I am thrilled to announce that Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course is a semi-finalist in the Gertrude Warner Award for Middle Grade Fiction, put out by the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Gertrude Chandler Warner authored the original 19 books of the beloved Boxcar Children series.
There is just one round of judging to go, and I’m so happy to be considered. Thank you, GWA and CIBA.
So many thanks go to Blue House Books in Kenosha, WI, for selecting Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course as one of their best books of 2025. I am truly honored. Reader, if you’re thinking of buying it, please patronize this store.
Also, truly, if you love beautiful spaces, you’ll love the something extra they did make it a welcoming community space. They renovated the room behind their store and connected it by an adjoining hall to create to a gorgeous event area. Behold and enjoy this captivating space.
AI is so bad at *absolutely everything.*
I asked Google who I dedicated my book to. The exercise was based on author John Scalzi asking various AI programs the same regarding his own works.
It confidently states that MY book, Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course, was written by R.L. Stein, the creator of Goosebumps, and is part of that series. Nope. Not true. Absolutely not. If search engines and their AI sloppery can’t correctly identify info as basic as authorship, you should know that it will get everything wrong and *you cannot trust it.* Here’s a screenshot of its results:
It is easy enough for real, live people to find the correct author by scrolling past Google’s awful AI results. And, yes, it’s easy enough to find the dedication page elsewhere online or by pulling the book off your shelf, assuming you have it. And, yes, I know “AI will get better,” but that’s not the point. AI is not smart nor to be trusted nor ethical *in any way,* so using it until it gets better doesn’t ease my anxiety in the least. AI truly sucks.
Oh, and for the record, here’s the answer. Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course by Silvia Acevedo is dedicated to (granddaughter) Eliza, “who asks me to check for monsters under the bed. May she someday love these monsters friends.”
Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course gets a FIVE-STAR Recommended review from Reader Views! Whoo hoooo! I’m so thankful for organizations and regular folk who leave positive reviews. They help other readers learn about a title and whether it’s their jam and worth the purchase.
If you’ve left a nice review, thank you! If you want to–but don’t know where to start–here’s the link to my book’s Goodreads page. Remember, you don’t have to assign yourself a book report! No summary needed. A simple sentence or two stating how/why you liked the story or characters or how the book made you feel is absolute gold to an author and so very helpful to a reader deciding whether to try out a book.
November always makes me turn an eye toward gratitude. I’m thankful for all y’all who support their friends and help creators soldier on.
Library events can be really lovely, bringing together passionate readers and authors while encouraging community among everyone who loves books. So you can imagine how much my husband and I enjoyed the Burlington (WI) Public Library’s Children’s Book Festival. It was their first, co-organized with author Joyce Uglow, leader of the Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Jeff and I are on a tour promoting our latest collaboration, the award-winning middle grade novel Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course. Here’s what our table looked like (he’s taking the photo), and another pic of a few author friends there too. Probably 20ish authors were there, so attendees found enough books to satisfy every taste, yet the event was intimate enough to chat awhile. A very nice event. Thanks to all who attended, participated, organized, and created. Great fun. 🙂
I am so excited for this cover reveal of my latest book, MAIL-ORDER MONSTERS: CRASH COURSE. This book has been a long time in the making, and I’m thrilled that it’s gotten its first pre-release editorial review–and it was FIVE STARS! OMG, the relief, let me tell you.
But first, here’s the cover, in all its glory:
Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course by Silvia Acevedo. Cover art by Jeff Miracola
Isn’t that just super? What third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-grader wouldn’t be enticed to pick that up? haha The artist is my husband, pro illustrator Jeff Miracola, who of course did a fabulous job. My early and beta readers will see some symbolism in the cover’s elements.
Now, what’s the story about? Here’s what’ll go on the back cover:
What does a 10-year-old boy desperate for new friends do when he sees an ad for mail-order monsters in the back of a comic book? He orders them, of course.
Ten-year-old Marco Torres needs a new bestie. Or a few. He’s on the outs with his EX-best friend and needs someone to talk to, confide in. So he takes a chance on an ad in the back of an old comic book promising something big: MAIL-ORDER MONSTERS. Marco hopes they’ll make amazing new besties and scare off his bully, who in a mean twist of fate happens to be the twin of his crush. When the monsters arrive, Marco unleashes their magic and draws the reaction he’d hoped for from his classmates until the monsters’ hilarious, uncontrolled escape through the school’s ceilings makes it nearly impossible to hide them from adults. And when Marco’s ex- bestie challenges him to a grudge match to finally settle their score, it’s Marco’s monsters against an enemy robot in a race on remote control trucks through the neighborhood junk yard. But through it all, Marco begins to wonder who should really be fighting his battles? And what exactly is he fighting for?
And that amazing FIVE STAR review? Here it is:
Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course by Silvia Acevedo is a whimsical story about 10-year-old Marco Torres, who, feeling lonely after a fight with his best friend Tinker, impulsively orders monsters from an advertisement in an old comic book. To his surprise, the monsters arrive and come to life, turning out to be friendly and eager for adventure. As Marco explores his new friendships, faces school challenges, and tries to keep his monsters hidden from adults, he learns important lessons about trust, friendship, and being true to oneself. The story leads to a daring schoolyard race between Marco’s monsters and Tinker’s robot, testing their skills and friendship, revealing that genuine connection matters more than competition.
Silvia Acevedo’s storytelling is energetic and engaging, and I enjoyed how the blend of humor, emotion, and vivid imagery brings Marco’s world to life. The characters are relatable, especially Marco, whose feelings of loneliness, jealousy, and hope mirror those of many children. The monsters are imaginative and expressive, providing the escape that Marco needs from his dull existence. The narrative shifts between Marco’s internal thoughts, captivating dialogue, and descriptive scenes, and kept me utterly hooked. The use of colorful language, sensory details— like the smell of bubbles and the feel of soil-and humor makes the story entertaining. Mail-Order Monsters features well-developed themes of friendship, bravery, and honesty, and invites children to think about these realities. This is a well-plotted story that will entice young readers with its lovable characters and exciting adventures.
–Readers’ Favorite FIVE STAR review
Earlier I mentioned what a relief that review was. This book was nearly published 16 years ago, but the deal fell through. I didn’t give up on it, though because I knew there was something there. Instead, I reworked it. And reworked it. Haha, this book has seen sooooo many iterations. But it’s better now for it. I love this story so much, and clearly others do too. I’ll share more reviews as they come in.
For now, though, if this post has interested you into pre-ordering the book, THANK YOU! And you can do so HERE. Right now that link only shows eBook, but a softcover option is on its way.
I hope the monster-lovers in your life have a blast reading it. Rawr!!!
Today I am celebrating! On this day ten years ago, I launched the GOD AWFUL book series into the world and, people, let me tell you, it has changed my life.
When I started writing fiction in the mid-aughts, I knew it was a good change from what I’d been doing. Journalism is noble and worthy, and I’m grateful for my 25+ years in it. But I did want to spread my wings and just have FUN. I’d almost forgotten what a BLAST writing could be until I sat down to write a little story that will finally see the light of day later this year. More on that in a minute.
As I say, I wrote that story and then another and another, etc, until I got around to writing a funny, cinematic, and redemptive mythological tale called GOD AWFUL LOSER. It’s the story of a egotistical Cupid who is challenged for his celestial throne, loses spectacularly, is exiled with other fallen celestials who hate him for various offenses, and must convince them to join him in his fight back into Olympus. On the way, he fights his way into our hearts.
I knew the story has legs. I knew it could do well. You can’t write your whole life and not recognize a good story when you see it. By then, I’d let go of my literary agent for REASONS and decided to take control of my creative destiny. Self-publishing this story was a fantastic move that got it into bookstores across the country and launched my literary career. Soon came the book’s sequels: GOD AWFUL THIEF, in which Cupid is tasked to steal a powerful relic from an angry god; and GOD AWFUL REBEL, in which three snake-haired sisters lay siege to Olympus and Cupid must decide whether to do what’s right or what’s demanded. I’m especially happy with REBEL, as it features Medusa, who’ve I’ve always felt was terribly maligned and earned her rage, and because the book won the Spark Award for excellence, given by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. That’s a big deal in the kidlit world, and I’m ecstatic that this series got such recognition.
Next came a traditionally published book, THE HAUNTED STATES OF AMERICA. Many writers have it as a life goal to be traditionally published, so this work affirmed my career shift and feels as like a feather boa around my shoulders. So glamorous. haha
As today is the ten year anniversary of LOSER, I’ll be offering ten GOD AWFUL trilogies for just $10. That’s ALL THREE hardcover books in my series for $10, as opposed to the regular retail price of $18.99 per book, plus shipping. Find the deal here. If you miss it and are not one of the first ten, you can still get a good deal by ordering the set versus individual books. I hope you love them.
In further celebration of this big anniversary, later this year I’ll publish the GOD AWFUL series as a box set in paperback for the first time. The hardcovers are beautiful, with spot varnish, embossing, interior art, etc. The paperbacks will offer lighter, more bendable reads.
Now, back to that initial story I wrote. It was just a signature away from being traditionally published. Alas, it was not to be. BUT! The good news is that the years have enriched the story. I’m now so happy to share that MAIL-ORDER MONSTERS: CRASH COURSE has a planned release date of August 26, 2025. I’ll share more of the journey in further posts and as we get closer to its release.
So, as we start a new month with new memories to make, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating this big day. Ten years of GODAWFULness is a very big thing indeed! 🙂
Silvia Acevedo
Silvia Acevedo
Silvia Acevedo