Launch Week

MAKING IT UP IS HERE

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.