David Anthony's Blog

MYSTERY UNDERGROUND #3

CALIFORNIA CREATURES

13 American Monster Tales

Read a scare … if you dare.



READERS BEWARE!

This book is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. Put it away immediately if you are easily frightened. In fact, put it away if you are too young, too old, or too stuck in the middle. If you need to ask or wonder, don’t. Put the book away and leave. Run if you must.

To those courageous few who remain, prepare for chills, thrills, and goose bumps. This book contains thirteen terrifyi...

Today, December 18, 2012, the word of the day is SPIFFY. Why? Because Charlie and I visited Kennedy Elementary in Warren, Michigan and the students showed us the meaning of the word. You see, it’s Spirit Week at Kennedy and today’s theme was dressing for success and looking good. Charlie and I were seriously impressed! We’ve never seen so many kids wearing ties, dresses, and fancy outfits. What’s more, the school rewarded every student who dressed up with a free Heroes A2Z book. Nice!

Thank yo...

Charlie and I traveled south to Temperance, Michigan on Tuesday December 11, 2012. It was basically a straight shot down I-75. We knew we were in for some fun, though, because we passed at least four fireworks shops along the way. Four! Most days we don’t pass any. We should have known it was a sign of things to come. Fireworks are usually reserved for special days–the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, my birthday. Well, add our visits to Jackman Road Elementary to that list. The students and s...

On the morning of Tuesday December 4th, 2012, Charlie and I embarked on a long journey. We drove at least 3 (yes, three) whole miles from his house to visit Oakwood Elementary in Brandon Township, Michigan. Lucky for us Charlie’s car is equipped with a built-in GPS and comfortable seating! We almost had to stop for a red light along the way. Whew!

When we finally arrived, Principal Kristy Spann and over three hundred students gave us a hero’s welcome. What a rowdy bunch (especially Mrs. Spann!...

You can’t have too many friends. Charlie and I were reminded of these words when we visited Schall Elementary in Caro, Michigan on the afternoon of November 30, 2012. We made A LOT of new friends. First, a helpful group of PTO Moms swarmed us with book orders. Those ladies really know how to organize!



Next, Mrs. Chambers, the principal, packed the gym with about 400 students (more new friends!) from third, fourth, and fifth grades. Watch Charlie entertain them with a bit of juggling as they fi...

Before our first book was published (Knightscares #1: Cauldron Cooker’s Night), Charlie and I wrongly assumed that writing it and others would be our primary responsibility thereafter. We were vying to become successful authors. Of course writing would be our job!

Wrong. Now that we have written 21 books and sold thousands of copies, we’ve learned so much. We’ve come to a startling revelation. As full-time authors, writing is only part of what we do. A small part. In fact, at certain times of...

Back when I was a kid in the 70s, most of us knew that the Loch Ness Monster looked like this:

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Of course there were doubters. Some naysayers claimed that the (in)famous 1934 photo of Nessie was nothing more than a stealthy elephant in ninja mode.

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Today, however, we have proof of the Loch Ness Monster’s existence. At least that’s how George Edwards of Scotland describes a photo he took on November 2, 2011. He calls it definitive proof of the elusive beast. But don’t take Mr. Ewards’ word for it....

Friday May 18, 2012 wasn’t the typical school visit for us. Charlie and I arrived at Central Elementary in Vassar, Michigan at 8:30 am. So far, so normal. What we saw when the students arrived for our first presentation, however, delighted us. The kids came in costume! Some clutched shields adorned with the Vassar Vulcan like medieval knights. Many wore crowns or princess hats. See for yourself in the pictures below. What a great group of kids and teachers for putting that together. Nice surp...

On Friday May 11, 2012, Charlie and I returned to Bovenschen School in Warren, Michigan. To those in the know, the school is nicknamed “the Bove.” That’s pretty cool. Much better than “homework central,” “indoor recess,” or “principal’s office.”

Because we visited the Bove just last year, we decided to tweak our program. You know, keep it fresh. So Charlie dusted off his guitar, tuned up the strings, and rocked the house. Awesome! We hadn’t played music at a school in years. Too many kids were...

On Friday April 20, 2012, Charlie and I visited Graham Elementary in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The school is located very close to the Pontiac Silverdome where the Detroit Lions played football for so many years. In honor of that, we gave 110% (what kind of math is that?!) for four quarters. Actually, make that four shows–one with the morning kindergarten, one with the 1st and 2nd graders, one with the afternoon K, and one with third through fifth graders. With the expert coaching of Media Spec...