I see you shivering in your boots; don’t be afraid! My name is Owen Preston Andrews, but you can call me OPA. I’m a thirteen-year-old Greek American living in the Pacific Northwest, and I love creating stories that make you shiver in fright!
My blog will not just be about spooky things; it’s also going to be about the art of storytelling. I hope to help kids who already like to read to love it even more. I also want to help kids who don’t love reading to enjoy the adventures stories can take them on!
I’ll post writing ideas, recommend books, and show you spooky places as I visit them. Sometimes, I’ll even share interactive activities that connect to my books, like making a blue JELL-O dessert that resembles the ghoulish monster from my book You Have Monsieur Monster for 3rd.
How did I get into writing books? My mom loves to write, and ever since I was young, she would do the National Write a Novel Month challenge in November, where you try to write a novel in a month. In second grade, my mom asked if I wanted to do NaNoWriMo with her and my sister; I said yes!
That year, I wrote my first novel, The Puzzled Penguin, based on a character named Puzzled Penguin from my school math workbook, Math Expressions. Finishing a novel inspired me to start writing more.
When I was in 3rd grade, the coronavirus pandemic happened, and I absolutely hated doing school online, so my mom started homeschooling me. I loved homeschooling so much that I decided not to return to public school.
While homeschooling in 5th grade, I watched the R.L. Stine Masterclass. I decided I wanted to write children’s horror stories, too. I wrote You Have Monsieur Monster for 3rd. After I finished the book, I did not want to stop writing.
I decided to create a series of books just like R.L. Stein. I started writing titles for the books in my series and called it The Shiver Series. You Have Monsier Monster for 3rd is the first book in the 32-book series.
If you are a teacher, parent, or even a student and want to learn how to get more into reading or all aspects of storytelling, this blog is for you. So I can get to know you all better, please post in the comments. I’d love to know what some of your or your kids' favorite books to read in elementary and middle school were. Do you or your child like scary stories?
I’m excited to go on this adventure with you. Are you ready? It’s time to shiver.
I like that you start writing by yourself so early, it will definitely help you to grow as a storyteller and as a person. I am looking forward to your new blog posts related to your stories. I use to write with my best friend at that time, it reminds me many memories !
Hi! In elementary I loves Roald Dahl books, especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. By middle school I was reading a lot of Stephen King novels. He's actually still one of my favorites authors now as an adult.
Hi Opa! My favorite books as a child were Nancy Drew, Hatchet and the Tripod Trilogy.
OPA! I liked reading books as a kid -- loved Ronald Dahl's books, especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Glass Elevator -- but I really loved reading comic books. After picking up Conan the Barbarian # 139 from the 7-11 that used to be on Mercer Island in the summer before second grade, I was hooked on comic books, and even convinced our local mailman to deliver them to me while I was in class at my elementary school!
Love the background on how you started writing! So inspiring! Mom devoured pretty much every book she could as a kid. Authors like Roald Dahl and Judy Blume were favourites - as well as choose your own adventure books!