I am pleased to have children’s author, Renee Hand, with me today. She writes because it is a passion in her heart. She homeschools and likes to create books that educate and inspire. She has written a series of chapter books (ages 9-12) known as “The Crypto-Capers Series.” Her latest is “The Chest of Mystery.” These books encourage children to read by incorporating several topics of interest, and the reader also solves cryptograms and puzzles to solve the case.
Renee is an award-winning author, receiving awards such as a Best Book Award, a National Literary Awards, a Preferred Choice award, and a Seal of Excellence Award in Storytelling for her children’s series and adult books.
Katie: Can you share a brief synopsis of the series?
Renee: In my Crypto-Capers series the reader helps solve the case by solving cryptograms and puzzles, so the reader is actually a part of the story, which makes this series interactive and so much fun to do for children. There are 4-5 cryptograms and word scrambles in each book that the reader needs to solve. On my website I give examples of the kinds of cryptograms I use and how to solve them. They may look intimidating at first, but they’re really quite easy. All of my books are history and science based as well, so the reader is always learning something educational throughout each book. The puzzles also become more challenging as the series progresses, more that the reader gets to do. These books are really a great tool to educate and interest readers.
Katie: Can you share a brief synopsis of “The Chest of Mystery?”
Renee: In The Chest of Mystery the team will travel across the globe to Pisa, Italy where they will have to fight for their freedom, or be captured by the enemy as they search for two unique pieces that will open a treasure room. Their fate drops in the hands of one boy, Emmanuel Watson, whose history is tied to the chest. When so close to accomplishing their goal, obstacles arise, and the scent of betrayal is in the air. The Chest of Mystery is the other half of book 3, The Legend of the Golden Monkey.
Katie: Did your role as a homeschooling mom, and your background in science influence you a lot in writing the Crypto-Capers series? How?
Renee: Of course! I love finding great ways to ed
Thank you so much, Katie! I greatly appreciate the opportunity.
Renee Hand
www.reneeahand.com
Sounds like a fun book. Actually the whole series of books sounds like fun. I think it is great that they are interactive and that they get more challenging as you progress through the series.
Great interview, Katie.
I bet kids love your books, Renee. They sound like fun as well as educational. A super combination.
Thank you so much everyone. I appreciate your comments.
Renee
Now if only Renee would write these for grown-ups!