Author Max Anderson specializes in writing adventure/mystery novels for reluctant boy readers. In this interview, Max talks about his work, what goes on inside the mind of young boys who hate reading, and what parents can do to change this.

I understand you were a very reluctant reader as a child. When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

I began about six years ago. It happened just after 9/11 when most of my professional video clients decided to wait on the sidelines with their marketing and promotion budgets, to see what would happen next. I was faced with either looking for a new career, or to wait out the storm. I chose to wait out the storm. During that time I wrote like mad, expecting that the video production business would return. My goal was to help just one other reluctant boy reader like I had been. Now I have a pile of manuscripts completed, and the video opportunities are coming back slowly.

You specialize in books for boys. What type of books do boys like to read?

Boys like humor, action, excitement, adventure, and mystery. That list would accurately describe the books I write. My film production background probably has a lot to do with how I approach writing a story, and young readers tell me that reading one of my books is like being in an exciting or scary movie. Notice that they don’t say it was like watching one. I believe they get very involved in the story and the action.

My books don’t spend a lot of time on details or long set up. Once we get through with introducing the characters, setting, and conflict, the story tends to take off and never look back.

Tell us a little about your books. What type of stories do you enjoy writing?

Newspaper Caper is about three boys who deliver papers together. Since they’re on the streets at odd hours, they see lots of strange things. Then one day they see someone trying to steal a car. That adventure lands the boys’ picture on the front page of the very papers they deliver.

North Woods Poachers takes place far up in the north country of Canada , on a lake where most fishermen have to fly in with float planes. Here, cousins stumble upon high-tech, exotic animal poaching.

Mountain Cabin Mystery has a plot line with a terrorist cell that is planning to hit the city of Denver.

Big Rig Rustlers is a modern day western with sophisticated cattle rustlers using satellite phones, all terrain vehicles, and eighteen-wheelers to haul off the stolen cattle.