'Serenity'/'Firefly' star Nathan Fillion has recommended Actionopolis titles good chapter books for reluctant readers.Here's the scoop:

Fillion and his friend, novelist P.J. Haarsma have a non-profit concern going called Kids Need to Read (KNTR) which is committed to donating books to libraries with the goal of engaging kids.

The organization has placed all seven Actionopolis titles on their official list of worthy books for 2008.

That's not all! KNTR is setting up shop at the Phoenix Cactus Comicon this weekend.They'll have a discussion panel on Saturday, January 26 at 12:00 PM with PJ Haarsma and their website states: "members of our audience who ask us a question will receive a free book (while quantities last)."

So stop by the Phoenix Con and check out that KNTR panel, because you can get a copy of any of the Actionopolis books!

I'll be making an appearance at the Southfield Public Library's Third Annual Books & Beyond Festival this Saturday.

The Books & Beyond Festival is a free, family-friendly event held on the grounds of Southfield's outstanding public library.

Some 30 or so local authors will be in attendance including myself, fellow Actionopolis author Gary Reed, and fellow comic writer Paul Storrie. We're all set to appear in the Author's Pavilion on Saturday the 15th.

If you've never been to the SPL, it's an amazing modern facility.

For more information visit The Southfield Public Library Website

The 5th annual Kerrytown Bookfest is this weekend.

The festival takes place in the historic Kerrytown District of Ann Arbor, MI. Heir to Fire author Rob M. Worley will be appearing with Actionopolis creators Dan Mishkin and Gary Reed. They'll be holding a panel on Actionopolis at 4 p.m. at the Kerrytown Concert House.

Heir to Fire author Rob M. Worley will be touring several branches of the Detroit Public Library this summer and introducing "Heir to Fire" to the kids. Fellow Actionopolis creators Gary Reed and Dan Mishkin will join me at several stops.

Here's a rundown of the summer schedule so far:

June 27th – Detroit Public Libraries: Sherwood Forest Branch – 2:30 – 3:30pm
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")

July 10th – Detroit Public Libraries: Edison Branch – 10am-11am
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")
July 12th – Detroit Public Libraries: Edison Branch – 2pm-3pm
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")

July 16th – Detroit Public Libraries: Redford Branch – 3pm-4pm
Dan Mishkin ("The Forest King")
Gary Reed ("Spirit of the Samurai")
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")

July 19th – Detroit Public Libraries: Elmwood Park – 2pm-3pm
Dan Mishkin ("The Forest King")
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")
July 23rd – Detroit Public Libraries: Conely Branch – 3pm-4pm
Gary Reed ("The Forest King")
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")

July 24th – Detroit Public Libraries: Main Branch – 1pm-3pm Dan Mishkin ("The Forest King")
Gary Reed ("Spirit of the Samurai")
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")
August 8th - Detroit Public Libraries: Chase Branch – 2pm-3pm
Rob M. Worley ("Heir to Fire")

Please contact your local library branch for details about each appearance.

Actionopolis creators are situated in many cities in the U.S. and would love to appear at your school, library, book store or other event. Find out how!

Come see Rob M. Worley this Saturday at the Henry Ford IMAX theater as part of their SpiderMania  event. Webby festivities start with the midnight screening of "Spider-Man 3" on Thursday.

There's a costume part on Friday and then a whole mess O' stuff happening on Saturday, including the "Comic Book Forum" from 1:00-2:00pm in the Anderson theater.

Joining Rob on the Forum will be Paul D. Storrie as well as other Detroit-area comic writers.

So anyhow, if you're in Dearborn, stop by and pose some tough questions to us at the forum, check out "Spider-Man 3" on the HUGE screen, and then swing by Green Brain Comics because Saturday is Free Comic Book Day!

You get three Actionopolis creators for the price of one at this event!

Authors Rob M. Worley (Heir to Fire), Dan Mishkin (The Forest King) and Gary Reed (Spirit of the Samruai) will be celebrating "Kids Reading Month" with a store appearance at Borders in Troy, MI on Saturday, March 24th.

The signing will begin at 2pm.

Borders is located inside the Oakland Mall at the intersection of I-75 and 14 mile road.

The 24th is also "Educator's Savings Day", so it's a great opportunity for school teachers and librarians to check out these action-packed titles!

"The Forest King" and "Heir to Fire" were recently recommended in the January issue of School Library Journal.

It was my pleasure recently to chat up the "Four Guys Podcast". It's a hip pop-culture commentary show, nicely produced and cut together. They posted a show last week in which I was the guest, talking about "Heir to Fire", comics and how to get kids to read them.

It's a good download.

Give it a listen!

The January issue of the prestigious "School Library Journal" posted a review of "Heir to Fire" and "The Forest King" (by Dan Mishkin and Tom Mandrake).

Elaine E. Knight of Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL writes:

Although written in full-text style, both books show a graphic-novel influence-episodic, action-driven plots; highly visual descriptive imagery; and dramatic dialogue. The comic-book background is also evident in the heavily shadowed illustrations and dramatic cover art. These high-energy texts and engaging characters will attract reluctant readers as well as fantasy fans.

Check it out...

It's always nice when someone has a kind word about your work. It's even better when it's a MANLY kind word. Such is the case with the latest mention of "Heir to Fire" in Beau Smith's Busted Knuckles column at Silver Bullet Comicbooks. Says Smith:

"Heir To Fire is a great little hardcover book that's filled with action, prose and chapter illustrations that let you know that the picture in your head is on the right path. This very cool hardcover...is a manly recommendation of Busted Knuckles."

Thanks, Beau!