For the past 42 years I have been a writer; ever since I wrote my first book at the age of 13.

Now, at 55, a mother from Jones Elementary School in Greensboro, NC brought her son who is in 5th grade to my book signing event at Barnes & Noble to meet the “author” of a new Action / Adventure Series.

The boy read my back cover synopsis, and the first page, and I actually saw excitement flash in his eyes.  As I personally inscribed and signed his copy, he told me that he had written a short story, and that he wanted to be an author when he grew up.

I had an inspiring conversation with this boy between lulls in my book signings. For me, this was a seminal moment in my life. It was then that I realized that my reason for writing this Juvenile Action / Adventure Series had expanded from entreating kids to read to also inspiring some kids to want to write. For this boy, with his multitude of questions about writing, I was a role model.

I encouraged him to email me at spyguyethan@gmail.com, to discuss writing stories, keeping a journal, observing everything he could around him, and continue asking any questions he had regarding his journey of becoming a writer.

In my own writing and publication journey, I learned many valuable experiences about the craft of writing. The most important one was that writing for publication involves a honing of one’s craft called “revision”.

Ethan’s first adventure in China went through two rounds of revisions. To me, it was an epiphany to take the originally written story and craft it into a fast-paced, exciting read for kids ages 9 to 14.  It was a lot of hard work, but its final development far exceeded even my expectations.

I just recently completed the requisite two rounds of revision for my Second Book in the series. This time, Ethan’s adventure takes him to Greece. Drowning in the Oracle of Delphi is due for publication in January 2010. Some say, including my publisher, that it is even more exciting than Book One. The reason for this is because I have learned that revision is absolutely essential in taking a good story and making it a great one.

I am proud of my Ethan Sparks Adventure Series. Kids enjoy a quick read filled with action and adventure, and also learn about other cultures, their history and the inner workings of an archaeological dig. In Book Two, my readership gets to scuba dive with 13-year-old Ethan and experience an underwater dig that involves GPS and stereogrammetric planning. Of course, to keep it suspenseful, Mako sharks circle overhead.

So far, in Books One and Two, I have been consistently applauded for “nailing” the voice of a 13-year-old young explorer as he cleverly narrates his engaging adventures.

Kids email me to let me know how much they enjoy reading a story in the First Person Narrative. I guess they can tell how much fun I have in writing them.

Book Three in the Six Book Series is entitled: Unburying the Buried Pyramid. This time, Ethan’s adventure takes him to Cairo, Egypt, and his sidekick is a 13-year-old boy named Alex.

Now that Book Two is off to the printer, I’m enjoying writing Ethan’s adventure in Cairo. And even though its inevitable revision will be hard work, my fantasy of becoming an author has truly exceeded anything I could have ever imagined!

Launching the The Ethan Sparks Adventure Series has been the realization of my dream. Book One, Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers, set in modern day China, is selling more books than I ever imagined. Book Two, Drowning in the Oracle of Delphi, is being edited and should be out in two months or so.

In Book Two, Ethan Sparks is in Greece. The inquisitive 13-year-old is on his second assignment as a reporter for The Young Explorer magazine. This fast-paced action/adventure for juveniles ages 10-14 takes the reader on a roller coaster ride in Santorini. Kids are emailing Ethan every day at spyguyethan@gmail.com.

The kids email saying what a “cool dude” Ethan is. They all want to know when Book Two in the series is coming out. A truly phenomenal sign.

This is the type of sign that already has me writing Book Three, Uncovering the Buried Pyramid. In this one, Ethan is on another adventure with his father, an esteemed archaeologist. This time they’re in Cairo, Egypt. I plan to have this book out in June 2010 — just in time for the summer reading list.

The fact that middle-school teachers and librarians endorse this series, and subsequently parents approve of their children reading it, makes it all worthwhile for me.

I’m thrilled that I have created a series that kids want to read. Kids reading is my cause – especially the 10-14 year olds.

So you see, I’m living my dream. I awake every morning with purpose and drive. Even I’m looking forward to Book Four, Unhinging the Secrets of Stonehenge. Stonehenge predates the Ancient Egyptians. It’s a fascinating locale. But I know that Ethan has to go on a fast-paced adventure there to keep the kids reading.

The first four books in the series takes our hero, Ethan Sparks,  on adventures to exotic locales such as China, Greece, Egypt and Britain… so far…

At a local Barnes & Noble Educator Appreciation Reception, where I was a keynote speaker, an English as a Second Language teacher suggested that I take Ethan on an adventure in a Latino locale. Great idea! I’m thinking Chile or Peru, or maybe the rainforest, or even Machu Picchu.

If you have any suggestions, please comment on this blog or email me at spyguyethan@gmail.com to offer your suggestions.

I know that Book Six, the last in the series, will take place in North Carolina. We’ll get to meet Ethan’s mom and older brother, Carter, his best friend Drew, and his two Dachsunds, Schnitzel and Strudel. A culinary joke, given the fact that Isabella Sparks, Ethan’s mom, is a cookbook author and has her own show on the Cooking Network.

In Book Six, we’re on a Native American dig up in Boone, NC. And all because Dr. Sparks, Ethan’s dad, heads up the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at U.N.C. The Sparks’ home town is in Chapel Hill, NC.

I do not have a title for Books Five and Six yet. Again, any suggestions? If I choose your suggestion, I will send you a personally inscribed and signed set of the entire series.

One more thing before I hit “Enter”. I plan on writing a surprise last Ethan Sparks book. In this adventure, Ethan is 17 and on a solo sail around all the continents. His final farewell until it’s time to think about colleges. Don’t have a title for this one either – any suggestions?

Well, enough for now dear Blog Reader. Talk to you soon. Until then, take care and thank you.