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Kevin Purdy

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Kevin has lived in Montana, Oregon and Colorado. He spent many years as a middle school teacher before becoming a full-time writer. Kevin writes middle grades fiction and non-fiction for fellow authors.
Kevin's first published novel is "The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol." It is the tale of a hard-hearted man who hates all holidays but particularly despises Halloween. Based on "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, "The Legend of Decimus Croome" is the perfect book for some entertaining autumn reading. It is mildly spooky, but mostly funny with an excellent lesson for anyone who has lost the magic of Halloween.
Kevin's next book will be published soon, and it is based on Washington Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
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Kevin Purdy Great questions, Judy. Yes, I am very pleased at the reviews of "The Legend of Decimus Croome." I appreciate when readers rate my books, and I'm even …moreGreat questions, Judy. Yes, I am very pleased at the reviews of "The Legend of Decimus Croome." I appreciate when readers rate my books, and I'm even more appreciative when they take the time to write a review. As far as the more critical reviews, I don't mind constructive criticism, but I'm a bit disappointed with a couple specific types of reviews, not only of my books but those of other authors.
First, I hope that reviewers keep in mind the intended audience. For example Decimus Croome is a Halloween book for families. A couple critical reviews on Amazon and Goodreads had a problem that there wasn't more horror in the story. But it is not a horror story. It is a little spooky, a lot funny and mostly playful. It is a book for the entire family, so it was never intended to be gory or gruesome.
The second most frequent critical comment (which means a couple) was about my use of alliteration in the book. Please note that I purposefully used a lot of alliteration as my literary element du jour. I like to sprinkle in an abundance of one particular literary element in each book almost as if I'm designing a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt. As a former teacher, I appreciated when authors did this so that I could teach that element to students before reading the book. Then I challenged them to find the metaphors, similes, onomatopoeias, alliterations, etc as they read the book.

The final critique of my critiques (-: is the comparisons to whatever famous author I was trying to emulate. In the case of A Halloween Carol, that was Charles Dickens. I enjoy reading classic pieces of literature then adapting them for a modern (and potentially younger) audience. But I'm not trying to be that author. I'm flattered that some people would compare me to a master like Dickens, but please don't expect me to be Dickens... believe me... I'm not that author or any other famous writer. My books are for fun, not for immortality. You will find some similarities to Dickens writing style, and even some humorous references to Charles Dickens speckled throughout the book. But please judge the book based upon whether or not it was entertaining, not on whether it was exactly like a certain famous literary master.
Overall though, thanks to all the readers who take time to write reviews. I appreciate them, and other Goodreads users also depend on reviews to make informed decisions about their future favorite books.(less)
Kevin Purdy Yes I am. In addition to the PurdyBooks.com website, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest using PurdyBooks as the account name. @Purd…moreYes I am. In addition to the PurdyBooks.com website, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest using PurdyBooks as the account name. @PurdyBooks(less)
Average rating: 4.14 · 146 ratings · 63 reviews · 1 distinct workSimilar authors
The Legend of Decimus Croom...

4.14 avg rating — 146 ratings — published 2016 — 5 editions
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10 Ways to Use AI in Middle School Reading Curriculum

Technology is transforming education, and artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a valuable tool for teachers looking to engage students in new and exciting ways. While AI might sound futuristic, it can actually make reading instruction more interactive, personalized, and accessible. From helping struggling readers to sparking creativity in writing assignments, AI is reshaping how middle

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Published on February 03, 2025 13:14
The Magnificent C...
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MAD No. 2
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The Betrothed Sister
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The Magnificent Century by Thomas B. Costain
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Three Brothers, Two Plots and a Monk by Howard of Warwick
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Pretty Darned Good

Brother Hermitage is up to his usual shenanigans only this time he is preventing a murder rather than investigating one. That was nice for a change.
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MAD No. 2 by Harvey Kurtzman
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The Red Prince by Helen  Carr
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Pretty Decent Historical Overview

I learned a lot about 14th Century England as a result of reading this book. In fact, a better title for this book may have been History of the Late 14th Century English Elite. At times I couldn’t tell if this book wa
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Arden by G.D. Harper
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Historical Murder Mystery

I love British history, admire Will Shakespeare and adore any book set in England. This book covers all three. It was a pleasure to read.
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Origin by Dan    Brown
Origin (Robert Langdon, #5)
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Masterclass in Realistic Fiction

This book has it all: entertainment, enlightenment, fiction, facts, history, religion, science… It is the most riveting book I’ve read in a long time. For me, it is even slightly better than the DaVinci Code and Angels
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The Betrothed Sister by Carol McGrath
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The Good Knight by Sarah Woodbury
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Great Time and Place Setting

This is my first Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery book, but it certainly won’t be my last. If you like historical fiction set in 11th Century Britain, then you’ll want to get this book. 📖
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The Woodvilles by Susan Higginbotham
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Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton
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Quotes by Kevin Purdy  (?)
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“The murmurings and mutterings grew even more freakish and grotesque as Halloween slithered ever closer.”
Kevin Purdy

“Halloween creatures both friendly & gruesome peered out of the rustling leaves.”
Kevin Purdy

“He was always mindful of keeping his spirits in check lest they soar unreasonably high.”
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2025 & 2026 Readi...: Ziggy’s 101 books 9 146 Jun 03, 2023 12:57PM  
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“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
Mark Twain

“If you're having trouble with the concept of ghosts, then you're in for a very long evening.”
Kevin Purdy, The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Do you remember the part in our wedding vows about 'Until death do we part?'
Consider this a bonus round.”
Kevin Purdy, The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
Oscar Wilde

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