Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors and illustrators.

Congratulations to F.P. LaRue on the release of The Curse of Shadow Park

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

When I was growing up there were thick creepy woods near my home. My friends and I always made-up stories about monsters in those woods. That inspired me to write this story.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

I would like readers to take away that reading can be fun! I would like readers to experience what the characters are going through and have fun with it.

What inspires you to write?

I loved reading as a child. I read many fun and exciting books. I know there are many adventures for kids to enjoy and mysteries to solve.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

Writing the book was fun and easy. Editing the book was time consuming.

What are your marketing plans for the book?

My marketing plans will consist of sending books to schools and libraries, school presentations, website, Facebook, Instagram, and Kindle/Amazon.

A little bit about the book . . .

Oliver calls himself the Evil Destroyer. He and his two best friends, Mellie and Scotty set out to solve the mystery of a hiker that went missing in Shadow Park. As they search for the missing hiker, they encounter more than they ever expected in the Forbidden Zone of the park. They confront ghosts, pirates, and other scary beings. They must conquer their fears as they deal with evil characters, voodoo spells, and a man-eating creature. In the end, they not only solve the mystery of the missing hiker, but they confirm the legend of The Curse of Shadow Park.

A little bit about the author . . .

The Curse of Shadow Park is F.P. LaRue’s debut to the middle grade book genre. Her career has been in education, where she progressed from teacher to Dean of Academic Affairs at a small Michigan College. During that time, she authored Stalking: Surviving the Hidden Terror and co-authored Discover Your Inner Strength, both adult non-fiction books. She has been a regular guest on a weekly radio show on Safety and Security, including a show on “Back to School Safety.”

F.P. LaRue is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. When not writing, F.P. loves to travel, having visited all 50 states in the USA and 53 countries worldwide. When COVID hit, F.P. took to writing again. She loves a scary story and looks forward to sharing her own scary stories. She is hoping her stories encourage all children to discover the wondrous adventures reading can bring … no matter their age.