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Well, book one is officially available everywhere. Book two is written, being edited, and the chapter illustrations are done.

So what am I missing?

Yep, a cover.

I did one a while back, but honestly it didn't quite sit right. The characters didn't work for me, and honestly it didn't capture the absolutely bonkers, surprise the poop out of you, and leave you shaking your head in disbelief nature of of the second book.

So I've started over.



I like this new version. I like it a lot in fact. Granted, it's still in the early stages, but I think it'll capture the intensity of book two much better. Things get much darker, much crazier, and much more unpredictable. I need the to make sure the cover reflects that.

If you haven't yet ordered a copy of "Fathers and Sons" I'm not exactly sure what you're waiting for.

What else are you going to do with your money? Pay bills? Save for retirement?

You're smarter than that.

Spend it needlessly on things you don't need.

Come on, all the cool kids are doing it.

Steve

P.S. Please ignore the messy desk - you know, because I'm messy.

That's right, as of this morning there are not one, not two, not three or even four, but forty-two pages of "Forts: Fathers and Sons" available for you to read online!

Get this...

It's totally free!

Don't say I never gave you anything.

Why not click the link below and take a look? What have you got to lose? Nothing.

Or did you already forget that I said it was free?

Damn you and your short memory.

Steve

The following books have been selected for Father's Day because they showcase strong paternal bonds and demonstrate just how special (and important) daddy-and-me moments can be. There is also a special selection for families that have two daddies.

Here's a quick little video I put together of a sixth grader reviewing "Forts: Fathers and Sons."

He was more than a little nervous about the whole thing - which is obvious.

A big thanks to david for even agreeing to do it!

Steve

Nope, Forts isn't gong to be made into a movie anytime soon. Sure, it would be nice, but it isn't very likely.

Damn Hollywood fatcats!

With the help of a little extra time though, google images, and my handy photoshop skills, I put together a poster anyway.



I'd pay seven bucks for that.

Steven

The publisher of the Forts series, CANONBRIDGE LLC is working alongside the SOLDIERS' ANGELS charity and has reduced the cost of the book in hopes that you'll purchase, donate, and get it in the hands of the soldiers overseas. This is not only for Forts, but some of their other titles as well.

If you're interested, click the words CANONBRIDGE LLC for more details.

See how easy I made that for you?

Go me!

Steven

The Forts series has found a new home!

More than likely you’re silently saying to yourself, “Oh that’s too bad. It must not have sold well. That poor, poor man.”

Let me assure you, that’s not the case – far from it in fact. The choice to continue the series with someone else was actually mine and mine alone. I never signed a contract for the series as a whole and after my experience with the first book there was no way that was going to happen. It wouldn’t have been the right choice.

I don’t see any reason to go into the details of the “breakup” (for now), but I will say that Forts is moving to greener, less frustrating, and far more professional pastures.

So what does this all mean to you?

Well, it means that the copy of “Fathers and Sons” you no doubt have sitting in a place of prominence on your bookshelf – or next to the crapper, either way. That copy of Forts will very soon be an out of print collectors edition!

That’s right, I said collectors edition and I meant it!

Will you be able to sell it on ebay to pay the rent? Eh, I wouldn’t count on that.

Will you be able to trade it for a pack of gum and maybe a Butterfinger bar? Yep, I think you might be able to pull that off.

Still, your copy is special now. It’s unique. If you sent it to me to get autographed it’s even more unique. You own it, some other people own it, but no one else is ever going to own it – ever. That’s pretty cool, no?

For those of you that haven’t got your hands on a copy yet, a second edition print version of the book will be arriving with a brand new cover before you know it. (Probably within the next few months in fact.) Along with the print version, the book will FINALLY make its way to e-readers everywhere! (This is long overdue.)

Oh, all those editing flubs the original publisher left in – you know, the ones that caused the sentence “This could have been a fantastic book if it had a good editor” to appear in nearly every review. Thankfully those are going to be fixed up for the second edition.

For those of you waiting patiently for “Liars and Thieves,” right around the time the second edition arrives book two is going to hit the shelves! It’s a heck of a lot later than was originally planned, but I’m hoping it’ll be worth the wait.

The nonsense of the past is in the past and hopefully that’s where it’s going to stay. Writing has officially picked up again on the final book in the series and I’m probably only 40,000 words or so from finishing it up.

Forts has a new home, and this is a good thing.

Scratch that and revise: Forts has a new home, and it’s a giggity-great thing.

It’s better than a steaming hot pizza and a tub of ice cream served to you by Rosario Dawson in a French maid’s outfit.

Okay, maybe it’s not that good…

It’s still pretty fantastic though.

Steven

Dad and Pop: (An Ode to Fathers & Stepfathers) by Kelly Bennett (Illustrated by Paul Meisel)

Review by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Kelly Bennett is the author of many books for children, including Not Norman: A Goldfish Story. About Dad and Pop, she says, “My children, Max and Lexi, and the loving relationship they have with their fathers inspired this story.” Kelly Bennett lives part-time in Houston, Texas, and part-time in Jakarta, Indonesia.

About the illustrator:

Paul Meisel is the illustrator of many books, including Harriet’s Had Enough! by Elissa Haden Guest and What’s the Matter in Mr. Whiskers’ Room? by Michael Elsohn Ross, among many others. About Dad and Pop, he says, “Creating this book brought to mind a quote from the Dalai Lama I once read: ‘Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.’” Paul Meisel lives in Newtown, Connecticut.

About the book:

I have two fathers. I call this one Dad, and this one Pop.

Dad is tall and wears suits. Pop is bald and wears boots. Dad’s into gadgets and Pop’s into plants; one paints on easels, the other on walls; and they certainly don’t share the same taste in music! In this funny, affectionate ode to fathers and stepfathers, a young girl explains that while Dad and Pop may seem completely different, in one crucial way they’re exactly the same — they both love her.

My take on the book:

I’ve been remiss in not having enough books on the site about stepfathers so when Candlewick Press sent this along with another book I request to review, I knew it was something I wanted to review.

As the title says, Dad and Pop is a wonderfully written and illustrated ode to fathers and stepfathers. I like how the story shows both the differences and the similarities between Dad and Pop with the similarities essentially being how much they both care for and love the little girl. I enjoyed seeing the little girl being doted on by both her Dad and Pop – an important thing to see in any family and little girls reading the story will enjoy seeing this as well. My favorite scene was during the soccer game when both dads are on the sideline cheering their little girl on.

This is a really nice book showing a beautiful and positive portrayal of a blended family. I really like the focus on the dad and stepfather as well. I would have to do a little research but I would guess this is very unique to see in picture books about blended families. I would recommend this for blended families as well as teachers and counselors who might be working with kids struggling to adapt to family changes such as having a new stepfather or stepmother.