PNBA, September 27, 2025
Ness Halls and I had so much fun at PNBA here in Spokane! CRYPTID SEA MONSTERS is out now. CRYPTID BABIES will be out in October! Hope you love them both! And here are a few pictures, just for fun!
Bonner's Ferry 5th graders rock!
On October 28, 2025 I Zoomed with Valley View Elementary 5th graders in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho about cryptozoology. They kids were so SMART and asked such GREAT questions, I had a great time with them. Here is my thank you note held by two of those great students! Thank you so much for everything!
IMportant sea monster corrections!
A reader named Ever contacted me to point out some errors in the new sea monster book. A printing mistake gave twelve monsters a "real" rating instead of a "leaning real" rating.
I'm so grateful for Ever's eagle eyes and my publisher is making the corrections in the next printing. In the meantime, if you want to correct copies you've already purchased, here are the right ratings.
I'm so sorry this happened. I work hard to give you the best information possible. So this glitch really breaks my heart. But I'm doing my best to make it right. Thanks again, Ever!
Cryptid Sea Monster RATING CORRECTIONS
Altamaha-ha three stars, not four
Cadborosaurus three stars, not four
Cape Ann Sea Serpent three stars, not four
Champ three stars, not four
Chessie three stars, not four
Cressie three stars, not four
Flathead Lake Monster three stars, not four
Iliamna Lake Monster three stars, not four
Lagarflroat three stars, not four
Loch Ness three stars, not four
Ogopogo three stars, not four
Southside Sea Monster three stars, not four
White River Monster three stars, not four
Yacumama three stars, not four
I'm so grateful for Ever's eagle eyes and my publisher is making the corrections in the next printing. In the meantime, if you want to correct copies you've already purchased, here are the right ratings.
I'm so sorry this happened. I work hard to give you the best information possible. So this glitch really breaks my heart. But I'm doing my best to make it right. Thanks again, Ever!
Cryptid Sea Monster RATING CORRECTIONS
Altamaha-ha three stars, not four
Cadborosaurus three stars, not four
Cape Ann Sea Serpent three stars, not four
Champ three stars, not four
Chessie three stars, not four
Cressie three stars, not four
Flathead Lake Monster three stars, not four
Iliamna Lake Monster three stars, not four
Lagarflroat three stars, not four
Loch Ness three stars, not four
Ogopogo three stars, not four
Southside Sea Monster three stars, not four
White River Monster three stars, not four
Yacumama three stars, not four
Tales of the cryptids: Paperback
This book was published in 2006 by Darby Creek and folded over to Lerner Publishing a short time later.
Lerner let me know the hardcover was going out of print, but a new paperback went on sale in January of 2025.
I could not be more pleased. Lerner let me buy the last 50 copies of the hardback, so it you need one, let me know.
The paperback is much cheaper, so I hope more kids can buy it!
Lerner let me know the hardcover was going out of print, but a new paperback went on sale in January of 2025.
I could not be more pleased. Lerner let me buy the last 50 copies of the hardback, so it you need one, let me know.
The paperback is much cheaper, so I hope more kids can buy it!
Dinosaur parade is coming back!
More details will follow soon!
My friend Chloe is from Scotland! So proud she loves my books.
Chloe's mom said her daughter loved TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS and CRYPTID CREATURES: A FIELD GUIDE. So I mailed her a box with IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH and a pile of other cryptid fun! Today, her mom confirmed the box has arrived. Yay! When SEA MONSTERS; A FIELD GUIDE and CRYPTID BABIES come out in October, I'll mail copies of those books too! Thanks Chloe (and her mom Jenni) for reaching out.
Oh my goodness! Chloe and her mom Jenni sent ME a surprise gift from Scotland! I LOVE them so much. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks so much, Seattle's King5 News!
Thank you, Spokesman Review!
september 17, 2024! Happy book birthday!
Would you like to book a school visit or other event with me, live or vitual? Email me at [email protected] and we'll make it happen. Flexible pricing available! Just tell me what you can afford and I'll do my best.
Upcoming Events
September 27. 2025
PNBA Conference Author Event
Spokane Public Library Downtown
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
October 28, 2025
Valley View Elementary Zoom Event
Bonners Ferry, ID
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
October 31, 2025
Streamable Learning Zoom Event
Five Halloween Symbols
1:10 pm EST, 10:10 am Pacific to 10:50 am
November 14, 2025
Poulsbo Kids Book Festival School Visit with Ness Halls
Kitsap, WA
All day
November 15, 2025
Poulsbo Kids Book Festival with Ness Halls
Kitsap, WA
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
November 18, 2025
Auntie's Bookstore Event: CRYPTID SEA MONSTERS and CRYPTID BABIES
Spokane, WA
Time TBA
December 16. 2025
Markham Elementary School
Portland, OR
All day
March 23, 2026
Streamable Learning Zoom Event
Axolotls
1:10 am EST, 10:10 am Pacific
May 8-10, 2026
CAPCOM 2026 Convention--Bigfoot, UFO, Ghost presentation for kids
Fond du Lac, WI
MORE TO COME!
Upcoming Events
September 27. 2025
PNBA Conference Author Event
Spokane Public Library Downtown
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
October 28, 2025
Valley View Elementary Zoom Event
Bonners Ferry, ID
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
October 31, 2025
Streamable Learning Zoom Event
Five Halloween Symbols
1:10 pm EST, 10:10 am Pacific to 10:50 am
November 14, 2025
Poulsbo Kids Book Festival School Visit with Ness Halls
Kitsap, WA
All day
November 15, 2025
Poulsbo Kids Book Festival with Ness Halls
Kitsap, WA
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
November 18, 2025
Auntie's Bookstore Event: CRYPTID SEA MONSTERS and CRYPTID BABIES
Spokane, WA
Time TBA
December 16. 2025
Markham Elementary School
Portland, OR
All day
March 23, 2026
Streamable Learning Zoom Event
Axolotls
1:10 am EST, 10:10 am Pacific
May 8-10, 2026
CAPCOM 2026 Convention--Bigfoot, UFO, Ghost presentation for kids
Fond du Lac, WI
MORE TO COME!
This is my virtual visit room! don't you love my wall of oddities.
Even before Covid-19, I was doing Virtual Visits for schools, libraries and festivals whenever a host couldn't afford travel and hotel expenses. After Covid-19, a lot of my traditional author visits were converted to Virtual Visits. I have a special studio, the right webcam and microphone equipment and more than 15 different presentation topics to choose from. And almost everyone can afford one -- or two or three or four.
Want to know more? Click this VIRTUAL VISITS LINK for the details! We can help each other and the kids we love!
Kelly
Want to know more? Click this VIRTUAL VISITS LINK for the details! We can help each other and the kids we love!
Kelly
This is my Virtual Visit backdrop. How could we NOT have a great time exploring the Wonders of Weird ONLINE?
Natalya sent me a letter and a drawing! I love them both.
A cool cryptid lover! may 2024
I love these shirts so, so much!
Love that so many of my Seattle friends came to the Redmond book launch for Cryptid Creatures! Thank you so much!
Kids often ask me, "What would you do if you met Sasquatch?"
The video above is exactly what I'd do. I hope it happens someday!
ghostly evidence...literally!
When I wrote GHOSTLY EVIDENCE, I did a lot of research in haunted places including the haunted house in the video above. See if you hear the voice of a very young ghost in this recording. And let me know what you think!
WANT A STICKER? Illustrator Rick Spears created this fun sticker design for me. If you want one, email me at [email protected] and I'll mail you one. It's my way of saying THANK YOU for considering my books and my school visits. I think they are GREAT. I hope you like them, too!
my heavenly pets!
a fun challenge, if brief!
In January of 2023, I took on the job of editing this beautiful magazine. The job only lasted six months--four issues--but it was a joy. For a look as a few of my articles--and a few by local friends, click HERE.
I will never stop writing for kids as long as I have air to breath. My next book is A DINOSAUR FOR WASHINGTON: THE TRUE STORY OF SUCIASAURUS, coming in the fall of 2024.
After that, it will be a sequel to CRYPTID CREATURES: A FIELD GUIDE called SEA MONSTERS: A FIELD GUIDE. CRYPTID BABIES will be released with SEA MONSTERS in the fall of 2025.
Rick Spears is illustrating all three books, and I can't wait.
