original Lizzie cover Center Point cover Center Point cover The Right Hand Rule cover Running On Empty cover The Tick Tock Man cover The Dragon Song cover

 

Devin Drake cover DEVIN DRAKE AND THE ROLLER GHOSTER, A MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY AVAILABLE NOW from Solstice Publishing (ordering information)

Devin Drake, a twelve-year-old paranormal ghost detective, is asked by Cassie Waite, the smartest, most athletic girl at their middle school, to help with a ghost problem. It seems her family's house, built on the site of a former amusement park, is haunted by two roller coaster-riding ghosts from a century ago. While trying to figure out who they are and what they want, Devin realizes the amusement park spirits are in danger and he'll need all his paranormal powers to find them a new hangout in the afterlife. But when the ghosts trick Cassie into getting on the haunted coaster, Devin enlists the help of an offbeat, local historian to rescue Cassie from their world before she is trapped in it forever.

 

Devin Drake cover DEVIN DRAKE AND THE FAMILY SECRET, A MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY
(ordering information)

Twelve-year-old amateur magician Devin Drake wanders through a cemetery one day and discovers he is a necromancer: one who can communicate with the dead. Soon, everyone at his school knows about it and he is shunned by many as a freak. But when his friend Eva asks for his help, Devin uses magic and his newfound powers to find out why Eva's late grandfather, a famous chef, is trying to communicate with her from beyond. After Eva enters a popular cooking contest, Devin uncovers a long-lost recipe that may help her win, and more importantly, events from the past that may bring her family back together.

 

Dragon Song cover THE DRAGON'S SONG, A MIDDLE GRADE ADVENTURE CO-WRITTEN BY BINH PHAM (ordering information)

With only a change of clothes, eleven-year-old Bao Dang and his older cousin, Binh Pham, embark on their journey to America, fleeing the oppressive government in South Vietnam, circa 1980. The two covertly travel at night by small boat down the Saigon River to open waters, w here they and over 100 other "boat people" pack into a trawler designed to hold fewer than thirty. For six grueling days they avoid police and pirates and face the constant threat of capsizing while living on only rationed rice and water. Eventually, they all find safe haven at a refugee camp in Indonesia. There, Bao harnesses the power of music to endure months of harsh living as he and Binh await the ultimate gift: freedom.

 

The Tick Tock Man coverA MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY AVAILABLE NOW
from Georgia McBride at Month9Books, for publication by Tantrum Books
(ordering information)

After noticing all the clocks in his town have stopped, thirteen-year old CJ discovers a special "clock world" he never knew existed--a seemingly peaceful village where most of the citizens are clock parts who are tasked with keeping the big clocks in town running. He soon finds their world is divided into two warring factions and CJ must find the only person who can help them: the elusive Tick Tock Man. With the aid of Fuzee, a partly-human girl, they battle gear-headed terrorists, razor sharp pendulums and each other while on their search. This unlikely duo must defeat the gearheads and help restore order before this crazy world of chimes and springs and clock people dissolves into a massive time warp and takes CJ's quiet New England town with it.

 

Baseball Mystery coverA MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY AVAILABLE NOW from MB Publishing (ordering information)

Baseball Mystery coverTwelve-year-old April O'Day's summer has gotten off to a flying start. As the new bat retriever for the Harpoons, her hometown's minor league team, she's fetching bats and doling out great advice to players and coaches alike. In a word, she's becoming indispensable. But mysterious things are happening at Haney Field, which April and her best friend - and fellow baseball enthusiast - Darren Plummer are determined to uncover. As they quickly learn, this is no ordinary season. In fact, it's a whole new ball game.

 

Baseball Mystery coverAN ADULT MYSTERY AVAILABLE NOW from Indigo Sea Press (ordering information)

A list of names, an old map, and a drawing of a Native American warrior named Komaket: these are the items "professional student" Dennis Kozma receives on his twenty-fifth birthday from his father, who died fifteen years ago. Unfortunately, Dennis' memory is tainted by accusations his father defrauded their town.
The map leads Dennis to the graves of the men on the list...members of a secret society awaiting the return of Komaket. While unraveling the mystery of the secret society, Dennis discovers a shocking conspiracy: town officials covered up a dark secret and framed his father.
As he strives to clear his father's name before the long-awaited arrival of Komaket changes his quiet New England town forever, Dennis comes to a startling and fateful realization - nothing is what it seems and all clues lead to the...

...Center Point.