The Ultimate Mystery Writing Guide For Kids ($7.99)

 

This PDF guide is designed for children 8-12 years of age who are interested in writing their own mysteries. National Board Certified elementary school teacher and award-winning author Steve Reifman takes young writers step-by-step from the beginning of the writing process to the end and helps them craft stories that keep readers guessing and on the edge of their seats! It doesn’t matter whether students are already seasoned mystery writers or brand new to the genre. This informative 56-page guide promises to take children’s writing skills to the next level.

The guide features:

* Easy-to-follow lessons

* Quality instruction from a National Board Certified teacher and award-winning children's author about all the elements that make mysteries so much fun to read and write!

* Numerous examples from Steve's book Chase Against Time that demonstrate important teaching points

* A focus on valuable writing habits, such as perseverance, pride, and paying attention to detail

* An emphasis on enjoying the writing process and developing a passion for reading and writing

(56 pages)

   

The guide is divided into four sections.

I. Getting Started
1) What is a Mystery?
2) What is the Crime?
3) Who is the Crime Solver?
4) Collecting Seeds
5) Trying Out Our Ideas
6) Making the Choice

II.Bringing The Characters to Life
7) Three-Dimensional Bone Structure
8) Character Change
9) Character “Back Story”
10) Who Did It?
11) List of Suspects
12) Motives
13) Clues
14) Ruling Out Suspects

III. Adding Other Mystery Elements
15) Hiding Clues
16) Alibis
17) Witnesses
18) Red Herrings
19) Investigation Strategies
20) Setting

IV. Putting it All Together into a Story
21) Story Mountain
22) Chapter Plans
23) Drafting
24) Revising
25) Editing
26) Publishing
27) Reflecting & Celebrating

Note: The lessons in bold letters are essential to this mystery writing process. The other lessons are included to give children an extra challenge and provide them with a more complete writing experience.

 

Description

Steve's latest project stems from the "Quote of the Day" discussions that he has used successfully in recent years as part of his classroom's morning routine. This book features 122 inspirational quotes that parents and teachers can discuss with children 8-12 years of age in order to build character and improve the overall classroom or home environment. Along with each quote, Steve provides "talking points that readers can use or reference in these discussions.

Sample Quote and Suggested Talking Point

Quote

"We are the music makers. We are the dreamers of dreams."
-Willy Wonka

Suggested Talking Point

During the factory tour Willy Wonka conducted for the lucky finders of his golden tickets, he asked the kids to sample the various fruits found on his lickable wallpaper. He emphasized that the strawberries actually taste like strawberries and the snozberries taste like snozberries. This quote was Mr. Wonka’s response to Veruca Salt, who argued that there were no such things as snozberries. His point: if there's something humans want to create, they have the imagination and determination necessary to do so, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Description

The Tower of Opportunity is a four-sided structure that helps students find greater meaning in their schoolwork and better understand how daily learning activities connect to the higher purposes we teachers try to promote in our classrooms. Each of the Tower's seven floors features one of the life roles Dale Parnell defines in his marvelous book Why Do I Have to Learn This?

The 7 Life Roles are:

• Citizen
• Consumer
• Family Member & Friend
• Individual
• Leisure Participant
• Lifelong Learner
• and Producer (Worker)

The role names occupy one side of the tower while specific examples of each role occupy the other three. Examples of each role are printed on doors that include tiny doorknobs.

The design of the tower empowers teachers to convey the message that life is rich with opportunities, choices, and options, but that in order to take advantage of these opportunities, maximize our choices, and give ourselves the greatest number of options, we need an education. Put simply, education is the key that opens doors. The harder we work in school and the more we learn, the more doors we can open for ourselves. Thus, the Tower provides a powerful visual metaphor that enables teachers to take normally abstract notions about the future and make them concrete.

An important aspect of the tower's design relates to the sequence of roles from bottom to top. The arrangement isn't random. Rather, it is an attempt to illustrate each role’s potential for contributing to and impacting the larger society. While the potential certainly exists for people assuming any role to make a difference in the lives of others, the roles located on the bottom tend to focus primarily on individual needs, goals, and priorities while those higher on the tower tend to involve progressively larger numbers of people.

The Tower is a significant reference point that students should revisit frequently. Whenever you begin a new unit or project, choose to discuss an item you heard on the news, want to capitalize on a teachable moment, or even decide to share a personal story, try connecting it to something on the tower. Every time you do, you remind your students of the numerous ways in which their learning can be put to use and the numerous reasons why learning matters. You expand their perspective and encourage them to think beyond their present reality. Furthermore, you provide them with a glimpse of what a productive, well-rounded life can look like. A Discussion Guide will be included with the purchase of each Tower of Opportunity.

Quote from Dale Parnell

"I certainly endorse your Tower of Opportunity...I would love to see it in every classroom."

Quote from Steve

"As we discuss the tower every Wednesday as part of our morning routine, students talk about such things as the types of jobs they want, colleges they hope to attend, and contributions they want to make to their families and communities. When the kids talk about their plans for the future, they often connect something specific they are learning in the classroom to their larger goals. I have always believed that the most important decision young people can make is the one to commit themselves to education and make becoming a successful student their highest priority. Listening to students who have already made this commitment speak intelligently, thoughtfully, and sincerely about what they hope to accomplish as they get older is one of the greatest joys I experience in my job."

Parnell Article Excerpt:

Dale Parnell, the author who defines the seven life roles in Why Do I Have To Learn This?, supports and endorses this project, and he has even referred to my work in a recent article he has written. An excerpt is shown below.

"Steve Reifman, a veteran 3rd grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica, California, has developed a unique way to incorporate the life role career curriculum into his every day teaching. He has developed a visual symbol called 'The Tower of Opportunity' for his classroom.

This stand alone four sided tower is designed with seven levels, one for each Life Role Career. The other three sides of the Tower indicate specific examples of the various careers or situations involved in a Life Role Career. He observes that this visual metaphor helps his students connect daily learning activities to the higher purposes of elementary education. He is passionate about helping students connect something specific in real life to their educational experience.

The educational establishment can concentrate on hot topics such as high stakes testing, or longer school days or school years, etc., but they are not likely to be the crucial keys to improving student achievement. The difference will be made, as Steve Reifman has observed in his teaching experience, when students are helped to make connections with real life issues and see purpose in their daily learning."

Contact

If you are an editor or publisher interested in acquiring The Tower of Opportunity or if you wish to be notified when The Tower of Opportunity is released, please e-mail Steve.

"Six Factors to Consider Before Making Your Pick"

Steve is huge sports fan and loves NFL football most of all. His passion for Fantasy Football inspired him to write an article in the summer of 2009 detailing an approach that fellow enthusiasts can use to select the best players possible in their annual drafts. The text of the article is shown below.

When draft time rolls around each year, I absolutely love watching ESPN's NFL previews, reading fantasy draft guides, and scouring the internet for the latest player profiles, position rankings, and team reports—anything to give me an edge on my competitors. After years of playing fantasy football, though, I realized that finding enough information is never the problem. It's knowing what to do with it. It's knowing how to sort through it, organize it, and use it to my greatest advantage. I reach a point in my annual research (usually around mid-August) when I no longer need to read about how good a player has looked over the summer or how well a team seems to be grasping its new offense.

I need information that directly relates to the decisions I will have to make in my draft. If I'm picking second this year, for example, I have to figure out whether to take Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew or somebody else. I must determine which player to choose and why. In short, I need a quick, reliable way to assess the players that are likely to be available when I'm drafting. After years of looking for this type of user-friendly evaluation system, I created my own and have used it successfully in recent seasons. (Predicting DeAngelo Williams' breakout season was last year's highlight.) I now share with you six factors to consider when deciding between comparable players at the same position.

As I describe these factors, I will put this approach into action and demonstrate its value with a scenario that those of you picking fourth in your upcoming drafts may encounter. Assume Adrian Peterson, Turner, and Jones-Drew are the first three players selected, and you're torn between LaDainian Tomlinson and Matt Forte. Remember, much of your life happiness over the next four months hinges on this decision, so be sure to consider each factor carefully. Keep in mind that no magic formula exists as to how we should weigh these factors. We simply see how our players match up head-to-head with regard to each one, and our judgment will tell us which call to make.

1) History of Success

While expecting that a player who put up huge numbers last year will automatically do the same this year is the #1 cardinal sin of fantasy football, past performance is the most powerful predictor of future success. Why is Adrian Peterson the number one ranked back on most draft lists? It's because he has been so great since he first entered the league. The same goes for Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Terrell Owens, and many others. This is hardly an earth-shattering proclamation.

Where this idea can help us, however, is when evaluating younger players. Sometimes, a rookie or second-year player receives so much hype that we can easily forget he's never before put up numbers over an entire season. Three years ago, for example, Ronnie Brown was in many people's top five, despite never having been an every-down back for a full season. The lesson behind Factor #1 is this: Be careful when you invest a pick, especially a high one, on a guy who has never produced at the level at which you are expecting him to produce. Before you pull the trigger on someone in the first couple rounds, ask yourself the following question: Does this guy have the track record to justify the financial and emotional investment I am about to make in him?

LT vs. Forte: In 2008 Forte had a very good rookie season, rushing for 1,238 yards and scoring a combined 12 touchdowns. Tomlinson is a Fantasy Football Hall of Famer. In his eight seasons he's rushed for 126 career touchdowns, caught 15, and even thrown for a few. Both players have succeeded as feature backs over the course of an entire season, but few can match LT's track record. Edge: Tomlinson.

2) Injury History

Injuries in the NFL are a fact of life and can never be predicted. Sometimes, players known for their durability, such as Tom Brady and Carson Palmer in 2008, go down the year you drafted them with precisely this factor in mind. It's frustrating, it's unfortunate, yet it's unavoidable. During our drafts, we don't know what will occur in the season ahead - we deal with likelihoods. After all, every draft pick is made based on what we think is likely to happen, not sure to happen. And let's face it, certain players have proven in the past to be more likely to get injured than others. Before you read on, close your eyes and see which names come to mind. The names Fred Taylor, Clinton Portis, Donovan McNabb, and Marc Bulger probably popped into your head because these players always seem to miss more than their fair share of games. When two players you're considering are otherwise evenly matched, it pays to take the more historically durable player.

LT vs. Forte: Matt Forte played in all 16 games last season, and Tomlinson has only missed one regular season game in eight years. Absolutely incredible. Though both players have an admirable record in this regard, durability has become a major concern with LT over the past two post-seasons and due to his recently having turned 30, the age that frequently signals the end of the line for most running backs. Edge: Forte.

3) Team Quality

Whereas the first two factors may be a bit on the obvious side, I find that the third one, Team Quality, generally receives far less attention than it deserves. Good teams almost always score more points than bad teams, and players on good teams usually put up bigger numbers than their counterparts on weaker teams. In 2007 was Frank Gore an inferior running back to Jamal Lewis? Not a chance. Gore scored fewer touchdowns than Lewis because the 49ers had tremendous difficulty moving the ball down the field and sustaining drives, resulting in fewer carries and fewer scoring opportunities. Lewis played on the playoff contending Browns that scored points and put him in situations where he could be successful.

The four teams that earned first-round byes in the playoffs last year were the Titans, Steelers, Giants, and Panthers. Not coincidentally, running backs Chris Johnson, LenDale White, Willie Parker, Brandon Jacobs, and DeAngelo Williams scored loads of touchdowns. These offenses stayed on the field, racked up yardage, and provided players with scoring chances that those on losing teams simply didn't have.

As I look at this year's lists, I marvel that some of the player rankings seem to ignore Team Quality completely. Recently, I noticed Chris Johnson ranked behind Frank Gore and Steve Slaton ranked behind Ronnie Brown, even though the 49ers are unlikely to match the offensive production of the Titans and the Dolphins are unlikely to move the ball as well as the Texans.

The lesson behind Factor #3 is this: When evaluating two players, we must remember that football isn't tennis or golf. We are not merely comparing Player A to Player B as individuals in isolation. We have to understand the bigger picture and look at the offenses within which players will have to operate. Before your draft, identify what you believe to be the five or six best teams with the most prolific offenses and be sure that the core of your team includes at least some players from this group.

LT vs. Forte: Tomlinson plays on a perennial Super Bowl contender, and it's tough to imagine the Chargers not putting up big offensive numbers or failing to make the playoffs out of the relatively weak AFC West. The Bears upgraded their quarterback situation significantly with the acquisition of Jay Cutler and have a good chance to make the playoffs. With largely unproven receivers, however, the Chicago offense can't be expected to match the output of the Chargers. Edge: Tomlinson.

4) Offensive Continuity

Another factor that takes into account the bigger picture and involves the circumstances surrounding a player is offensive continuity. Three years ago, Shaun Alexander was coming off a record-setting season and most draft services ranked him first among running backs. While it seemed safe at the time to expect Alexander to have another strong year, it is now obvious (hindsight is always 20/20) that the Seahawks of 2006 were not the Seahawks of 2005. Sure, their quarterback and receivers remained with the team, but All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson signed as a free agent with the Vikings and left a huge void on the offensive line. Although the degree of Alexander's decline that year was shocking, one could foresee that Hutchinson's departure would have at least some impact.

Astute fantasy owners need to pay attention to major personnel changes that occur in the off-season. Of course, headline-grabbing free agent signings involving quarterbacks (Drew Brees three years ago) and running backs (Michael Turner two years ago) are easy to notice, but look below the surface as well. Did any other changes occur that are likely to alter the continuity of the team's offense from the year before, either positively or negatively? Did the team sign or lose any valuable linemen? Did the team draft or sign a running back that could eat into the carries of the guy you're thinking of drafting?

Beyond roster moves, pay equal attention to new head coaches and offensive coordinators and the impact they may have on their new teams. For example, is Todd Haley's arrival in Kansas City likely to increase Dwayne Bowe's numbers? By the same token, appreciate the coaching continuity of teams such as the Colts and the effect of that uncommon stability on player performance. Offensive continuity is probably the factor whose impact is most difficult to quantify, but it is absolutely something fantasy owners must consider.

LT vs. Forte: The Chargers and Bears both return the major pieces of their coaching staffs, but player personnel changes add a bit of uncertainty to the roles of Tomlinson and Forte. In the case of LT, San Diego signed Darren Sproles to big money and will likely increase his role, especially given the age of Tomlinson. The arrival of Jay Cutler in Chicago should mean more points for the Bears, but will this necessarily translate into greater production for Forte? Because he's such a capable receiver and because the Bears should visit the red zone more often, Forte's overall numbers are likely to improve, while Tomlinson's will most likely take a hit. Edge: Forte.

5) Schedule

We've all seen those tables in the back of fantasy football magazines showing which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules heading into the coming season. Even though last year is not the same as this year, and even though last year's records will, of course, differ from this year's, these schedules are worth inspecting. If you're trying to decide between two running backs and one plays games out of the division against the strong defenses of the NFC East and AFC South for eight games while the other opposes the relatively easier defenses of the NFC West and the AFC West for eight, that's a potentially decisive factor right there. That's half the season. We may discover even more differences as we compare the two teams' schedules within their divisions or in their other games. The lesson behind Factor #5 is this: Dramatic differences in two teams' strength of schedule won't always exist, but when they do, be ready to take advantage of them.

LT vs. Forte: Interestingly, the Chargers and Bears both play the four teams of the difficult AFC North. The Chargers face a much easier division schedule, yet the Bears have an advantage playing the relatively weak NFC West while the Chargers must face the tough defenses of the NFC East. For their two remaining games, each team plays a second place schedule based on last year's division finish. Edge: Even.

6) Career Trajectory

Like Factor #3, Team Quality, I consider this final factor worthy of much greater attention than it typically receives. Career Trajectory refers to the point in a player's career where he currently finds himself. Ideally, we draft a player after he's been in the league long enough to learn the ropes, but before his skills have begun to decline or before age, injury, or wear and tear have taken their toll. In short, we want a player in his prime. Career Trajectory is most important to consider with running backs, whose careers are generally shorter than other positions'. enerally, we like a running a back to be in his third, fourth, or fifth year when we draft him, even though some, like Marshall Faulk and Thomas Jones, defy the odds and stay productive a while longer.

When fantasy owners err with running backs, it's usually because we draft them too late in their careers, though occasionally we pick them too early, before they have found their way or before they have won a starting job outright. In contrast, mistakes with quarterbacks and wide receivers frequently come because we select them too early. Conventional wisdom says that year three tends to be the breakthrough season for these positions, and while that's not always true, it's worth keeping in mind. Taking a rookie or second-year quarterback is almost always a mistake, as is taking an inexperienced receiver.

Arguably, the greatest fantasy football joy and satisfaction come when we draft a player during his breakout year, just as he enters his prime. Think Stephen Jackson in 2006, Greg Jennings in 2007, or DeAngelo Williams in 2008. What about 2009? Who might be the candidates to bust out this year, and whom might we be able to grab below the radar just as they enter the most productive part of their career trajectories? Dwayne Bowe is entering his third year with the Chiefs with a new head coach who knows how to feature his number one receiver. Kevin Smith begins his second year on what has to be an improved Lions' team. Chicago's Greg Olsen starts his third year with a new quarterback who may look to him frequently given the team's inexperienced wide receivers. Perhaps one of these three can put your team over the top this year.

LT vs. Forte: Ultimately, this is the decisive factor for me. Forte is entering his second year and doesn't have a tremendous amount of wear and tear on him. He should have a terrific season. I love Tomlinson, but he's beginning his ninth season, the team gave franchise money to his back-up, and age and injuries are becoming more of a concern. Maybe he will another great season, but he just seems to be on the wrong side of his career trajectory to be taken over a back like Forte.

Paying attention to these six factors as you evaluate prospective top draft picks gives you the best chance for a successful season. Best of luck this year.

Description

In this article I describe some of the greatest joys I experience teaching upper elementary grade students. Typically, children of this age possess enthusiasm for learning and will contribute energy and invest themselves completely in worthwhile projects, are ready to engage in and embrace higher-level challenges, work with a greater sense of future purpose, and can develop enduring habits of mind and habits of character. I also explain that these positive characteristics can only manifest themselves in classrooms where teachers nurture children’s intrinsic motivation to learn and grow.

Chase Under Pressure (Not Yet Released)

Synopsis

With huge prizes on the line at the state hamster competition, the Apple Valley Elementary science club has been working overtime to prepare for the big race. Dash, the school’s little speedster, is in the best shape of her life, and confidence is high - until the hamster turns up missing the morning of the event. 4th grader Chase Manning must overcome an unsupportive principal, the visiting members of a rival school, and even his own teammates to identify the thief and find Dash before the competition begins right after school. Expect the unexpected on the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller.

Chase For Home (Not Currently Available)

Synopsis

Riding high in the Spring of his 5th grade year, Chase Manning joins the Apple Valley baseball team, and his clutch hitting leads the squad to within two victories of the school’s first ever league championship. Confidence is high - until Chase’s lucky batting glove turns up missing the day of the semifinal game. Unsure whether the theft represents an attempt to derail the baseball team as a whole or a personal attack against him, Chase must track down the culprit and find the glove before the team boards the bus at three o’clock. Surprising and suspense-filled plot twists fill the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller.

What Readers Are Saying

• "Reifman combines nail-biting suspense with great detail to create an amazing plot."-Kirun Cheung


• "I couldn't put the book down. I really admire how Chase stands up for himself." -Sara Cooper


• "A perfect book for both boys and girls of all ages." -Jenny Kean


• "This book made me think hard." -Ace McAfee

Availability of Chase For Home

Steve self-published Chase Against Time in 2009 and Chase For Home in 2010, and both books have been available for sale on stevereifman.com since that time. Now that Brown Books has taken over as publisher of the Chase Manning Mystery Series, the new and improved version of Chase Against Time is due out March 15th and the book is currently available for pre-sale on this site. Chase For Home is not currently available for purchase due to the fact that Brown is focusing exclusively on Chase Against Time. If all goes according to plan, a new and improved of Chase For Home will be released in the near future.

Chase Manning Mystery Series: The Sequels

After 5th grader Chase Manning puts it all on the line to save Apple Valley’s award-winning music program in Chase Against Time, life begins to slow down a bit - for a while.  Several weeks later he’s pressed into action once again in Chase For Home when the boy discovers his lucky batting glove has been stolen the morning of his team’s big playoff baseball game.  A few weeks after that in Chase Under Pressure, Manning must locate Dash, the school’s racing hamster, after the speedster mysteriously disappears on the day of the state competition.  In these sequels readers can expect the same single-day, real-time excitement and suspense they first encountered in Chase Against Time, along with some new characters and plenty of twists and turns around every corner.

Chase For Home Synopsis
Riding high in the Spring of his 5th grade year, Chase Manning joins the Apple Valley baseball team, and his clutch hitting leads the squad to within two victories of the school’s first ever league championship.  Confidence is high - until Chase’s lucky batting glove turns up missing the day of the semifinal game.  Unsure whether the theft represents an attempt to derail the baseball team as a whole or a personal attack against him, Chase must track down the culprit and find the glove before the team boards the bus at 3 o’clock.  Surprising and suspense-filled plot twists fill the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller. 

If you wish to be notified when Chase For Home is released, please click here or please e-mail Steve at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (whichever option you think is best)

Chase Under Pressure Synopsis
With huge prizes on the line at the state hamster competition, the Apple Valley Elementary science club has been working overtime to prepare for the big race.  Dash, the school’s little speedster, is in the best shape of her life, and confidence is high - until the hamster turns up missing the morning of the event.  5th grader Chase Manning must overcome an unsupportive principal, the visiting members of a rival school, and even his own teammates to identify the thief and find Dash before the competition begins right after school.  Expect the unexpected on the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller.

Chase Against Time

$11.99 (plus $3.00 for shipping) = Order Total: $14.99 ($1 off the Cover Price)

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“A fun mystery with a likable main character and a lot of red herrings.”

-School Library Journal, August 2012

Awards

• Silver Medal, Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, Juvenile Mystery Category (October, 2012)

• Mom's Choice Award Winner (June, 2012)

Synopsis

In a last-ditch effort to save Apple Valley Elementary's award-winning music program from looming budget cuts, the PTA plans to auction off a recently-donated, handcrafted cello at the school’s annual fund-raising dinner. Confidence is high—until the cello turns up missing the morning of the event. The school principal charges Chase Manning, a fifth grader who has dreamed of playing in the Sixth Grade Honors Orchestra his whole life, with finding the cello by three o'clock. Each hour of the school day involves surprising and suspense-filled plot turns as Chase pursues the elusive cello. This single-day, real-time mystery thriller truly is a Chase against time!

What Readers Are Saying

• “Chase Against Time is the most thrilling, exciting story I have ever read. I couldn't put the book down because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I highly recommend it for children who like mystery adventures.”


• “This mystery story's setting, is easy to relate to, as it takes place in a school. Kids everywhere will not be able to put down this page turning story about a fifth grader at Apple Valley Elementary School who investigates the mysterious disappearance of a cello that was to be sold at an auction to save the school's music program. Can't wait until the next book in the Chase Manning series!”


• “Stunning cliffhangers.”


• “I loved Chase Against Time. The characters in the book have strong personalities, and it really kept me guessing all the way to the end. I would highly recommend this book.”


• “Think '24' for kids. As a teacher myself, I will say kids will be immediately taken to this. A number of kids in my own classroom have read it and read it again. They won't put it down! Steve Reifman has just begun and I will definitely be adding each book in the Chase Against Time series to my own classroom library. Check out his other books. He, too, is a teacher and has a great book on teaching.”


• “I was nine when I first read this book and it was one of the best books I read in third grade. The cliffhangers really made me wonder what was going to happen next and I liked how each chapter started with what time it was. I would recommend this book to second graders to sixth graders.”


• “This book will keep kids reading. Definitely recommend as a gift.”


• “What a page turner. I couldn't wait to find out the ending.”


• “Reifman has done a great job thrilling the reader with a fast-paced, captivating 'whodunit' at the same time he creates an essential moral center. Entertain 'em and educate 'em all at the same time. J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter re-ignited the notion that kids will read. Books like ‘Chase’ will keep passing the torch.”


• “This book is really amazing! I really appreciate how many details there are! Chase Against Time is a great read!”


• “I finished Chase Against Time yesterday. It was an AWESOME book! I can't WAIT to read your next book!!!"


• “Just finished Chase Against Time (in one sitting, of course) and thoroughly enjoyed it. A wonderful first book. Found the main character very appealing, a must for success.”


• “The story is fabulous...An ideal read-aloud.”


• “Loved your book, Steve---a real page turner!!”

Book Talks & Book Signing Events

Steve has held many Book Talk and Book Signing Events at public libraries, elementary schools, and private homes since the release of Chase Against Time; During these 30-45 minute book talks, Steve describes the process of writing Chase Against Time, shares his original notes and outlines, encourages children to pursue their own writing projects, offers instructional strategies and suggestions, and concludes with a question and answer period. To arrange an event, please e-mail Steve.

“A fun mystery with a likable main character and a lot of red herrings.”

-School Library Journal Review of Chase Against Time, August 2012

Awards for Chase Against Time

• Silver Medal, Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, Juvenile Mystery Category (October, 2012)

• Mom's Choice Award Winner (June, 2012)

 

The Chase Manning Mystery Series features single-day, real-time thrillers that occur on an elementary school campus. Written for readers 8-12 years of age, the series launched in March, 2009 when Steve self-published Chase Against Time. Since that time the book has enjoyed rave reviews from children, parents, and teachers. In the series debut fifth grader Chase Manning must investigate the mysterious disappearance of the cello that the school plans to auction off to save its award-winning music program. Brown Books has taken over as publisher, and the company released the new and improved version of Chase Against Time on March 15, 2012. The book is available for sale on this site.

	Chase Against Time (Release Date: March 15, 2012) In a last-ditch effort to save Apple Valley Elementary's award-winning music program from looming budget cuts, the PTA plans to auction off a recently-donated, handcrafted cello at the school’s annual fund-raising dinner. Confidence is high—until the cello turns up missing the morning of the event. The school principal charges Chase Manning, a fifth grader who has dreamed of playing in the Sixth Grade Honors Orchestra his whole life, with finding the cello by three o'clock. Each hour of the school day involves surprising and suspense-filled plot turns as Chase pursues the elusive cello. This single-day, real-time mystery thriller truly is a Chase against time! Learn More
	Chase For Home (Not Currently Available) Riding high in the Spring of his 5th grade year, Chase Manning joins the Apple Valley baseball team, and his clutch hitting leads the squad to within two victories of the school’s first ever league championship. Confidence is high—until Chase’s lucky batting glove turns up missing the day of the semifinal game. Unsure whether the theft represents an attempt to derail the baseball team as a whole or a personal attack against him, Chase must track down the culprit and find the glove before the team boards the bus at three o’clock. Surprising and suspense-filled plot twists fill the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller. (Note: Steve self-published Chase Against Time in 2009 and Chase For Home in 2010, and both books have been available for sale on stevereifman.com since that time. Now that Brown Books has taken over as publisher of the Chase Manning Mystery Series, the new and improved version of Chase Against Time is due out March 15th and the book is currently available for pre-sale. Chase For Home is not currently available for purchase due to the fact that Brown is focusing exclusively on Chase Against Time. If all goes according to plan, a new and improved of Chase For Home will be released in the near future.) Learn More
	Chase Under Pressure (Not Yet Released) With huge prizes on the line at the state hamster competition, the Apple Valley Elementary science club has been working overtime to prepare for the big race. Dash, the school’s little speedster, is in the best shape of her life, and confidence is high—until the hamster turns up missing the morning of the event. 4th grader Chase Manning must overcome an unsupportive principal, the visiting members of a rival school, and even his own teammates to identify the thief and find Dash before the competition begins right after school. Expect the unexpected on the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller. Learn More