Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Big Cat on the Loose is an exciting, funny short story in 2 parts

Big Cat on the Loose is an exciting, funny short story in 2 parts. It’s intended for middle grade readers and is the kind of exciting, heart-pounding, good-scary story they’ll find in my adventure & mystery books.
 
If you have children in your family, school, or circle of friends, make sure they get to read       Big Cat on the Loose.

Big Cat on the Loose (Part 1 and Part 2) a short story especially for young readers is available at http://lillian-duncan.com/
 
Here are some of my books.
Amazon Author Page
http://youtu.be/48nLqzNFBWg
My Youtube Videos

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Enough With the Snow!

 
 
I'm not sure where else to pile any more snow we might get in northern Illinois. This is the most snow we've had since we first moved here about 35 years ago.

Ugh!

Enough!
 


 

Monday, February 10, 2014

Digital Natives – Understanding Today’s Young Readers


18 Months Old


Who are the digital natives? A digital native is someone who was born during or after the introduction of digital technologies and who has interacted with digital technology from an early age. In other words, to a digital native, smart phones, computers, and other digital devices have always existed in their world. I see this today with my own granddaughters who are 19 months and 15 months old. Very early in their lives, they were already reaching for the TV remote, a cell phone, or any other items that had buttons they could push.
Back in the 1980’s, I produced a promotional video program for Nylint Toys. The company was about to roll out several large, metal, toy trucks, called Sound Machines, onto the market. It was quite a new concept at the time. This video would be the company’s new product introduction to their retailers across the country. Each truck made real truck sounds. My son appeared in the video and played with several trucks as we shot the scenes. I remember how his eyes lit up at the sounds. He was so excited when he was allowed to keep one of the prototype trucks. Right then I knew things in the toy business were about to change in a very big way.
Middle grade children today have never known a time when their toys didn’t light up, make sounds, sing, or talk to them. Before learning to walk, they had already become familiar with smart phones and the many apps available just for kids.
Marc Prensky coined the term digital native in his work "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" published in 2001. In his article, he applies the term to a new group of students enrolling in educational establishments. More recently, a description of people who were "born digital", first appeared in a series of presentations given by Josh Spear beginning in May 2007.
Not long after, the debate began among authors, publishers, booksellers, and others concerning the death of printed books taken over by electronically delivered books. One only has to look at the magazine business to see that most of the old standards have either ceased publication, or they’ve gone digital. Many new start-up magazines are offered in a digital format only.
And a publisher like Barbour who recently announced Shiloh Run Studios which will publish original direct-to-digital serialized fiction. Expect to see a lot more publishers doing the same thing.
A recent news story reported, “Bexar County, Texas has opened a new library that has no books inside. Instead the library is outfitted with iPad stations and iMacs loaded with digital books available to check out, making it the first digital library in the country.
The library is called the BiblioTech. Patrons can check out eBooks, audiobooks, and software training databases, as well as eReaders. The library also hosts computer classes and patrons can use laptops, tablets, and desktops at the branch.”

To illustrate the digital point even further, this 1-year-old thinks her printed magazine is broken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk
I’m often asked to speak to elementary students in schools. One of the first times I did this, I remember telling the students I had grown up at a time when there were no microwave ovens, no cell phones, computers, or any of the other “necessities” kids depend on today. When I tell them it seemed like our family must have been the last one in the world to have a TV, and I had to go to friends’ houses just to watch one, sighs break out across the room from those digital natives. The sighs are quickly followed by comments like, “No microwave?” “No video games?” “I couldn’t live without a TV,” “I’d die,” or “How awful.”
Today I’m participating in a new serialized story concept with a publisher and will be creating serialized stories for middle grade readers. Each story will have a number of segments, most segments end with a cliffhanger, then the story will finally reach its exciting conclusion. Next, the same characters find themselves in a new adventure or mystery. The title for this series is, “The Accidental Adventures of Kurt Benson and his friends, Riley and Jordan.” And my first mystery is, “The Cat Burglars.” Here’s a sneak peek http://maxelliotandersonaccidentaladventures.blogspot.com
            Recent research concludes that readers, adult and children, want their reading material in shorter versions, especially if it’s to be read on an electronic device. Articles ask the question, “Are Smaller, Shorter Books More Appealing to Time-crunched Readers?” The answer from several sources seems to be yes. Even my printed books are shorter than most. The reason for this is I believe it gives young readers a sense of accomplishment when they reach “The End” on the final page. I’m not asking them to commit more time than necessary in order to enjoy reading. And with this new concept of delivering each new chapter, by subscription, for reading on digital devices, middle grade readers will have new options for their reading time.
I’s never been more important to get kids reading, no matter where they choose to find their information. And exciting stories, with cliffhanger chapter endings, delivered to their smart phones and other devices, are a great place to start attracting the digital natives all around us.


Bio for Max Elliot Anderson

Max Elliot Anderson grew up as a struggling reader.  After surveying the market, he sensed the need for action-adventures and mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys.

Using his extensive experience in the production of dramatic motion pictures, videos, and television commercials, Mr. Anderson brings that same visual excitement and heart-pounding action to his stories. Most books have different characters, setting, and plot.

Ten books are published, ten more are under contract, with several additional manuscripts completed. Young readers have reported that reading one of his books is like actually being in an exciting movie.
 
Books for Boys Blog:  http://booksandboys.blogspot.com  






 


Saturday, February 01, 2014

Blog of the Year at Book Fun Magazine!


Voted Blog Of The Year

   For 2013 At
 
Book Fun Magazine!
 
 
That's right!
This blog, Books for Boys, came in # 2 by voters
as one of the best blogs for 2013 at
Book Fun Magazine. 
Read an interview, conducted by best-selling author Bill Myers, for more details. You'll find it on page 137 of the February, 2014 issue here: http://www.bookfunmagazine.com/i/252706
Books you can trust for readers 8 and up.

The Sam Cooper Adventure Series

LOST ISLAND SMUGGLERS
Book #1 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series

Sam Cooper had just moved to Harper's Inlet when he met Tony. Tony's father owned a marina. Sam, Tony, and Tyler took scuba lessons together. After they completed the course, the boys decided to try out their new skills in the real world...the ocean. The only problem was, no one had permission. Everything went well until the biggest storm Tony had ever seen blew up from out of nowhere, and the boys found themselves stranded on Lost Island. But, if they thought the worst had happened, they were wrong!
CAPTAIN JACK’S TREASURE 
Book #2 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series

Sam Cooper lives right near the ocean, on the Treasure Coast of Florida. All he's heard about since he moved here are the fabulous treasures that have been found, and those still waiting to be discovered. Sam, Tony, and Tyler are convinced that they will be the ones to dig up the next great find. They meet a crusty sea captain named Jack who's fixing up an impossible looking old tub. What is Captain Jack's mysterious secret? And what is he really planning to do with that boat?

RIVER RAMPAGE
Book #3 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series

Sam Cooper and his friends have the chance of a lifetime to go rafting down the mighty Colorado River. The rains have been heavy this season, turning the raging river even more treacherous. The boys’ become separated from the main group, their rubber raft is going flat, and now they’re on their own. They have their hands full with a crusty prospector, his gold mine, a gang of outlaw bikers, and a desperate river escape on their makeshift wooden raft.
Think that’s the worst that could happen? Well, it isn’t.
Comfort Publishing Adventure Series
WHEN THE LIGHTS
GO OUT

Peyton Aldrich's father is an Army colonel, who specializes in Army intelligence. His work is always top secret, which means he can't even discuss it with his own son. Peyton idolized his father, who believes that after what happened on 9/11, somebody had to help keep the country safe. Now, Peyton, along with his family, find themselves stationed at a new army base, in the middle of nowhere. After his arrival, Peyton finds two friends, Gill and Dave. Together they decide to train like Rangers, and search for some kind of mission to accomplish on their own. 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.

BARNEY AND
THE RUNAWAY
Mike hated the way his parents were always telling him what to do. Along with his dog, Barney, he decides to teach them a lesson by pretending to run away for a few hours. The plan gets complicated 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. After his experiences away from home, Mike learns the importance of family, and that you don’t appreciate what you have until its gone.
LEGEND OF
THE WHITE WOLF

Brian Fisher discovered a white wolf pup caught in a trap and set it free. Since then, Brian was convinced that he and the wolf shared a special bond. Stung by the disbelief of his family and friends, Brian sets out to prove that his fantastic story is true. He soon finds himself lost out in a snowstorm and attacked by a mountain lion. When a group of lawless hunters begins killing off the wolf population, Brian is caught right in the middle! An eleven-year-old boy, a mysterious white wolf, a dangerous band of illegal hunters, and all the excitement of the rugged outdoors near Yellowstone National Park.
 
NEWSPAPER CAPER

Tom Stevens was a super salesman. He and his friends delivered newspapers early every morning. Along their route, the boys often saw some pretty strange things. Then one day, they actually became the story in the papers they delivered. Early in the morning, while it was still dark, the three boys stumbled across some suspicious activity. A begins to hook up an expensive car in someone's driveway along their paper route, but when the tow truck driver sees the boys, he drives off leaving the car behind. Tom reads in the paper the next morning about a string of car thefts around the area. He begins to see a connection between a local car repair shop and the thefts. The boys' adventures begin as they take matters into their own hands and investigate the car thefts. They befriend an elderly widow whose car was stolen, encounter vicious guard dogs and the thieves themselves at the chop-shop. But it's Tom who proves to be the one who carries this mystery to its dangerous conclusion. tow truck TERROR AT



            WOLF LAKE 

Eddy Thompson's hero is John Dillinger, one of the most dangerous bank robbers in American history. So it's no surprise that Eddy cheats on anything, anytime, anywhere. With school out for Christmas, Eddy's father invites Chet, Rusty, and their fathers to drive up to a cabin he owns on Wolf Lake, Michigan, for ice fishing, tobogganing, and winter fun. But something happens there that will change Eddy's life. One day, two real bank robbers toss their stolen cash over the fence at Eddy's cabin in hopes to come back for it later, as police sirens race toward them. Of course, Eddy wants to keep it, and that's when their troubles really begin. With so much danger closing in and with the help of his friends, Eddy realizes how wrong it is to cheat. But the terror doesn't end there and follows them all the way back home.
NORTH WOODS POACHERS

The Washburn families have been coming to the same cabins, on the same lake, catching the same fish, for about as long as Andy can remember. And he's sick of it. This summer would be different he decided. Only he never imagined how different. The story is filled with excitement, danger, humor, and drama. In the end, Andy learns the concepts of family tradition, that God loves justice while He hates injustice, and it is important to follow the rules. Readers will enjoy the gigantic, jet-powered floatplane, computers, home made radio transmitter, and naturally, no one will ever forget Big Wally. He’s a fish of course.
 
THE SCARECROW
Billy lived in a pitiful place in the city with his mother and younger sister, Becky. Finally, his mother could no longer take care of the children. One fateful day, a judge ordered that they had to be removed from the house. The children thought that would be okay until they learned that they wouldn’t be going to the same place together. Billy found himself on a remote farm with an aunt and uncle who never had children. He withdrew and didn’t speak at all for a long time. As his uncle gave him a tour of the farm, Billy was startled when he first saw the scarecrow. He wasn’t certain at first, but he was pretty sure the scarecrow whispered something to him. Later, in his mind, he and the scarecrow became best friends, and did everything together. This concerned Billy’s uncle who, in time, showed him he could have a friend who would stick closer than a brother.

"Max Elliot Anderson brings a lifetime of dramatic film and video production to the pages of his action adventures and mysteries."        Jerry B. Jenkins, Author
"Sam Cooper Adventures are like good, family movies . . . as an ordinary kid finds himself in exciting and extra-ordinary adventures!"        Bill Myers - Author
60 pages of reviews
http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com

My Youtube Videos  http://www.youtube.com/user/Maxbooks100?feature=watch

These exciting books are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Lemony Snicket, Jack London, and others. They can be ordered from any bookstore, are available at Amazon and Banres and Noble & others online, and are available as ebooks.