Appearances and autographed books
Michael frequently speaks to groups and signs books for fans. Several bookstores also carry autographed copies of Michael's books. To see a complete listing, check out Michael's events.
reviewers ARE SAYING:
Blood Riders ~
“Blood Riders is a novel like you’ve never read before — part Western and part horror and one-hundred percent sweet excitement. It’s vivid and high-velocity, too. I couldn’t put it down.”
~ T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times Bestselling author of The Jaguar and The Border Lords
The Monster Alphabet ~
“I'm a teacher and I'll be using this book at my school with the K-2 grades but I'm also buying it for my friends children and just about every 4-6 year old I know. It's that much fun. The drawings are cute as can be and it has a wonderful interactive element to that kids love. Highly recommended.”
~
Amazon Review By TMMac
The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail ~
“This is a winner!”
~
Kliatt Starred Review
“This book is better written than most Templar fiction and more historically
accurate than most Templar non-fiction. I cannot recommend this book highly
enough.”
~ www.templarhistory.com
Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop ~
“An entertaining page turner. Spradin captures the perfect teenage voice
in his protagonist; she is more than just a spoiled fashion-conscious teen
from Beverly Hills—she is the Spy Goddess—witty and smart with
an edge. Overall, this is an intelligent, exciting mystery that will have broad
appeal.”
~ School Library Journal, March 2005
“An entertaining and action packed mystery. Blackthorn (Academy) will
rank up with Hogwarts as the coolest school to attend, and young readers will
enjoy returning to it in the next book.”
~ BCCB, March 2005
Spy Goddess: To Hawaii with Love ~
“Lots of fun!”
~ Kircus, January, 2006
“Delivers a healthy helping of intrigue and butt-kicking!”
~ The
Florida-Sun Sentinel, January 2006
The Legend of Blue Jacket ~
“A well-researched labor of love, beautifully and accurately illustrated."
~ School Library Journal
Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen ~
“...sure to entice youngsters and keep them turning the pages."
~ School Library Journal
"Highly Recommended."
~ The Midwest Book Review
Contact information
For Publicity Requests:
For publicity information about any of Michael's titles please contact
him directly for referral to the appropriate publisher.
To book an appearance at your school or conference, contact Kelly Spradlin at
For inquiries regarding film/tv/audio/foreign/other
rights:
Steven Chudney, The Chudney Agency,
career highlights:
2015: Michael returns to historical fiction in Into the Killing Seas, published June 30, in hardcover by Scholastic Press. Into the Killing Seas tells the story of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis through the eyes of Patrick O’Donell, a young boy who, along with his brother Teddy is stranded on Guam during World War II. The boys had been separated from the parents who were left stranded on the Philippines. When they learn the Indianapolis is headed toward the Philippines they decide to stow-away. But their plan is ripped apart by two Japanese torpedoes and they are forced to endure the worst disaster at sea in US Naval history. Into the Killing Seas is already a Junior Library Guild selection and Kirkus Reviews has called it ‘entirely gripping.’
Michael’s next project is another historical novel set in World War II. Titled The Enemy Above, it tells another story based on real events of a group of Ukrainian Jews who survive the holocaust and being hunted by Nazi troops by living in caves for more than 500 days. The Enemy Above is tentatively scheduled for fall 2015 publication.
2014: In 2014, Michael released I, Q The Windy City, the next volume in the I,Q series, co-written with Roland Smith. He also published the next two volumes in the Killer Species series, Out For Blood and Ultimate Attack! Concluding the four book series from Scholastic.
2013: In 2013 Michael has two new important projects arriving on bookstore shelves. Michael teams up with New York Times Bestselling Author Roland Smith to co-write the continuation of his I, Q series. Their first collaboration I, Q: The Alamo will arrive in stores in May 2013. The next installment, I, Q: The Windy City will arrive in fall 2013.
Also in 2013, Scholastic, publisher of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games trilogy, launches Michael’s new action packed series Killer Species. The first book, Killer Species: Menace From The Deep launched in Scholastic Book Fairs in January and arrives in bookstores in July. The second book Killer Species: Feeding Frenzy will launch in Scholastic Book Fairs in September. There are currently four books planned for the series.
2012: Michael released his first novel for adults, Blood Riders. A paranormal western, the novel received tremendous pre-publication quotes from New York Times Bestselling author James Rollins who said, “You’re in for the ride of your life!” Blood Riders received universal acclaim from reviewers including the San Jose Mercury News, which called it ‘outstanding’, Booklist said “it’s one hell of a good time! and Publishers Weekly called it ‘delightful’.
Michael once again teamed with illustrator Jeff Weigel for The Monster Alphabet, a picture book featuring Marvin the monster hunter who must travel the world capturing a different monster for each letter of the alphabet.
2011: In 2011 Michael once again collaborated with illustrator Jeff Weigel for another zombie inspired humor book. Jack and Jill Went Up To Kill: The Book of Zombie Nursery Rhymes.
2010: 2010 is a big year for Michael. In February his newest picture book Off Like The Wind!: The First Ride Of The Pony Express was published to universally outstanding reviews. In March came Baseball From A to Z: A Baseball Alphabet another stunningly illustrated picture book. In the fall Michael released The Youngest Templar: Orphan of Destiny, the third volume of The Youngest Templar trilogy. Two more humor books (remember these are rated PG-13) reached shelves: Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs and Pirate Haiku. Arrgh!
2009: In October, the second book in The Youngest Templar Trilogy, The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate was published and the trilogy is now available in twelve countries world wide. Daniel Boone's Great Escape was a finalist for the Spur Award by the Western Writers of America and chosen by Bank Street College of Education as one of the 100 Best Children's Books of 2008. 2009 also saw the release of the second book in The Youngest Templar trilogy, The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate was released in October. His first adult humor book It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Zombies: A Book of Zombie Christmas Carols, was also released in October and spent five weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List.
2008: Michael's new Middle Grade novel The
Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail is published to internatonial acclaim.
2008: Michael's second picture book Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen is released in March. His third, Daniel Boone's Great Escape is released in July.
2006: Spy Goddess: To Hawaii, With Love, the second Rachel Buchanan adventure is published. It receives a Starred Review from VOYA which says that “Teens will love the hip language, the non-stop action and the strong characters.”
2006: Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop is named to the New York Public Library's Best Books for the Teenage 2006 List. The paperback edition is also named to the American Library Association Popular Paperbacks list.
2006: Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop is nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery by the Mystery Writers of America.
2005: Michael's first novel Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop featuring Rachel Buchanan is published.
2002: Michael's first book The Legend of Blue Jacket is published in October.
about michael:
Michael Spradlin is the author of over a dozen books for children, some of
which have actually been published. He grew up in a small town in Michigan
not far from the Ohio-Indiana border and spent many hours of his young life keeping
an eye out for “suspicious Hoosier and Buckeye activity.” His early
youth was spent reading hundreds of books, imagining himself as the hero of
several epic battles, and sneaking in fireworks from Canada to indulge his
favorite pastime which was blowing up his collection of plastic Green Army Men
and Matchbox Cars.
Michael Spradlin has never practiced law, dentistry (okay maybe once with a loose tooth, string and a doorknob) or flown in outer space. In 1978 he managed to talk his way into college and emerged four years later with a Bachelor's Degree in History and no prospects for a real job. He has worked as a field hand, a newspaper delivery engineer, a lawn maintenance specialist, a bartender, a bookseller, and has lived in Michigan his whole life except for a two year sojourn to a Southern state which he refuses to discuss.
Want to know more about Michael? Visit his FAQs
publicity photos:
Michael frequently receives requests for publicity photos. The following
photo is available for download. Please let us know where you
post your article so we can link to it. High resolution book cover images available
upon request.
The photo is copyright by Michael P. Spradlin.