My work has taken me all over the world. I’ve had some pretty terrifying experiences, and many wonderful times too.

A few weeks ago, I worked on a corporate video program for Green Giant which is owned by General Mills. I’m not allowed to talk about the particulars, nor to share any pictures of their packaging lines, and had to sign a confidentiality agreement first. But it was fascinating.


What I can tell you is that I now know how Nature Valley bars are made, how Steam Fresh vegetables are prepared and packaged, and a whole lot more.


Barney and the Runaway, which comes out later this year, has its roots in a dramatic film for children that I worked on several years ago. The publisher of that book will also be re-releasing Big Rig Rustlers, The Secret of Abbott’s Cave, North Woods Poachers, Mountain Cabin Mystery, Newspaper Caper, Terror at Wolf Lake, and Legend of the White Wolf. All of these stories are the direct results of film production experiences, or the travel involved in producing films and video pograms.


Hopefully these kinds of experiences will help to make my books more interesting to young readers.


And remember, Lost Island Smugglers will be released this August.