Only 29 More Days

Less Than 30 Days

Coming March 1, 2011

Why count sheep when you can read about their adventures?

The Quest of the Warrior Sheep

Authors: Christine & Christopher Russell
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
(February 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 140225511X
ISBN-13: 978-1402255113

Synopsis



A silver object falls mysteriously from the sky and lands on Sal, a matronly Southdown ewe who lives happily with her sheep friends on Eppingham Farm. The sheep are convinced that an ancient ovine prophecy is being fulfilled. They must go North (so to Scotland, perhaps?), on a mission to aid Lord Aries, Sheep of all Sheepdom, Ram of Rams, in his battle against the powers of darkness in the shape of Lambad the Bad. Thus the Eppingham Posse of Rare Breed Warriors is born. In fact, the silver object is a mobile phone, dropped from a hot air balloon by Luke and Neil, who have been stealing bank money over the Internet. They need that phone back to hide the evidence. And a couple of woolbags aren't going to stand in their way! The chase is on...

After reading this book, you'll never look at sheep in the same way again.

Comments from readers:
 
"I loved this book from the first chapter to the last." -John Lloyd, The Bookbag
"Hilarious crime caper involving a gang of sheep and a mobile phone...what more could you ask for?" -Books Monthly


"...The most unlikely of all epic adventure novels you will ever come across." -James, Kid's Compass


About the Author



Christopher Russell was a mail man when he had his first radio play broadcast in 1975, having given up a job in the civil service to do shift work and have more daytime hours for writing. Since 1980, he has been a full-time television and radio script writer, and, more recently a children's novelist. His wife Christine has always been closely involved with his work, storylining and script editing, and has television credits of her own. High Hooves is the first book they have written together. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

I received an uncorrected advance copy from the publisher for this post

A Unique Aviation & Space Museum

Today I’m excited to introduce you to a unique air and space museum that you may never have heard about. The only reason I know of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is because my brother Donn lives in the area and volunteers as a guide each week.

The museum is located in McMinnville, Oregon and is rapidly becoming a destination attraction that will have it’s own lodge, water park, IMAX Theater, air museum, space museum, and much, much more.

For example, the original Spruce Goose, built entirely of wood due to wartime restrictions on metals, is located at the museum. It was built by the famous Howard Hughes.
(Photo from their web site)


The planned water park will include a variety of aquatic features, from play fountains for the little ones to a scream-inducing 62-foot slide out of the belly of a 747.

And the museum campus is hard to miss…it has the building with a full sized Boeing 747 on the roof!!!
(Photo from their web site)
Evergreen is an excellent place to learn about aviation, space exploration, and the history of America; all the way from the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle.
You can learn more on their web site at http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/


It's an education in aviation even if you only do it online.

Location:
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
500 Northeast Captain Michael King Smith Way,
McMinnville, OR 97128
(503) 434-4180


If you visit, and are lucky enough that it’s on a day when Donn Anderson is guiding tours, you’re in for an extra great experience. And Donn is a person who has always loved to read.

Barney and the Runaway releases on March 1

Pre-order NOW on Amazon

Barney and the Runaway is my next book to be published. it's the first book that will be released by Comfort Publishing and many, many more are planned. Several of these will be rleased in time for the ICRS trade show this July in Atlanta.

"Max Elliot Anderson brings a lifetime of dramatic film and video production to the pages of his action adventures and mysteries." 

Author Jerry B. Jenkins

Synopsis____________________

Barney and the Runaway
Author: Max Elliot Anderson
Audience: 8 – 12; especially boys
130 pages

Barney and the Runaway tells the story of Michael Ellis, who has recently told his parents to start calling him Mike from now on. He especially hated the way they were always telling him what to do. Mike decides to teach his parents a lesson by pretending to run away for a day with his dog Barney.


The plan gets a bit more complicated than planned when Mike and Barney hide in a railroad boxcar, fall asleep, and end up in Georgia with a circus in the middle of the night. Fortunately for the runaways, Big Bob the Clown takes Mike and Barney to safety in his wagon. Mike decides that living and performing with the circus might be a good idea until Big Bob opens Mike’s eyes to his unfortunate past.


Mike’s encounter with this grown up runaway, in the circus, helps him to understand that his parents truly love him. Then Mike and Barney save the circus. Through it all, Mike learns the importance of family.


Parents often punish their children, but only because they love and want what is best for them, not because they don’t care. Even though the life of a circus performer with a circus family may appear fun, if given a choice, most would agree that living in a warm home with loving, caring parents is the preferred choice. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” After Mike overhears some unsettling news and both he and Barney are involved in a scary and dangerous crime, Mike learns his lesson before it’s too late.

Reviews

Barney and the Runaway - March 2011



Did you ever want to run away and join the circus? Did you ever actually try it? Michael Ellis lives in Independence, MO, is waiting for his twelfth birthday, and has recently told his dad and mom that he wants to be called Mike from now on. But he has problems in school with not doing his work, and his parents always seem to be correcting him and telling him what to do, so he decides to teach them all a lesson by pretending to run away with his dog Barney. The two sneak out one night, intending to stay only long enough to scare his parents and make them appreciate him more, but the plan goes awry.


Mike and Barney climb into a railroad boxcar full of hay to spend the night, but they fall asleep and end up in Georgia with a circus. Fortunately, they are discovered by Big Bob the Clown and are taken to safety in his wagon. Big Bob tries to encourage the boy to get in touch with his parents, but Mike refuses. Barney is a smart dog, and his tricks earn him and Mike a part in the clown show at the circus. Mike begins to think that living and performing with the circus might be the answer to his problems. Meanwhile, someone is trying to sabotage the circus, and their plans might hurt Mike and Barney. Is there anything that they can do to thwart the plot? And will Mike learn anything from the story of Big Bob’s own unfortunate past that will help him understand that his parents truly love him?


Author Max Elliot Anderson grew up as a struggling, reluctant reader and knows exactly what will grab the attention of “tween” boys. I did this book as a read aloud for our fourteen-year-old son who said that it is great. There is much to commend it. Of course, it is filled with action, mystery, and excitement that will keep both boys and girls turning the pages to see what happens next. But there are also important lessons that children will be able to discern along with Mike, such as the importance of family and the fact that we often don’t appreciate what we have until it’s gone. One thing which I especially like is Big Bob's belief that God brought Mike to him so that he could explain what had happened to him as a young boy and help the boy understand his own situation better. Barney and the Runaway is a marvelous adventure book for young people that gets kudos from me.


Homeschool Book Review

 ********************


This is the story of Michael Ellis' protest against his parents for always telling him what to do and punishing him all the time. His parents and teachers are threatening summer school if he doesn't shape up. Mike feels like everyone is against him, so he will just teach them a lesson and run away.


Mike's scruffy little mutt, Barney, tags along with him as they sneak out at night. They climb into a railroad boxcar that is parked on the track and fall asleep. When Mike wakes up to jerking and clanging, he realizes the train is moving, and the door is locked. No one can hear him yelling and banging to get out. Oh boy, now what? Mike didn't really mean to run away but when the train finally stops, he is many miles from home. How did he end up in Georgia with a circus? Fortunately, Big Bob, the Clown, takes Mike and Barney under his wing and gives them a spot to sleep in his wagon.


Big Bob is sure that God brought Mike to him so he could relate what happened to him as a young boy. An old clown named Arnold rescued him, gave him a place to live, and taught him how to be a clown. Bob had no parents, but Mike has loving Christian parents to guide him.


Mike thinks being in a circus will be great fun even though Bob explains to him that a clown sometimes paints on a happy face to cover a broken heart. The show must go on, and a clown's job is to make the customers laugh so Mike and Barney both get into the act.


Someone has been trying to cause the circus to close down, and Mike and Barney overhear robbers planning to rob the circus and burn it to the ground. He must help save his new friends and the wonderful circus that he has come to love.


Max Elliot Anderson is a master at giving us exceptional characters and fast moving, exciting adventures that are inspirational and still encourage reluctant readers to enjoy books that teach them the importance of doing what is right. The very special relationships of a boy and his dog, and then an old clown and a young boy, make this a heartwarming story along with conversation starter ideas about the love of parents you will want to share with your family.


Reviewer Beverly J. Rowe © MyShelf.com

*********************************

Michael W. Ellis has a new ideal to live by, the Declaration of Independence. He's tired of doing what everyone else wants, and so he decides to run away. It seems like an adventure at first when he and his dog, Barney, wind up on a railroad car and then with a traveling circus. Big Bob takes to Mike and wants to make Barney part of the circus, since he has a very special talent that could draw crowds and make money.


The plot thickens, however, when some evil characters have other plans for Barney. When the threat grows, Mike thinks of all the times "if that hadn't happened" that have added up to one big mess. Big Bob, however, comes to the rescue but also tells Mike a story that changes everything. The bottom line is that plans go crazy and one must realize the consequences might not turn out for the best after all is said and done.


Barney and The Runaway is a great adventure story that is unpredictable and fascinating on every page. It's a great addition to the already terrific novels written by this very talented YA fiction author!!!


Posted by Viviane Crystal


*********************************


Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views


Michael Ellis is a young man who lives in the city of Independence in the “Show Me” state, Missouri. Lately however, Mike acts as if he lives in the “Make Me” state. Michael dislikes that his parents are always telling him what to do and punishing him all the time when he disobeys. Even Mrs. Whitlock, Mike’s teacher, thinks he needs to be more disciplined and accountable for his assignments. Summer school is imminent if something doesn’t change.


Mike decides to teach everyone a lesson by running off with his best friend Barney, the scruffiest, little, mixed-breed mutt alive. Barney is believed to be a cross between an alley dog and a junkyard dog, and he often misbehaves, so perhaps this is why the boy and his dog get along so fittingly.


The plan of running away gets a bit more complicated than planned when Mike and Barney hide in a railroad boxcar, fall asleep, and end up in Georgia with a circus in the middle of the night. Luckily for the runaways, Big Bob the Clown takes Mike and Barney to safety in his wagon. Mike decides that living and performing with the circus might be a good idea until Big Bob opens Mike’s eyes to his unfortunate past. Bob tells Mike that a clown paints on a happy face to sometimes cover sadness. A clown may not always be as carefree as he appears, but the show must go on. It is Big Bob’s belief that God brought Mike to him so he could explain what happened to him as a young boy. Big Bob had to depend on an old clown named Arnold to rescue him, but Mike has loving Christian parents to guide him.


“Barney and the Runaway” is a meaningful story about doing what one is told to do. Parents often punish their children, but only because they love and want what is best for them, not because they don’t care. Even though the life of a circus performer with a circus family may appear fun, if given a choice, most would agree that living within the confines of a warm home with loving, caring parents is the preferred choice. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” After Mike overhears some unsettling news and both he and Barney are involved in a scary and dangerous crime, Mike learns his lesson before it’s too late.


I enjoyed this moving piece by Max Elliot Anderson and can highly recommend it. Although written for the younger reader (age 10-12), everyone should enjoy it. The very special relationships of a boy and his dog, and then an old clown and a young boy, make this a tenderhearted tale.

Ever seen a jet that could land on WATER?

The following video is of a Russian jet that can land and take off on water. A plane like this, used by international wildlife poachers in the story, is featured in my children's adventure book,
North Woods Poachers. 

North Woods Poachers is due to be republished soon by Comfort Publishing.


Enjoy this amazing video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5i7qb2dl8s

Max Elliot Anderson: Adventures and mysteries -
you can trust - for your kids.

Audio Book of Lost Island Smugglers is Now in Production

Late last year I signed a contract with Guess Who Multimedia in Glendale, California, for an audiobook to be produced from
Lost Island Smugglers.

This audiobook will be available on CD, and as a downloadable file, and is expected to be finished in February.

Check back for details or watch for it on Amazon.com soon. And watch for more announcements concerning additional releases of new books, audiobooks, and
                               e-books.

Author Web Site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/  

Boys VS today's classroom

The following video was sent by my brother. Someone in his circle of friends sent it to him. I post it because my daughter and I have had similar discussions concerning boys, the classroom, and education. That's because she teaches 2nd grade in a public school.

Since I grew up hating to read, I now write adventures & mysteries for readers 8 and up, especially boys.

The video runs about 12 minutes. I'd be very interested in your comments after you view it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ali_carr_chellman_gaming_to_re_engage_boys_in_learning.html

Max Elliot Anderson

PS. My new book, Barney and the Runaway, comes out on March 1

North Woods Poachers is now in production for re-publishing soon.

Newspaper Caper is also in production for

re-Publishing.

Also planned for re-publishing soon are Terror at Wolf Lake, Mountain Cabin Mystery, and The Secret of Abbott's Cave.

A contract is coming next week for a new book called When the Lights go Out. This book will help children, who were not old enough at the time, to know why 9/11 is so important to our country. The book will be released for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this  
                              September.

Book # 2 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series, Captain Jack's Treasure, is now in production. Check back here for details.

I'm planning to be at ICRS in Atlanta this summer signing books. Return to this blog for developments.

Author Web Site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com  

When The Lights Go Out - A book dedicated to the memory of 9/11 for kids

My name is Max Elliot Anderson. I write action-adventures and mysteries for readers 8 and up, especially boys. It is in that context that I discovered something over recent months. Part of what I do is to speak in elementary schools. A couple of my previous books - Secret of Abbott's Cave, and Mountain Cabin Mystery - touched on what happened on 9/11, but only in passing, as part of a larger plot.

As I’ve spoken to students who are 9, 10, and even 11 years old, I've found that they know little or nothing about what happened on 9/11. Parents have written to tell me it's the same where they live.

So I decided to write a book with the purpose of not letting the next generation forget what happened.

The title of this book is,

When the Lights go Out.

Here is how the dedication reads at the front of this book:

To the memory of 9/11,

and the people who lost their lives that day,

so we never forget.

I’ve just received confirmation from my agent that When The Lights Go Out will in fact be published so that it will be released in time for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, which was my goal when I intentionally began writing it on 9/11 of 2010.

This information is being posted with the hope that you will become interested in When the Lights go Out, and will let others with whom you communicate know about it, too.
If you have any questions, my contact information follows.

Sincerely,
Max Elliot Anderson

Synopsis_________________________________

When the Lights go Out

Author: Max Elliot Anderson
Audience: 8 and Up; especially boys
Words: About 36,500

Peyton Aldrich has just moved to a new army base with his parents and younger sister. He doesn’t understand why his father was sent to such a run down place in the middle of nowhere. After all, his father was a colonel, with top security clearance, who had completed the elite Ranger school. And his training had been in Army Intelligence. Yet, here they were.

Peyton was never allowed to ask his father anything about what he did in the army. Nor was he allowed to ever get in the way. There were many secrets that he couldn’t even tell his own family.

Peyton idolized his father. One day, he hoped to grow up to be just like him. His father had told him that the army may not be for everyone, but after what happened on 9/11, somebody had to help keep the country safe.

Peyton finds two friends. Gill is the son of the base’s motor pool sergeant, and Dave’s father is the base chaplain. Together they decide to train like Rangers, and search for some kind of mission they could go on. Little did they know that a mission was about to put the boys right in the crosshairs, of a dangerous terrorist plot, when a secret weapon would be delivered to the base, on its way across the country.

There was no way he could tell his father what he knew. After all, it could cost him his job. Peyton, Gill, and Dave had to take matters into their own hands, and they do.

Will the terrorists find out who is trying to expose their evil plan? Will the boys be able to stop them? And what will happen to Peyton’s father when the general finds out what the boys did?

When the Lights go Out. A story for kids, and their parents, so we never forget.

Max Elliot Anderson P O Box 4126 Rockford, IL 61110 (815) 877-1514 mander8813@aol.com
Author Web Site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/  
Books for Boys Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/  

To the best of my knowledge, the pictures used are in the public domain.