June is turning into a bittersweet month for me. On one hand, I’m saying so long to some old friends, but on the other I’m saying hello to a brand new detective duo that I think you will grow to love.
First, the goodbyes . . .
Max Finder Mystery wraps-up 12 year run in Owl Magazine
This June, the final Max Finder Mystery comic appears in Owl Magazine.
Max, Alison, Smasher and all the Whispering Meadows crew will take an indefinite break from their monthly slot in the magazine, which they have held for over a decade.
Back in 2001, I had the opportunity to pitch the editors at Owl Magazine my idea for a new comic. It was a mashed together short ‘you-solve-it’ mysteries (a la Encyclopedia Brown) with comics. The star of this comic was a grade seven fact collector by the name of Max Finder.
Fast forward, twelve years or so years, over 50 mysteries and seven collected casebooks translated into 3 languages, Max Finder Mystery has exceeded my expectations many times over.
While I am sad to say goodbye to my first detective duo, I am considering their retirement merely a holiday. I am confident we will meet again someday for more crime-solving fun.
As one detective duo leaves, another enters . . .
Meet Myron & Hajrah: West Meadows Detectives
While I was planning the departure of Max and Alison, I was getting ready to introduce a new pair of young sleuths to readers. So, without further ado, meet Myron and Hajrah:
They are the star detectives in my brand new mystery series for ages 7 – 10, West Meadow Detectives, published this fall from Owlkids.
If you’re catching a hint of Max Finder in here, you are correct. Myron is a veteran sleuth who worked with (and mostly annoyed) Max and Alison in a few Max Finder Mysteries. Myron has now moved across town to the West Meadows neighbourhood, where (thankfully) mysteries still abound.
Myron is not a fan of his new neighbourhood, new school and new classmates. To be honest, he’s not a fan of anything ‘new’. But does love mysteries and when a thief steals lunches from the school kitchen, Myron is on the case faster than spaghetti sauce on a clean shirt.
Myron is autistic and this, along with his neurodiverse detective partners, helps him crack the case while his neurotypical teachers and classmates are still struggling to catch up.
I tried to pack a lot of fun into this first book and I’m excited to see what people think of it when it comes out in October 2015.
Preview West Meadows Detectives Today!
You don’t have to wait until then to get started with Myron’s first case.
Follow this link to download a free sample of West Meadows Detectives: The Case of the Snack Snatcher.
This will lead you to a Dropbox page where you can download the free pdf preview. You don’t need a Dropbox account to get the book.
Feel free the preview with the young detective in your life. I’d love to know what you think of West Meadows Detectives. Let me know in the comments below!