A Writer's Journey
My blog is back online! Just a quick note to let you know I’m back and will be doing a Book Reading/Discussion/Signing at Kernersville Public Library this Friday, July 22, 2011 at 3 p.m. Hope to see you there.
For more information see the Library’s Website.
More to come soon.
The third book in my juvenile/action adventure series will be published in time for the Holidays. I was not able to achieve this with Books One and Two. I am very excited, I even have a slogan: Go to Egypt for the Holidays….Or China…Or Greece. Purchase an Ethan Sparks Adventure Book.
The title of my new book is, Chase of the Mummies. It is set in Egypt. The reader goes on an adventure with Ethan to Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings to see King Tuts Tomb, and a cruise up the Nile.
Chase of the Mummies is a pivotal book in the series. I think I am most proud that I have made Egypt a character unto itself. Egypt is such a historically rich country!
My action/adventure series now has three boks. Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers set in China. Revenge of Poseidon’s Trident set in Greece. And the latest, Chase of the Mummies set in Egypt.
Children ages 9 to 14 go on an action-packed adventure with thirteen-year-old Ethan Sparks as the narrator. The young readers may turn the pages quickly because of the suspense. But by the end of the story they have learned about world culture, ancient history, and the inner workings of an archaeological dig.
Dr. Gary Stickel, an modern day archaeologist has endorsed the Ethan Sparks Series. The London Times calls Dr Stickel ” the real-life Indiana Jones”. Below is Dr Stickel’s endorsement:
The Ethan Sparks Adventure books are fun, engaging books for young readers. They are wild rides to some of the great sites of archaeology, such as the tomb of the first emperor of China and his terra-cotta soldiers. I hope the boys and girls who read them will be inspired to get involved in real-life archaeology—maybe even on my own digs!
– Dr. Gary Stickel
“the real-life Indiana Jones”—London Times
Excavator at Achilleion (legendary birthplace of Achilles, hero of the Trojan War)
Excavator at Machu Picchu—the “lost city of the Incas”
Current project: Co-director of the Search for Odysseus’ Palace Project, 2010.
If you would like more information about the Ethan Sparks Adventure Series, please go to: www.ethansparksadventures.com.
The books are available on sites such as Amazon.com, bn.com and many other booksellers online. They are also available as E-books.
On a personal note, I want to share what a gratifying mid-life experience this has been. I spend mornings answering fan mail at spyguyethan@gmail.com. I also maintain an Ethan Sparks Fan Club on Facebook.
This year I was able to perform a book presentation on China for three-hundred seventh graders at the Northwest Middle School in Greensboro NC. I also talked with the students about being a writer. It surprised me how many seventh graders in the auditorium also want to be writers. Many of the students performed their poetry.
In addition to this presentation, I also had thirty-six Book Signings/Readings, Book Fairs, Educator Appreciation Receptions, and Charity Events.
The fact that I am learning to balance writing and editing with promotional events proves my mid-life change of career was a life-altering decision. I have met so many phenomenal children and their parents. I have enjoyed many conversations with teachers, librarians, and booksellers. My world has grown so very much.
The journey I embarked upon in 2007 has taken me places I had never dreamed of. I find this ironic, since I have wanted to be a writer since the age of thirteen.
Sorry it took so long to update my blog.
Take Care,
Nick
On July 11, 2010, I completed the first draft of Book Three in the Ethan Sparks Adventures Series! At this time, its working title is Chase of the Mummies: An Ethan Sparks Adventure.
July the 11th happens to be a benchmark date because it was Ethan Sparks’ 14th birthday. In Books One, Two and Three in the series, Ethan was 13. In Books Four and Five, he will be 14. Book Six, the last book, Ethan will turn 15 years old.
With the publication of Book Three (scheduled for November 2010), I will be halfway through the series. At this point in my career, Ethan Sparks Adventures is reaching its critical mass stage. By this, I mean that the series is really starting to catch on.
On July the 1st, my interview in the Kernersville News came out. It was featured on the first page of the Lifestyles section, complete with a photo of me and a prominent picture of Book One, Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers.
When I first saw this published interview in my local paper, I realized that critical mass had begun. It was gratifying to see that my writer’s journey had reached this benchmark.
On August the 28th, I will be performing my 40th book signing at one of my local Barnes & Noble bookstores. This one is in Burlington, NC.
I am so grateful to Becky Carnigan, the Community Relations Manager at the Greensboro Barnes & Noble for her continuous support in scheduling book fairs and book signings. Also, Renee Johnson in High Point, Susan Ellington in Burlington, and Jane Derian in Winston-Salem.
I was also privileged to perform a “China presentation” at the Northwest Middle School in Greensboro on June the 9th.
My presentation, which I gave to 300 7th graders, was a lot of fun for both the kids and myself. I told the kids stories about my China experience with a Powerpoint that featured actual photographs of my China trip. Afterwards, the 300 7th graders and I had an invigorating Q&A. What a rush that was!
My heartfelt thanks go out to Ms. Tammy Balser, who is in charge of Social Studies for the 7th grade at Northwest Middle. My presentation was part of her seventh grade curriculum about Asia.
I would also like to thank my publicist, Ellen Berry, for all of her insight and expertise in putting together such a phenomenal Powerpoint presentation. Thanks to her, it was a major success!
My next step in my writer’s journey is for Book Three to go through its editorial process. I anticipate that this round will go much more smoothly than Book One and Two, now that I’m in my groove. I’ll let you know!
At a recent book signing for the first book in the Ethan Sparks Adventure Series — Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers — someone called me an “author”. All of my adult life, I have fantasized of that exact moment when someone called me an author.
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!
I am very excited. My brother, Paul, started an Ethan Sparks / Nick Barry Fan Club on Facebook. To become a fan, please sign onto Facebook, type in ‘Ethan Sparks/Nick Barry’ in the Search box and click the “Become a Fan” button.
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.
