Hanakkuh Miracle

Good morning. Welcome to Friday Feelings. In keeping with the holiday spirit, we are talking with Mark Newhouse today about his book Hanukkah Miracle.
Hanukkah Miracle
Blurb
Only a miracle can bring Hanukkah to a young mother whose husband is in the military far away from home in this heartwarming story from a multi-award-winning author.
In writing Hanukkah Miracle, Mark wanted to capture the feelings of family members who find the holidays difficult to celebrate with loved ones in the military, protecting our nation, facing terrible risks, far away from home. The real miracle is how a family's love makes everyone's holiday something miraculous, something to treasure, no matter what faith you are. 




Amazon eBook

About Mark Newhouse
Video games. That’s what my books are like, with surprises flying at you on every page. They’re like a comical mix of Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, and Perry Mason, (a fictional lawyer), starring kids who solve problems with their ‘smarts’ and guts. I want kids to see they can solve any problem by brainpower, knowledge, and having a dream. I want every kid to believe in their dream and know they can reach their goals.
My parents were divorced. I was bullied, problems kids face today. It inspired my writing. For example, in WELCOME TO MONSTROVIA, (Silver medal, Benjamin Franklin Book Awards; Bronze medal, Readers' Favorite Book Awards, a smart, but always in trouble boy, is sent by his divorced parents to stay with an unknown uncle, not suspecting the incredible dangers in a secret sector of the United States where humans are rare. He overcomes his fears and prejudices after he becomes his lawyer uncle's assistant and tries to solve the murder of a giant. You’ll roar at the surprise ending that can only happen in Monstrovia...or in my wacky imagination.
Would you risk your life to save a fire-breathing dragon? In THE CASE OF THE DISASTROUS DRAGON, voted a Top Ten Children's Book, P&E Readers Poll, Brodie, Doofinch, and a ‘difficult’ girl, face disaster if they can’t defend a ferocious dragon with a pair of mischievous pups. In THE CASE OF THE CRAZY CHICKENSCRATCHES, Brodie has to prove a man who turned his house into a zoo isn’t crazy. Or is he? I love this series because it teaches about law with funny, fantasy cases. I can see this being turned into a video game or movie series.
I loved teaching on Long Island and was named Elementary/Secondary Teacher of the Year by the New York State Reading Association. The only subject I didn’t like teaching was science since I almost set fire to a classroom one year. That’s what inspired The Rockhound Science Mysteries, Learning Magazine’s Teachers Choice Award winner. Catch the world’s meanest cafeteria lady by making orange juice ice pops. Prove the ‘fizzling fossil’ isn’t a fake. Solve the theft of the Million Dollar Mona Mousey with a piece of plastic and clay? Kids love my crazy mysteries which they solve with fun experiments, which makes me happy. It's safer too.
Being bullied as a child inspired THE MIDNIGHT DIET CLUB, 1st Place, Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards. Who are Dr. Ghoulash and Ignor Amos? What is the secret that brings three sinister bullies to the cemetery at midnight? Bullies are vampires, so how do we ‘put a stake’ in them?
I love picture books but can’t draw to save my life. I'm thrilled when I see Dan Traynor's colorful illustrations bring my stories to life. SANTA'S SPEEDING TICKET, ALICE IN BATSYLVANIA, A BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, DREIDEL DOG, and PASSOVER PUPPY COLORING BOOK, are loaded with lively art, activities, laughs and surprises. 
A reason I hate bullying, is that I was born in Germany to Holocaust survivors. MY FAMILY SECRETS, where a boy must become a brave detective to discover how his grandfather lost his whole family, is my way to help children learn about the Holocaust. I hope it honors all victims of hate. It should be out soon, so watch for it. I always like helping children and am the state chairperson for the Florida Writers Association Youth Program (www.floridayouthwriters.org) and co-chair of the FWA Youth Conference at the Hilton Orlando Altamonte Springs, October 20, 2018. I also am the founder/leader of Writers 4 Kids and Writers League. I have my BA and MA, political science, from Queens College, CUNY, and was an adjunct instructor at SUNY Old Westbury, Department of Education as well as an education writer and instructor for Newsday’s Newspaper in Education department where I created activity guides for teachers to use in their classes.
My short stories for adults have won many prizes and are in a number of anthologies. For a complete list of my books and stories, or the latest updates, please visit www.aimhipress.com. I hope you enjoy my books, and a special thank you for your kind reviews and letters. A few years ago, a boy ended a nice fan letter with: "I know all authors are rich. Can I swim in your pool?" All I can do is share my stories, and I’ll be honored to do that for as long as you want them. Thank you. See you in Monstrovia.  
Your friend,Mark