Humorous middle grade 'Freaky Frank' will be out June 27

Big release day coming up for my humorous middle grade "Freaky Frank." If there is an 8- to 12-year-old child in your life, this would be a great read for them. I had so much fun writing it. 

This is the first of my middle grades that will be released from MuseItUp Publishing. The next one coming in the fall will be "Will, Middle Name Trouble."

About "Freaky Frank"

In many ways, Frank Fratello is a typical teen. He plays baseball, hangs out with his friends at the mall and gets in trouble at home. But there’s something very different about this sixth-grader—he can read minds. And reading minds can cause problems. Like when Frank says what someone is thinking before they say it. Or answers a question before they ask it.

Despite being telepathic, Frank must deal with everyday middle school life, which includes battling a bully who hates him. Nasty Nate and his flunkies live to get others in trouble—especially Frank.

But Frank and his friends aren’t giving up. There has to be some way to bring Nasty Nate down. They just have to find it.

Why it's important to marry a good speller

A case of Buffyitis

I was working on my middle-grade novel and laughing my ass off. I mean, there was some funny crap flying onto that computer screen. So I'm laughing and laughing and I’m thinking I’ve got to share this with Hubs. He’ll think it’s funny, too.

So, I track him down (in front of TV watching some kind of game that involves a brown ball shaped like an egg) and read him a passage. There’s no laugh.

"Now wait. Now wait. Here's another."

I read him another passage. Still no laugh. Meanwhile, I’m crackin’ up just trying to get through the passages because I think they’re hilarious.

Finally, I said to him, "You don’t think this is funny, do you?”

“Obviously not as funny as you do."

“What’s not funny about pimples and farts?"

(Very pregnant pause here)

“OK, don’t answer that."

That’s when I realized there was something wrong with me. Something terribly, terribly wrong with me. And being the hypochondriac that I am, I've looked it up in medical journals and websites and I can’t seem to find this ailment anywhere. So, I came up with my own name: Buffyitis.

Symptoms: Acts like a kid. Thinks like a kid. Basically, lacks the ability to grow up and think like a sane adult.
Cure: There's no cure for Buffyitis. Doctors are still working on it, but they see little hope.

Guess I'm just stuck with this. You, too! (Smiles)

Excerpt from Freaky Frank

I have a secret. I know things. Lots of things. About people. Like I know that my math teacher, Mr. Bugg, is going to pick his nose and wipe a boogie on the back of his yellow smiley face tie when he turns around to write on the board. And I know that Lacey, who sits next to me, is hoping that Jon, who sits behind me, asks her to our eighth-grade school dance. And that she really, really, really hopes that the pimple she popped and powdered before class doesn’t look like a giant apple on the tip of her nose. And that Jon doesn’t see said giant apple pimple when she accidentally-on-purpose bumps into him while leaving class.

See what I mean? I know tons of things. Freaky Frank. That’s me, all right.

Excerpt from Freaky Frank, latest middle-grade manuscript