In My New Bike you'll learn more about each of the characters while Frankie works toward his goal of one day riding a brand new bicycle. For a kid, back in my day anyway, having your very own bike was the "American Dream." But for Frankie's parents, teaching their son valuable life lessons is the main goal. For example; how to handle money, working hard, and working smart!

Parents Helping Teens Enjoy the Magic of the Written Word
These stories are a mixture of my childhood and realities that I have learned raising my own kids. Growing up and then being a parent both seemed difficult at the time. However, in retrospect, they were the best of times.
My goal with "The Adventures of Frankie" is to help middle school and high school kids enjoy the magic of the written word. To do that takes much more than a handful of books with a theme that teens can relate too. It also requires you to get involved! These stories are for you the parent, just as much as they are for your kids. So I encourage you to read these stories then read them out loud to your kids, and have them read them to you. If you're as lucky as me, maybe your teenager will plop down on the couch, slide next to you and read along as Frankie works for his slice of the American Dream.

Companion Web Site
I encourage you to visit the companion web site (http: //TheAdventuresOfFrankie.com) where you will find tons of helpful information. For example, there is a page for each chapter with the moral of the story, talking points, a vocabulary list with definitions, and a personal note from me, the author! These are all great for starting important life lesson conversation with your teens!
About the Author: I grew up in Baldwinsville, NY where the winters are long and cold but the summers are green and warm. The Finger Lakes, Seneca River, and the Thousand Islands were my playground. After finishing a bachelor's degree in computer science from SUNY Oswego, I moved south to the Washington, DC area. Seven years of fighting traffic and keeping up with the Joneses and I was ready for the slower pace of Raleigh, NC. As an added benefit, the chances for seeing snowflakes that far south are slim. Being gone from Baldwinsville for more than three decades I still long for home. Not the high taxes, piles of snow, or never ending winters. It's the people, clear waters, greens of summer, food, change of season, and the history. No, I won't be moving back, my wardrobe just wouldn't work;-) My closet is full of Hawaiian shirts and dresser stuffed with shorts and swimsuits. Seldom do I have to wear a winter coat. Nope, my blood's way too thin to live north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Raleigh is even too busy these days. I've slowed even more. I'm still a software engineer by day, slaying bugs with my trusty keyboard and mouse. But now I live on a lake way out of the city, where I write stories to entertain by night. I promise these stories will always, always, always have a happy ending. As I see it, there is enough bad stuff happening in the world and in our own lives. If that's what you're looking for then turn on the news or pick up a newspaper. When I watch a movie or read a book, I do it to smile. So when I write, I write to smile. More importantly, I write to share a smile with you!