After discovering a gruesome murder, 7th grader Max Hunter enlists the help of his friends to name the victim and find the killer. Long-kept secrets in the town of Pine Plains begin to reveal themselves, and Max finds the difficulties of 7th grade are nothing compared to what he uncovers.

Young Adult,Suspense/Thriller,Romance,Horror,Mystery,Detective,Adventure

Seventh-grader Max Hunter stumbles upon a dismembered body, a mutilated pig, and creepy dolls in what was once his safe, personal hangout—an old abandoned barn nestled in the shadows of Silvernails.

Max, now hurt, helps vanquish the beast with the help of Maxine, the new goth girl with a wicked talent. He wakes up weeks later in Sharon Hospital shaken by new details of what happened and unexpected changes to his own family and his body.

Pine Plains, NY, Silvernails, NY

No

Overcoming Monster/Villain,Quest,Tragedy

Coming of Age,Twist,Meaningful Message,Happy Ending,Philosophical Questions

Information not completed

Name: Max Hunter

Age: 12

Gender: Other

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Adventurous,Heroic,Secretive,Charming,Aspiring

Name: Maxine

Age: 12

Gender: Female

Role: Logical

Key Traits: Lone Wolf,Secretive,Faithful,Badass,Skillful,Unapologetic

Name: Carmen

Age: 12

Gender: Other

Role: sidekick

Key Traits: Complex,Faithful,Insecure,Charming,Romantic

Name: Camilla Fox

Age: 45

Gender: Other

Role: antagonist

Key Traits: Confident,Decisive,Unapologetic,Blunt,Outspoken,Villainous,Complex,Aggressive,Badass,Criminal,Crazy,Seductive,Sophisticated,Power Hungry,Secretive,Narcisstic

Seventh grade is considered the roughest school grade for kids. They're no longer children who have fun and look up to adults for everything, and they're not yet mature. Hormones take over, peer relationships become more complex, and friends come and go. Everything becomes a competition as budding teenagers strive to prove themselves, often needlessly. Also, things that were once hidden from them as children now become visible, and sometimes, more disturbing. "Mischievous Max and the Beast of Silvernails, Book One," follows Max Hunter, a 7th-grade boy who discovers a bizarre murder in what was once his favorite, private hideout: an old, abandoned barn. Max enlists the help of his friends and some new classmates to find out who the victim is. In doing so, he learns the people in the town of Pine Plains have many deep and dark secrets. Metaphor is crucial in the Mischievous Max series. The larger than life adults in positions of authority directly opposes the confusion and vulnerability that Max and his peers feel as they enter middle-grade and spiral toward adulthood. Mischievous Max is a tale of mystery, suspense, horror, and the paranormal. And, as with many stories, unfinished business and an unexpected cliffhanger leave the reader wondering, "What happens next?" In the planned series, Max Hunter ages and grows, as do his friends and foes. Supernatural elements co-mingle with reality, representing the fear of the unknown, and the need to learn, overcome, and persevere.

Much of my interest in fiction and science fiction stems from amazing—and true—experiences I had while conducting research in astrophysics at the Bolshoi Observatory in Russia; after my sister’s sudden death on my birthday in 2010; from my time as a hotel manager and seeing real ghosts; and from experiences from my skydiving career, and more. I am a native New Yorker. After much study in locations like Russia, Europe, & education in Hawaii, Las Vegas & San Diego, I settled in Colorado Springs where I moved my successful medical weight loss company, Life Prime (www.LifePrime.com). I also continue to work for our largest school district driving special needs students each early morning and afternoon.

Age: 13-17,18-34

Target Gender: Universal

Information not completed

Status: Yes: self-published

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2019

Yes

978-1-7333983-3-6