School Visit

I had the enjoyable opportunity, earlier today, to speak to around 150 students at Calvary Christian School in Naperville, Illinois. We started out in a general session with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades together. That’s where I gave the bulk of my program called Imagine. http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/whats_new.html

The program includes music, sound effects, and information about how a book gets published. I also discussed the process of how and why I write books for tweens.

Next we moved into individual classroom settings where I read two chapters from an unpublished manuscript. Students then had the option of writing what they thought happens next, or how they thought the story would go, or how they thought the story would end. Those who wanted to, read their paragraphs out loud. It’s always interesting to hear the wealth of ideas.

The principal, Mr. Emery Risdall set up a book table for parents and students who were interested in purchasing copies of my books. Everyone had a good time, including me.

I'm available for a limited number of school and library visits each year.

I Hate Reading

Here's a story I think you'll enjoy.

Growing up as a reluctant reader, I feel like I could have written the book myself back then.

Arthur and Henry are two actual kids. They created this book, I Hate Reading, one day when they didn’t want to do their 20-minutes-a-day reading requirement.

Enjoy the article.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/living/education/story/589011.html

Funny Signs

I like to collect humorous signs.

No…I don’t climb up on a pole, with a screwdriver and a wrench, and actually take them down, like a few college students I know, but I like to remember them. When I have a camera along, I make a point to keep them that way.

On a filming assignment in Virginia a few years ago, I found this one at a small airfield. We were about to go up to do some aerial video shooting.

Look at it for a moment. Now, does this mean that it’s okay to trespass…DURING business hours? That struck me funny.

What are some of the funniest signs you’ve seen?

Max Elliot Anderson
Action-Adventure & Mystery Author for Tweens

Readkiddoread

Here's a link to a Publishers Weekly article about a ten year-old reluctant reader boy. What’s interesting is that his father is author James Patterson.

I, too, grew up as a reluctant reader, and my father published over 70 books. That’s why I began writing action-adventures & mysteries especially for boys who may also struggle with reading today.

You’ll find the article interesting. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631120.html?nid=2788

Max Elliot Anderson

The Boys Project

Shortly after I began writing books for boys, I came across an organization while searching the Internet. It’s called
The Boys Project.

From their web site

The Boys Project


The mission of The Boys Project is to help young males develop their capabilities and reach the potential that their families and teachers know they have. The Boys Project seeks to accomplish for young men what the Girls Project so successfully accomplished for young women - to increase academic skills, to increase college success, and to develop the confidence, drive, and determination to contribute to American society.




The "Boy Crisis"


Since the late 1970's, young women have soared in college attendance while young men have stagnated. Young men's literacy is declining. Many young men are disengaging from school. Young men are less likely to be valedictorians, to be on the honor roll, and to be active in organizations like student government. Young men are more likely to get D's and F's, to be suspended or expelled from school, to drop out of school, and to commit suicide.
We are losing young boys to a sense of failure that comes from schooling poorly adapted to their needs. We are losing adolescent males to the depression that comes from feeling neither needed nor respected. We are losing young men to life tracks that include neither college nor any other energetic endeavor.

The Boys Project seeks to:


1. Showcase colleges, schools, teachers, and organizations that have succeeded in engaging young men, increasing their academic success, and developing drive and ambition.


2. Educate families, educators and the public about the challenges our young boys are facing.


3. Develop federal, state, and foundation initiatives that support relevant research and necessary legislative change.


I would encourage you to spend time exploring The Boys Project web site if you’re concerned about the education or the reading skills of the boys in your life. Read more about The Boys Project at http://www.boysproject.net/

Ordering Books For Boys

Some have asked about ordering my books. Here is what you need to know. You can find all the book covers at the end of this post.

LAY UPS AND LONG SHOTS is available through most bookstores and on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com , and other online sites. I can’t sell individual copies of this title. It is also a Junior Library Guild selection, and I understand it may be going into its second printing soon.

NEWSPAPER CAPER is out of print, but I do have copies from the publisher available.
TERROR AT WOLF LAKE is out of print and I have no copies.

All other titles can be ordered on Amazon, or directly from me. If you order from me, books are $10.00 each and shipping is a flat fee of $5.00 until March 1, 2009.

If ordering from me, be sure to tell me who to sign the books to, and send your check to:

Max Elliot Anderson
P O Box 4126
Rockford, IL 61110

You can find over 50 pages of reviews at http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

All books are ranked by Accelerated Reader. Kids like this because of the points they can earn.

Extreme cold experiments for your kids today

All the schools in our area are closed today, due to the cold. But that doesn't mean that children can't learn something from it. So, if your kids are home from school, get them off the couch, away from the TV or computer and video games, and let them try a couple of extreme cold experiments if you also live where it's very cold this morning. Homeschoolers, this can be your science lesson for the day : ))

Here are some experiments your children can try.

1. In this photo, I've just thrown hot water into the sub-zero air in Rockford, IL. It instantly turns to snow and vapor. Boys might want to put lukewarm temperature water into their mouths and spray it into the air.

2. If you have any leftover bubbles from last summer, blow them into the air and see what happens.

3. Take a glass or cup of hot water, and one of cold. See which one forms ice first.

Please add yours here if you have others, and pass this link on to your friends http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/ .

Have fun.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author of action-adventures & mysteries especially for tweens.

Winter – I wonder About My Sanity – Wonderland

For those who live in warmer climates, I thought I’d give you a glimpse of winter in Illinois this season. When I woke up this morning it was -15 and the forecast for tomorrow is for -25. I understand that conditions are even worse in Minnesota.

Every few minutes I can hear a loud crack up on the roof, much like the sound of cracking ice on a great, frozen lake.

I’ve shoveled more “global warming” this winter than in the first two years we lived here, having moved to Rockford a little over 30 years ago, into a couple of the worst winters in years.

Our daughter is the smart one. She went to school at Auburn University, in Alabama, and accepted a teaching job in the Orlando area, although the temps down there are expected to be in the 30’s.

Our cat, Aubey, named after the mascot at Auburn, asked to go out this morning. Once she hit that Arctic air, she spun right around and darted back inside, choosing to use the litter in the basement instead.

But it’s our son and his wife I feel for the most this morning. They just returned to their home in Chicago, from a two-week missions trip to India, where the average temp each day was in the 80’s.

My son and I are hoping for a break in mid-February when we make our annual trip to the Daytona 500. With a year like this, I may not come back : ))

I hope you’ll post a comment about conditions at your house today.

Mentoring Boys with Books For Boys

I’d like to direct your attention to an organization that is mentoring boys. It’s called Boys Smarts. They have a newsletter, and other resources to help you. The following is taken from their web site:

“Educators and parents hoping to inspire boys to excel at school now have a new tool at their disposal; Boy Smarts - Mentoring Boys for Success at School. In this book, you will find 100 imaginative and practical guidelines for authentic engagement in meeting boys' varied learning needs. The guidance offered here can help parents and teachers in the challenging task of understanding each boy as an individual while also working toward a community plan to raise boys' school achievement. The common sense approach offers to lay the groundwork for an action plan to mentor boys for school success - a manual for kick-starting boys integrity.”

Their web site is located at http://www.mentoringboys.com/boy_smarts.html

My publisher is also having success with mentoring boys through the use of some of my action-adventures & mysteries. One of the books they use is Legend of the White Wolf. There are other related materials to help you, and you can reach the publisher at marvin@btconcepts.com to find out more. Put “mentoring” in the subject line.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author of Books for Boys.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson

Because I’m an author of action-adventure and mystery books for boys, James Patterson’s publisher asked if I’d be interested in reviewing his new book, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.

I’ve been a fan of some of Patterson’s work, but that was mostly because of the films that were made from his books. Remember, I’m still a bit of a reluctant reader. I also support his efforts to get kids reading through his new web site, http://www.readkiddoread.com/

I could talk about the fact that Daniel is an alien, and his parents were aliens too. After they are killed, Daniel takes up where they left off, with a list that his parents left behind.
But you’ll have no trouble finding reviews of this new book from other sources. Amazon alone has nearly 100 of them. I’d rather tell you about the book from the perspective of the reluctant boy reader.

My primary impression is that this would have been exactly the kind of book I wish I could have found as a boy. It has short chapters. Some are less than two pages, and the sentences tend to be short with a lot of dialog.

The book would be good for young readers as a gateway to reading. It‘s geared, in my opinion, to the same age of reader that I target; boys 8 and up.

If you have a tween boy in your family, or circle of family or friends, who likes science fiction stories about aliens, and heroes with super powers, you might try The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.

Max Elliot Anderson

How Can We Make Boys Love Reading?

Here is a link to a very interesting survey, How Can We Make Boys Love Reading? Some Answers from Literate Men. I think you'll find the information helpful and informative.

The web site states, "We recently surveyed several of our male authors and illustrators on their reading experiences and what they do to get boys to read, and will be posting their responses at the beginning of January. You can see it at http://www.leeandlow.com/p/boys.mhtml ."

Max Elliot Anderson

A Legacy of Books for Boys

I should have known it.

Even though I grew up as a reluctant reader, my father was the author of over 70 books. Early in his writing career, he also wrote books for boys. Yet I never would have expected that I might start writing action-adventures & mysteries especially for tween boys.

In this picture, you can see two of his early titles. Winky solves a Mystery was published in 1948 by Zondervan, and Winky and the Ghost Lion was published in 1950. My father became my biggest supporter when I began writing in 2001. On the 23rd of this month, he would have been 91, and I really miss him. You can still buy some of the old copies of his books here: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=ken+anderson&sts=t&tn=winky&x=31&y=14

I guess it takes a reluctant reader to understand one. That’s probably why my books are connecting with young readers, as reported by parents, librarians, teachers, grandparents, and the readers themselves. What interests me is that avid boy readers, girls, and even adults like the books I write today.

If you have any questions, just let me know.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author

The Truth About Boys (and Girls) and What To Do About It

As an author of action adventures & mysteries, written especially for boys, I'm always interested in finding articles where people, "get it." By that I mean that there is a very good reason why I write books for boys the way I do.

Boys are different. And when it comes to the material they like to read, they are really different.

I hope you enjoy this article, "The Truth About Boys (and Girls) and What To Do About It." After you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.homeeducator.com/FamilyTimes/articles08/88-2.html

Max Elliot Anderson

Message in A Bottle

You might remember that I sent a message in a bottle last May. Here's a picture of that bottle. It was launched into the Rock River near my home in Rockford, Illinois. This was also the summer of some of the worst flooding on record. The finder will be given a free set of all of my books.

My bottle should have traveled along the Rock River, potentially reaching the Mississippi. However, no one has contacted me about finding it yet.

I have something a little different planned for this spring, but I thought you would enjoy reading about another message in a bottle that did make it into the hands of someone, 800 miles from where it was launched.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977537316&grpId=3659174697247731&nav=Groupspace

Who knows, my bottle might still be found one day.

Max Elliot Anderson

Reading is for Boys, Part I

This link takes you to an excellent article about books for boys and reading.

http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Reading-is-for-Boys-Part-I

Part 2 added 12/10/08

http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Reading-is-for-Boys-Part-II

Talking About Books for Boys

One of the joys of writing books for boys, is the opportunity to speak, about writing, to students in elementary schools. Not long ago, I was invited to speak to a 4th grade class at Immanuel Lutheran School in Belvidere, Illinois. They sent me a letter, signed by all of the students, and this picture.

Boys Behavior & Books for Boys

I’d like to introduce you to Boys Behavior http://boysbehavior.com/ . This site is run by Troy Parish, and you can find many useful articles and resources for boys here.

Troy also has a recommended reading list of books for boys at http://boysbehavior.com/Reading-Books-for-Boys.html and I’m pleased to see that some of my action-adventures and mysteries are listed there along with many other books.

Books For Boys Make Great Gifts For Christmas!

This

Christmas

Remember

Books

For

Boys.

Max Elliot Anderson

Action-Adventures

& Mysteries especially

for tween boys,

that girls love reading too!

Author web page http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

Over 50 Pages of Reviews

http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

There's Still Time To Get Signed Copies Of My Books For Boys, For Christmas

This is a final reminder in 2009 for you to order signed copies of my books for Christmas…but you’d better hurry.

SPECIAL PRICE: From now until Christmas 2009, my books are available for $10.00 each.

I’LL PAY SHIPPING: From now until Christmas 2009, I’ll pay the shipping costs.

Here are the titles I have available. Make sure to send me the name that each book is to be autographed for, along with your mailing address, and your check.
Mail to:

Max Elliot Anderson
P O Box 4126
Rockford, IL 61110

Do it today!

Action-Adventures & Mysteries by Max Elliot AndersonBooks that children love to read, especially boys. All books are rated by Accelerated Reader. Send your child on an exciting journey at this limited offer price.

NEWSPAPER CAPER $10.00 0-9729256-4-3Tom 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. Readers will like the humor, attack dogs, car thieves, and the chop shop Tom and the others uncover. This story reminds us of how important friendship is. It also teaches God isn't just for emergencies. He wants to guide our lives every day.

NORTH WOODS POACHERS $10.00 0-9729256-8-6The 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.

MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY $10.00 0-9729256-3-5Scott and his friends had dreamed and prepared for their first wilderness camping adventure. When they become separated from their group in a mountain fog, trouble begins. There was that bear, the decrepit suspension bridge over a bottomless gorge, the sheer cliff in the dark, those terrorists in the remote cabin, the Army, the helicopter ride, and…This story reminds us what happens if one of God's lambs is lost.

BIG-RIG RUSTLERS $10.00 0-9752880-1-6Todd and Amanda live with their parents in a Midwestern city. The family doesn’t go to church. The children are invited to visit their uncle, aunt, and cousin Drew, on their Wyoming ranch over spring break. Todd learns, in a unique way, why stealing is wrong. He decides to choose a new path for his life because of his uncle’s Christian example. A band of high-tech cattle rustlers are caught, revealing that Todd was also wrong about Travis, a shadowy character.Read about the round up, rattlesnake, and rustlers.

SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE $10.00 0-9752880-0-8A detective, a police scanner, and a cave offered possibilities for danger and excitement. Who are the real heroes in America? Randy and his friends pooled their resources to go cave exploring, discovered the hidden loot from a bank robbery, and learned they weren't heroes at all.

LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF $10.00 0-9752880-3-2They didn’t call him a liar; they just couldn’t believe his story. Brian Fisher was determined to prove it was true even though it involved the risk to his own safety. His rescue of a wolf pup from a steel trap results in a mysterious relationship with surprising results. The story is set in the lower elevations near Yellowstone

Over 50 Pages of Reviews http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving

These are a few that got away.

Have a great day!

Max

Maybe Next Year

It wasn't the best year for the # 24 this season, but at least he was in the chase.

My son and I make the annual trek to Daytona, each February, for the start of the NASCAR season. Already have our tickets for February, 2009.

I’ve been following Jeff Gordon since his rookie season in the sport. My son is a lawyer in Chicago, and he cheers for Earnhardt Jr.

Do you have a favorite driver? Leave a comment if you do.

Max Elliot Anderson

A Great Books For Boys Ad I Agree With

That's an ad I agree with.

This ad, and its web site, were inspired by James Patterson, because his son didn't like to read. I encourage you to check out his site.

After a recent Christmas, I received the following email.

“I gave my son (11) a couple of your books for Christmas. He is definitely a reluctant reader...I have to be on his case constantly to get him to read. When he opened the package I could tell he was not too thrilled with getting books until he saw that you wrote them. "

"Oh, these are THAT guy's books...thanks, Mom!"

"Later in the day I mentioned to him that I expected him to read the books."

He said "You don't have to tell me that, Mom...I want to read them!"

"As a Mom who is almost never without a book in her hand, it really warmed my heart to see him excited about reading!

Thanks, Max! And please, keep them coming!”

So, I hope you'll consider giving some of my books to the children in your life this Christmas too.

Max Elliot Anderson

See the above web site at http://www.readkiddoread.com/

Books for Boys Who Are Reluctant Readers

I grew up as a reluctant reader. And this was in the home where my father who authored over 70 books. There may be a reluctant reader in your family or circle of friends.

At the end of 2001, I decided to do some research into why I hadn’t liked reading, and I found some startling patterns. So I began writing the kinds of books I WOULD have enjoyed as a child.

My books have larger print. I use shorter sentences, with lots of dialog, humor, and heart-pounding action and adventure. Readers won’t find big blocks of words, or endless descriptions.

Maybe these books will be the answer you’re looking for because I believe that a reluctant reader is simply a person who hasn’t found the right book yet.

If you try one or more of these books for Christmas this year, things might be different at your house with your reluctant reader.

Available on Amazon, and all are ranked by Accelerated Reader.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author

PS. Signed books can be ordered directly from me, just email for details. mander8813@aol.com

Featured in Homeschooling Today Magazine

I received confirmation that my author interview appears in the current issue of Homeschooling Today Magazine. The November/December 2008 issue has arrived in mailboxes, at local Christian bookstores, and Barnes & Noble.

The interview was conducted by Marilyn Rockett. Marilyn is well respected in homeschooling circles, and is the author of the popular book, Homeschooling at the Speed of Life.

Homeschooling Today Magazine has a readership of 80,000.

I write action-adventures & mysteries especially for boys, that girls love to read too.

Max Elliot Anderson

50 Pages of Reviewshttp://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Author web pagehttp://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

James Patterson’s Son Doesn’t Like to Read

James Patterson’s Son Doesn’t Like to Read

It’s true, his son Jack said in the November 10 issue of People Magazine. “With lots of books for kids, their parents want them to read. But it’s not something the kid wants to read.”

This caught my attention because I grew up hating to read too. My father also was the author of over 70 books, and I never read any of them. Today, I’m writing action-adventures and mysteries that I would have liked as a child.

James Patterson is now also writing books for younger readers, after having a reluctant boy reader, right under his own roof. He has recently established a new web site called Readkiddoread ( http://www.readkiddoread.com/ ). I’m very encouraged by this as well.

I began writing books for tween boys at the end of 2001. It has been a slow process in finding publishers who understand the critical need for books for boys…books they would actually like to read.

My files are crammed with letters and emails from teachers, parents, librarians, and kids, all telling me how my books have attracted young readers. Both boys and girls love these books.

With an additional 28 completed manuscripts available, I like to say two things:

1. A reluctant reader is simply someone who hasn’t found the right book yet.

2. I continue searching for the right person, in the right publishing house, at the right time, who fully understands the growing market opportunity of books for boys, and recognizes my books as one of the tools that will help meet this growing need.

Max Elliot Anderson

James Patterson’s site – http://www.readkiddoread.com/

50 Pages of Reviews http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Author web page http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

Hi Lo Reading Level Books for Boys

When I began writing action-adventures and mysteries for kids, I was particularly interested in making sure that my books would reach boys…especially reluctant readers.

There is a category in literature called Hi Lo Reading Level. My books have been identified as fitting the description of Hi Lo.

A well respected site, About.com, has written about two of my books, in an effort to alert parents who have sons with various reading difficulties. Those pages are located at:

Mountain Cabin Mystery

http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/readingstrategies/p/mountaincabin.htm?r=94

North Woods Poachers

http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/readingstrategies/qt/maxanderson1.htm

In addition to these two books, I also have published Secret of Abbott’s Cave, Big Rig Rustlers, and Legend of the White Wolf.

Then, in September, Darby Creek Publishing released a sports anthology, Lay Ups and Long Shots. My short story, Big Foot, is included in this book and shares the pages with children's authors Joseph Bruchac, Terry Trueman, David Lubar, Dorian Cirrone, CS Perryess, Jamie McEwan, and Peggy Duffy.

And, Lay ups and Long Shots is a Junior Library Guild selection, so you are likely to find it in your local library. Lay Ups and Long Shots can be found on Amazon.com. or in bookstores like Barnes and Noble, Borders, and others.

Max Elliot Anderson

Author web pagehttp://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

50 Pages of Reviewshttp://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

About.com Hi Lo Reading Level Book by Max Elliot Anderson

These two articles, on About.com. discuss reluctant readers, and review two of my action-adventures and mysteries written especially for tween boys, that girl readers hate to put down too.

Mountain Cabin Mystery

http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/readingstrategies/p/mountaincabin.htm?r=94

North Woods Poachers

http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/readingstrategies/qt/maxanderson1.htm

Black Squirrel

My books for boys are action-adventures & mysteries. I don’t necessarily write books about animals, although there are often animals in my stories. You would find dogs, horses, cats, wolves, and others, even though mine are primarily people stories.

But I do like animals.

As a young boy, you might find a wild rabbit I’d caught, birds, a chipmunk or two, a tame squirrel…we even had a skunk living at my house. I was always fascinated with squirrels which were plentiful in the oak trees in the woods that surrounded our house. I even caught and tamed a couple of them. (Now there are more rules about that, but not when I was kid)

Here, where I live in Illinois, my back yard has only had red and gray squirrels for the 30+ years we’ve been in this house. But for some reason, my favorite has always been the black squirrel. I’d see them as I traveled to other areas of the country, but never in the region where I live…until this year.

Seemingly, from out of nowhere, a single black squirrel has arrived, and decided to make my back yard its home. I’ve enjoyed watching him gather acorns alongside the red squirrels and gray squirrels.

Who knows, I might just have to work him in to one of my future books.

Why I Write Tween Books for Boys...that girls like to read too!

It is clear that some of the most critical patterns for a lifetime are decided during the tween years. This is that awkward time between still trying to be a “little kid” and being all grown up.
As a child, I grew up as a reluctant reader. In a family of seven children, I wasn’t especially pushed to read, so I never formed good reading habits. This was ironic because my father has published over 70 books. A number of these were written for children.

A few years ago I decided to look into some of the reasons for my lack of interest in reading. My findings lead me to begin writing chapter adventure books, for readers 8 - 13, that I would have liked as a child. My books are highly visual, with lots of humor, dialog, and plenty of heart-pounding action. Early responses from children indicate that I’m right on target. Reluctant and avid readers now devour each new title as it is released. Parents are also vocal in their appreciation for books that are reaching their children.

Marketing executives will tell you to find a need and fill it. But this isn’t exactly the way I got started. How that came about is a story in itself. My purpose was to craft books that would excite the interest of reluctant readers.

After a detailed study into why I didn’t like to read, and looking at books that were written for children, I set out to write the kind of stories I would have read when I was a child.
A further target audience I wanted to write for was boys who might be without a positive male role model in their lives. I felt that if I could tell a good story, the moral, ethical, responsibility elements could then be planted in their minds. Hopefully, at some time in the future, those concepts would be useful when these boys became men. I have a degree in psychology and this helps in communicating these concepts, and understanding my audience.

The biggest surprise, outside of the fact that reluctant reader boys love these books, is that avid boy readers, girls, and even adults do too. I believe it’s our responsibility to do everything we can for the next generation, to leave this world a better place than when we found it. I hope my books will have a small part in that process.

The first seven books are NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, THE SECRET OF ABBOTT’S CAVE, and LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF. But this is not a “series” in the traditional sense. Each book takes place in a different part of the country with different characters, setting, and plot. Readers and reviewers have likened my books to The Hardy Boys, modern day Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Star Wars, Tom Swift and Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

When I first began writing, I decided that if I could help one reluctant tween to become a reader, it would be worth it. From the emails and letters I have already received, that goal has been reached many times over. I received the following email right after Christmas. It underscores the effect that my books are already having on tweeners.

“I gave my son (11) a couple of your books for Christmas (he read "Northwoods Poachers" when you asked for some "reviews" and loved it). He is definitely a reluctant reader...I have to be on his case constantly to get him to read. When he opened the package I could tell he was not too thrilled with getting books...until he saw that you wrote them. ‘Oh, these are THAT guys books...thanks, Mom!’ Later in the day I mentioned to him that I expected him to read the books. He said ‘You don't have to tell me that, Mom...I want to read them!’ As a mom who is almost never without a book in her hand, it really warmed my heart to see him excited about reading! Thanks, Max! And please, keep them coming!”

My books are distributed nationally to bookstores by Baker & Taylor, and are
available online at Amazon.com. Each book has been ranked by Accelerated Reader.

Newest book: LAY UPS and LONG SHOTS, published by Darby Creek Publishing - A junior Library Guild selection.


Biography: Max Elliot Anderson

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

Using his extensive experience in the production of motion pictures, videos, and television commercials, Mr. Anderson brings the same visual excitement and heart-pounding action to his stories. Each book has completely different characters, setting, and plot.

Seven books are published, with an additional twenty-seven manuscripts completed. Young readers have reported that reading one of his books is like being in an exciting or scary movie.

Additional information can be found at http://mailto:mander8813@aol.com,
nearly 50 pages of reviews http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/,

Home Education Magazine & new book, Lay Ups & Long Shots

Here's a page about Lay Ups and Long Shots posted today. Home Education Magazine reaches 50,000+ readers six times per year. This is their online blog. They've been very supportive of my previous books for tween boys.

http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/resources/?p=788

Max

Where do you get your ideas?

A question I often hear is, “Where do ideas come from for your books for boys?”

For me, ideas come from current events, technology developments, my own childhood, reading the newspaper or magazines, the Internet, and my experiences from years of film, television, video, and TV commercial productions.

The black and white picture here, is from a dramatic film that I shot, many years ago, in Wyoming. We spent a few weeks in and around a gigantic ranch. As I prepared to write BIG RIG RUSTLERS, it was those images and impressions that began to flood my mind.

Though my book, and the film have completely different stories and characters, it was the setting that provided the canvas in my mind.

BIG RIG RUSTLERS is a modern day western. Todd and Amanda live with their parents in a Midwestern city. The children are invited to visit their uncle, aunt, and cousin Drew, on their Wyoming ranch over spring break. Todd learns, in a unique way, why stealing is wrong. He decides to choose a new path for his life because of his uncle’s example. A band of high-tech cattle rustlers are caught, revealing that Todd was also wrong about Travis, a shadowy character.

Read about the round up, rattlesnake, and rustlers.

Why Books For Boys Need To Be Different

Here's a link to an article by Troy L Parish from his Boys Behavior blog. It's called ARE BOYS and GIRLS DIFFERENT? This is not just opinion, but contains results from scientific study http://boysbehavior.com/FeaturedArticle.html

My books for boys are written primarily for tween boys, but girls like the books too.

Max Elliot Anderson

Turkeys

There are at least 12 turkeys in the yard right now. I couldn't fit all of them into the picture because some were farther away from this main group. I told them they weren't too bright because Thanksgiving isn't THAT far away, and here they are, hanging around the neighborhood.

Humpty Dumpty Hardboiled Detective REVIEW

Humpty Dumpty Jr: Hardboiled Detective
THE CASE OF THE FIENDISH FLAPJACK FLOP – 120 pages
THE MYSTERY OF MERLIN AND THE GRUESOME GHOST – 120 pages
Nate Evans – Paul Hindman – Vince Evans
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

An effective approach for an author is to take an existing character, who everyone knows, and give it a twist.

Nate & Vince Evans, and Paul Hindman didn’t just give Humpty Dumpty a twist, they scrambled it, and served up something entirely new for young readers. These two books should attract even the most reluctant reader.

In addition to a new twist on an old, familiar character, I was also struck with the artwork. It took me back to the humor publications like Mad Magazine and Cracked…how appropriate.

I grew up as a reluctant reader, and now write action-adventures & mysteries especially for tween boys. So I was interested in these books which are designed to draw in readers as well.

It's impossible to list the never ending, play-on-words related to eggs, but I can say that they are delightful. I can envision the authors, sitting in a room, in a brainstorming session, holding their stomachs while tears of laughter stream down their cheeks.

These books are fast reads, filled with illustrations on nearly every page.

Parents may want to preview the books to make sure they are appropriate for their children, which is good because adults will enjoy them too.

Very entertaining!

Max Elliot Anderson
Author - Adventures & Mysteries for Tweens
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/
http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/
http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Interview at Kidlit Central News

I have a new interview that might interest you, at Kidlit Central News.
Here's the link: http://community.livejournal.com/kidlit_central/27559.html

Review: Lay Ups and Long Shots

You can find a nice review, by Wayne Walker, for "Lay Ups and Long Shots," if you follow this link to Barnes and Noble

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Lay-ups-and-Long-Shots/David-Lubar/e/9781581960785/?tabname=custreview

Nominate for 101 Best Web Sites

Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites is now accepting nominations for nextyear’s list. If you've found Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/
helpful in the past year, please send your nomination to writersdig@fwpubs.com .
Put "101 Websites" in the subject line. Please do it now. Jan 1, 2009, is the deadline.

Thank you

Struggling School-Age Boys

Interesting article as it relates to books for boys, and reading

Newsweek - Struggling School-Age Boys

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157898

Lay Ups & Long Shots - a Junior Library Guild selection

It is my distinct pleasure to have a short story, BIG FOOT, included in the new book, LAY UPS and LONG SHOTS, published by Darby Creek Publishing. The book has been selected by the Junior Library Guild.

You can read more about the Junior Library Guild at http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/about/
The Guild is made up of 17,000 librarians.

My short story shares the pages with children's authors Joseph Bruchac, Terry Trueman, David Lubar, Dorian Cirrone, CS Perryess, Jamie McEwan, and Peggy Duffy.

Max Elliot Anderson

NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE, & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

When I'm Not Writing Books For Boys

Those who follow this blog know that, in addition to writing books for boys, I am also the producer / director / writer of video productions for clients http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/about.html

Yesterday I had the opportunity to shoot video in a facility that is the largest company in America that recycles the glass from electronics and computers. The men who own this company, built the machines that separate and break up the glass, themselves.

Electronic products and computers are torn apart. The plastics are sold to one vendor while the electronics and circuit boards are sold to another. The glass fragments are then shipped to companies that melt it down and produce new glass.

I was impressed by how much of the material is able to find new life, rather than to be dumped into a landfill where it would simply sit for all time.

It was almost overwhelming to see the gigantic volume of items that come to this company in truckload after truckload. Right now they only receive materials from corporations, but laws will likely change soon so that old, worn out electronic items from homes will be recycled too.

Some of the video footage that was shot, showing how the glass is processed, will be on a CBS program or on CBS news soon.

It was an interesting day.

How my work in dramatic films has had an effect on my books for boys.

Before videocassettes, and now DVDs, were available, people either went to the theatre, or watched television in order to see films. A few producers made 16mm films for rental to churches. I worked for two companies that did that.

During my years in production, I learned that girls would watch films about boys’ adventures, but boys would not watch a girl’s story. That is why I have charted a course to write books for boys first. It is because I know that girls will also read books for boys and enjoy the stories.

To the left are pictures from two of those films, THE GREAT BANANA PIE CAPER and THE MYSTERY OF WILLOUGHBY CASTLE.

The more information I read, and through my ongoing research, I find that there continues to be an outcry from teachers and parents for more books for boys. Publishers are still hesitant to take the plunge into releasing books for boys, but I believe it is going to change.

I have 28 additional manuscripts that are ready to go. These books for boys are the same kinds of exciting action-adventures and mysteries just like those that have already been published.

If you are in a position to do so, I hope you will let others know how important you believe books for boys are.

A new book, LAY-UPS and LONG SHOTS, has just been released.

A new book, LAY-UPS and LONG SHOTS, has just been released.

It contains my short story, BIG FOOT, which shares the pages with fellow children’s authors Joseph Bruchac, Terry Trueman, David Lubar, Dorian Cirrone, CS Perryess, Jamie McEwan, and Peggy Duffy.

This is a beautiful hardcover book. When the dust jacket is removed, a laminated cover, with the same artwork is revealed.

The inside flap promo copy for my story reads, “Max Elliot Anderson puts his best foot forward with a story about the new kid in town with an unusual ability.”

The back cover copy also reads, “Sometimes in life, success is a long shot – other times it’s as easy as a lay-up. Nine contemporary children’s authors bring their A game to the pages of Lay-Ups and Long Shots – an action-filled anthology that depicts the obstacles and hurdles that all athletes must overcome to achieve success in a sport. With tales of basketball, football, soccer, running, surfing, BMX racing, and even Ping-Pong, you are sure to find a short story that will inspire the athlete within.”

If you have a sports junkie in your family, classroom, or circle of friends, LAY-UPS and LONG SHOTS is sure to pull them in…even reluctant readers.

Max Elliot Anderson
Published by Darby Creek Publishers

Boy Trouble

One of the reasons I began writing action-adventures & mysteries, especially for boys, is because I believed that boys learn differently than girls, and that their interests were different. Study after study tends to back up this belief.

The September, 2008 issue of Chicago Magazine contains an excellent article, Boy Trouble, by Lucinda Hahn.

I encourage you to read it.

Max Elliot Anderson

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2008/Boy-Trouble/

Children's Writer Guide

I'm going to be featured in one of the articles for the Children's Writer Guide in their 2009 edition. They did a very nice job. In addition to the interview, about my books for boys, they list my web sites and published books.

Little guy in my back yard

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have always loved animals.

Tonight is the second night in a row that this little guy has come into my back yard. He looks a little young to be on his own, which may indicate that his mother could have been hit by a car. None of his brothers or sisters are around.

He doesn't seem to be at all aggressive. In fact, my cat, Auby, walked right up and smelled his tail, and it didn't bother him at all.

I gave him a little bread and water, and he was on his way. He's really cute.

Max Elliot Anderson

Books for Boys blog cited for award

This Books for Boys blog has been recognized for a 2008 blog award.

New Book

Announcing a new book, due for release in September, 2008. LAY UPS and LONG SHOTS includes short stories by Max Elliot Anderson, Joseph Bruchac, Terry Trueman, David Lubar, Dorian Cirrone, CS Perryess, Jamie McEwan, and Peggy Duffy.

Published by Darby Creek, this hardcover book includes stories for tweens and teens who face obstacles, or are involved in athletics including track, football, martial arts, Ping Pong, and dirt bike riding.

LAY UPS and LONG SHOTS has just received a positive, first review by John Peters of Booklist.

Look for LAY UPS and LONG SHOTS soon at your nearest bookstore, or find it now on Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Lay-Ups-Long-Shots-Joseph-Bruchac/dp/1581960786/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218627695&sr=1-1

Max Elliot Anderson