I grew up in New York City in a busy neighborhood called the Upper West Side. Until I was eight years old, I hated reading. The books I was given at school were terribly boring to me.
That all changed one summer. My parents decided we should visit Europe, and our first stop was London. The plane ride felt endless. My mother had a solution. She brought along a book my older brothers had read — one of the Hardy Boys mysteries. I couldn't get enough of it. But after a while, my mother said, "If you want to know what happens next, you'll have to read it yourself." From that moment on, I never stopped reading.
When we arrived in London, they took me to a bookstore. I thought it was the most fascinating place I had ever visited. I chose Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome — and I was completely hooked.
Years later, I had two young sons of my own, and I thought it would be nice to write a book for them. I outlined the story and created the characters... but then life got busy, and I never finished it.
Now I am 70 years old. While going through old papers, I found those notes again — Mr. MacGillicutty's Detective Agency, Danny, Joyce, Mom, and of course Mr. M were all still there, waiting. I knew it was time to finish my first book. But not my last.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
