One year ago, my son and I flew first to Dublin, and then to a small Mediterranean country we'd heard of, but had never stepped on before. That country was Malta, and our brief four day trip was to secure a rental, because we were going to be moving there. 

The past year has been a whirlwind. Changing continents, cultures, and more. The children are thriving, and I feel blessed to live this life. The picture above was taken on Wednesday as I took a stroll by the sea. And next week, in this new country, I'll be attending a major festival: My first live event with Making it Up. 

Making it Up has been a game-changer. But it wasn't my FIRST parenting book. In fact, my initial foray into writing about parenting was a very silly fantasy satire called Parent Quest. And now, today, one year after that first trip to Malta, and only  few months after Making it Up's release, I'm thrilled to announce that Parent Quest is fully available, and FREE on Royal Road. You can read this silly choose-your-own adventure HERE  or by clicking the cover below! Please RATE it and click "follow" if you enjoy, to help spread the word! 

Earlier this week, my wife and I were at a wonderful production of Our Town. Wilder's play, for those who don't know, is about appreciating life, even the seemingly mundane. It is a study of love and loss, of the minutia of life in the face of mortality. In other words, it's about appreciating all the little moments. 

Today was one of those little moments. Yet, it is huge. And I am filled with some big emotions. 

Tonight, I finished the book I was reading to my son. This book was Sanderson's Tress and the Emerald Sea, a delightful pirate adventure in the Cosmere series. But it's more than just a happy ending. 

In order to encourage self-reading a bit more (something he's been reluctant to do for pleasure), we decided this would be the final book. After nearly ten years of reading aloud to him. Those three novels I announced coming this fall. I've read them all to my son. I've read other books of mine, and countless others from other authors. And yes, the next time I write a kids book, I'll probably read it aloud it to him first, or at least hand him a print out before anyone else has seen it. I've read to him in hotels, in hospital rooms, as a baby, a child, and now a young man. 

Tonight, the Sorceress inn Sanderson's story took off on her spaceship (sorry if a spoiler) and Tress sailed upon the emerald seas, reaching her happy ending. We talked a bit about the book. And as I said goodnight, I felt like a page had turned. Ten years of stories. Ten years of shared worlds. 

But it's not a bad thing. Now he sets off for spaceships and oceans on his own. To adventures and worlds and wonders beyond wonders. I'm still eager to talk about the books he's read, even if I'm no longer reading them word for word. 

Sometimes when I look at him, I see the picture above. The baby, smiling and innocent. I'll always see that baby. But he's not a baby anymore. He's growing older and wiser every day, and his old man is both proud and nostalgic to sail these waters with him. 

It's a truly exciting time.
First of all, there's been a major change, and the MAKING IT UP COURSE now begins with a FREE CLASS
You heard that right- try the first class in the amazing new MAKING UP COURSE for free. 

But that's not all. On email last week I made a major announcement. 
This fall, I am releasing THREE new middle grade novels:

September: STARKEEPER
October: THE AUTUMN TURNERS
November: THE STORY SPINNER

These three novels will delight your imaginations and inspire readers both young and old. Hang stars in the sky, avoiding the Man in the Moon in STARKEEPER. Help a pair of estranged twins color the leaves, changing the seasons in THE AUTUMN TURNERS. And journey to the drain at the ocean's end, where stories are born in THE STORY SPINNER. I can't wait to share more about these releases.

Thank you to all of the readers and course takers who continue to make these journeys magical. There's so much more to come.  

Last week, Rachel and I attended a wonderful masquerade ball. It was unlike anything we'd ever done, as I talked about in my last blog. A magical evening. The feast involved being seated a table with several people we'd never met before. I happened to be seated next to an American who split his time between Buffalo and Milan. We were chatting a bit, and talking to a Maltese couple as well. 

The small talk opened, as it so often does, with me posing the question "so, what do you do?"

This seems innocuous, but as we started discussing- it was a habit- an American habit I've had trouble escaping. Because, as Americans, this seeming simple question is loaded with cultural subtext and expectations. America isn't unique in this question, but the question is still wrong. Because at its core, the small talk is moving towards worth. And worth, in this context, is equated to your job. What you do is who you are. Your job defines you. 

Except... it shouldn't.

One of the biggest differences in Europe we've encountered time and again, is people don't ask this question in early small talk. And if the question comes up...it's a what's my job? Who cares? type of mentality. 

And that's how it SHOULD be. 

Rachel and I work a LOT. We run FOUR businesses altogether. We juggle a lot of balls at once, and that's before parenting. But, we've made a concerted effort these past weeks to shift away from the constant focus on what we do, and to focus more on how to live. We are embracing a healthier work-life balance, and prioritizing rest and fun. 

This week is Karnival ta Malta- the annual five day Carnival that occurs after the Feast of the Shipwreck of St Paul and before Lent. This tradition dates back centuries, to the Knights of Malta, a group of eight crusading factions who were given control of the island, and who successfully repelled an Ottoman siege. The knights' era solidified the Catholic and Baroque heart of the island, and remains a dominant force, from the massive medieval fortress-cities they built (including the capital Valletta) to the culture of festivals and even Karnival itself. 

We went to the Carnival parade with the kids, enjoying the exuberant atmosphere, the stunning costumes, the colorful floats, and the air of complete celebration. We also embrace celebration and fun on a more daily basis. Rachel's in two separate dance classes, and I've auditioned for a musical, being call backed for a second audition in a week. 

The work continues, of course. But life is more than work. Life is a celebration. A colorful party to be seized and lived. It's a powerful lesson that we're learning. And next time, I'll think twice before asking "what do you do?" Instead, perhaps asking "what are things you enjoy for fun?"

Creativity comes in waves.

It comes in moments of success.
I'm thrilled with the reception Making it Up is getting. And I'm loving life.

This past weekend, my wife and I attended a full masquerade ball. This was an event unlike any other I've ever experienced. Period costumes, mingling with people in character, and a gourmet four-course meal. All in an actual Baroque palace in Valletta. It was Bridgerton come to life. We even took group minuet dancing lessons the week before as part of the experience. And we loved every moment. 

The masquerade we attended is now my current ANCHOR. As I show in the book, an Anchor is a an intense positive memory that allows you to self-regulate with kids and in all aspects of life. So, for instance, when my daughter flipped out this morning that the pancake I had made her looked more like a blob than a unicorn, the Anchor kept me steady.

But it is more than just regulation... it is freeing. For the first time in over 14 years, I auditioned for the stage last night. Creativity unleashed. Ironically, auditioning for one of the largest Maltese troupes, named Masquerade.

And when I awoke... for the first time in MONTHS... my newest WIP (a romantasy) was FLOODING my mind. A new massive twist, which changes everything in the book... and takes place at a Baroque style masquerade. Y

Yes, it fits PERFECTLY.

Life is about seizing joys. Using them to succeed, and building upon them. Creativity unleashed is the reward.

​And still, I dance on.

Three years ago, a mother published an angry article claiming Bluey set absolutely unrealistic expectations for kids. I laughed about with my wife Rachel. Yet, Rachel noted that most people don't know Bluey is based on theatre skills. Few parents had my theatre background, and fewer still had any idea how to learn them and apply them to parenting. "Write this in a book." she said.

It has been a ROLLER-COASTER. The project has been the pivot point of my career. It brought me into contact with celebrities, it cost me one agent, and briefly landed me a second agent. It landed my biggest publishing deal so far. It led to my spending over three months after the book was done, building a custom video course to accompany it. 

Yet, perhaps, wildest of all, was the nature of the book itself. The book is unlike anything I've written. I have been an author for well over a decade, writing over 30 books, but never a nonfiction. Spoiler alert: there's no plot, no characters, and no villain. What's more...the book is intensely personal. This is a book about connection, a book that could help the entire world. But it's also a book about me and my children. There is perhaps nothing more personal than your bond with your kids, and putting that into the world is exciting and terrifying. 

The book launched Tuesday, and the early reviews are all gushing. I have been on an interview/podcast circuit, with more coming, and am excited to get the book out there. As we head into 2026, the world itself seems tougher, and harsher than it ever has before. This book, I hope, can bring a bit of light into the gloom, and refocus on what's far more important: connecting with our kids. 

Improv isn't new. It's arguably as old as our species. And parenting must've been around. Cave Mom and Dad had to do something, right? Theatre as we know it is only a few millennia younger than that. But the skills I teach in the book really are new. And the way I combine all these older skills in an easy-to-learn fun and engaging narrative is something I'm genuinely proud of. This isn't a book that you'll look at and feel lectured to (like every psychology or behavior parenting book out there). It's an enjoyable read filled with anecdotes, easy-to-try skills and actionable parenting tips. I had been reading a few other nonfictions when drafting and was frustrated by the amount of fluff. I remember telling my editor Michelle that we were going to make sure every single page had value, and something genuine to help parents and kids. From improv skills and active listening to engage during play, to emotional recall methods to help you dispel the noise and worries in this crazy time. And I stand by the mantra I advertise now: ten minutes a day will change the way you play. 

So, thank you, for the fans who have been along since School of Deaths or even before. Thank you to those who are new and curious. Thank you to Rachel and the kids who are my continued to muses. Thank you to Familius for believing in me. Thank you to those who can't wait to see how this pivots my career, and where I might be heading next. And thank you to every reader who's ready to try MAKING IT UP. 

   

Twas a week before Christmas, and here in this house,
I clicked on a button, using my mouse. 
The book launch was still a few weeks away,
But the COURSE - it was ready - so I launched it TODAY!

Making it Up is a method that will change the way adults connect with kids. This is a revolutionary approach, grounded in simple-to-learn skills that are both fun and game-changing.

This project began over three years ago, when a mom in a magazine complained about the show Bluey, and how it had set "unrealistic" expectations for parents. While Bluey's a cartoon, the parenting approach is grounded in a simple secret: theatre. In fact, almost every episode is simply an extended improvisation between kids and adults. 

My wife Rachel urged me to write this book: to take what was clearly popular and desired from millions of Bluey fans and combine it with my decades of experience in theatre and education, as well as my time as a Stay at Home Dad for over 7 years. 

What emerged is a book unlike any other, and a method that is genuinely transformative. While writing the book, I reached out to test readers who tried out the method (you'll find great quotes from them throughout the book itself) and the response was overwhelming. Learning these skills will transform the way you play and the way you connect with kids. 

But as I was in editing the book, I realized that the text alone might not be enough. Even with the addition of beautiful illustrations by Cory Reid, this method is still unique and different. This isn't a psych book or a behavior book. It's a parenting book unlike any other parenting book out there. I wanted to make sure people really had all the support possible to learn this new technique. 

So for the past three months, I've been carefully crafting a self-paced video course. This course can be taken independently from the book, but works best in tandem with it. And today, the course is LIVE. To celebrate- and to sneak in a bit of pre-Holiday cheer, I'm offering this normally $250 course for only $150. And what's more, if you order it you get INSTANT EARLY ACCESS to the Making it Up EBOOK! 

Yes, you read that right. You get the ebook NOW -three weeks before the book launch- if you order today.
And if you order later, you still get an ebook with every Course purchase. 

Whether you're excited for the paperback, the ebook, the audio, or the Course, I genuinely believe that Making it Up has the power to transform the way you play with and connect to the kids in your life. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, parent-to-be, or caregiver - you will NOT want to miss this. 

It has been a very long journey over these three years. The finished Course and book are the most personal projects I've released yet. I'll admit- there's no villain or hero, no plot, no big battle...but there are dragons. Can't write a book without dragons, right? This book, this course, and this method are all straight from my heart, and I  can't wait to hear how all of you use Making it Up in your lives!

Note: If interested in giving the Course/ebook as a GIFT- please email me after purchase (email on receipt)- just need the email of the recipient. 

Check out the Course HERE

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. And I have so much to be thankful for. 

Just yesterday, the print copies of MAKING IT UP arrived here in Malta. And I'm headed to a big Thanksgiving with all our new Maltese friends feeling an overwhelming sense of excitement and gratitude. The books look truly amazing. From the embossed lettering on the cover to the gorgeous illustrations throughout. This book is a major turning point for me- and it's a deeply personal book, filled with anecdotes of my own parenting journey. I am so excited to share this book with everyone- and I encourage you to consider ordering now, during the Black Friday sales- it's available everywhere books are sold, for release the first week of January. The accompanying video course is nearly complete as well, and has been a delight to make. 

​Take a look at my unboxing vid below: 

The news in much of the world is rather ominous and bleak. And work has been very busy lately. Which is why I'm so glad to be living in a place where it seems like I can constantly explore and constantly escape. Perhaps that's the true beauty of worldschooling, and the true power of being a writer in different nations: the nonstop escapism and inspiration.  

This past Sunday, my wife was ill, and I decided to go adventuring by myself. I visited a Roman catacomb that's only open to the public one day a month, hiked the long Mosta valley, and then journeyed to the Xemxija Heritage Trail. This trail, pictured above, is off the beaten path, and mostly unlabeled. An online article and google maps were my key to enjoying it, and I was there during the biannual airshow overhead, which was great. The trail leads from well-preserved Roman apiaries (right picture) to Punic caves and tombs to a barely marked series of steps on the cliff face (center pic) that leads to a perfectly preserved enormous Roman Bath House. There is a sense of wonder and beauty, as there's no one around, and you really have to trek through bushes to get to these areas, but they're so remarkable. I am grateful to live in a land of inspiration! 

And, speaking of inspiration... Making it Up is available for PREORDER on all major outlets as of now!
​Check it out!