Launch Team!

Thanks to all of you who follow along with me on my journey to become a better author! My first book, Three Men and a Barrel, has certainly been a learning experience for me. I hope you enjoyed the stories I shared. However, my real passion is for writing good, clean, character-building novels for middle grade readers.

My first novel in that vein is tentatively titled “Treasure at Fort Arbuckle” and introduces readers to the Triangle M ranch and the Mason family. Shawn, Cooper, and Amanda Mason (along with their parents and friends) pursue adventure through a mixture of historical fiction and their own mishaps. The goal is to have a series of stories built around these characters similar to the Boxcar Children, though with a whole different theme.

Several of my friends have offered to read through the book before it is released. Here are some things I’d like to hear from you about:

Does the story flow?

Are the transitions from historical fiction back to the present fiction smooth and easy to understand?

Are there any words or phrases that are overused?

Do the chapters need titles? If so, do the titles fit the content of the chapter well?

Are the characters true to themselves (i.e., does Shawn act like Shawn is supposed to act throughout the story)?

Is the lesson taught subtly enough that this doesn’t just feel like a Sunday School lesson, but with enough force that the reader understands the message?

Obviously, there are many other things that can be said about the story. I would really appreciate a thorough response from those of you who are willing to be a part of the launch team. I’m also hoping to have some help promoting the book. If you would like to join us, please feel free to message me on Facebook or comment here on the blog.