I’m incredibly grateful to the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) for including THE CURSED MOON, on its 2025-2026 Mark Twain Readers Award List!
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful Missouri librarians and students whose modest smiles, open hearts, and love for reading have been a constant source of inspiration.
Fun fact: students at the Warrensburg Lit Fest were the ones who encouraged me to write a scary novel! I’m so glad that I listened instead of letting self-doubt stop me. As a small tribute, I even named the city in The Cursed Moon, “Grainsville Park” after Grain Valley, Missouri.
The Cursed Moon is my first attempt at a spine-tingling middle-grade horror novel. It’s about a good Missouri kid, Rafael, who after being warned not to tell any scary stories under a blood moon, does anyway. Then his story comes true. Rafa must face a vengeful ghost before it’s too late. It’s perfect for fans of spooky adventures and ghostly mysteries. And my deepest hope is that through this Mark Twain Readers Awards list, The Cursed Moon will find its way into the hands of more Missouri readers. I hope that it will spark courage, a life-long love for reading, and pride in being a brave kid from Missouri.
