NEW NEWS

PORT HENRY/CROWN POINT, NY - "Justin and I were brainstorming possibilities for our ninth Adirondack Kids book, and it was a friend who first told us about the legend of Champ in Lake Champlain," Adirondack Kids co-author Gary VanRiper said.

"We never knew Champ existed," co-author Justin VanRiper said. "We thought it might make a great story."

Nearly a year later, the result of that conversation is The Adirondack Kids® #9 - The Legend of the Lake Monster, released in early May of 2009, latest in the successful series of middle reader chapter books by the father-son writing team.

"I don't think I've ever had so much fun doing research for a story," Gary said. "We traveled to Port Henry and Crown Point and I was able to interview one of the nicest ladies who claims to be an actual eyewitness of the lake creature. Her account was quite amazing. " Gary explained the story seemed to write itself. "We work from outlines," he said. "And this story just unfolded as we traveled, providing one of the strongest outlines to work from we've ever had."

Carol VanRiper is black-and-white illustrator for the series. "When we arrived at Crown Point, people at the museum there were sure we were doing research for the book because of the 400th anniversary celebration coming to Lake Champlain in 2009," she said.

"That's right," said Gary. "We had no idea the event was going to happen, but there we were, writing about the lake monster and Samuel de Champlain for a book to be released just in time for the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's discovery of the lake bearing his name!"

"All of the character's are back," Justin said, who wrote the Dax Facts section for the new book. "Justin, Jackie, Nick and Dax. And a new character was added just for this adventure."

Freelance artist, Sue Loeffler, did the full color cover, which Gary thinks is one of her best yet. "Every year we throw Sue and Carol new challenges and their artwork always exceed our expectations," Gary said. "We hope our fans will enjoy this latest adventure and all the illustrations as much as we all enjoyed doing the writing and drawing and painting."

The Adirondack Kids® #9 - Legend of the Lake Monster is in stores now or is available by using the order form on this website.

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PORT HENRY/CROWN POINT, NY - ADIRONDACK PARK - 2009 appearances by The Adirondack Kids® team of writers and illustrator are well underway. Visit the Appearances Page on this website for scheduled places, dates and times! Below are highlights from last year's events.

The Adirondack Kids® tour began last year celebrating Justin's graduation from high school and with appearances at Barnes & Noble in both New Hartford and DeWitt, New York - helping to kick off the two stores' Summer Reading Program.

The coolest visitor at one of last year's signings was Gary's 2nd grade teacher, Miss Delaney - who brought a 1963 class photo, and a cast shot from the school play that year with Gary as, The King of Valentines! "I remember my main line from the play," Gary said. 'Valentines, Valentines, all I see are Valentines!' It was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise to see one of my elementary school teachers and brought to my mind all of the work and dedication of those teachers who poured into me as a young person. I can still remember every one of those elementary school teachers by name."

Justin's favorite story of the tour was when people attended a book signing and explained that they named their cat Dax. "But that wasn't all," Justin said. "Then their veterinarian asked them, 'oh, you mean like the Dax in the Adirondack Kids?'"

There were also annual visits to Old Forge, and Inlet along the Fulton Chain of Lakes; then Long Lake - that great summer event under a big tent with some 50 regional authors. Then it was on to Lake Placid, where they joined Adirondack Detective author, John Briant, at the Bookstore Plus for a dual signing.

The Summer Book Tour ended one week before taking Justin off for his freshman year in college, in the authors' Adirondack back yard at the Adirondack Reader with Reggie Chambers in Inlet.

Gary & Justin hope you can join them during The Adirondack Kids® 2009 Summer Book Tour. Be sure to call ahead to confirm appearances before traveling long distances!

Gary & Justin with author John Briant at the Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid.

Justin at the annual Authors Fair at Hoss's in Long Lake.

Justin & Gary with Reggie Chambers at the Adirondack Reader in Inlet

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EAGLE BAY - The adventures of The Adirondack Kids® continue in, Escape from Black Bear Mountain, volume eight of the best-selling chapter book series by Adirondack Literary Award-winning authors, Justin and Gary VanRiper.

"Last summer we were trying to decide what this adventure would be about," said Justin VanRiper. "The Adirondack Kids® have had adventures in boats and on a plane and a train and Dax has even been in a bobsled and on a skateboard. We wondered what was left. Then I thought - how about a hot air balloon!"

And what is a hot air balloon doing in the story?

"You'll have to read the book to find out," said Justin.

Justin was in third grade when the first Adirondack Kids book was released. Today, he is 18, and in the autumn is headed for Houghton College. The father-and-son writing team has produced one new title in the series each year since 2001.

The Adirondack Kids ® #8 is once again set on the Fulton Chain of Lakes where both the fictional and the real Justin have family camps. Everyone's favorite characters are back including Justin Robert, Nick Barnes and Jackie Salsberry. And of course, Dax. This latest summer adventure involves what should be a simple hike up nearby Black Bear Mountain. Justin has a goal to climb all of the local mountains that have trails before summer vacation is over. He also wants to be the first boy to climb all of the mountains with a cat. If only the three friends had noticed the warning sign at the Black Bear Mountain trailhead The Adirondack Kids® #8 - Escape from Black Bear Mountain can be found in bookstores throughout the Adirondacks and at independent and chain bookstores throughout New York state beginning in April of 2008. Books from the series are also available right here on the official website of The Adirondack Kids®. Just click here to go to our Bookstore.

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GEORGIA - Many thanks to Joy Chapman of Kalon Media for her input with The Adirondack Kids® #8, helping us keep certain scenes in our new story authentic! Watch for her latest film due out this 2008 - Mandie and the Secret Tunnel - starring Dean Jones and Lexi Johnson. The film is based on the Mandie series of children's books. To view movie stills, trailers and film updates, click on the Mandie banner below or visit www.mandiemovies.com. We can't wait to see it!

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SYRACUSE, NY - Borders at Carousel Center in Syracuse, NY recently helped Adirondack Kids co-authors Justin and Gary VanRiper celebrate the release of their latest book, Escape from Black Bear Mountain, as part of the store's Educator's Savings week. The good folks at Borders went an extra mile and also helped Justin celebrate his 18th birthday, complete with a sheet cake featuring the new book's cover! The VanRipers thank manager Alan Mash, the Borders staff and all those who stopped by for the book-signing, for making the event extra special.

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PENFIELD, NY - The creative teachers at Scribners Elementary School surprised the authors of The Adirondack Kids with a musical production based on their first book, complete with tap dancing loons! The script called for three Justins - one as narrator, one as actor, and one inside a sleeping bag with a flashlight! Special sets included the ice cream stand, video games for the arcade and large backdrops dressed as the Adirondack landscape. There were even jet skis made using scooters! The photo with the Pied Piper sign features the real Justin with the student actors who played Justin and Nick.

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JAY, NY - "The VanRipers are considered superstars of regional self-publishing..." That's what Nancy Davis Kho wrote in her article, Why Self Publishing Works for Regional Writers, in the June 2007 issue of Adirondack Life Magazine.

Adirondack Kids Press was established by the VanRipers some eighth years ago to launch The Adirondack Kids® series of self-published books. 2000 copies of the first book were printed and within several months they were gone. What began as a family project to keep Justin interested in reading has turned into a small company with thousands of readers across the country. The VanRipers publish one new Adirondack Kids title every year, and hope soon to break the 100,000 copy mark for total number of Adirondack Kids books in print!

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ADIRONDACK PARK, NY - Gary and Justin and Carol VanRiper continue to tour with The Adirondack Kids® book series.

"We are visiting so many places in the Park where we have never been before," said Carol VanRiper, (wife, mom, bookkeeper, public relations head and interior illustrator!). "Last year, we visited a number of schools, libraries, book stores and conventions," she said. "Justin only does a few school visits per season, but I keep Gary busy most of the school year."

Justin, Gary & Carol standing next to van at Camp Gorham

Justin, Carol and Gary with chalkboard.

Justin & Gary at Barnes & Noble

Every year the Summer Book Tour lands them in Old Forge, Inlet, Long Lake and Lake Placid. Keep checking the Appearances Page on this website for 2008 visits. And always call venues ahead and confirm appearances before traveling to a public event!

Below are a few photos from last year's visits.

Special Note: Our computer crashed at the close of the summer before we backed up our shots, and we lost nearly all of the season's photos, including special shots of our very first Adirondack 46Readers! Thanks to Nancy Davis Kho and other friends for helping us recover some memories on film!

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ADIRONDACK PARK, NY - Adirondack Kids Press offers discounts on books sold at schools directly to students for class sets, school presentations, PTO's, school book fairs or other special school events. For information on school discounts contact Carol VanRiper at info@adirondackkids.com.

To schedule an author's visit, contact Carol VanRiper at that same e-mail address. Check out where the Adirondack Kids writing and illustrating team will be next by visiting the Appearances page. See the School Visit section at the bottom of that page for more details.

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Did you know Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and The Boxcar Children have all had adventures in the Adirondacks? The authors of The Adirondack Kids® have discovered dozens of children's books set in the Adirondacks that have been published from as early as the 1890's! In fact, they have started a collection. To see a list of titles they have found so far, click on the updated Dax Facts page.

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UTICA,NY - Gary VanRiper continues to host a special segment called Adirondack Journal for the Central New York television show - Mohawk Valley Living. Nearly every week Gary introduces a special person, place or organization related to the Adirondacks. Guests have included Adirondack Attic columnist Andy Flynn; musician Gwen Tracy; nature and wildlife photographers Eric Dresser and Robert Lubeck; authors Jay O'Hern, Susan Steverman, Lettie Haynes, Adirondack Detective author - John Briant; artist Jeanne Dupre and organizations such as the Adirondack Mountain Club and North Country Books. For more show information, visit www.mohawkvalleyliving.com